While much of the attention in Colorado this week will be focused on the Great American Beer Festival and all the changes it promises for 2024, the faithful, curious, and philanthropic will be at the Denver Rare Beer Tasting 15.
The event is bucket-list worthy and is one of our favorite events each year. DRBT is hosted by Pints for Prostates a “grassroots campaign designed to raise awareness about prostate cancer and the importance of early detection in fighting the disease.” All About Beer is once again honored to be the media sponsor of the event.
There are a few tickets remaining for the October 10, 2024 event. This year the tasting will be held from noon to 4pm. At Bierstadt Lagerhaus. Check out the full list here.
As we’ve noted previously: every year the DRBT has a collection of some of the best beer in the country all under one roof. The rare part is emphasized. Samuel Adams brings special batches of its already special Utopias. The Lost Abbey picks great vintages of its beers to pour. Avery is known for bringing out barrels that are otherwise hard to find. Sierra Nevada always goes deep into the cellar for something unique.
More than 50 breweries from around the country will be pouring, with many of the brewers present to pour. This event, which also features a complimentary (and optional) health screening before the event begins is chock full of exciting, flavorful beers.
Here are 10 beers our editor John Holl is excited to have in his glass.
Bierstadt Lagerhaus, Denver, CO All The Hype (4.8% ABV)
“Smoked Helles using 100% beechwood smoked malt. Collaboration with Green Bench Brewing of Florida.”
Cloudburst Brewing, Seattle, WA, Fresh Wet Hop IPA
“This is a very fresh wet hop India pale ale that was just produced using some of the best hops from the recent harvest and brought directly to the Denver Rare Beer Tasting.”
Comrade Brewing, Denver, CO, Superpower IPA (7.3% ABV)
“Great American Beer Festival 2020 Silver Medal & 2019 Gold Medal in the American-Style Strong Pale Ale category. Brewed with loads of Pacific Northwest hops.”
Garden Path Fermentation, Burlington, WA, The Spontaneous Ferment: 5 Year Anniversary Blend on Tayberries (6.4% ABV)
“A blend of barrels of 100% spontaneously fermented beer from Garden Path’s first five seasons aged for a full year on fresh, local tayberries and keg conditioned with young spontaneous beer from the brewery’s sixth season. Only 3.9 barrels of this beer were made for release at the brewery’s two locations and the Denver Rare Beer Tasting.”
Kane Brewing, Ocean, NJ, “2023 A Night To End All Dawns – Banana French Foster French Toast (12.3% ABV)
“Imperial stout brewed with maple syrup aged in Bourbon barrels conditioned on bananas, vanilla beans and cinnamon.”
Moksa Brewing, Rocklin, CA, Mutuality XXIV (16.7% ABV)
“Double barrel-aged imperial stout blend first aged in Apple Brandy and Elijah Craig 20-year-old barrels for 16 and 20 months, then in Booker’s 8-year Bourbon barrels for an additional 12 months, infused with Cook Island vanilla beans. This was produced and exclusively bottled for the brewery’s 2024 membership party.”
Narragansett Beer, Providence, RI, Port Barrel Aged Life (11.8% ABV)
“When the beer community heard the news of Alex Kidd’s cancer we sprang to action. This beer was inspired by Drew Pool of Wren House who developed a recipe for an English-style barleywine based on one of Alex’s favorites to pay homage and stand in support of a true craft beer advocate, visionary and critic. Narragansett took Drew’s recipe, put its own spin on it and invited folks from the local New England craft beer community to come brew it with them. This English-style barleywine is brewed with Maris Otter and Golden Promise as a base and hopped with East Kent Goldings, Willammette and locally grown Cascade hops. Aged for 9 months in Port barrels.”
Other Half Brewing, Brooklyn, NY, Bananaversary (15.4% ABV)
“The big 10th birthday banana is here and it’s a blend of 17-34 month Bourbon barrel aged stout with our favorite mix of coconut, Congolese vanilla, wild Thai bananas and macadamia nuts.”
Prison City Pub & Brewery, Auburn, NY, Solar Winds (5.5% ABV)
“Unique foeder-aged lager that doesn’t have a defined style. It’s smooth, fruity and crisp flavor is light and delicate. Bright apple-like flavors are brought out by the subtle tartness and soft pillowy mouthfeel.”
Wren House Brewing Phoenix, AZ, Mexican Black King Snake (12.6% ABV)
“A rare small-batch stout aged in unique barrels, infused with exemplary Mexican vanilla beans and mezcal-soaked palo santo, delivering decadent flavors of cocoa, oak and subtle smokiness.”
Get Your Tickets Now
There are still limited tickets available for the Denver Rare Beer Tasting. Get yours now.
A quick search of flights from various points around the country and of hotel rooms in the city shockingly shows availability. If you were going to be spontaneous for a beer adventure, this is the time.
I’ll see you there, and obviously at the bar upstairs at Bierstadt afterwards.