Kannah Creek Brewing Company - Broken Oar IPA

Pouring a rich, medium-amber color with good clarity and a big cap of fluffy and persistent foam, Broken Oar gives a good first impression. On the nose, look for lots of hoppy goodness to burst forth, including soft floral notes, pine, and an inviting citrus character reminiscent of candied orange or Juicy Fruit. Swirl it up, and a touch more pine and spice pops out to join the prominent citrus. The first thing we noticed in the flavor was the very English malt character. Kannah Creek says they were inspired by English-style IPAs, calling Broken Oar an “American IPA with British roots.” The British roots are certainly evident, but make no mistake – the big 80 IBUs and the Cascade and Centennial hops that this beer was dry-hopped with are very, very American. We really liked the way this all came together. Look for the malt to form a delicious backbone with prominent caramel notes and even some toffee-like character. The hops, though, are easily up to the task of countering the malts with firm bitterness from a sizable dose of CTZ – a term which refers to a trio of very similar and related (some would even say identical) super high alpha acid hops: Columbus, Tomahawk, and Zeus. Cascade and Centennial dry-hopping leads to that floral, citric, and pine character from the aroma being realized in full force on the palate, too. A hint of residual sweetness provides a touch of balance and contributes to an impression of roundness. Try pairing this IPA with spicy teriyaki glazed chicken with grilled pineapple, or a Hawaiian style pizza. Cheers!

Kannah Creek's story begins back in the early '90s when founder Jim Jeffryes was first exposed to homebrewed beer and decided to take up the hobby. Sadly, in 1994, the Xerox employee was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, made worse by the high stress of a job in the corporate world. So, in 1997, Jeffryes quit Xerox and moved with his family from California to Grand Junction, Colorado – an excellent state to call home for those who love craft beer and envision a career in the industry. The small city on the western slope of the Rockies proved the perfect place to let go of stress and improve his health, while focusing on his passion for brewing.

In 1999, Jeffryes entered brewing school, followed by a few years working as a brewer for a couple of local breweries. Finally, he and his business partners took the plunge and struck out on their own, opening Kannah Creek Brewing Company in Grand Junction in 2005. The brewpub, which eventually picked up the nickname "The Creek," features a 7-barrel brewing system and a menu filled with Italian-oriented favorites including pizza, calzones, and pasta.

By 2012, Kannah Creek had grown to the point that it was time to take it to the next level by building a new, larger facility that would allow them to bottle their beer and expand the reach of their product throughout the state, and beyond. After months of construction, Kannah Creek's second location – appropriately named the Edgewater Brewery – opened for business in May 2013 on the north side of the Colorado River. Situated on a piece of land that Jeffryes and his family wisely picked up back in 1998, the new brewery boasts a 30-barrel system and a bottling and packaging line. It also is home to a second restaurant location, with a menu focused on burgers, brats, and sandwiches – and of course, great beer. For more information on the brewery and their eateries, call 970-263-0111 or visit www.kannahcreekbrewingco.com.