I’ll be the first one to say it: and this is tough, coming from a self-proclaimed beer junkie. Sometimes, craft brew lovers, we take ourselves a wee bit too seriously. It’s not a problem, mind you. But have you ever been drinking a beer with a friend, only to be so caught up in predicting the grain bill, the hops used, the clarity of the water used, the astrological sign the beer was brewed under… that you forget why you’re actually there in the first place? At the end of the day, shouldn’t enjoying a beer really be about where you are, and who you are with? We don’t... Read More

Bopping my head to the easy beats of Twin Peaks’ “Making Breakfast,” I entered my first Colorado brewery, Ratio Beerworks. Entering a Colorado craft brewery was a moment I had been waiting for since the first time my lips touched the unique flavor of a brewmaster’s craft. It was the beginning of my road trip, last September, and I was just high off of life, driving as free as one could be through our chaotic, yet magnificent country. From Boston to Denver, it was pretty much a straight shot, so I was definitely ready to get a brew in me. I stepped into a cluster of 80s vibes... Read More

While perusing the aisles at Hazel’s Beverage World, I stumbled upon a local brewer that I had yet to try – Cellar West Artisan Ales. Their unique funky packaging popped, immediately catching my eye. Out of all their wonderful brews, it was the Aquarius, a recent addition to the Cellar West family, that peaked my interest. The Aquarius, a Saison whose Belgian roots truly represent in this aged ale, was introduced just this past April at Cellar West’s very own Tasting Room. As I took my first sip of this craft beer centered around Spelt Malt, I was quickly drawn in. The fruit fizzled... Read More

Even in a saturated craft beer market, there are still niches to be filled. Cellar West Artisan Ales found one for themselves in creating oak barrel fermented ales using a particular blend of wild yeast—Brettanomyces. This particular yeast can be intimidating to work with, as it can be aggressive and overpowering, but Cellar West has made an art of the challenge. Each beer is forged in a small batch and released in 500 ml bottles. That’s right, no six packs from this experimental little brewery. That doesn’t mean you’ll be left wanting, though because these brews pack smooth, fulfilling... Read More

There is just something about drinking beer fresh from the tap in the building in which it’s made. This week I visited Sanitas Brewing Co. and enjoyed an evening of that unique something. Let’s start off with what everyone is most excited about: the beer. I confess, I was “that person” this time and tried every beer they currently have on tap. The standouts were the Black IPA and Cinnilla Stout. The profile of the Black IPA sounded somewhat off-putting on paper with fresh pine, grapefruit, roasted malt, and citrus. In practice, though, the combination is excellent. Standard carbonation... Read More