Boulder Beer Company - Spaceman

This double IPA is Boulder's newest year-round release, and we're excited to have a chance to bring it to our members this month. Spaceman presents a vibrant orange in the glass capped by a light khaki head that retains well despite the big 9% ABV. On the nose, look for it to come across quite fruity with prominent orangey citrus along with soft floral notes, hints of pine and berry, some stone fruit, and mild caramel malt undertones. It gets even more intense on the palate where Spaceman delivers dense fruitiness with lots of citrus character, plus tropical impressions, bright pine, stone fruits, berries... Like in the aroma, there's a very multi-faceted hop profile here with a little bit of everything, and we dig it. As we expect for a double IPA, there's a significant malt backbone to support the myriad hop flavors, big hop bitterness, and the alcohol which adds a spicy thread and actually helps keep the body full without feeling super dense. For food pairings, stick with flavorful foods with plenty of fat to stand up to the beer's heft and acidity. Glazed ham, crispy pork belly with citrus glaze, or barbecued ribs with a sweet sauce would be at the top of our list. 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.