Denver Rare Beer Tasting IV

Some stores must have tucked a few away then! Regardless, it's a wonderful beer, and we're looking forward to having Alaskan share it with us!

 

I'll be pouring for Firestone Walker and Lil Opal is tasting great right now, like this crazy fruity champagne like thing, so I'm excited we're bringing it.

 

Keep in mind that not everyone going to this is coming from CO, so, in whatever state they're coming from, Odell Deconstruction, and some of the other CO beers, may not be available to them. Overall "rarity" of these beers shouldn't be looked at in the bubble of "what can I get on the shelves in CO". Think about the bigger picture. There are still a ton of beers on this list that I've never had, and when you also consider the other things included in the ticket price, I consider it well worth it. Really looking forward to it!!

 

I just got back from a store that had at least 2 cases of Deconstruction on the shelves. It'll probably still be pretty widely available during GABF. Really though, this is my only complaint...I'm happy with the list otherwise. Just wish Odell stepped it up a little.

 

ssteigerwald, no Deconstruction in Texas, no Odell in Texas. So I am absolutely fired up about trying this beer! Starkadhr makes a great point in their post. Jester King is from Austin Texas. Am I bummed that they will be there with a beer that I can get in Texas....HELL NO! Can't wait to try their offering and can't wait to see what other people have to say as I am proud of Texas and Jester King! ssteigerwald, have you ever been to a Denver Rare Beer Tasting before? There are so many killer beers available that you will stumble out of there and swear that it was the best event since sliced bread without ever drinking the Odell Deconstruction! The people/brewers you will meet and the beer that you will drink will be unmatched anywhere....period. Enjoy the event and appreciate what the event represents!

 

The point is that to attend this event requires one to be in Colorado, where if they wanted to try this not-in-their-distribution area beer all they have to do is stop into a local liquor store. Kinda like if they wanted the IPA or Cutthroat Porter. It wouldn't be that hard for Odell to have given an honest effort here. Just last month they tapped a keg of the original batch of Saboteur in the taproom...why not have offered that to this event? Wouldn't have been difficult.

My issue isn't with the event accepting this beer, more with Odell being lame.

(FWIW, I really enjoyed Deconstruction)

 

Avery is just as much off-the-shelf as Odell:

- Avery Uncle Jacob's Stout and Avery Oud Floris

 

denver10....what about the 32 other beers available? There will always be beers available in geographical areas to people that will be at this event that is not available to others. I find it rather petty that individuals will harp on 1 or 2 beers when there are 33 great beers being offered at this event. Am I missing something?

 

denver10...you state that all I have to do is stop in a local liquor store in Denver to try these beers since I am in Colorado. I am flying in from Houston, TX. The last thing I am interested in doing, since my time in Denver is very valuable in my 4 short days, is going to a liquor store to buy beers to drink while in Denver. I may buy beers to take home with me but I will not buy beers at a liquor store to drink while I am in Denver...too many craft beer bars to visit as to sitting in my hotel room and drinking liquor store bought bottled beers. I am not trying to start an argument with you but you need to see the prospective from an out of state craft beer drinker.

 

This is an interesting debate and gets to the point that the Denver Rare Beer Tasting is more of a national event than it is a local tasting. This year our ticket buyers from more than 30 states, plus Canada and Brazil. I'm sure a few sophisticated beer drinkers in the crowd will have a couple of bottles of Kate the Great or Ivan The Terrible in their cellars, but these are still rare beers.

Rare means rare. It means hard to find, not impossible to find. (Although we do have some beers that were made just for the event or that have previously just been available to brewery staff.)

We work hard to bring in interesting brewers that will offer rare, exotic and vintage beers. This year 35 will be poured and each has a compelling story about why they are rare. Certainly, some are harder to find than others. The brewers all donate beer to the event. It is pretty amazing how generous these folks are both with the beer they serve and the time they give to be at the event. The list of breweries and the beers being poured this year is something we are pretty proud of and I'm excited to get the chance to taste them.

Odell Deconstruction might still be available in a few retail outlets, but this beer has only been made twice and the brewery does not have plans for another release. The blending process and approach is fairly unique. My gut is less than 10% of the guests at the event will have had the chance to sample the beer previously. For most people this will be the one and only chance to taste the beer.

Some people have also mentioned the Avery offerings. Both of these beers are unique and had very limited production runs -- one less than 700 cases and the other around 250 cases. Again, very few people will get the chance to taste these beers outside of the event and we are proud to have them at the Denver Rare Beer Tasting.

One solution to this issue would be to eliminate Colorado brewers from the invite list next year. But based on fan reactions we have seen to the beers they have served the first three years, that would be a huge mistake.

 

I think you are missing the point. All we are saying is Odell could have stepped up their game. It seems like they hardly tried. The beer is widely available. You might even find it on tap at one or more of our fine craft beer bars during GABF. I'm not even complaining about Avery, because although their beers were/will be available here, they were/are still pretty rare. Deconstruction just isn't.

Oh... And have I been to a rare beer tasting??? HahahahaHaha haha... Yes, I of course I have. I've been going to the GABF for 16 years, when it was tiny and in the Currigan Exhibition Hall. I write the local weekly "beer hunters report" here in Denver and have a damn good knowledge of what's rare. And so on. Please don't insult me.

Again, to make this VERY clear... I am generally happy otherwise with the offerings and know I will have a good time. I loved the event so much in the past, I proclaimed it better than the GABF itself. I'm bringing my brother and dad too. But I still just would hope for a rarer offering from Odell. Period. Nothing else to say. Okay?

 

Love the discussion, and thanks to all for providing feedback for DRBT!

Now...what beers/breweries are you most looking forward to?

 

Like I mentioned in my post, my issue is not with the event. (It is a nice selection they got going which I did not specifically state). My issue is with Odell for being lame and not stepping up. Ssteigerwald is right that not only can you find this all over the shelves in Colorado but you should probably also be able to find this on tap at a local beer bar. I just looked at the Falling Rock Schedule for the week and on Wednesday the 10th they themselves will be tapping this beer.

 

Only thing weak I see as one of those out-of-stater's is that Avery Oud Floris is also being poured on the fest floor at GABF. I'm not concerned in the least - just making an observation - and I can't wait for this event. In a perfect world, I would have loved to see Avery bust out something like Tweak, BA Samael's or one of the rare beers they're tapping around town that isn't at GABF, but I'll happily try something else a bit more exclusive instead and save Floris for a GABF selection. No worries!

Like the DRBT guys have said, even though I've been lucky to have Surly Syx, Track 8, Ivan and a few others, there's something for everyone here and it's for a great cause. I can't wait to spend an afternoon sipping awesome brews with awesome beer people!

And I'm looking forward to Perennial BA Fantastic Voyage just a bit more than all the others!!

 

Avery is tapping both kegs of Tweak and BA Samael's (as well as some others) tomorrow at the Rumpkin release. I love the beers they break out at the release parties.

 

Not sure how anyone can be disappointed by that list, there is a lot of cool stuff on there.

 

Where to start? Ivan? KTG? SYX, New Albion... a bunch for me!

 

Nobody is blaming the event - we're actually a bit disappointed in Odell. If you visit Odell's brewery they have at least 5-6 brewery-only beers all of the time. Some weekend that can be 10 or more. Many are rotating offerings, many will never be brewed again. It just seems odd that they'd submit something like Deconstruction when they have dozens of truly "rare" beers ready to roll at any one time.

I'm looking forward to pretty much everything else, especially Kate the Great, the LH 2009 Oak'd Impy Stout, the SN Brandy Smoked Porter, and the New Albion re-creation. Plus, it's always nice to get some Utopias.

The event will kick ass for sure. I'm personally just disappointed that Odell is phoning it in.

 

Back on topic:
Definitely KtG. I'm excited about Utopia's, even though I had it last year, it's pretty exciting that this is the 10th anni and normally an off year. No one has mentioned Raison D'Extra...I'm excited about that, I've never had it. SYX, Bolt Cutter, Lil Opal, New Albion...looking forward to all of these plus more.

 

I wonder if they have anything reserved for our BA GABF week visit.