Jim Koch toasts two of the 2015 winners of the Sam Adams LongShot American Homebrew Competition at the Quench Your Own Thirst brunch in Denver last week.
Denver is an amazing place to be during the week of the Great American Beer Festival. In fact, it is the place to be. Craft beer enthusiasts and breweries alike travel from all over the country to attend this legendary event. And what happens when breweries and the people who love their beer come together in one place for an entire week is extraordinary.
Most craft beer drinkers are familiar with Samuel Adams‘ flagship beer, Boston Lager. And rightfully so, consdering it’s been around since 1984. But I have found that many people aren’t familiar with a lot of the other Sam Adams beers that, at least for me personally, are some of the most truly outstanding beers they brew.
GABF is the perfect opportunity for breweries to showcase the best of the best, and that’s just what the Sam Adams crew did last week in Denver. In fact, Denver was chosen as one of the locations lucky enough to be on the Kosmic Mother Funk (KMF) Grand Cru Tour. KMF Grand Cru, an American Wild Ale, is tart and funky, and is my favorite Sam Adams beer. Note to other cities: click this link to see if you’re up next, as the tour continues through December. (I’m looking at you, Portland, Seattle, Cleveland, Minneapolis, Austin…and several others).
In addition to having the good fortune of KMF Grand Cru, there were plenty of other rare and seasonal beers to be had, both at GABF as well as at tap takeovers around town. A few examples include American Kriek (from the Barrel Room Collection), small batch beer Fat Jack Double Pumpkin, and of course Utopias, a limited release.
If you enjoy craft beer and solely think of “Boston Lager” when you hear the name Sam Adams, I implore you to branch out and try some of the other interesting things they are doing. If you’re into IPAs, check out the Rebel Family. Prefer a beer that’s fit for the current weather? The seasonals have you covered whether it’s 9 or 90 degrees outside. If you like aged beers, the Barrel Room Collection is calling your name. In short, whatever your style, it’s likely that Sam Adams has a beer (or two, or three…) for you.
