This time of year beer fans (at least in our family) like to buy special bottlings for opening at holiday events (like we really need an excuse).
This year, two of my favorites come from Breckenridge Brewery. Breckenridge has had much to celebrate this year reaching the twenty-five year milestone and a major brewery expansion. In the past twenty-five years Breckenridge Brewery has grown from just a 3,000-barrels-a-year brewpub to more than 64,000 barrels (placing it right at the 50th largest in the country) and five brewpubs and alehouses throughout Colorado.
Breckenridge is celebrating this anniversary with the aptly named “Twenty Five.” This limited release is an imperial version of the brewery’s Vanilla Porter. In this case, the vanilla porter is made to rest ten weeks in rum barrels imported from Barbados. Then, one-quarter pound of fresh, wet vanilla beans from Veracruz, Mexico are added to each barrel. Importantly, the beans come from small family farms where they were hand pollinated and hand picked.
As you would expect, there is vanilla though it accents rather than dominates malty and roasted notes, along with chocolate and coffee. Overall, it drinks smooth and creamy. The 9.8% ABV brew is currently available throughout key U.S. markets, packaged in 750-ml. cork-and-cage bottles.
Breckenridge also is celebrating with a different type of collaboration beer releasing “Silver Salmon IPL” in partnership with the band Leftover Salmon, which is releasing a new live album “25” to commemorate their twenty five year anniversary. The new album is packaged exclusively as a download with the limited-edition beer.
This India Style Pale Lager is expectedly light and refreshing but has plenty of flavor with noticeable citrus and slight bitterness and hints of herbs and pine.
For prices and availability, contact your local craft beer store or utilize Breckenridge Brewery’s Beer Locator. The album, 25, feature twenty-five never before released live recordings, and will also be available on iTunes and all digital outlets.