On tap at River Of Beer, luscious 20th Anniversary celebrator lacquers tropical pineapple, grapefruit, orange, cantaloupe and mango tang atop creamily rum-spiced sugar malts. Crisp, clean and refreshing, hiding intense 10% ABV astringency, oily pine resin and mild floral bouquet beneath fruitful splendor.
HERETIC EVIL COUSIN
On tap at Julian’s, fine West Coast Imperial IPA takes on richer malt-sugared profile than usual citric-pined hop-forward fare. Bitter lemony grapefruit-orange expectancy balanced abruptly by honeyed pineapple, mango, peach and papaya tropicalia as well as light floral herbage.
ALESMITH LIL DEVIL BELGIAN-STYLE PALE ALE
Understated moderation combines herbal black-peppered farmhouse yeast with funky fungi-fruited fragility and musky raw-honeyed astringency. Orange-peeled coriander spicing dissipates as cidery green grape esters grow sourer alongside lemony yellow grapefruit, banana and peach tones.
STONE 20 CITRACADO IPA
On tap at Poor Henry’s, aggressive 2016 limited edition Imperial IPA proves original as brisk citra-hopped avocado flower honey heightens floral-sweetened fruit juicing over chewy whiskey-daubed caramel malting. Capacious pink grapefruit, Valencia orange, red cherry, mango, pineapple, papaya, guava and apple bouquet really sings out! Minor earthen pine resin adds light astringency to the underside of ambitious avocado-honeyed 20th anniversary hybrid.
BEAR REPUBLIC PACE CAR RACER
Sessionable IPA retains vibrant lemony grapefruit-orange tang and sharp citric-spiced hop bittering above mildly lingering aspirin-like astringency. A mellowed-out and toned-down IPA lighter thirsts will find approachable.
SHINER WICKED RAM IPA
Centrist Anglo-American IPA connects West Coast grassy citrus hop bittering and caramelized wheat malting to Brit-styled dank grain pungency and dewy earthiness. Moderated grapefruit-pineapple tang picks up herbal twinge and gluey grouting.
NEW BELGIUM RANGER IPA
Subdued fruit-spiced entry brings easygoing appeal to moderate IPA. Well-balanced pineapple, grapefruit, orange, mango, peach and tangerine tang picks up sugar-spiced pale malting above soft white-breaded biscuity bottom. Tamped-down Cascade-Chinook hop bittering and dank pine sedation provide subtle contrast. Serve to heartier pale ale lovers.
NEW BELGIUM/ DE KONINCK FLOWERING CITRUS ALE
Worthily zestful collaboration between Colorado mainstay and historic Belgian brewery, De Koninck, makes for perfect floral-citric summertime moderation. Lemony key lime effervescence gains tart edge above sweetly fragrant hibiscus and rose pedal illusions. Light citrus-daubed blueberry souring and wispy strawberry-tinged Mistral hop influence play backup.
NEW BELGIUM FAT TIRE & FRIENDS FAT WILD ALE
On tap at Julian’s, mild (despite wild tag) sour ale collaboration (with nearby Colorado brewery, Avery) brings subtle brettanomyces acidity and light horse-blanketed barnyard leathering to herbal-tinged tropical fruiting. Honey-dipped grapefruit, orange, mango, tangerine, peach, pineapple and mango illusions drift in and out of musty palate. Sessionable sour ale suffices.
DOGFISH HEAD SEA QUENCH SESSION SOUR ALE
Sessionable beige-yellowed sour ale provides brisk lime peel and black lime adjuncts to coriander-spiced sea salt brininess for interesting Kolsch-Gose-Berliner Weiss blend. Sweet-tart mandarin orange-like effervescence glides across fresh lime parch. Not as dryly mouth-puckering as bigger, bitterer sour ales.
CROOKED STAVE COLORADO WILD SAGE BRETT SAISON
On tap at Poor Henry’s, soft-toned sour ale “brewed with wild sage and lemongrass” maintains brisk lemon-limed carbolic spritz over brettanomyces-affected earthen barnyard parch. Aromatic sage sweetness softly surfaces to complement lemon candy, lemon zest and lemon custard illusions (as well as dried plum wisps and spicy coriander wisps). A fine herbal-spiced fruit-soured original.
LAGUNITAS AUNT SALLY DRY-HOPPED SWEET TART SOUR MASH ALE
“Unique” dry-hopped wild ale loads lactobacillus acidity onto lemon-peeled pineapple, guava, mango, peach and papaya tartness and lightly vinous green grape souring. Musty barnyard leathering, musky sour mash and earthen hops increase dry rusticity.