This is why I sometimes wish I lived in Colorado... and one of the better things I've ever read about Valentines Day (apropos of nothing):
Update, 2210 hrs: Pursuant to the conversation going on in comments to this post... the contents of my fridge, about 20 minutes ago. There's one less 1554 in the fridge, as we speak.
Dark Kriek
But then again... Colorado has all that danged snow. Never mind. Priorities, yanno.
For many years we’ve celebrated Valentine’s Day at New Belgium Brewing by creating a special small batch beer for our family and friends. These beers tend to be a little funky, fruitful and straight from the heart. This year we decided to share the love.
New Belgium Brewing’s Dark Kriek is a limited edition Belgian kriek or cherry beer. Much darker than a traditional kriek with a dash of sour cherry up front, our Dark Kriek is actually a blend of two beers. We start with a light, dry, tannic beer aged two years in oak barrels and combine this with a heavier, dark ale and cherries to create one smooth cherry blast of love.
8% ABV
(ed note: "share the love" is rather limited... from a New Belgium Tweet: "lowdown on location for Dark Kriek (cases by state) CO 500, CA 500, WA 150, OR 150, IL 25 - and 25 cases to our Liquid Center")
Update, 2210 hrs: Pursuant to the conversation going on in comments to this post... the contents of my fridge, about 20 minutes ago. There's one less 1554 in the fridge, as we speak.
And Colorada is VERY, VERY liberal - gorgeous state, but I could not live there...however, the cherry and light/dark blend sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteA local brewery here - MT - also "all that danged snow" - makes Huckleberry Beer in the summer. One of my favs.
I think local breweries are the BEST breweries, Ann. I agree with you on Colorado... what used to be a classically conservative, primarily agricultural/ranching state has been ruined by the influx of "furriners." Just my (not so) humble opinion, mind you! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI can say that having lived in Colorado for almost 10 years, I never really got that "holy cow this is a liberal place" feeling. I know that politically it is a pretty liberal place, but it's blue collar heritage really does keep things pretty level - at least socially.
ReplyDeleteAnd I should add that it has been almost another ten years since I spent more than a couple of weeks there, so things may have changed aplenty.
I'll ship you some Huckleberry next summer when they brew and you can render your opinion. I'm not really a beer afficiando...
ReplyDeleteAnd I should add that it has been almost another ten years since I spent more than a couple of weeks there, so things may have changed aplenty.
ReplyDeleteAll I have to go on is my perceptions from spending some time in Fort Collins recently. But that might be like generalizing about California after spending three days in Berkeley. But... there's also that lil matter of the most recent general election results... ;-)
Ann: Dang! That's a right generous and kind offer you've made!!! Very cool, too!
re generalizing...I thought about that also...I've spent time in recent years: Ft. Collins, South Fork, Breckenridge, Denver, Boulder... And just like MT there are no doubt pockets of every leaning, but re "lil matter of the most recent general election" -I AM happy to say that MT sent all 3 of it's electoral votes to McCain/Palin.
ReplyDeleteAnd, hey, it will be fun to share some MT beer and hear back from a real beer lover - quid pro quo!
What? No brewery in Portales?
ReplyDeleteMind you, the city was dry until 1975.
Love almost everything NBB puts out...1554 may be my fave with Sunshine Wheat a close second...that said...i've found their seasonals to be a bit too funky for me. The 2 Below reminded me of mint with a nine volt battery to the tongue. I must admit...fruit and beer just don't seem right together. Of course, this is all MHO so take it with the grain of salt as needed.
ReplyDeleteI'm about 50/50 on New Belgium. Love some, don't like others. Don't like dark beers in general, but certainly not as a rule. I'll be looking into finding one of these Dark Krieks. Looks like Washington got some.
ReplyDeleteAnn: I'm thinking I'm getting the better end of this "quid pro quo!"
ReplyDeleteGordon: If P-Ville were still dry I wouldn't be here. Simple as that. And brewery? Portales? Heh. Double-heh.
Jay sez: Love almost everything NBB puts out...1554 may be my fave with Sunshine Wheat a close second...that said...i've found their seasonals to be a bit too funky for me.
Wow... synchronicity! 1554 is the current beer of choice, but as you can see from the update I stock others, as well. We don't get many... if any... of the seasonals, seeing as how I live in the freakin' stix. But I snap 'em up if and when they come around.
Andy: You should definitely try 1554. I'm bettin' it (a) might change your POV about dark beers and (b) may be on tap somewhere in your vicinity, but if not a sixer won't break the bank.
Some of the best beer I ever tasted Buck were from the local breweries in the UK. Norwich bitter was my favorite while I was stationed at RAF Mildenhall. I'm pretty fond of German beers as well.
ReplyDeleteOK has some small breweries, but those dang torandoes!
ReplyDeleteI remember the days when CO was more conservative - back before all them Cali-foreigns moved there. They are ruining NM now.
"might change your POV about dark beers"
ReplyDeleteNope. I've had dark beers that I don't like, more than those that I have liked. 1554 may be good, but it ain't a magic wand.
Funny, after living in sunny CO for a little while, there were/are two people groups that native Coloradans would prefer just making speed bumps out of...Californians and Texans. It was just Texans for years but now the Cali's have overtaken the number one spot for speed bumps on I-70.
ReplyDeleteHey Piper, couldn't agree more! That's how we felt back when I lived there, too. Mostly we cited their complete inability to drive in anything but dry, 70-degree weather.
ReplyDeleteDale: I wasn't a beer drinker, generally speaking, until I got stationed in England in '80. That's when my education REALLY began where beer is concerned. Courage's Directors Bitter was my favorite when it came to widely-available beers, but I was partial to the beers put out by my local brewery... Brakspear in Henley-On-Thames (just up the road a piece from where I lived in High Wycombe). The brewery changed hands numerous times after I left Ol' Blighty and is no more, from what I read.
ReplyDeleteLou sez: OK has some small breweries, but those dang torandoes!
Yeah... nine dead in Edmond last night, from what I see on the WX Channel. The damage looked pretty extensive.
Andy sez: 1554 may be good, but it ain't a magic wand.
Understood... but I think 1554 IS magic, after a fashion! ;-)
Jay and Andy: I LIKE the way Coloradans drive... traffic MOVES on I-25!
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ReplyDeleteHey Buck,
ReplyDeleteBeen reading your blog for awhile now, but haven't posted before. I treat blogs like spoken conversations, if I don't have anything valuable to add, I keep quiet (it's taken me a lot of years to master that skill!).
However I just couldn't let a post about New Belgium's finest slip past me. It clearly confirms you as a man with good taste. Been a Fat Tire man myself for some years now.
Have you tried their 2 Below?
Hey BR! Thanks for contributing... I just love it when beer-lovers come out of the woodwork, so to speak!
ReplyDeleteAlas, 2 Below falls into that "seasonal" category and isn't available in these parts. I'm trying my damndest to cultivate a relationship with the manager at Cannon's Class Six store, but I get the feeling the woman in question just doesn't give two hoots in Hell about beer, only "managing." I'm thankful I can get the "regular" stuff from NBB out at Cannon, tho... coz our local outlets (read as: civilian) don't carry anything beyond Fat Tire.
Hey Buck,
ReplyDeleteI might try that Fat Tire stuff, but for the rest...., only if you are buying!
Enjoy a cool one and think of us suffering in the warm east!
I'm a fan of the 1554 myself. Have you tried Makeson XXX Stout? If you like the 1554, you should give Makeson a try. Amazing selection of beers in Colorado Springs. Nothing near it here. Not even close.
ReplyDeleteDC sez: I might try that Fat Tire stuff, but for the rest...., only if you are buying!
ReplyDeleteThat might could be arranged... if and when I ever get out your way.
Doc: I've not tried Mackeson and am not a great stout drinker, although I have been known to have a Guinness or two during the winter months. I'll give Mackeson a go... if and/or when we cross paths (the beer and I). Or when you and I get together to sort out this climate change thing over a few beers... ;-)