Denver Rare Beer Tasting VI

Yeah, making plans after Rare Beer that including more beers are probably a bad idea.
Keep in mind that the majority of beers get solid 8-10oz pours and the average ABV is probably over 8% as well.
Unless you intentionally ask for short pours or only go for certain items you WILL be drunk (at least legally) at the end of things. Luckily, it's a chill event so I've never really seen anyone get too wild.

For those going - I'll be pouring (probably somewhere with a milder option), so feel free to say "hey."

 

Damn I was not expecting pours that large given the nature of the beer being served. I will alter my post-fest plan to simply relax and probably get a good meal.

 

I don't know that they were 8-10oz pours at any of the Pints for Prostates events I've been to, but a solid 4oz anyway with some getting up to 6oz. Certainly not the 1.5-2 oz you get at the GABF sessions though.

 

It does vary on the beer. Some get much smaller pours depending on how much of it is available. For instance, the Utopias pours are much closer to 2-3oz. At the same time, some bring a half or full keg of their offering and there's clearly more to go around. No matter what (unless you're really picky) there is a TON of beer to be had.

 

I don't think I got anywhere near 8-10 ounces last year. 2-4 oz seemed to be most common. Maybe 4-6 right before the booths that weren't tapped were about to shut down.

That being said, eating during the event is highly recommended, especially if you want to head to other events afterwards

 

Are they having Utopias? Didn't see it on the list but that would be a nice suprise.

 

They brought it last year, and it was on the list. Maybe they will surprise with it again this year

 

Kosmic Mother Funk Grand Cru this year.

 

Utopias has been at all of the ones I've been to (2-5) but I dunno about this year. Even with tiny pours, it goes fast.
Firestone Walker's offerings tend to go quickly, too. In fact, sours of any sort tend to move. I think with all of the big stouts around, people start seeking out something that doesn't take 10 minutes to finish.
Pours start off normal, but by the end, when the brewers are trying to polish off their supply you can get a full pour of just about anything. At least anything that's left...which is most anything that isn't freakishly scarce.

While it's tempting to go for the really old or unusual items, my favorite beers have been some of the more "common" ones. The best 2 stouts I've had were aged 3 years each from Left Hand (pre-Wake Up Dead Imperial Stout) and Great Divide (3-Year normal Yeti). One to try this year for out-of-towners is the Imperial Stout from Hogshead. It's an English-style imperial stout and is absolutely divine.

 

Mine as well. Surly Misanthrope was one of my favorites last year, especially since I just didn't expect sour out of Surly at the time. It isn't rare anymore since they have it at the taproom somewhat regularly, but at that time it was pretty new and I'd never heard of it.

But my absolute favorite was Utopias since I'd never had it before. Still don't think its worth the price, but man it was awesome.

 

Group nap in the park