Beer Me! — Boulder Beer Company — Boulder, Colorado, United States

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Boulder Beer Company

Not open to the public (as far as I know)

Boulder CO 80301
Telephone: +1 303-444-8448
Brewer: Sleeping Giant Brewing, Denver CO
[Contact] [Update]

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Notes

Visited: September 9, 1993

Opened: 1979

Annual Production: 16,305 bbl

Contributors: Jeff Brown, Richard R Tinurelli

Formerly known as Rockies Brewing.

Free sampler sets, but only one set per table. They brew their own beers and also brew under contract for beer marketing companies, as well as house brands such as Beckett's in Colorado Springs CO.

Boulder stopped distributing their beers in 2019 in order to concentrate on their brewpub business. Then in January 2020, they announced the closure of their brewpub as well; they're strictly a contract operation now.

Updated: January 9, 2020

News

2020-01-06: Boulder Beer to close brewpub this month, going entirely contract going forward (Beer Street Journal)
2019-12-02: Boulder Beer Company Strikes Deal with Sleeping Giant to Brew and Distribute Core Beers (Brewbound)
2019-10-10: Boulder Beer Retrenches, Pivots to Brewpub Model (Brewbound)
2010-04-22: Boulder Beer Co. makes Missouri its 31st distribution state (STL Today)
2010-01-13: Behind the scenes at a beer dinner: Mr. Dunderbak’s and Boulder Beer Company (Creative Loafing)
2009-12-11: Boulder Beer Co. – 2010 Release Schedule Including New Beer (The Full Pint)
2009-09-14: Boulder Beer Co. brews up 30 years of history (Boulder Daily Camera)

Beer List

American Red Ale

American-Style Amber/Red Ale
- Date: November 7, 2012 (#8971)
  
  Package: draught
  
  Place: Library Pub, Omaha NE
  
  Score: 16½ points
  
  Appearance (3)
  Deep red. Thick head.
  
  Aroma (3½)
  Very toasty. Dark caramel. Grassy.
  
  Mouthfeel (8)
  Medium body, smooth. Hugely toasty, almost like burnt toast crust. Grassy, earthy hop flavor, medium bitterness. Mildly sweet, toasty finish.
  
  Overall Impression (2)
  Almost too toasty.

Beckett's Grizzly Amber

American-Style Amber/Red Ale

Date: October 21, 1994 (#478)

Package: draught

Place: Beckett's Brewhouse and Restaurant, Colorado Springs CO

Score: 15 points

Overall Impression (2½)
Amber, exactly as advertised. Some caramel aroma, not as much as the Harvest Ale. Caramel and hop flavor. Again, balance in Harvest was better.

Beckett's Harvest Ale

English-Style Brown Ale

Date: October 21, 1994 (#481)

Package: draught

Place: Beckett's Brewhouse and Restaurant, Colorado Springs CO

Score: 16½ points

Overall Impression (3½)
Amber flat. Caramel nose, some chocolate. Nice and smooth. Great caramel flavor.

Beckett's Ram's Gold Ale

American-Style Pale Ale

Date: October 21, 1994 (#480)

Package: draught

Place: Beckett's Brewhouse and Restaurant, Colorado Springs CO

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression (3)
Gold, good carbonation and head. Fruity/spicy hop nose. Great body, much smoother than expected. Good hop bite.

Beckett's Red Dog

American-Style Amber/Red Ale

Date: October 21, 1994 (#479)

Package: draught

Place: Beckett's Brewhouse and Restaurant, Colorado Springs CO

Score: 15½ points

Overall Impression (3)
Very red, good head. Spicy, with chocolate notes. Tastes very red. Caramel and chocolate compete rather than combine.

Beckett's Stout

Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout

Date: October 21, 1994 (#483)

Package: draught

Place: Beckett's Brewhouse and Restaurant, Colorado Springs CO

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression (3)
Dead black, brown head. Black patent sharp nose. Very much a black patent sharp beer. Clean. (!)

Beckett's Taddy Porter

Date: October 21, 1994 (#482)

Package: draught

Place: Beckett's Brewhouse and Restaurant, Colorado Springs CO

Score: 14½ points

Overall Impression (3)
Red-black opaque, no head. Black malts and lots of hop aroma. Black but not burnt. Hoppy but not bitter.

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Golden or Blonde Ale

4.95% abv.

Awards:

Silver Medal, 2000 World Beer Cup

Date: December 10, 2010 (#8377)

Package: bottled

Place: Hy-Vee Stony Brook, Omaha NE

Score: 16½ points

Appearance (3)
Bright golden. Moderate head.

Aroma (3)
Grainy, biscuity. Mild fruity hops.

Mouthfeel (8)
Light body, smooth. Big fruity hop flavor, low bitterness. Big biscuity, grainy malt flavor.

Overall Impression (2½)
Good mild beer.

Business Time Mild

English-Style Pale Mild Ale

Awards:

Gold Medal, 2010 Great American Beer Festival

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Classic English-Style Pale Ale

6.80% abv.

Date: September 8, 2007 (#6625)

Package: bottled

Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE

Score: 20 points

Appearance (3)
Bright amber. Very high carbonation. Thick head.

Aroma (4)
Big caramel. Big fruity, grassy hops.

Mouthfeel (10)
Medium body. Nowhere near as fizzy as it looks. Huge caramel malt flavor, fairly sweet. Big fruity, grassy hop flavor, reasonably bitter.

Overall Impression (3)
Tasty, well-balanced beer.

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Dragonhösen Imperial Oktoberfest

Other Strong Beer

9.00% abv.

Date: October 5, 2013 (#9281)

Package: draught

Place: Krug Park, Omaha NE

Score: 19 points

Appearance (3)
Bright red. Dense head.

Aroma (4)
Richly toasty. Mildly grassy.

Mouthfeel (9)
Big and chewy. Fantastically malty and toasty. Really, probably the maltiest beer I've ever had.

Overall Impression (3)
Wow.

American-Style Pale Ale

Date: September 9, 1993 (#297)

Package: draught

Place: at the brewery

Score: 17 points

Overall Impression (3)
Looks a lot like the Rockies Pale Ale. Crystal aroma. Tastes very much like the Pale Ale, but a good caramel note. Carbonation much better here.

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American-Style Brown Ale

Date: May 28, 2010 (#8233)

Package: bottled

Place: Brix, Omaha NE

Score: 19 points

Appearance (3)
Bright red-brown. Dense head.

Aroma (4)
Fruity, mildly citrusy hops. Big caramel malt.

Mouthfeel (9)
Big and chewy, fairly fizzy. Sweet malt and earthy, grassy, fruity hop flavor. Medium-big bitterness. Hops take over the finish.

Overall Impression (3)
Good beer. "India-Style Brown Ale".

English-Style (Extra Special) Strong Bitter

Date: September 9, 1993 (#295)

Package: draught

Place: at the brewery

Score: 14 points

Overall Impression (2½)
Very pale. Too pale. Aroma is Very nice indeed. Lots of Pacific Northwest hops. Fairly thick bitter. Fades fast.

Fresh Tracks Wet Hop Copper Ale

American-Style Amber/Red Ale

Date: October 27, 2011 (#8663)

Package: draught

Place: Crescent Moon Ale House, Omaha NE

Score: 17½ points

Appearance (3)
Bright copper color, dense head.

Aroma (3)
Mild grassy, fruity hops.

Mouthfeel (9)
Medium body, moderate carbonation. Caramel malt, toasty. Fruity, grassy hop flavor, medium bitterness.

Overall Impression (2½)
Good clean beer.

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Fryed Fresh Hopped Rye Ale

Date: October 26, 2013 (#9290)

Package: draught

Place: Yia Yia's Pizza Beer & Wine, Lincoln NE

Score: 17 points

Appearance (3)
Amber, some haze. Moderate head.

Aroma (3½)
Citrusy hops, grassy-spicy rye.

Mouthfeel (8)
Medium body, smooth. Spicy, grassy rye flavor. Mild citrusy hops, more in the finish, medium bitterness. Finishes clean.

Overall Impression (2½)

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GABF 25th Year Beer

Imperial or Double India Pale Ale

Date: February 26, 2007 (#6346)

Package: bottled

Place: Liquid Solutions, Tigard OR

Score: 16 points

Appearance (3)
Bright orange-amber. Moderate head.

Aroma (3)
Mild caramel malt, mild spicy hops. Very subdued.

Mouthfeel (8)
Big body, really smooth. Big caramel malt base, big spicy hop flavor and bitterness.

Overall Impression (2)

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Hazed & Infused Dry-Hopped Ale

American-Style Pale Ale

4.85% abv.

Awards:

Bronze Medal, 2010 US Open Beer Championship

Date: January 31, 2003 (#4670)

Package: bottled

Place: Beer Club International

Score: 17 points

Overall Impression (3)
Bright amber, high carbonation, thick head. Fresh raw spicy hop aroma. Light body. Lots of caramel malt and lots of spicy hop flavor. Mildly bitter. Very spicy fairly astringent finish. Dry-hopped with Crystal.

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Hoopla Pale Ale

American-Style Pale Ale

5.70% abv.

Date: October 24, 2012 (#8955)

Package: canned

Place: Hy-Vee Stony Brook, Omaha NE

Score: 18 points

Appearance (3)
Amber-copper color, moderate head.

Aroma (3½)
Very fruity hops!

Mouthfeel (9)
Medium body, fizzy. Big grapefruity hop flavor, reasonably bitter. Mild caramel malt background. Lingering clean earthy bitter finish.

Overall Impression (2½)
Real good beer.

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Barley Wine-Style Ale

10.00% abv.

Date: December 13, 2007 (#6737)

Package: bottled

Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE

Score: 17 points

Appearance (3)
Bright red. Moderate head.

Aroma (3)
Huge dark caramel malt. Spicy.

Mouthfeel (9)
Big body, but not as big as I expected. Lots and lots of caramel malt, with hints of roast and plums. Alcohol character is subdued, with just a little warming sensation.

Overall Impression (2)

Garden (Fruit) Beer

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MoJo India Pale Ale

American-Style India Pale Ale

6.80% abv.

Date: March 13, 2006 (#5866)

Package: bottled

Place: Liquid Solutions, Tigard OR

Score: 18 points

Appearance (3)
Bright amber. Dense head.

Aroma (3)
Spicy, fruity. Mild citrus.

Mouthfeel (9)
Medium-big body, creamy. Really malty with a big spicy-citrus hop character. Fairly bitter. Nice balance. Mild toasty, biscuity note. Lingering bitter finish.

Overall Impression (3)

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Imperial or Double India Pale Ale

10.00% abv.

Date: May 25, 2007 (#6525)

Package: bottled

Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE

Score: 17 points

Appearance (3)
Bright golden. High carbonation. Big thick head.

Aroma (3)
Intense citrus aroma as soon as the cap was popped. Mild biscuity malt behind that.

Mouthfeel (9)
Big beer. Hugely malty with massive citrusy hops. Fairly bitter, but not as much as I expected.

Overall Impression (2)
It's a big version of Mojo IPA, exactly as advertised.

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Never Summer Ale

5.94% abv.

Awards:

Silver Medal, 2006 World Beer Cup
Gold Medal, 2004 World Beer Cup

Date: November 30, 2007 (#6714)

Package: draught

Place: Crescent Moon Ale House, Omaha NE

Score: 18 points

Appearance (3)
Bright red. Moderate head.

Aroma (3)
Big citrusy-piney hops.

Mouthfeel (9)
Big body, really smooth. Hugely malty with lots of caramel and biscuit. Hugely hoppy with a fruity resiny bitterness. Real nice balance.

Overall Impression (3)
Excellent beer.

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Obovoid Empirical Stout

Wood- and Barrel-aged Dark Beer

Date: December 14, 2007 (#6741)

Package: bottled

Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE

Score: 17 points

Appearance (3)
Deep garnet in color. Thick head.

Aroma (3)
Hugely chocolatey aroma with herbal-grassy hops.

Mouthfeel (9)
Medium body, smooth. Tons of chocolate with a big grassy hop flavor. Fairly bitter. Maybe just a hint of oak character, but it's pretty subtle.

Overall Impression (2)
"Oak-aged Oatmeal Stout".

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Pass Time Pale Ale / Boulder Pale Ale

Classic English-Style Pale Ale

4.96% abv.

Awards:

Silver Medal, 1997 World Beer Championships

Date: June 3, 2008 (#7079)

Package: bottled

Place: Hy-Vee Columbus, Columbus NE

Score: 15 points

Appearance (3)
Bright amber. Thick head.

Aroma (3)
Spicy, peppery hops. Toasty malt.

Mouthfeel (7)
Medium body, smooth. Sweet toasty malt. Fruity, peppery hops, low bitterness. Sweet fruity finish.

Overall Impression (2)
Date: September 9, 1993 (#296)

Package: draught

Place: at the brewery

Score: 15 points

Overall Impression (2½)
Amber-yellow, clear, head OK. Hoppy nose, but malt does come through. Extra. Pale. Nice balance. Slightly overcarbonated.

Planet Bluegrass

American-Style Amber/Red Ale

Date: September 9, 1993 (#298)

Package: draught

Place: at the brewery

Score: 10 points

Overall Impression (1½)
Good amber. A little haze, good head. Fruity hop nose. ICK. Lots of apple-esters. BAH.

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Planet Porter / Boulder Porter

Date: March 17, 2007 (#6386)

Package: bottled

Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE

Score: 16 points

Appearance (3)
Black. Moderate dense tan head.

Aroma (3)
Rich chocolate. Big herbal, floral hops.

Mouthfeel (8)
Light-medium body, moderately fizzy. Nice chocolate flavor on top of clean malt. Mild floral hop flavor, mild bitterness. Dry chocolatey finish.

Overall Impression (2)
Date: March 13, 1998 (#2449)

Package: bottled

Place: Capital Liquor, Grand Island NE

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression (3)
Black, thick head. Smells a little roasty. Real nice body, roasty, just sweet enough.
Date: September 9, 1993 (#253)

Package: draught

Place: at the brewery

Score: 14 points

Overall Impression (2½)
Red-black opaque, looks flat. Smells Porter-ish. Not very assertive. Fizzy. Not much flavor, then big burnt finish. ??? Weak start, great finish.

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French & Belgian-Style Saison

Date: August 5, 2012 (#8900)

Package: draught

Place: Lauter Tun, Omaha NE

Score: 17 points

Appearance (3)
Amber, hazy. Thick dense head.

Aroma (4)
Biscuity malt. Fruity esters — mild cherries. Mildly grassy.

Mouthfeel (8)
Light-medium body, medium carbonation. Mild malt, grassy. Low-medium bitterness. Grassy finish.

Overall Impression (2)

Singletrack Copper Ale

Classic English-Style Pale Ale

4.97% abv.

Awards:

Bronze Medal, 2004 World Beer Cup
Silver Medal, 2002 World Beer Cup
Best of the Best, 2000 All About Beer Magazine

Date: January 4, 1999 (#3131)

Package: bottled

Place: Bazil's, Appleton WI

Score: 12½ points

Overall Impression (2½)
Amber, low carbonation, no head. Slightly spicy aroma, diacetyl. Medium body, bitterish, lots of diacetyl.

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Slopestyle Red IPA

American-Style India Pale Ale

6.40% abv.

Date: January 29, 2018 (#9812)

Package: draught

Place: The Casual Pint, Omaha NE

Score: 14 points

Appearance (3)
Bright red. Dense head.

Aroma (2½)
Really toasty.

Mouthfeel (7)
Medium body, creamy. Hugely toasty malt, like almost-burnt bread crust. Very mild caramel and mild fruity hops in the background. Low-medium bitterness. Grassy, toasty finish.

Overall Impression (1½)

Sundance Amber Ale / Boulder Amber Ale

American-Style Amber/Red Ale

4.85% abv.

Awards:

Silver Medal, 2000 World Beer Cup

Date: September 9, 1993 (#252)

Package: draught

Place: at the brewery

Score: 14 points

Overall Impression (2½)
Amber-red, clear. Caramel and hop aroma. Caramel flavor and bitter-sweet. Cloying.
Date: September 9, 1993 (#254)

Package: real ale

Place: at the brewery

Score: 12 points

Overall Impression (2½)
This is cask-conditioned?!? It's pretty clear. Fruity nose, some caramel. Sharp, bitter. Some caramel flavor. Somehow, I like the CO₂ version better.
Date: July 31, 1993 (#224)

Package: draught

Place: Oregon Brewers Festival, Portland OR

Score: 15 points

Overall Impression (2½)
Amber, good head. Caramel aroma, with some alcohol. Good body and carbonation. Could be more bitter.

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Sweaty Betty Blonde Ale

Light American Wheat Beer with Yeast

5.90% abv.

Date: June 10, 2008 (#7095)

Package: bottled

Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE

Score: 16 points

Appearance (3)
Yellow. Opaque. Thick head.

Aroma (3)
Yeasty. Mildly lemony.

Mouthfeel (8)
Light body, mildly fizzy. Sweet wheat malt, yeasty, with a touch of citrus flavor. Clean sweet finish.

Overall Impression (2)

American-Style Amber/Red Ale

Date: September 9, 1993 (#294)

Package: draught

Place: at the brewery

Score: 15 points

Overall Impression (2½)
Brown-red, no head, clear. Chocolate-crystal aroma. Flavor is more chocolate-crystal. Lots o'hops.