Boulder Beer Co. - Shake Chocolate Porter

Brewed with real cacao nibs, this 2014 World Beer Cup Gold medal and 2015 US Open Beer Championship Silver medal winner presents very dark, almost black, in the glass, capped by a robust head of rocky foam that laces nicely as it slowly recedes. Mocha aromas jump out right away, bolstered by rich caramel and bready undertones. On the palate, look for the chocolate notes to come forth immediately, but not in the gimmicky, over-the-top way of many other chocolate beers. Rather, the cacao additions offer a nice complement to the core porter notes of roasted and caramelized malts. We really enjoyed how smooth and creamy Shake is as well, and the clean hop bitterness dries it out in the finish, clearing the way for another sip. Delicious, well-balanced, and easy-drinking, Shake is a natural partner for sweet barbequed meats, and a dessert pairing with chocolate cake and a scoop of vanilla or coffee ice cream is a great idea as well. Cheers!

Boulder Beer Company became Colorado’s first microbrewery when it was founded in 1979, blazing a trail for all of the other great breweries that have sprung up across this famous beer-loving state in succeeding years. At the time, they were only the 43rd brewery in the U.S. (there are well over 4,000 now, not counting brewpubs). Founded by two Colorado University professors, David Hummer and “Stick” Ware, the brewery was originally situated on a small farm outside Boulder. Their single barrel brewing system was famously forced to share space with the resident goats! (The brewery itself notes that “When a company is founded by guys named ‘Hummer’ and ‘Stick’ in a goatshed, you know it’s gonna be crazy.”) Within five years, Boulder Beer’s following had grown dramatically and they had outgrown the capacity of the farm, so a proper brewery building was built in Boulder to house their expanding business.

The company went public in 1983, but by 1990 it had fallen on hard times. Out of bankruptcy it came into the ownership of a private group of investors, including Rock Bottom Brewery’s owner, Gina Day, who brought on brewmaster David Zuckerman from Portland, Oregon’s well-regarded Bridgeport Brewing Company. Various upgrades were implemented throughout the brewery, including the transformation of their diminutive tasting room into a full-scale brewpub and restaurant. New beers were introduced, old recipes were tweaked, and brewing methods improved. In 1993 the company changed its name to Rockies Brewing Company, but they embraced their roots in 2005 by switching it back to Boulder Beer Company. It was also in that year that they introduced their annual “Goatshed Revival” beer festival, an outdoor summer celebration that is equal parts company birthday party and charity fundraiser, and celebrates their very humble origins among the nation’s first craft breweries and their contributions as one of the most influential breweries in Colorado’s rich brewing culture.

To learn more about the brewery, the brewpub, and scheduled tours, call 303-444-8448 or check out their web site at boulderbeer.com.