Favorite Colorado Lagers!

That would be nice. They used to have a few German beers in their line-up, although Wolfgang and Hoss are the only regularly brewed lagers coming to mind. Never made it to the Kaltenberg Castle in Vail, although I've been by the "real" one. If the beers were related at all, then they would have been excellent.

The story they've always told is that the beer is and has always been a lager. Kinda similar to a schwarzbier, but not exactly the same. They called it an ale because of cultural bias at the time. "Lager" was synonymous with macro and light lagers until really recently.

 

Actually New Belgium has addressed this in great detail on their website:
http://www.newbelgium.com/community.../2014/02/10/Did-you-notice-the-change-to-1554
Feb 10, 2014


Early this year New Belgium changed the labels for all its beers. You probably noticed this already. But what you might not have noticed is a slight change to 1554.

Now, we're not talking about the beer itself. It remains the same (which is to say it's still the delicious, crisp brew you've known and loved). We're simply talking about the description of the beer on its label. If you've had a 1554 in the last decade you'll know that it was labeled an "Enlightened Black Ale." The new labels now say "Black Lager."



To be clear, both labelings are correct. (Kind of.) See, 1554 is brewed with a lager yeast, but at an ale temperature. It's a unique beer brewed using a unique process, and classifying it in either category leaves something to be desired.

So, why was it traditionally referred to as an ale? Well, the answer is Texas. Yeah. Texas.

Until recently Texas had a law stating that any beer with an ABV over 5 percent must either be labeled an ale or a malt liquor. Since 1554 is kind of an ale — and because we wanted to sell 1554 in Texas — we labeled it an "Enlightened Black Ale."

The law was ruled unconstitutional in December of 2011, and brewers everywhere rejoiced.

We took the new labels as an opportunity to change the wording on 1554, labeling it a "Black Lager." We feel it's a more appropriate classification for the beer (though not perfect). Again, the beer hasn't changed, only the labeling.

 

I never put 2 and 2 together with the Texas thing. Lots of German (and Mexican) lagers used to be labeled as "Ale" until pretty recently. The story they always gave on the tour was just that lager had a stigma.
I lean in the direction of calling anything that has been "lagered" as a lager. Hence, alt and koelsch are called "obergärig lagerbier" in Germany. The BJCP disagrees, though...

 

I would call something that was lagered a lager and something that is not an ale. I know some people do witbiers with lager yeast at ale temps. That's an ale, baby.

 

Wynkoop's B3K is a good Schwarzbier for Colorado....for now anyway.

 

Love Tivoli Helles.

Grimms fearless youth is great. As is their maidens kiss, imo.

Upslopes Craft Lager is a winner. As is Prosts dunkel. I also enjoyed Lowdowns Patio Pilsner.

 

Draft only and brewed just once a year, but Hoghead's Billsner (collaboration with Bill Eye) is hands down my favorite pilsner in the state...but don't go drinking it all!

 

Billsner is the truth. Not like I'd ever be caught drinking one...

 

4 Noses Hikers Helles has been drinking nicely for me in the hot weather.

 

Wibby out of Longmont is only doing lagers. They are relatively new but doing a good job. They have an IPL last time I was there that was pretty good.

Also throw out Ska Mexican Lager out there. Hadn't had that one in years and had a friend drop off a sixer that I was able to snag a can from. Very impressed for what is was on a 90+ hot day.

Grimm has Dragon Slayer which is a Rauchbier on tap. I think theirs is one of the best in the country. A little bias here but that style is all about balance.

 

The new Prost Helles!
So good!

 

I was going to buy this but second guessed myself because I mistakenly thought it could be old instead of new. Next time....

 

Can't even get two pages of love for CO lagers...

 

Well, I also liked the Epic Loco Lager. I got two six-packs of it, but I think the second one sort of did me in. It's a fine summer beer.

 

How about Tommyknocker's Butt Head Bock??

 

I am probably going to pick up some Tivoli Helles today in the stubby bottles. Used to love this on tap 2-3 years ago but was disappointed in the bottled version and then stopped seeing it around as much on tap.

Also need some Prost Helles, and Pils. Have heard some very good things about positive changes there.

There are some very popular, at least at the store I work at, and mentioned in this thread, Colorado-brewed lagers that miss the mark by a pretty wide margin, at least to me. Would far rather drink old and past their peak imports, frankly. Or, at similar prices, a very well made Colorado IPA of which there are many. No names because that's not how I roll.

 

I always drink a shit-ton of Avery Kaiser when it's around. So satisfying.

 

WeldWerks Vienna Lager