Favorite Colorado Lagers!

I can recommend Astro Blaster Pilsner from Spangalang. Got 2 cans from Beer Drop. I added it to the database.

 

I was wondering this myself. How many new brewers have any experience with something like a German copper brewhouse?

 

An issue with a copper kettle is that the the copper (i.e., copper ions) introduced to the beer is not good for beer stability.

At the Sierra Nevada Mills River brewery they actual brew kettle is made of stainless steel but they have copper cladding on top to make it look like copper kettles:



Sierra Nevada spent a lot of money just to make it look beautiful (which is does).

Cheers!

 

Clearly there's something Bill and Ashleigh are doing that's enabling them to crank out beers that hold up well. I've had Bierstadt cans that are 6-8 weeks old and they taste 100% great.
I do recall some of those Prost pre-filled growlers (that stores were selling briefly) going south really quickly and going south in a BAD way, though. I stopped buying those things almost immediately.

 

That's strange as copper has natural antimicrobial properties that I would assume would have helped against spoilage. Learned something new today, thanks Jack.

 

It is indeed a beauty. The only other brewery that I toured which is somewhat comparable is the Pilsner Urquell brewery but SN Mills River is the winner for most beautiful brewery IMO.

During the tour of Mills River the tour guide stated he would be willing to answer any questions we might have but the one question he couldn't answer (because he doesn't know the answer) is how much did it cost to build the Mills River brewery. There is no doubt in my mind it cost a fortune. It is sorta like visiting a beautiful cathedral in Europe but with the benefit of beer being available in the tap room & biergarten.

Cheers!

 

Got a chance to try Slow Pour followed by the Hogshead's Billsner. Hadn't had Slow Pour in a little while (I prefer helles) and had heard it wasn't as dry/hoppy as before. I'd say it was still pretty sharp for my tastes. Great in small doses and still as legit as they come, but I prefer the Billsner. I dunno if it's Czech, but it's much rounder and less hoppy. Especially in the finish. I didn't get a saaz assault and the color was still pretty pale, hence I'm not sure if I'd call it obviously Czech. I mainly just think it's a more typical and balanced pils vs. one that's especially dry and hoppy.

 

Had a Slow Pour, Helles, and Dunkel yesterday at Bierstadt yesterday, and a Bilsner at Hogshead today. My preference goes:

1. Bilsner
2. Slow Pour
3. Dunkel
4. Helles

The dunkel is obviously quite different than the others, but it is fantastic. Here's the thing, I don't care for Bierstadt in cans, especially Slow Pour. I did a side-by-side with a take away jug of Slow Pour from Hops and Pie a few months back: the can just didn't pop for me at all. It's not bad, but it goes from extraordinary on draft to good but ordinary in cans. That's just my opinion though. I can't wait to try this next week (July 9th release date)!

 

Edelstoff is pretty magic stuff and there aren't a whole lot export hell examples out there, either. I'm definitely looking forward to that one and will probably swing by on Friday/Saturday since I'll be down that way anyhow.

 

I completely agree. For my tastes I like the Helles better at Bierstadt and your thoughts on the differences on Bilsner vs Slow Pour are exactly what I noticed and I too enjoy the more rounded maltiness of the Bilsner...

On a side note...This place below in Mn is incredible for bringing in hard to find beers if you're ever in St. Paul. Samiclaus on draft ! and they do four ounce pours...

https://www.facebook.com/Yoergbeer/

https://yoergbeer.com/european_beers

I had this on draft in Minnesota at Yoerg this past weekend and words can't describe how great it was..I live four hours away but if I was closer it might be the only place I'd ever go to here..

NOW ON TAP -
TRAUNSTEIN HELLES
Hofbrauhaus Traunstein: Traunstein, Germany
Founded in 1612
"Pale yellow, clear, small bubbles, head thin and not stable
with foam there is the typical noble hops herbal smell, after it fades there is only Pilsener malt left, clean though. Tastewise it impresses by a classic marriage of noble hops and Pilsener malt, like the hopping. Goes down smooth with its fine carbonation, some warming alcohol. Refreshing classic Helles, very drinkable. 5.3% Alcohol.

 

I had no idea the Traunstein beers even got exported. Never had anything from them, but people in the German BA group have specifically mentioned them. Looks like that place carries a pile of great Belgian bottles, too.

The Bull & Bush is the closest thing we have to a place like that. Right now they're celebrating their 50th anniversary (so 90% of their taps are their own), but they normally carry a half-dozen obscure European beers on tap. A few years ago they even got a new gravity keg of Bavarian beer every week for 6 weeks. With me and my wife's help, they actually plowed through Mahr's Hell in a single night.

 

Has anyone had any of the lagers Casey is making? Looks they are going to can their Helles.

 

I got a chance to try one of his first batches from last year and it was quite good. It was an unfiltered lagerbier. Troy has a lot of experience with lagers. In his days with AC Golden they made a boatload of lagers. Not just the stuff on the shelf, but they'd make decent sized batches for competitions, festivals, and trial runs for Coors. Those were about as good as any lagers in CO, too. At least for the time. I feel pretty confident he still knows his stuff.

 

Did he brew the Herman Joseph's?

 

Good question. I dunno about Troy specifically, but I'd assume so based on the timeline. I know the ACG team definitely brewed that one (Barmen, too) at least at one point.

 

The Bierstadt Export (Noble Stuff...which conveniently translates to "Edelstoff" in German) is wonderful. Had the draft version on Friday and couldn't have been happier with it. Totally different visual experience, but it definitely evokes some great days spent at the Augustiner Keller.

 

So has anyone stopped by Cohesion yet? Excited to give them a try. They don’t seem to be cutting any corners.

 

Yup, legit beer. I've only had the 10 and Tmavy. Amazing how much flavor fresh unfiltered double/triple decocted low ABV lagers can have. Neither were extremely dry from what I could tell - to which I prefer that light toasted sweetness on the finish. I haven't ventured into the foam/half-foam yet as I don't like to chug beer/air, but I've heard nothing but good things from others as well. I know Domingo has been there as well and has some thoughts.

 

@Domingo have you had the smoked helles from dry dock or bierstadt? Haven't seen much on either other than they are available. I'm hoping neither one is over the top but want someone else's experience before buying.