Mountain Beer Appreciation Thread (2025)

Burns Family Artisan Ales -- Rhapsody in Blue
Blueberry imperial stout
ABV: 10.0%; pouring temperature: 47.4 ℉; bottling info: 2024
Source: local purchase (Coaltrain Fine Wine, Craft Beer & Spirits)
Auxiliary vice: Laws Whiskey House -- Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey - Barrel Select



4.19/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Clear, dark brown pour, beer appears black and opaque in the glass; half-finger thick head, dense and creamy textured, long-lasting, khaki hued. Spiffy aroma; sweet chocolate and cocoa powder, a dab of blueberry notes circling in the background. Rich milk and dark chocolate backbone; sweet; quiet blueberry undertone; a wisp of booziness. Heavy body; smooth and decadently silky; subtle overall stickiness; nice alcohol warmth.

I like how the blueberry isn't overpowering with this beer. The base imperial stout alone is worth the price of admission. Complex and balanced throughout; very flavorful.

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...as a bonus, the bourbon is made in Denver, too...

 

...well, unless some sort of miracle happened, Burns Family Artisan Ales closed for good yesterday...glad I grabbed a bunch of bottles the other week...

Burns Family Artisan Ales -- Solar Eclipse - Empyreal Valor Blade
3x bourbon barrel aged Russian imperial stout
ABV: 22.6%; pouring temperature: 51.2 °F; bottling info: 2025
Source: brewery and taproom in Denver



4.42/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Deep, dark and clear pour; appears black and opaque in the glass; thin yet lasting head, semi-creamy; tan colored; long lasting sheets of sticky foam adorn the inside of the glass. Rich milk chocolate and cocoa notes with hints of dry barrel wood in the scent. Scrumptious flavor; milk and bitter chocolate; spicy aspects with a suggestion of chili pepper (probably the barrel aging); tobacco; whiskey; grain char. Dense and sticky mouthfeel; the beer coats the palate with residual sugars and offsets things with a boozy heat.

Holy crap, but this is one amazing barrel aged Russian imperial stout! Nearly everything about this beer is massive, especially where it counts: the taste and mouthfeel. What is more impressive is the overall balance of things, especially for such a big beer. Sure, one would need to be a fan of beers such as this to truly appreciate things. Luckily, I consider myself one of those kind of fan boys.

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...and I must say, I certainly adore this iteration of Solar Eclipse...too bad I only got one bottle of it, but there were just so many to choose from and only so many I could load into my small backpack...

 

...I had a fantastic Trinity Brewing Co. Oktoberfest beer yesterday (Xtoberfest)...their triple IPA today just continues my love of their beers (although, admittedly, I don't visit them as often as I should)...

Trinity Brewing Co. -- Duderonomy
Triple India pale ale
ABV: 10.1%; pouring temperature: 41.8 °F; crowler info: 09/22/25
Source: brewery



4.25/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

The color sports a dark copper hue, clear; sparse, slow-rising carbonation; thin, wispy head, long-lasting, thin, sticky rings and blobs of foam cling to the inside of the glass. Nice hop spiciness to the nose; a tad weed-like; zesty. Zestiness expands with the taste; cinnamon, cardamom and cumin suggestions; peppery; neutral malt sweetness; balanced booziness. Heavy mouthfeel; rich and sticky on the palate.

This is one of the richest and actually most enjoyable triple India pale ales I recall having. In the past, many just seemed a bit thin with a booziness hotness. This take on the style is richer, sweeter, and definitely with a spicier kick. It has a very nice and unique balance with the taste, and while the residual sugars are there, it's not treacly or over-sweet. A wonderful find for a TIPA.

 

...it is nice to see Outer Range Brewing coming out with a festbier (at least I am unaware of them having done so in the past)...pretty good stuff that kind of grows on ya...

Outer Range Brewing Co. -- ORB Festbier
Festbier
ABV: 5.3%; pouring temperature: 53.2 ℉; canning info: n/a
Source: local purchase (Weber Street Liquor)



3.98/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Clear, golden pour and glass presence; dense, fine-bubble carbonation; thick, white head, frothy. Great nose; light malt sweetness blended with soft esters. Malt-forward taste; finishes with a biscuit-like quality; low-key hop bitterness. Medium-bodied; moderate residual sugar presence; delicately sticky; finishes with a mild dryness.

Overall, this is a nice festbier. Perhaps not top-tier for the style, but definitely a fine representation of the style. Quite quaffable.