More than 65 breweries have banded together to create the Colorado Strong Pale Ale, a benefit beer that supports suppliers, local breweries, the Colorado Brewers Guild and the state chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI).
The Colorado Strong benefit beer first launched last year during the pandemic as a way to raise money for people affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
This year, the beer is back and better than ever. Once again, it’s made with all Colorado ingredients, including Genie Pale and Vienna malt from Root Shoot Malting in Loveland, Cascade, Chinook and Cashmere hops from Colorado Hop Company in Platteville and yeast from Inland Island Yeast Company in Denver.
More than 65 craft breweries are participating this time around. They’re all putting their own unique spin on an India Pale Ale recipe developed by Dave Bergen of Joyride Brewing Company and Jason Ford of Broken Compass Brewing Company. Some of the breweries are doing hazy versions, while others are doing session IPAs, double IPAs and alt biers.
“The Colorado Strong Fund was born out of need due to COVID-19, but what we realized is when the State of Craft Beer and suppliers team up we can make an even greater impact,” says Shawnee Adelson, executive director of the Colorado Brewers Guild. “Because Colorado is strong, the Colorado Strong Fund will be an ongoing effort. We are so pleased to be supporting NAMI this year as mental health has been an increased focus for the craft brewing industry and all industries through this pandemic.”
Craft-beer lovers can drink to their heart’s content and feel good about their purchases, since 20 percent of all sales of the beer go to the Colorado Strong Fund, which will support the Colorado chapter of NAMI and the brewers guild.
“By visiting participating breweries that are pouring Colorado Strong, community members are not only supporting the breweries themselves, but also the local vendors who supplied the beer ingredients as well as an important non-profit near and dear to the brewing industry’s heart. It’s truly a win-win for our community,” says Megan Mahar, development manager for the Left Hand Brewing Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Left Hand Brewing, which is also helping to coordinate the effort.
The brewers guild has a full list of participating breweries, as well as when they plan to release their Colorado Strong Pale Ale, but here are a few highlights from the broader Boulder area:
- Outworld Brewing in Longmont is making a West Coast Rye IPA that you can sip starting Dec. 1. It’s on draft in the taproom and available for crowler and growler fills.
- Left Hand Brewing in Longmont is doing a Hazy IPA at the tasting room. It launched Nov. 15.
- Knuckle Puck Brewing in Longmont released its Both Coast IPA on Nov. 10.
- Mirror Image Brewing in Frederick is releasing a Hazy IPA Nov. 27.
- Loveland Aleworks in Loveland is launching its West Coast IPA (with the addition of Strata hops) on Nov. 24.
- Horse & Dragon Brewing Company in Fort Collins has a hazy Pale Ale that launched Nov. 15.
- Snowbank Brewing in Fort Collins released its Hazy IPA on Nov. 5
