Drinking Liberally in Denver with a Poll

I'll be attending the Great American Beer Festival next week in Denver and I'm wondering if any Kossacks have a favorite American hand crafted beer they'd like to recommend I taste.

Here's a list of participating breweries. Oh hell, recommend a brewery even if it's not on the list. I'm always on the look out for a good beer.

Please tell me why do you like this beer, or brewery?

And lest you think this diary doesn't have a political angle, read on.

I've been to many a brewpub and micro and have generally found that the owners and brewers are generally very progressive minded in thier politics. Thier establishments are great places to find alternative newspapers and info about local rallies and marches. And if that isn't enough, drinking local product almost always means supporting a local small business.

So, I'm opening a beer and eagerly awaiting your responses. Thanks in advance for any suggestions you make.

Cheers!

•  I drink Jim Beam

  And toast the lovely Bianca. . . .

  by user2082 on Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 08:23:20 PM PDT

•  I'll suggest a few from California...

  ... brewpubs with beer that I like.  Wish I was there, it's a good time.  Enjoy.

  Half Moon Bay Brewing Co.
  Newport Beach Brewing Co.
  Oggi's Pizza and Brewing Co.
  Steelhead Brewing Co. - Irvine
  Triple Rock Brewing Co.
  

  by socal on Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 08:38:46 PM PDT

  •  I've been to Triple Rock

    It was some years ago, but the beer was great.

    Thanks!
    

    by Cordelia Lear on Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 08:50:11 PM PDT

•  RED HOOK!

  Red Hook ESB and IPA are effing tasty. Brewed just outside of seattle, and now in new hampshire. Please, oh please, don't pass by the red hook booth.

  Another excellent seattle brew is the elysian's (sp?) honey heff.

  by bstubs on Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 08:41:34 PM PDT

  •  Will do

    they don't distribute Red Hook here in Michigan --- or at least I've never seen it here.

    Thanks!

    by Cordelia Lear on Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 08:52:13 PM PDT

•  A free beer is my fav...

  But for my money, nothing beats a Heineken, except Sam Adams' Cherry Wheat.

  by NyLib05 on Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 08:46:27 PM PDT

•  Hey, you're stealing my thunder

  I guess we're all going to be doing a bunch of drinking next week because the official Drinking Liberally Denver is Wednesday 9-28.  

  Ever since moving to Colorado my wife has asked me what I want to do for my birthday.  The answer has always been the same.  Let's go to the GABF.  She's supposed to take care of the close and personal invitations but I hereby invite each and every one of you to celebrate it with me.  Uh, I'll have to check which night we're going.  

  Right now I drinking the bottle I have of Flying Dog's Gonzo Imperial porter.  Who'd have thunk, a hoppy porter.  I'm sure Hunter would've approved.

  by johne on Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 08:49:44 PM PDT

  •  I almost forgot

    Besides Flying Dog making really great beer and having interesting label graphics, they're helping Stranahans make whiskey right next door.

    by johne on Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 08:54:33 PM PDT

    •  Thanks for the Wed. night link too

      We're staying downtown. Is the place walkable say from Flying Dog or Wynkoop?

      by Cordelia Lear on Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 09:03:35 PM PDT

      •  Sort of

        Flying Dog is around 22nd on Blake.  Double Daughters is at 1632 Market st.  So about 5 blocks and a few over.  7:30pm - or later.  We'll be at the back up the steps.

        If you're hear on vacation don't forget that the numbers streets go diagonally downtown.  They meet up with avenues to the east and west of downtown.  It's obvious from a map but a little 'splainin helps.

        by johne on Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 09:07:14 PM PDT

        •  I'll mention this to

          Mr. Lear.  I'm sure we'll try and stop by.

          Thanks!  

          by Cordelia Lear on Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 09:42:15 PM PDT

  •  Happy Birthday

    and enjoy.

    We expect to arrive in Denver on Wed. afternoon. I can't wait. One of our first stops will be Flying Dog. My husband is a big Hunter fan. We want to bring a few bottles home. I saw the announcement and the proposed bottle label. I agree that Hunter would approve.

    I hear that FD has NTN trivia now too.

    To many more.... years and beers! Cheers!

    by Cordelia Lear on Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 08:59:36 PM PDT

•  I give up all the beer

  to just sit and look into the eyes of fair and wise Cordelia.

  by DanielMN on Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 08:50:31 PM PDT

•  wow! Sackets Harbor is on

  the list! i live 15-20 minutes from there, and frequent regularly. can't go wrong with a Sackets brew! a nice tavern, too! i usually drink Canadian bottled beer. Labatt Blue or Molson Canadian. mmm mmm good! but, if we're goin' out, it's Sackets for a damn fine brew! get their black and tan!

  by winkler on Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 08:59:40 PM PDT

  •  Thanks!

    I'll add them to my list.

    by Cordelia Lear on Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 09:06:41 PM PDT

•  I grew up on Coors.

  But AB (advent of Bush), I resolve never to drink a beer brewed by some one named, Adolph.

  So Coronas for me now, from Dawn (it's 5 o'clock somewhere) to dusk!

  by The Messenger on Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 09:34:44 PM PDT

•  I'm surprised

  Coors is mentioned in here.  The Coors family started and continues to fund the Heritage Foundation - one of the most conservative, bigotted un-think-tanks out there.  And now that they're merged with Molson - buying their beer further funds the right-wing extremists.

  Sorry to have to bring politics back into this.

  by johne on Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 09:40:57 PM PDT

  •  I don't drink Coors

    but I have to admit that I have a soft spot for Smokey & the Bandit. I remember people having Coors shipped in while I was in college.

    by Cordelia Lear on Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 10:33:32 PM PDT

•  I think

  if you click on my sig you will see where I stand.

  Also, Abita from Abita Springs, LA makes some very refreshing beers!

  by The Nazz on Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 09:45:44 PM PDT

  •  Are you connected to New Belgium

    I was out there two years ago and had a lovely time. They had a kriek on tap that was absolutely outstanding.

    by Cordelia Lear on Thu Sep 22, 2005 at 10:16:32 PM PDT

•  Your trip is over, but

  if you ever have the chance to try Terminal Gravity IPA from the small town of Enterprise, Oregon - go for it!  One of the best IPAs around.

  by ouzel on Mon Nov 07, 2005 at 08:53:36 PM PDT