It seems something sour is brewing in Colorado Springs. In a part of the country literally overflowing with small and creative breweries, there lurks a subset of friendly funkmasters getting wild with the Brett.
One such sourpuss is Jason Yester at Trinity Brewing, interviewed by USABeerTrends for 5 Questions with the Brewer in February. Jason digs messing with the microbes to craft some extremely yummy concoctions. He’s no stranger to the yeast dance. Honing his brewing skills since before he was even legal to sample what he was making, Jason – like most craft brewers – loves to experiment. One of his latest examples include Old Growth (very limited supply), “a Flemmish Inspired Wild Brown. Aging this beer on oak for any where between 6-18 months on wild bacterial/yeast spiked oaken barrels creates a heavily malic and tart brown ale. Inspired by the original Flemmish beers of ancient Belgium this extremely rare bottle has notes of green apple, lemon bar, kiwi, leather, and wet wool. 5.8% ABV.” Another is Farmhouse Saison, a “farmhouse ale brewed and dictated by seasonally available herbs, spices, fruits and vegetables.” He says his goal is to do an ongoing series of limited release seasonal bottlings of some of these special beers. A trend that USABeerTrends had noted of late. Currently, Trinity does five to six different 750ml bottles throughout the year that are either Imperials or Wilds. The direction they take with their bottling project is to only put highly cellarable beers in bottles!
Not that Jason and his talented Trinity brewer, Darren Baze (who, by the way, cut his brewing chops at Bristol Brewing in Colorado Springs) are the only wild men in the Springs. Enter John Schneider who, along with his wife Nicole, run Black Fox Brewing — again, in Colorado Springs. Seeing a trend here?
Welcome to Belgian Ale-ville.
Black Fox contract brews saisons (but they also have Brett barrel aged ales) at Bristol when he’s not holding down his regular brewer slot – at Bristol. And packaging is right around the corner. OK, it’s right here that I have to give kudos to Bristol owner Mike Bristol for fostering such a brew-friendly atmosphere. Not only did Jason, Darren and John all once brew for Bristol (actually John still does), Mike mentored these boys along and helped the craft beer industry at the same time. You gotta love it.
So, John didn’t just one day think, “I’ll start a brewery … now.” He first learned his craft brewing under Jason at Bristol. Next, he spent some time at a brewpub in Arizona. While at the Arizona brewpub, John, not under the production gun of a bigger brewery, was able to spend a little more time experimenting. Trying new things is a little easier in the small batch, brewpub environment.
Colorado was always tugging at his heart, though, and he made his way back to the Springs – and Bristol, about the time Jason left to get Trinity rolling. And, while away, he had been brewing up the plan for Black Fox. Mike at Bristol was supportive of the idea and, so, that’s how it got going. Regular gig brewing for Bristol, side gig contract brewing his own Black Fox recipes. Saisons and sours, baby.
Saison is an “open style” according to John. A brewer can get very creative and, yet, remain within the style. Currently, Black Fox designs it’s beers around the seasons and holidays. They distribute to about 20 accounts in and around the Colorado Springs area. Production is small right now. They did 171 barrels in 2009 and are on target for 200-225 in ‘10. Available only in kegs for now, he’d like to get some 750 ml bottles going soon. If you are in the Colorado Springs area, you might give Hiver or Samhain or Siempre Loco a try. If you’re a fan of the style, you will not be disappointed.
John says he doesn’t want it to grow too fast. He’d rather it go slow and focus on the quality. As far as awards go, he may enter 3 or 4 brews in this year’s GABF – where, by the way, Mr. Yester has been a judge in the past.
Trinity Brewing is located at 1466 Garden of the Gods Road in Colorado Springs. You can sample some of the Black Fox creations there, as well. Bristol Brewing is at 1647 South Tejon, also in Colorado Springs.
Cheers!
Your All-Puckered-up, Sour Beer Loving USABeerTrends Traveling Beer Freaks
Friends enjoy the bar at Trinity
I was in Colorado Springs last Friday and had the opportunity to visit Trinity Brewing, a groovy brewpub on Garden of the Gods Rd. I had a terrific lunch – a salmon salad and sipped on a Flo IPA. After lunch, brewpub owner and head brewer, Jason Yester pulled up a stool for a quick session of 5 Questions with the Brewer.
Now, Jason, like many professional brewers, started home brewing at a relatively young age. He began brewing professionally at age nineteen at Bristol Brewing where he worked part-time while studying microbiology at at college. His thesis had something to do with unpasteurized beer and microbe growth — or something like that. I got kinda lost at this point. Must be the Passed Stout I’m now sipping. Anyway, he worked his way up to full-time brewer at Bristol, but all along, had and idea for a brewery of his own cooking in the back of his brain.
Trinity owner Jason Yester
He has put his study of microbes to good use. His wood-aged TPS Report Experimental brew won him a 2009 GABF Gold. Jason says he likes the wild direction – and imperials. He’d like to do some short run boutique brews in corked 750ml bottles.
The brewpub business is cranking along and Jason recently bought out his partner. He’s finding that running the business isn’t allowing him as much time to brew as he had before. He’s not worried, though, as he shares brewing duties with Darren Baze. Jason says, in his opinion, Darren is among the top 10 brewers in the state of Colorado. They work as a team brewing Trinity’s house brews and they collaborate on new things.
On to the questions. And, as usual, there are more than five. Go figure.
USABT: Ale or lager?
JY: Wild!
USABT: What brewer would you be an assistant for?
JY: No more assisting for me. I like doing my own thing, too much. Darren and I assist each other.
USABT: What Colorado brewer doesn’t get the press they deserve?
JY: I’d say Great Divide. Those guys make some great beers and are growing like crazy, but you never here much about them nationally. They get a lot done under the radar. On the other hand, most Colorado breweries get good regional coverage.
USABT: What do you see as the next big “trend” in craft brewing?
JY: Not sure it’s the next big trend, as it is a popular category right now, but IPAs are hot in Colorado. Five out of six guest taps at the brewpub are IPAs. Also, Saison is up and coming. We did nineteen different Saisons in ‘08. It’s my favorite style.
USABT: Where do you go, in Colorado, for someone else’s beer?
JY: Whenever I travel, I make sure to hit the local breweries and brewpubs. So, if I’m down in Pagosa Springs I stop in Pagosa Brewing. If I’m in Durango, I’ll swing by Ska. On the Front Range, I’ll visit Great Divide, New Belgium, Odells, Breckenridge and others. It’s good to stop in and see what everyone else is up to, catch up with friends, network with brewers and people on the business side. Colorado brewers are a pretty tight community.
USABT: Do you have a favorite hop, grain, or yeast?
JY: I like Maris Otter malt. For yeast, I like 3726 Farmhouse Ale yeast and Fontein Brett Brux. For hops I like Columbus
and Kent Goldings for the dry finish.
As we wrapped up our interview, Jason brought out samples of some of his new beers, including an IPA called Slap Your Mammy that he was releasing later that day. All were excellent. And his sours rocked.
Speaking of sours, Jason introduced me to John Schneider who brews at Bristol, but also brews his own sours under the Black Fox name. More with John and his wife, Nicole, soon.
Brotherly Beer Love
Until then, keep talking about beers! And even better, keep drinking them.
Cheers!
Your USABeerTrends Beer Drinking Question Askers
Had a great visit with Jason Yester at Trinity Brewing in Colorado Springs last week. While we were there, he introduced us to another brewer, John Schneider of Black Fox Brewing. We’ll have more on the visit with these folks in a couple of days. Also on the way, USABeerTrends makes the pilgrimage to Fort Collins and revisits Left Hand in Longmont and Avery in Boulder.
Those stories are also on the way in the next week or so.
Happy Valentine’s to all of the Beer Faithful!
Your USABeerTrends Travel Monkeys
Greetings Beer-loving Faithful. USABeerTrends asked you if you are giving and getting beer for Valentine’s Day and a few of you chimed in. We heard from loving beer-lovers in California, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire New York, Texas, North Carolina, Michigan, Colorado, Delaware, Belgium and Costa Rica.
36% of you are 21-30 years old, 10% are 31-40 years old, 37% are 41-50 years old and 17% are 51-60.
What the ... a present? For me?
When asked what beer you’ll be giving your loving beer-lover, answers ranged from none, to “what lover?” (poor PJ!), to home brew. Oh there were some other beers mentioned, from the fruity Sam Smith’s Organic Strawberry to Lindeman’s Framboise and Casis. Others getting into the spirit suggested Sexual Chocolate Stout from Foothills Brewing, and some may be hoping to get a little bubbly by giving DeuS from Bosteels in Belgium. Speaking of Belgium, there are a few of you are hoping to get a little closer to sainthood on St. Valentine’s Day by giving St. Bernardus Alt 12 … mmm, Quadruple love.
Now, as far as the getting goes, things don’t change too much from the giving. In addition to the chocolaty, fruity, saintly brews above, you’ve asked us to drop these hints to your lover. Here’s what you’d love to find wrapped in a heart-shaped box come Valentine’s Day: Pliny the Younger (I hope they were in line with their 4 growlers for this one, or you’re outta luck), Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA, Allagash Curieux in all of its oak barrel aged Jim Beam goodness, Goose Island Bourbon County Stout, Imperial Stout Trooper from out friends at New England Brewing Co., more Belgian-y Champagne-y brews like Scaldis Prestige for the bubbly set, and Duck Duck Gooze (for poor PJ). And nothin’ says lovin’ like a little Tactical Nuclear Penguin, right?
So, there it is. A list of good suggestions all around.
Happy Valentine’s to all of you, the Beer Faithful.
Remember what Paul said, “And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make“.
Love,
Your USABeerTrends Beer Cupids
That’s right Beer Faithful, USABeerTrends will be making the rounds of the Front Range next week and Jason Yester of Trinity Brewing in Colorado Springs has agreed to subject himself to 5 Questions with the Brewer.
So, now we turn to you, beer lover, and ask you to submit your questions. What beer questions do you want to ask young Jason? Send ‘em to us and we’ll put the top 5 to Mr. Yester.
Your USABeerTrends Scientific Question Askers are also trying to set up a few more interviews while we’re in Colorado. It’s shaping up to be a busy couple of days.
Send your questions for the brewer to: trends@usabeertrends.com or just click HERE.
Cheers!
Your Sideways USABeerTrends Beer-Travel Team
Coffee Porter, Saison, or moi?
That’s right, Beer Lovers, the clock is ticking. Have you gotten your sweetie something special for Valentine’s Day yet? Have you dropped hints about what you’d like? The most recent USABeerTrends survey is asking what beer woulod you give, and what beer would you want to get, for Valentine’s Day.
It’s a quick little survey and you can take it by clicking HERE .
Bush sniffer test
Our scientific beer love scientists will collect, analyze and report back on the data right here on Wednesday the 10th of February. This should give you enough time to get some good ideas or drop some good hints to the one you love.
Cheers all.
Love,
Your USABeerTrends Love Doctors
Photo: Vachon, John, 1914-1975, 1940 May Library of Congress
Love is in the air, Beer Nation. We can tell by the percentage of TV spots being run by the cheesey jewelry chain stores and chocolate brands with fancy names and such. Yep. Valentine’s is just around the corner.
And being the beer-loving fools that we are, the question bouncing around the USABeerTrends cave: What craft beer will you give your lover this Valentine’s Day? And, even more important, because it’s how we roll: What beer, if you could have any beer out there, would you want as a Valentine’s gift from your lover?
Any beer out there in this big old world. Hmmmm. Think of the possibilities.
When you’ve got it figured out, go HERE and let us know. Keep it clean, now. We’ll post the results a few days before the day of love. You know, with enough time for you to say, “Oh, look dear, these fine USABeerTrends folks have a post on giving beer for Valentine’s.”
Wink wink. Nod nod. Say no more.
Love,
Your Amorous Ale Adorers at USABeerTrends
Gruntings and belchifications, Beer Nation! The new year is cranking right along and the “Big Chill” has finally moved elsewhere. I think it is due, in part, to the great number of folks drinking winter warmers. Right? Hey, we recently asked what winter warmer was keeping you all toasty during the long, cold, dark winter nights, and you responded.
Beer marketing folks, take notice:
Where? Answers poured in from all over the Beer Nation from places like Rochester, NY and Glendale, CA and Plymouth , MI and Greenville, SC. Folks from different parts of Oregon, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts and Texas also chimed in.
How old? 30% of you are in the 21-30 year old age group. 40% are 31-40. 20% are 41-50, and 10% are 51-60.
Top Choices: 17% are drinking Widmer Brrr and 17% are drinking Sierra Nevada Celebration. 9% say you are making Deschuttes Jubelale your winter warming device. The other 57% of you have choices spread out all over the map. There are a few who say they are not drinking any winter warmers at all. Thanks for sharing.
Alpha Klaus
Divine Reserve #9
Here’s a sampling from what the rest of you say you are drinking to stay warm: Custom Brewcrafters Wee Heavy, Pretty Things Babayaga, The Bruery Two Turtle Doves, Hair of the Dog Adam, Highland Brewing Cold Mountain Winter Ale, Full Moon, Saint Arnold Divine Reserve #9, Independence Brewing Imperial Oatmeal Stout, Great Divide Hibernation, New Galrus IPA, Great Lakes Christmas, 3 Floyds Alpha Klaus, Goose Island Mild Winter and on and on.
Hibernation
Whatever it is that keeps you warm, whether it’s a traditional winter warmer or not, thanks for supporting beer, and especially American craft brewing and your local breweries. And, uh, thanks for helping to get the freaking temperature above freezing (even if only for a little while).
Cheers!
Your warm and toasty, bundled up and cozy, dreaming-of Tahiti USABeerTrends Scientific Beer Survey Scientists
Howdy, Beer Nation. What’s been keeping you busy? Hmmm? The USABeerTrends crew found themselves in the great frozen city of the South, Atlanta, last week on “other business”. Actually, we were in Peachtree City, about 20 miles south of downtown. But, as always, we make room for beer, no matter what or where the “other business” is.
And by frozen, we mean frozen. The temperature only got above 32 a couple of times during our stay. Kept thinking I was in Durango, except there were no mountains, and no Ska, no Steamworks … OK, snap out of it. Back to Atlanta.
Ah, the first night. After travel and all day meetings, we were hungry and thirsty. Steak sounded good. Turns out, the options were fairly limited, and our client was all hot for Outback. OK, then. While Outback has a variety of macros, they are kinda thin on imports and American Crafts.
There was a guy at the bar talking with a construction company buddy about his new online business – a women’s cosmetic web site. He was knocking back a Bud Light and looked at me kinda funny when I ordered the Sam Adams Winter Lager. I asked if he’d ever tried it. Taking another pull from the Bud Light, he said, no, that he didn’t like no beer he couldn’t pound. Well, now.
Pounding a Bud Light
Steak was on the barbie, Sam Adams Winter Lager was in the house, and in our glasses.
As the time in Atlanta passed, it became evident that the USABT crew was not going to be able to get to Twain’s or Brick Store like we wanted to. They are priorities for our next visit, though.
Mmm, another group meal with the client, who really likes chain casual dining establishments. This time, we found ourselves at the Red Lobster in Newnan. Again the requisite selection of
Sam Adams Winter Lager
macros, a couple of imports, and a couple of American craft beers. I asked the bartender what beer was selling best recently. He said it was the Sam Adams Winter Lager. I was surprised, and glad folks are venturing outside the normal macro bounds. Yuengling was also present, but not as popular in the colder weather, he said, as it had been a few months ago. I’d already been the Sam Adams route, so, wood-fire grilled trout and Yuengling this time.
I was able to report back to our home base for a couple of days, thank goodness. Spent some time at our Flying Saucer’s 2nd anniversary bash. Special casks, special prices. Good times. Met the guys behind Hops and Grain, a soon to be brewery here in Austin. Learned about their sustainability mission. Pretty cool ideas. Check ‘em out.
The trip home was over as fast as it began and the USABT crew was back to the frozen tundra of Peachtree City, GA. Still no opportunities to hit those famed beer joints in Decatur. Rats. Next time!
Nope. The “other business” kept us locked under the bubble that is Peachtree City. Watch out for them golf carts! Our only opportunities for beer, once again, came with the tour de chain restaurants. The first evening, we met our client and someone from their Brooks transit division at Longhorn (Yep, steaks again). I was happy to see Sierra Nevada on the beer list this time and made that my choice for the evening. The bartender was very proud of their selection of Budweiser, Miller and Coors (and associated breweries) products. They had a few imports, too. Mostly the same fare we found at the other chain joints. There were a couple of guys at the bar lamenting their pay compensation plans. They were in some kind of high tech sales jobs. Travel around quite a bit. It was funny to see one of them raise his right eyebrow and give a knowing nod when I ordered the Sierra Nevada. I told him of our adventures, searching for American craft beers under the Peachtree City bubble. Turns out, he’s a craft beer geek like us. That’s when he told me about the Taco Mac.
Now I have heard of Taco Mac. Have even eaten and had beers at one elsewhere in the Atlanta area in the past. I even think we’re Twitter friends. I did not know they had a location in PTC almost next door to Longhorn! Oh, happy day.
The next day, it was hard to concentrate on the tasks at hand, knowing we’d go to dinner at Taco Mac. Why the excitement? If you don’t already know, Taco Mac is an Atlanta chain that started with a restaurant in the Virginia Highland section of town. Wings and beer. Lots and lots of beer. Now they have locations in and around Atlanta and also in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
At the Peachtree City location (275 Market Place Connector 770-692-0006) they boast 100 beers on tap and 300+ beers in bottles. Our kind of place. The USABeerTrends crew fit right in. In fact, they were nervous we wouldn’t leave at closing time. Check out the bottles, taps and cold room. Excellent!
Duck Rabbit Milk Stout
On this evening, Taco Mac was featuring some Colorado beers. Tommyknocker Cocoa Porter, Breckenridge Vanilla Porter and Fort Collins Brewery Chocolate Stout. Our crew rotated through the Breckenridge Vanilla, Terrapin’s Golden Ale, and Red Brick Porter from Atlanta Brewing Co. Then, finished with Duck Rabbit Milk Stout. We were pleased with all of the choices with one of the crew complaining that the Terrapin was a little too light. Maybe so. compared to the other beers we were sampling. But still plenty good! And the Duck Rabbit Milk Stout – creamy, roasted goodness.
(l-r) Terrapin Golden Ale, Breck Vanilla Porter, Red Brick Porter
Hooray, Taco Mac. Our savior in beer. And the wings don’t suck either!
The 7:00 a.m. flight came too early. But sleep on the plane came easy.
Cheers!
We're here for da beers.
Brrrr, Beer Nation! With much of the USA dealing with some supa-chilly weather, USABeerTrends wants to know what Winter Warmer is helping you keep your glow. Jump over to our scientific survey thingy and answer some quick questions. We’ll post the results early in the coming week.
Bundle up, now.
Your fleeced up, bundled up, cozy USABeerTrends BeerFriends
