The days are longer, the temperatures are rising and spring is officially beginning to bloom in Colorado. Now that calls for a toast.
Here are five locally made beers to pair with the changing of seasons.
Après Pils from Crooked Stave
The warm temperatures characteristic of spring skiing call for something refreshing, and Crooked Stave’s Après Pils is a guaranteed thirst-quencher. Brewed in partnership with local apparel company Obermeyer to celebrate its 75th anniversary, Crooked Stave added this German-style pilsner to its limited release lineup. If the artwork doesn’t grab you, the light body and crisp finish will.
Après Pils is now available on draft and in four-packs of 16-ounce cans.
Powder Cache IPA from New Belgium Brewing Co.
The latest in a small-batch series from New Belgium’s Denver brewery, Powder Cache is a hazy India pale ale with dry-hopped Eclipse and Mosaic Cryo hops. Much like its namesake, the beer aims to be bright and fluffy, but still packs a punch at 7% ABV. Get the beer — and your turns in — while you can.
Powder Cache is now available in four-packs of 16-ounce cans.
The cleverly named Marsh Madness is a collaboration between WeldWerks Brewing Co., Odell Brewing Co. and Little Man Ice Cream — and simply too sweet to resist.
Marsh Madness from WeldWerks Brewing Co. and Odell Brewing Co.
Two powerhouse beermakers teamed up with an ice cream icon to create a beer that’s too fun not to try. WeldWerks and Odell were inspired to create Marsh Madness by Little Man Ice Cream’s sweet frozen treat by the same name. They used the ice cream plus 80 pounds of cereal ‘mallows to make this pastry stout, which clocks in with a hearty 9.2% alcohol-by-volume.
Marsh Madness will be available starting March 17 on draft and in four-packs of 16-ounce cans.
Shamrock Pulque from Dos Luces Brewery
Pulque is a Mexican alcoholic beverage made from the fermented sap of the maguey plant. Traditionally, it has the look of milk, but Denver’s Dos Luces Brewery is adding a festive twist and turning its house-made pulque green by using matcha, mint and spirulina. The result is a 7% ABV drink that’s both earthy and tangy.
Shamrock Pulque will be available starting March 17 on draft exclusively at Dos Luces Brewery.
Great Divide Brewing Co.’s Wild Raspberry Ale won a silver at the 2021 Great American Beer Festival, and is now available in cans for the first time since the recipe was retired in 2012.
Wild Raspberry Ale from Great Divide Brewing Co.
Great Divide is now packaging its Wild Raspberry Ale, which is fresh off a silver-medal win from the 2021 Great American Beer Festival. The beer was originally retired in 2012, but revived as the brewery looked to add more fruited options to its lineup. The recipe was amended slightly, but drinkers can expect sweet and tart notes apt for pairing with warmer weather. Fun fact: Great Divide teamed up with Lone Tree Brewing Co. and Crystal Springs Brewing Co. for a beer to debut at Dever’s Collaboration Fest on April 2. It’s called Colorado Sweep because the local breweries scored gold, silver and bronze in the fruit beer category at GABF 2021.
Wild Raspberry Ale is now available on draft and in six-packs of 12-ounce cans.