Category: GABF
A while back the owners of Falling Rock, The Brothers Black, decided to celebrate the stellar job their staff did during this years GABF. What better way to celebrate than to take everyone to Euclid Hall for food, fun and plenty of drinks? Perhaps opening a 9-liter bottle of Russian River Temptation to be shared amongst our staff and those at Euclid Hall, along with 5lbs of Humboldt Fog, an amazing goat cheese that Natalie Cilurzo of Russian River swears by as a pairing to Temptation… Then we came across this article about the event, and picture of Chris with the giant bottle. One of these days, when I make room on a shelf for it, you’ll be able to walk into the bar and see it graced with our signatures. Here’s to 15 years of GABF at the Falling Rock and the staff who make it possible!!
http://notyourdadsbeer.com/2011/11/08/what-rare-beer-is-all-about/
Monday night Falling Rock Tap House kicked off the Great American Beer Festival with their Tapping Party. Ten special beers were tapped, including a 2009 Urthel Samaranth, Russian River Supplication, Jolly Pumpkin Madrugada and Rare Vos. Make sure to check out on all the other great festivities this week!
Howdy Folks,
Here’s the final update on the List of events :
GABF 2011 List of Events
Monday Sept 26th
5pm 14th Annual GABF Kickoff Party. The Countdown Clock that’s been running since early January will reach Zero at 5pm & Falling Rock will tap into around 10 special kegs to get the week started right. Which Kegs ? Not really sure . I’ll decide as I unbury them in the stash.
Tuesday Sept 27th
6 pm Boulevard Brewing- We’ll tap into some Saison Brett Smokestack Series beer. Come Meet Head Brewer Steven Pauwels
Wednesday Sept 28th
4pm Anderson Valley Saison & Imperial Boont Amber. Join us for some of Anderson Valley’s Newer offerings an American take on a traditional Belgian Style and a suped-up version of the beer that made them famous.
9pm Elysian Pumpkin Beer Festival hits the Falling Rock Taphouse
Join Dick Cantwell and the Elysian Brewing Team for a pre-GABF Pumpkin Beer Throwdown
Find out what happens when the nation’s most pumpkin obsessed brewery teams up with one of Denver’s premiere beer bars! Come by the Falling Rock and have your pick of 10 Elysian pumpkin beers on tap including Night Owl, The Great Pumpkin Imperial Pumpkin Ale, Dark o’ the Moon Pumpkin Stout, Hansel & Gretel Ginger Pumpkin Pilsner, Mr. Yuck Sour Pumpkin, and Coche de Medianoche – a Mexican themed pumpkin ale with cumin, cinnamon, black pepper, chilies and roasted pumpkin seeds – to name a few. There will also be collaboration and guest pumpkin beers and a very, very special surprise!
11pm Stone Brewing Collaborations – We’ll tap 4 of Stone’s Collaborations with other breweries including the Hwy 78 Scotch ale (Green Flash/Pizza Port Carlsbad/Stone),Japanese Green Tea IPA (Baird Brewing Co. Japan Ishii Brewing Co., Stone ), Chocolate Cherry Stout (2 homebrewers :Jason Fields & Kevin Sheppard / Tröegs Brewing / Stone), + El Camino (Un)Real Black Ale (21st Amendment/Firestone Walker/Stone)
Thursday September 29th
1pm Boulder Brewing Neapolitan Porter. Come on out & try a Small Batch from the oldest Microbrewery in Colorado. The Neapolitan Porter is their Planet Porter aged for 3 months in oak barrels with Vanilla, Chocolate & Strawberries.
2pm Anchor Brewing Come on out to try some of Anchor’s Newer offerings. We’ll have Breckle’s Brown & Humming Ale Plus a keg of Old Foghorn.
10pm Full Sail Stash & Rarities – Join Head Brewer John Harris to crack open a few rare kegs of Brewmaster Specials Like some ‘06 Bourbon Barrel Aged
Imperial Stout (Silver Medal 2006 GABF), ‘08 Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Porter, Lupulin Wet-Hopped Ale (single Hopped keg)
11pm Green Flash Brewing – The Folks out at Green Flash are sending in some of their really Special Kegs. This Year we’ll have San Diego Saison, Imperial IPA, Special Cuvee Trippel, & Sugar Smack Belgian Dubble.
Midnite – Shorts Brewing For the First time outside of the Great American Beer Festival, Shorts will be available on tap. We’ll Have Kegs of Huma-Luma-Licious, Bludgeon Yer Eye, Key Lime Pie, Spruce Pilsner, & Bourbon Wizard.
Friday September 30th
NOON Sierra Nevada Harvest Release (Kill-A-Keg) – Our Annual insanity of releasing Sierra Nevada’s Harvest Ale (made with wet, Fresh-from-the-Fields Hops) & seeing how fast we can pour a keg of beer. A few years back we noticed that we were pouring a keg pretty quick (like a 15.5 gal keg in about a half Hour) & we wondered, ‘just how fast CAN you pour a keg?’ The next year it was 20 minutes or so, the next 15, then 12minutes. Last year it was a new record: 9 minutes 53 seconds. I’ll look to better that time this Year, One Man, One Keg & a bunch of glasses… After the first keg goes well tap into some more at a more leisurely pace. At 12:30 we’ll release the Sierra Nevada Estate Homegrown Ale (the same style of beer made with Malt and hops grown on the property).
2pm Avery Brewing – Try some of the Avery rarities on tap including Fred’s Mom, Bad Karma, Sacrolicious, Uberschwein, Meph Addict & One keg of Samael’s from the stash (ie. it’s 2 yrs old)
3pm Rogue Brewing – We’ll tap into Double Chocolate Stout & John John Hazelnut, Just in case you’re interested.
5:30pm World Re-Premiere of Courage Russian Imperial Stout (bottles). This beer hasn’t been made since, I believe, 1993. The Youngs/Wells Brewery now owns the rights to it & has Re-made the beer (one of the brewers on that brew is now the head brewer at Youngs/Wells). Wont be released for another month or so, so here’s your chance to try it out. Less than 1000 cases will be coming to the US.
10pm (Upstairs) He’Brew Celebration – We’ll have JewBelation 15, 15:15, & HopManna Plus Jeremy Cowan (the owner/Idea Man behind He’Brew) Will be here with his book Craft Beer Bar Mitzvah: How it took 13 years, Extreme Jewish Brewing, and Circus Sideshow Freaks to make Shmaltz Brewing Company an International Success.
10pm (Downstairs) Colorado Huge, Exotic, Esoteric, Rare, SOCIAL (CHEERS). Join us for a benefit for the Colorado Brewers Guild with special guest Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head pouring some Palo Santo through a Randall filled with Coffee. 10 Beers unavailable anywhere else during the fest will be poured by breweries such as Avery (IMMITUS barrel Aged Sour), Oskar Blues, Ska, Pagosa Springs, Odell (McMurray), Boulder (Mortimer- a barrel aged blend of Mojo IPA & Planet Porter), Great Divide (A Love Supreme, Barrel aged Saison with Brettanomyces), Left Hand (TNT Weizen Dopplebock)& Ashur (Funbarrel IPA). Wristbands for this event will go on sale about 9pm downstairs, Cost $40 for 1/2pt pours of all 10. Limited number of wristbands available
11pm (Upstairs) Alaskan Brewing 25th Anniversary Celebration. We’ll have kegs of their 25th anniversary Imperial Stout is brewed with an array of local ingredients and flavors to add dimension and celebrate Alaskan’s history and home. Alaska birch syrup from Wasilla lends a deep, almost tart character to the dark malt profile, while fireweed honey from Delta Junction adds a delicate sweetness and floral notes to the aroma and finish. The slight addition of our in-house alder-smoked malt alludes to the distinctive roasted flavor of turn-of-the-century malting practices, without overpowering the more subtle flavors of this dynamic anniversary brew.
Saturday October 1st
8pm Firestone Walker – A new Arrival to the Colorado Market, Join Head Brewer Matt Bryndelson & others for a Cask of Velvet Merlin, & some Parabola on tap
10pm New Belgium – When the GABF is over, we tap into special releases of New Belgium’s Beers. This year I went to the brewery & did a blending session with Lauren Salazar, & Eric Salazar. Each of us made our own blend of La Folie. We will release the three versions (appropriately they will be called 1, 2, & 3) and give time for all to sample. After people have had the time to taste them I will ask for applause as a vote on your favorite. Only then will we open the envelope and disclose the Blenders. This should be interesting. I’ll also pull out a couple things from my stash of New Belgium Beers.
All of the kegs are in & We’re ready to GO
Chris
Howdy Folks,
Here’s the announcement you’ve all been waiting for: GABF 2011
Monday Sept 26th
5pm 14th Annual GABF Kickoff Party. The Countdown Clock that’s been running since early January will reach Zero at 5pm & Falling Rock will tap into around 10 special kegs to get the week started right. Which Kegs? Not really sure, we’ll wait till the dust settles in the next weeks & start releasing names as I decide (& unbury them in the stash).
Tuesday Sept 27th
6 pm Boulevard Brewing- We’ll tap into a couple of special Smokestack Series beers. Come Meet Head Brewer Steven Pauwels and taste some of his best work on tap.
Wednesday Sept 28th
4pm Anderson Valley Saison & Imperial Boont Amber. Join us for some of Anderson Valley’s newer offerings; an American take on a traditional Belgian Style and a suped-up version of the beer that made them famous.
9pm Elysian Pumpkin Beer Festival hits the Falling Rock Taphouse. Join Dick Cantwell and the Elysian Brewing Team for a pre-GABF Pumpkin Beer Throwdown Find out what happens when the nation’s most pumpkin obsessed brewery teams up with one of Denver’s premiere beer bars! Come by the Falling Rock and have your pick of 10 Elysian pumpkin beers on tap including Night Owl, The Great Pumpkin Imperial Pumpkin Ale, Dark o’ the Moon Pumpkin Stout, Hansel & Gretel Ginger Pumpkin Pilsner, Mr. Yuck Sour Pumpkin, and Coche de Medianoche a Mexican themed pumpkin ale with cumin, cinnamon, black pepper, chilies and roasted pumpkin seeds to name a few. There will also be collaboration and guest pumpkin beers and a very, very special surprise!
11pm Stone Brewing Collaborations - We’ll tap 4 of Stone’s Collaborations with other breweries including the Hwy 78 Scotch ale (Green Flash/Pizza Port Carlsbad/Stone), Japanese Green Tea IPA (Baird Brewing Co. Japan Ishii Brewing Co., Stone Brewing Co., San Diego), 2 more are coming & when I find that message I’ll let you know what they are.
Thursday September 29th
2pm Anchor Brewing Come on out to try some of Anchor’s Newer offerings.
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Keep your eyes open on this space for a VERY Special World rePremiere of something from overseas .
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10pm Full Sail Stash & Rarities Join Head Brewer John Harris to crack open a few rare kegs of Brewmaster Specials Like some Older kegs of Barrel Aged Yummyness. I think there’s like an 06 somewhere back here if I can just lift this keg
11pm Green Flash Brewing The Folks out at Green Flash are sending in some of their really Special Kegs. I just went out to the opening of their new Brewery & got to go through their list of special releases. More when the kegs get into my cooler
Friday September 30th
NOON Sierra Nevada Harvest Release (Kill-A-Keg) Our Annual insanity of releasing Sierra Nevada’s Harvest Ale (made with wet, Fresh-from-the-Fields Hops) & seeing how fast we can pour a keg of beer. A few years back we noticed that we were pouring a keg pretty quick (like a 15.5 gal keg in about a half Hour) & we wondered, just how fast CAN you pour a keg? The next year it was 20 minutes or so, the next 15, then 12minutes. Last year it was a new record: 9 minutes 53 seconds. I’ll look to better that time this Year, One Man, One Keg & a bunch of glasses After the first keg goes well tap into some more at a more leisurely pace. At 12:30 we’ll release the Sierra Nevada Estate Homegrown Ale (the same style of beer made with Malt and hops grown on the property).
2pm Avery Brewing Try some of the Avery rarities on tap including aged kegs of Beast, Samaels and whatever Adam and Breese will let out of the brewery
3pm Rogue Brewing We’ll tap into Double Chocolate Stout & John John Hazelnut, Just in case you’re interested.
10pm Dog(fish Head) Treats I’ve been saving a few of Sam (& Crew’s) special releases including a World Wide Stout (I think it’s a little over a year old) .
11pm (Upstairs) Alaskan Brewing 25th Anniversary Celebration. We’ll have kegs of their 25th anniversary Imperial Stout is brewed with an array of local ingredients and flavors to add dimension and celebrate Alaskan’s history and home. Alaska birch syrup from Wasilla lends a deep, almost tart character to the dark malt profile, while fireweed honey from Delta Junction adds a delicate sweetness and floral notes to the aroma and finish. The slight addition of our in-house alder-smoked malt alludes to the distinctive roasted flavor of turn-of-the-century malting practices, without overpowering the more subtle flavors of this dynamic anniversary brew.
11pm (Downstairs) HeBrew Celebration - We’ll have JewBelation 15, 15:15, & HopManna
Saturday October 1st
8pm Firestone Walker - A new Arrival to the Colorado Market, Join Head Brewer Matt Bryndelson & others for some special kegs (and a cask) of Firestone Walkers amazing beers.
10pm New Belgium When the GABF is over, we tap into special releases of New Belgium’s Beers. This year I went to the brewery & did a blending session with Lauren Salazar, & Eric Salazar. Each of us made our own blend of La Folie. We will release the three versions (appropriately they will be called 1, 2, & 3) and give time for all to sample. After people have had the time to taste them I will ask for applause as a vote on your favorite. Only then will we open the envelope and disclose the Blenders. This should be interesting. I’ll also pull out a couple things from my stash of New Belgium Beers.
I still have one or two more events that should be nailed down by mid next week, I’ll re-post the updated list that will also include a few more specifics (as in I need to allow for the distributors to finish up w/ the registrations before announcing them) but more is to come.
Also, if you haven’t noticed we have a new updated website that includes some of that Facebook/Twitter stuff. We’ve been trying to post new beers on tap as we hook things up during the week. we are going to really try to keep that stuff going during the Fest, so it just might behoove you to sign up for that kind of stuff ahead of time because it might be one of the ways if you aren’t sitting w/in sight of the chalkboard that you will know what’s just been tapped…
I’m tired of typing,
I think I’ll have a Beer
Chris
In August Chris spent an afternoon at New Belgium Brewing in Fort Collins with Lauren Salazar and Eric Salazar. Using the contents of the 16 wooden foeters blending their own versions of La Folie, NB’s trademark sour brown ale. On Friday, Oct. 1 at 10 pm all three versions (Chris’, Lauren’s and Eric’s) will be available for a blind mass tasting.
