When it comes to drinking beer, the people of Denver are practically virtuosos. This week our city has, not one, but three innovative events designed around its consumption—including a night that harmonizes the auditory musings of the Colorado Symphony with the gustatory delights of craft beer. Also, a secret dinner club returns to Denver and another holiday market pops up to help you finish your holiday shopping while buying local.
Beethoven & Brews
When: December 8, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Where: Tivoli Brewing Co.; 900 Auraria Pkwy., Denver
Cost: $40 – presale or $45 day of on-site, $65 – V.I.P. includes a tour of the brewery and souvenir pint glass
Tickets: Available here
The Low Down: Today, you can pair your favorite craft beer with the symphonic melodies of the Colorado Symphony at this year’s Beethoven and Brews. Taking place at the historic Tivoli Brewing Co., the annual event will feature an ensemble performance and 4-ounce pours of beer from local breweries. Light bites, as well as, additional beverages are available for purchase. Attendees are encouraged to get in a festive mood and wear their ugliest Christmas sweater. A portion of the proceeds from the event will go towards funding the Colorado Symphony.
Randalls & Rarities at Avanti Food & Beverage
When: December 10, 5 – 8 p.m.
Where: Avanti Food & Beverage; 3200 Pecos St., Denver
Cost: Free
The Low Down: Back in 2002, Sam Calagione, beer icon and founder of Dogfish Head, created the “Randall,” a sophisticated filter system that infuses the draft beer with a chosen flavor enhancing ingredient. The randalling process, as it became known, was first used to infuse beer with hops, spices and herbs but has been used with everything from candy canes, habanero peppers and more. This Thursday, you can check out the randalling process in action, as our friends over at PorchDrinking.com decided to team up with Avanti Food & Beverage to produce three randalled beers. And as an ode to its inventor, Porchdrinking.com will use Avanti’s extensive offerings of Dogfish Head draft beers to produce their unique doctored brews including:
—Bitches Brew with ancho chili peppers, cacao nibs, cinnamon sticks, and coffee beans
—60 Minute IPA with whole leaf Citra hops and citrus fruit rinds
—India Brown Ale with toasted coconut and vanilla beans
The event is free to attend, and as a bonus Dogfish Head will release a litany of rare beers. PorchDrinking.com staff and Dylan McDonald from Dogfish Head will be on hand to discuss randalling recipes and brews. So come prepared with any questions and be ready to try truly one-of-a-kind beers.
Dinner Lab Returns to Denver
When: December 11
Where: It’s a secret! TBA
Cost: $70 – Member, $60 – Select Member
Tickets: Available here
The Low Down: With a mission to change how we dine, the national pop-up dinner project, Dinner Lab, returns to Denver. Set in a location that is only revealed hours before the event, the New Orleans based company invites up-and-coming chefs to create a multi-course menu for its hungry members. This week, Dinner Lab welcomes Chef David Lopez of El Chingon Mexican Bistro to explore the “new guard of Mexican cuisine.” The menu can be found below, but make sure to get your ticket quick to discover the location of what is sure to be an experiential dinner:
Aguachile de Hamachi with cured hamachi, fresh lime & Serrano purée, and Fresno chiles & cilantro
Pork Belly Chicharron with crispy pork belly, roasted tomatillo & avocado salsa and Yukon potato crisps with pickled onion
Albondigas de Bisonte with bison & rice meatballs, salsa roja, queso fresco and cilantro
Carnitas de Borrego with slow braised lamb, Chile morita, mushroom & jalapeño caldillo and blood orange
Pastel Abuelita with abuelita chocolate mousse, aniseed cake, cinnamon whip, and mezcal & cilantro syrup
#sourcepopup Holiday Market
When: December 12 – 13th, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Where: The Source; 3350 Brighton Blvd., Denver
Cost: Free
The Low Down: Still need to finish up your holiday shopping? Swing by The Source this weekend for a holiday pop-up market. Featured vendors are as followed: Valentich Bags, Simply Guapa, Craft Boner, Hygge Life, Doozie Jewelry, Sweet Jayne’s Pies, Haiku Foods Fermentation Class, Handmade Ceramics from Kazu Oba, PB Love, Fancy Tiger and more. Afterward, make sure to snag a bite at Comida for some street tacos or munch on a perfectly flaky croissant from Babettes, two in-house shops inside the marketplace.
2015 Denver Beer Festivus
When: December 13, 2 – 5:30 p.m.
Where: Wings Over Rockies Air & Space Museum; 7711 E. Academy Blvd., Denver
Cost: Feat of Strength $65, GA $40, Shuttle Transportation $10
Tickets: Available here
The Low Down: Denver Beer Festivus, the self-proclaimed greatest celebration of craft beer in Denver, is this weekend. How can it claim to be the best? Because every single brewery in Denver is invited to come, pour at this annual event. This year, 50 breweries will be in attendance and will include an entire section to rare local beers. Rumor has it Great Divide will even release a barrel aged version of its popular Yeti. Also for a change of pace, Festivus will move from its former digs at the McNichols Building in Civic Center to an airplane hangar on the outskirts of Denver. But no fear if you’re worried about getting there, as Festivus has provided multiple round-trip shuttles to depart from several breweries for $10. To get a full list of departure locations, go to ticket checkout here.
Mark Your Calendar
Women-Only Brewer’s Yeast Class
When: December 15, 6 – 8 p.m.
Where: Factotum Brewhouse; 3845 Lipan St., Denver
Cost: $25
Tickets: Available here
Avanti Art Night
When: December 16, 6 – 9 p.m.
Where: Avanti F&B; 3200 Pecos St., Denver
Cost: Free
DONUT PANIC Release Party!
When: December 19, 12 – 1 p.m.
Where: Fiction Beer Company; 7101 E. Colfax Ave., Denver
Cost: Prices may vary upon purchase
Stem’s ‘Keep the Glass’ Monday
When: December 21, 4 – 10 p.m.
Where: Stem Ciders; 2811 Walnut St., Denver
Cost: $10 for 2 cider pours