Tommyknocker Brewery - Imperial Nut Brown Ale

This robust brew presents a deep, dark, brownish-garnet color in the glass, capped by a robust beige head. The can promises a "big, complex and malty ale," and that's apparent right away in the aroma. Look for rich, deep-down caramel notes along with molasses, toasted bread and nuts, and chocolate, overlaid with a touch of herbal-earthy hops. The flavor follows suit closely, supplying lots of toasty character which melds with big notes of caramel and brown sugar, and touches of cocoa powder. We found the hop bitterness quite firm, joining with a bit of boozy, spicy alcohol to provide a balancing counterpoint to the moderate residual sweetness. Smooth and very drinkable despite the big ABV, this brew makes a perfect nightcap, but food pairings involving bold flavors work well too. Barbecued meats are a natural pairing, as are rich, aged cheeses. Dessert pairings featuring chocolate, caramel, and/or toasted nuts are fun as well. Cheers!

The Tommyknocker Brewery was founded as a brewpub in 1994 (which coincidentally is also the year we started The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club) at an elevation of about 7500 feet in the old mining town of Idaho Springs, CO. The town, which is about a 40 mile drive west of downtown Denver, was founded in 1859 during the Colorado gold rush, and it is this mining history that the brewery latched on to when crafting their brand identity. Tommyknockers are mythical creatures, a bit like leprechauns, that are purported to live underground and signal to miners when a collapse is imminent by making knocking sounds in the rock. They also get blamed sometimes when tools malfunction or go missing.

We can’t verify if tommyknockers are responsible for swiping miners’ tools when they aren’t looking, but we can tell you that they do know how to make some good beers in their spare time. In fact, they’ve been collecting awards since 1995 from both the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup – over 100 thus far. If you’re ever traveling through the Rockies on I-70 near Denver, it’s well-worth stopping at the brewpub for a buffalo burger and a fresh brew on draft. Harnessing pure snow melt water from the Rockies, the brewery produces a very broad range of year-round and seasonal beers (over 20 by our count) as well as a line of sodas including orange, strawberry, and almond cremes as well as root beer. We'll let you discover those on your own and stick to what we do best: Beer! For more information about the brewery and brewpub, call 303-567-4419 or check out their web site at www.tommyknocker.com.