- Grimm Brothers Brewhouse, 623 Denver Ave., Loveland, CO -- This was the first brewery that I played for here in Loveland. Grimm Brothers has been around for just a few years but they've quickly become a very popular presence in the local beer world. They're particularly known for their German style of brewing. My absolute favorite Grimm Brothers beer was a seasonal they released last year called Big Bad Wolf(Their beers are named for characters in fairy tales). You can still find this flavor in bottles in a few Loveland liquor stores, but otherwise it won't be around again for a while. My second choices at Grimm Brothers are based on mood, but I really like both Little Red Cap, an altbier, and Snow Drop, a Kottbusser ale. Both are pretty hoppy, but just sweet enough. I'll be there playing on May 23rd.
- City Star Brewing, 321 Mountain Ave., Berthoud, CO -- Located right on Mountain Avenue in downtown Berthoud, City Star is getting ready to celebrate their first anniversary. I love the rustic feel of the place, and owners John Way and Whitney Taylor have created not only a fantastic selection of beers, but a great environment to just have a good time. It's been hard to pick a favorite here until recently. Last time I played there Emily served me a pint of their Revolver IPA. I have liked IPAs for a good while now, but I have to say that Revolver is at the top of the list now. It is hoppy, but the hops are more flowery than most, so it's a very fragrant beer. It's the one I recommend first if you're an IPA fan. But the good news is there are even more favorites to choose from...Red Necktar is a fine American Red Ale, Bandit Brown is a very mellow beer that reminds me a lot of some of the English beers I've tried, and Six Shooter is another excellent IPA. I'll be playing at City Star on May 2nd, July 18th and August 15th.
- Loveland Aleworks, 118 W. 4th St. Loveland, CO -- Another relative newcomer, Loveland Aleworks is a small batch brewery that is also making a great name for itself in the community. Brewer Nick Callaway is probably best known for the variety of beers that he brews, with a constantly changing menu. My favorite Loveland Aleworks beer is the Imperial Stout. I'm not usually a stout beer fan, but this one has really changed that. It's a full flavor beer that I just want to sip on slowly for the whole evening. Other recent beers I've enjoyed here are the Cherry Saison and the Raspberry Sour. Again, I'm not usually geared to order such things, but I did find these two most pleasant. I'll be back to Loveland Aleworks on May 21st for my birthday party from 5-8PM. You are invited and I'd love to see you there! I'll also be there on July 16th.
- High Hops Brewery, 6461 HWY 392, Windsor, CO -- High Hops started out as a home brewing shop and hops farm owned by the Weakland family in Windsor. Dad, Pat shared his love and skill as a brewer with son, Zach, and last Fall they opened up High Hops Brewery adjacent to mom Mandy's greenhouse and nursery. In the months since, they've become a top choice destination for craft beer fans and brewery tour buses that are starting to frequent the area on weekends. High Hops is known for their hop shots, a unique experience that involves pressing fresh hops(many from their own field) in a coffee press and then adding that mash to one of their tapped beers, or to a taster flight of all of their flagship beers. It's an intriguing and satisfying experience that I would encourage any beer lover to try. As far as favorites go, at High Hops I've been partial to the series that Pat has brewed called Dr. Pat's. It's a pretty brassy but flavorful IPA, each one subtly different from the previous batch. I also really like their Honey Brown, a sweet and smooth ale. I'll be out to High Hops to play on their brand new, Front Range facing patio on June 15th. The view and the beer are both spectacular!
Here are a few other favorites that I'll mention. I'll give more detailed reviews after I've had a chance to get booked again :)
- Oskar Blues -- Deviant Dale's, big flavor double IPA.
- Odells -- Red, seasonal red ale.
- New Belgium -- Most often Ranger IPA, but recently they released a great ale called Rampant.
- Left Hand Brewing -- Was there for the first time last week and left with my favorite being the Stranger, American Pale Ale.
- Fort Collins Brewery -- Rocky Mountain Pale Ale.
- Coopersmiths -- Imperial Ale
There are so many more to try, but I just have to get on the phone and get some booking going on...stay tuned!