Elite Brands Proudly Partners with Flying Dog Brewery

Elite Brands has joined forces with the eclectic Flying Dog Brewery.  The award winning brewery originally based in Aspen, and then Denver, Colorado has long been a favorite of Craft Beer aficionados. A witty and eccentric company culture inspired by the Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, and the artwork of Ralph Steadman provide this beer with a unique niche in the marketplace.  Elite is very excited to distribute Flying Dog product offerings state-wide.

In 1990, George Stranahan founded the Flying Dog Brewpub in Aspen, Colorado. Originally a brewpub, the operation expanded to a full-fledged Denver brewery (co-founded by George and his longtime friend and partner, Richard McIntyre) in 1994, and then to their current state-of-the-art brewing facility in Frederick, Maryland.

Flying Dog has taken home numerous accolades through their 18 year history of beer-making; the first was in 1991 for Flying Dog’s “Doggie Style”, winning “The Best Pale Ale in America” award at the Great American Beer Festival.

The iconic journalist Hunter s. Thompson introduced his lifelong friend and world-renowned artist Ralph Steadman to Flying Dog back in 1995.  Ralph has been creating art in his inimitable sty for Flying Dog ever since.  Flying Dog’s connection to Gonzo continues in many different ways, including its ongoing support of 

The Gonzo Foundation (TheGonzoFoundation.org).

Elite will initially be distributing five Flying Dog Brews: Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale, In Heat Wheat Hefeweizen, Raging Bitch Belgian-Style IPA, Snake Dog IPA, and UnderDog 

Atlantic Lager in addition to the Flying Dog Shock & Awe Variety Pack.

A Bit About the Beers

Raging Bitch Belgian-Style IPA Bitches come in a variety of forms, but there's never been something as sassy as Flying Dog's Raging Bitch Belgian IPA. An American IPA augmented with Belgian yeast, this 20th anniversary beer jumps out of the glass and nips at your taste buds with its delicate hop bitterness. At 8.3% ABV, this bitch is dangerously drinkable. Tropical fruit, sweet malt, and spicy citrus hops and Belgian yeast flavors. Clean bitter sweet with a spicy, dry finish.

Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale The Alpha of the pack, this brew is dry hopped with a load of Cascade hops grown in the Pacific Northwest. Doggie Style has enough hop character to satisfy hop-heads, but isn’t overpoweringly hoppy. It’s brilliant amber-copper color and pleasant malt flavor comes from the addition of Carastan malts.

Snake Dog India Pale Ale More cunning than a snake in the bush...Snake Dog India Pale Ale is a Colorado-style IPA, power hopped with specialty hops from the Pacific Northwest. This is the brewery’s hop monster, and the citrus fruit aroma will hypnotize the senses of the most hardcore of craft drinkers. 15 Plato, 60 IBU, Crystal Malt, Warrior and Columbus hops, and dry hopped with Columbus

UnderDog Atlantic Lager A light and refreshing beer with crisp hop character, this 4.7% “Atlantic Lager” is brewed with Wheat, Rye and Cara-Pils Malt, German yeast and Perle and Goldings hops. Crisp and clean with a good malty base and a nice bite in the finish. 

Elite Brands Welcomes Telluride Brewing Company!

We are proud to announce our partnership with Telluride Brewing Company, who will be bringing its gold medal-winning beer to Boulder/Denver.
Telluride Brewing Company began as the brain child of Tommy Thacher and Chief Brewer Chris Fish. Having only been in business for a little over a year, winning gold medals at both the International Beer Festival and the Great American Beer Festival for their Face Down Brown is quite an accomplishment.


Tommy and Fish have truly captured the spirit of Telluride with their brews.  They rely on sustainable brewing practices such as opting for cans over bottles, and sourcing their malt from a carbon neutral plant. Additionally they have embraced the local-centric attitude that is so indelible of the Colorado Mountain culture.  Fish explained how the brewery originally recruited locals to help can their Bridal Veil Rye Ale, and offered free beer for compensation.
Distribution will began in Boulder county in early November and will expand to Denver in early 2013.  Elite Brands is excited to partner with another award winning Colorado-based brewery and look forward to seeing distribution state-wide in the future! 

The Brews:

BRIDAL VEIL RYE PALE ALE

Brewed with a generous amount of German Rye malt and an abundance of American hops, our ale embodies an earthly flavor and finishes with a hint of spice. This powerhouse of an ale excites even the most dormant of tastes buds.
Beer Style: Rye Pale Ale
Availability: Year Round
Pairs well: With just about anything
A beautiful hybrid of an English and American style Brown that explodes with toffee, chocolate, and nut flavors… don’t be afraid to get down with the best Brown around!

Quick Stats

Alcohol By Volume: 5.5%

FACE DOWN BROWN

A beautiful hybrid of an English and American style Brown that explodes with toffee, chocolate, and nut flavors… don’t be afraid to get down with the best Brown around!

GABF Award Winners - 2012

Elite Brands would like to congratulate eight of our very special brewers for walking away with some fresh new bling from this year’s Great American Beer Festival.  The competition comprises a total of 84 categories touching virtually every niche within the beer drinking world.  Each and every beer is painstakingly analyzed, tasted and discussed to ensure that only the very best make the cut.  So hats off to our intrepid brewers for maintaining the gold standard; we are proud to be representing such creative and talented breweries.

We take great care in representing breweries that showcase a unique perspective on their craft and a commitment to quality and creativity.  Craft Brewers such as Russian River, The Lost Abbey and The Bruery among others represent a handful of companies that within the industry that are obsessed with quality and creativity in their beers.

Elite saw a total of five Gold Medal winners in our portfolio.  Green Flash took best American-Belgo Style Ale beating out 71 entries with Le Freak.  Le Freak is a modern ale created by converging two beer styles, Belgian Trippel and American Imperial IPA. They use of two yeast strains further marries the styles and American hops give the beer its modern flare. 

Mad River Brewing earned the Gold Medal in the Golden or Blonde Ale category beating out 67 entries in the category. Steelhead Extra Pale Ale took the price with its bright golden hued and medium body. The beer showcases a spicy/floral hop character and a very mild bitterness. 

Port Brewing  claimed a Bronze Medal with their Hot Rocks Lager in the Indigenous Beer category.  Hailing from the State of California, Port Brewing

The following is a comprehensive list of all the Great American Beer Festival winners within the Elite Brands portfolio:

Elite Brands Would Welcomes Harper Voit and Fog Crest Wines!

Elite Brands is excited to announce our addition of two eclectic wineries to our already robust wine portfolio. Harper Voit and Fog Crest wines showcase the key attributes we look for in all of our wines: interesting, unique and memorable.  Both of these wineries create products that are second to none and their passion in the art is strikingly evident with every sip.

Harper Voit – Willamette Valley

Drew Voit is the mastermind behind Harper Voit wines. He has been working in the Oregon wine industry for ten years and has amassed wealth of knowledge. In 2009 Drew started Harper Voit as his own private label and uses his intimate knowledge of the best vineyards in the Willamette Valley to source the grapes for his wine. Voit selectively works with small, independent sites nobody knows, and produces small-lot Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc that are completely out of this world!

2010 HARPER VOIT SURLIE PINOT BLANC
The 2010 Harper Voit Surlie Pinot Blanc is barrel fermented and aged sur lie. Its high-toned floral notes and beam of bright acidity are balanced by a creamy texture that lends heft to a wine that is otherwise light on its feet. Lemon meringue, Granny Smith apple and a hint of sage contribute to a complex palate that lingers long after the last sip. Drink now for freshness and revisit this wine often as the mere 120 case production will disappear in no time.

Fog Crest – Russian River Valley

Following a lifelong fascination for food and wine, James and Rosalind Manoogian established Fog Crest Vineyard in 1998 in the Russian River Valley area of Sonoma County, California.  Fog Crest Vineyard produces less than 2,500 cases annually of limited production, vineyard-designate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that are world-class wines of this small Russian River Valley vineyard. 

2010 Laguna West Pinot Noir – 90 Points Wine Enthusiast
Platinum Medal Winner, 2012 Monterey Wine Competition
Gold Medal Winner, 2012 San Francisco International Wine Competition
Gold Medal Winner, 2012 Orange County Wine Society Commercial Wine Competition

In the Russian River Valley and throughout Northern California, 2010 will be remembered as one of the coolest vintages on record. The cooler weather developed the flavors at lower-than-normal sugars enhancing the balance with lower alcohol. The long hang time and subsequent physiological maturity have given this vintage a mark of great elegance and finesse. Red cherry, red cherry and more red cherries are interlaced with allspice notes. Brimming with cherry fruit flavors, the oak influence meshes with the fruit for a long plush cherry cola finish.

Five Great Beers for an Elite Brands Endless Summer

The mercury is rising, the heat is on, and you are thirsty!  Yes incredibly thirsty!

At this point a hopped-up IPA isn’t going to cut it.  A full bodied stout is going to result straight in nap time.  What you need is a refreshing, delicious drink-able brew that is going to cool you right down.  Instead of bland, indiscernible flavors, ever think of experiencing orange, vanilla and coriander in your beer?  With that in mind we recommend trying these five brews – a new summer  selection that is sure to become a new standard in your beer drinking repertoire.

CISCO SUMMER OF LAGER - 5.6% ABV

A light lager released at the beginning of the summer when Nantucket is just getting it's groove on! It's a classic Bavarian style lager with a delicious malt palate and an assertive noble hop finish. Hints of citrus give this lager a light, refreshing flavor perfect for hot summer nights.

SANKATY LIGHT LAGER 3.9% ABV

This is a light American Golden Lager. This delicious creation is light-bodied with tremendous balance and distinct hop character. At 3.8% alcohol and 126 calories this light beer has true flavor and body while being easy to drink and easier on the waistline.

HITACHINO NEST WHITE ALE - 5.0% ABV

Light golden in color, Hitachino Nest White Ale is a refreshing mildly hopped Belgian styled beer with a complex flavor of coriander, orange peel, and nutmeg.

RAYON VERT BELGIAN-STYLE PALE ALE - 7.0% ABV

A bold layering of hops finds balance from traditional malts. Bottle conditioning with fresh ale yeast and Brettanomyces finishes the beer, adding a delightful effervescence, dryness and continuously evolving character. Rayon Vert is Green Flash.

 SHIPYARD SUMMER ALE 5.1% ABV 

A traditional American Wheat beer.  With its inviting golden color, mellow malted wheat flavor and less hoppy characteristics, it’s sure to please those looking for a clean, cool taste sensation on long, hot summer days.

Elite Brands would like to welcome Local Wine & Spirits!  The State of Colorado will now be privy to some of the most unique, eclectic and original Wine and Spirits on the market.  Our goal at Elite is to provide our clients with a continuous supply of innovative and quality products.  We believe that Local Wine & Spirits shares this vision with us, as they have showcased an incessant desire for perfection that we simply could not ignore!  If you are looking for a truly one-of-a-kind portfolio that will attract your customers, then this is certainly it!

A little Background

With a dream and no money Local Wine and Spirits started the old fashioned way, begged, borrowed and stole until they could get their wings under them and in 2002 they released their first wine, Jigsaw Pinot Noir. With the help of a few friends they expanded their wine production to the Eastern Washington high desert. From there they went south to the volcanic soils and jagged mountains of Northern California. Then a few years later they began producing craft spirits with Tad Seestedt in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA.

Owner: Christophe Bakunas

Christophe Bakunas is at the helm of a juggernaut; a company that focuses on high-quality wines and spirits that are as fun to drink as they are to talk about. Success has not been easy however; his ability to recognize trends in the marketplace and maintain relations with distributors have been the keys to his success.   Christophe stressed price points and packaging in ensuring the marketability of his product along with long-term relationships with his farmers.

Although the long days and weeks on the road are now coming to fruition at this point, the growth of Local Wine & Spirits did not arrive without some initial struggles.  His foray into the Domestic Rosé market was tenuous at best.  In his own words: “The Lindsay Lohan of the Wine World” – Domestic Rosé has notoriously been a difficult niche to exploit.  Named appropriately Murphy’s Law, he decided to take a “George Castanza” approach to marketing, i.e., doing everything opposite of conventional wisdom.  Unfortunately this sort of logic did not fare well in the market, and soon Local Wine & Spirits made a swift exit from the Rosé business.

The Products

Wine: Murphy’s Law Columbia Valley Riesling, Jigsaw Willamette Pinot Noir, Ransom Selection Willamette Pinot Noir, Sweet Spot Cabernet Sauvignon.

Spirits: Small’s American Gin, Ransom Old Tom Gin, Whipper Snapper Oregon Whiskey. 

Spirit Overview:  Small's American Dry Gin,

When discussing Gin with Chistophe he was certainly forthcoming, in fact he threw down handfuls of knowledge!  The intention of Small’s American Gin is to establish a point of entry for creating a Western Gin Standard.  A great concept and an even better product. 

An Oregon spirit handmade in small-pot batches using naturally-farmed and wild-grown botanicals. It is intensely aromatic from a complex infusion of Juniper, orange, lemon, coriander, cardamom, angelica, caraway, star anise, and raspberry. Small's gin brings together a combination of recipes from the 19th century (circa 1840) with obsessive distillation techniques and the finest regional ingredients. The best of tradition, dedication to quality, and innovation come together to create a remarkable, elaborate and unrivaled spirit that is the convincer of all gins.  To those who say they don’t enjoy gin…well they haven’t tried Small’s and “the people have spoken.”

Wine Overview: Sweet Spot

When a vineyard is in harmony with climate and geology, wines of great depth and character are possible.
 Located in the Northeast corner of Sonoma County, Alexander Valley is known for growing intensely structured, balanced Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. We are pleased to be working with passionate and dedicated farmers like the Warnecke family. At 1200ft elevation in the heart of Alexander Valley, the Warnecke Vineyard and its unique fruit are the soul of 2008 Sweet Spot Cabernet Sauvignon.

All fruit for this wine was de-stemmed and cold soaked for 3 days, followed by a 28 day fermentation at 50 degrees Fahrenheit. It was then barrel aged in a combination of French
and American oak for 19 months and bottled in May, 2010. 

A Little History of Champagne for Mother's Day

A Little History of Champagne for Mothers Day

"Come, for I am drinking stars!"
Dom Perignon

With Mother’s Day fast approaching many find themselves scrambling to make those last-minute Sunday Brunch reservations.  The one day a year we celebrate our adoration to our mother’s with the delicacies of brunch and of course champagne, plenty of champagne.   With that in mind, let’s consider the history, source, and profiles of this wonderful, bubbly drink that has a seat at every brunch table.

The history of Champagne dates back to the 17th century when in the cold, northeastern region of France, bubbles accidentally appeared in bottles of fermenting wine. That's right. This celebrated beverage first began in Champagne, France as a science experiment. The trapped carbon dioxide bubbles were not originally intended to be part of the wine.  Although these magical bubbles were a created via a historical faux pas, it took the visionary Dom Perignon, a Benedictine monk and cellar master at the abbey Saint-Pierre d’Hautvillers, to master the production of Champagne.

Champagne, we’re talking REAL champagne, comes from the Champagne region of France.   If it’s not from this region it is Sparkling Wine, plain and simple.  Apologies to all the Korbel’s of the world, but in the eyes of the wine drinking world you are not invited to the club.  Sidelined – noses firmly placed against the glass – on the outside looking in on the Champagne world.  The Champagne region includes the major cities of Epernay and Reims. It lies about 90 miles east of Paris. The region is home to such famous labels as: Collet,  Mumm, Mercier, Moet & Chandon, Joseph Perrier, Perrier-Jouet, Taittinger, Veuve Cliquot.

One of the beauties of Champagne is the remarkable diversity of styles that come from such a small corner of the world. Each style and type of Champagne is designed to please the various preferences in taste. The primary types of Champagne include Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs and Rosé.  One must also consider sugar content and of course context.  In terms of sugar content: “brut” or “sec” is going to give you a sweeter champagne, while “dry” is going to give you a less sweeter variety.  The majority of champagne consumed is of these two styles, yet, one must also consider the almighty rose, yes the rose.  This is the key to any womens heart and a perfect opener to any romantic interlude.

In the end champagne may go down as one of the greatest mistakes of all time, but one thing is for sure.  Champagne will always go down as a refreshing delicious way to celebrate a special occasion – or even to celebrate the perfect Sunday.  

Elite Brands Would Like to Welcome Raptor Ridge!

Elite Brands would like to welcome Raptor Ridge Winery to our vast portfolio of brands we represent. Raptor Ridge has created an impressive selection of wines that are high in quality and reasonably priced.  Oregon has earned the distinction of a premier wine-making region in the United States, and Raptor Ridge certainly lends credence to that reputation.

 The Winery was founded in 1995 by Scott Shull.  Scott has been making wines in Oregon since 1989, first as an independent producer, and for the last 17 vintages as a commercial winemaker at Raptor Ridge Winery.  Scott strives to craft wines that are interesting to the palate and the mind- - wines of complexity, finesse, and of place.  Scott’s wife and business partner, Annie Shull, takes on the role of Sales and Marketing Director, her passion and dedication shows through her long stretches on the road and almost daily tastings and wine dinners.  Her most recent trip to Colorado featured a Pinot Noir wine pairing with a chef inspired menu at Jimmy’s in Aspen, an artisanal wine and cheese pairing at Eat! Drink! in Edwards and a wine tasting at Ski Time Wine in Steamboat Springs.

Notable wines include their 2008 Reserve Pinot Noir, which is pleasing to the eye, with saturated crimson and bright purple hues. The palate is structured round and full, revealing rich plum and spice cake flavors cloaked in silky yet meaty tannins.  This is an ideal dinner-time wine to enjoy with friends and family!

For great value and a fantastic wine, the Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2010 is highly recommended. The goal for this blend is to provide a balanced, immediately drinkable, crowd-pleasing wine that is perceived as a great value for the price. The 2010 Willamette is an elegant and articulate wine which showcases the care and dedication put into producing this brand.

About The Winery

Raptor Ridge Winery gets its name from the many families of raptors – Red-tailed Hawks, Kestrels, Sharp-shinned Hawks and Owls – that share the winery's 27-acre estate. The vineyard is named "Tuscowallame," the indigenous word for "place where the owls dwell."  Located on the northeast side of the Chehalem Mountains, 10 miles north of Newberg, Oregon, the winery is known for handcrafted Pinot noir and Pinot Gris. The wine continues to be made by Scott Shull and his staff with a threefold philosophy:

 1) Personal involvement with the vines

2)  A working knowledge of every barrel of wine

3) Maintaining a balance of science, tradition, and spirituality.

In addition to production from its own estate vineyard, Raptor Ridge harvests wine grapes from other Willamette Valley growers, currently including:, Bellevue Cross,  Carabella, Gran Moraine, Harbinger, Meredith Mitchell, Olenik, and Shea.

Production

                The Raptor Ridge approach to winemaking focuses as much on the vineyard as the cellar. Winemaker Scott Shull partners with the growers in pruning, trellising, cluster counting and thinning, leaf pulling, quality monitoring, and all harvest decisions. During harvest, Scott is in the field alongside seasonal workers, and often transports the wine grapes back to Raptor Ridge where he oversees the crush.        

                Raptor Ridge produces about 6500 cases of wine per vintage year. Approximately nine different cuvées comprise this case quantity, including Pinot Gris, Grüner Veltliner, Pinot noir rosé, several distinct vineyard designates, and consistent blends of Willamette Valley Pinot noir and Reserve Pinot noir. Owners Scott and Annie Shull regularly taste through and segregate every barrel into these select cuvées. Uncompromised quality is the focus, not quantity.

Altitude Spirits Tasty Holiday Cocktails

Check out these great cocktail recipes featuring the Organic and delicious Altitude Spirits!

Ummmm! TAG/Thomas Fogarty Umami Wine Dinner

TAG’S Chef Troy Guard prepares umami-intense dishes for the

über-edgy wines by Thomas Fogarty winemaker Michael Martella

On November 30, 2011 Michael Martella, the winemaker for Thomas Fogarty Vineyards in Santa Cruz Mountains since its inception in 1981, will visit TAG to present his wines, representing the absolute cutting edge in the crisper, moderately scaled, cold climate grown contemporary style to which more and more wine lovers are turning these days.

First, some background:  the Santa Cruz Mountains American Viticultural Area is one of the cradles of the California wine industry.  In the mid-nineteenth century, in fact, there were over 14,000 acres of commercial wine grapes grown on these mountain slopes, and the region was widely known as the Chaine d’Or, or “Chain of Gold.”

The post-Prohibition growth of California wine may have concentrated mostly in warmer regions like Napa Valley and Sonoma County – where grapes ripen much more easily, as long as a month before they do in Santa Cruz Mountains – but modern day pioneering vignerons like Fogarty have been quietly carving their niche, growing their sleek style of Chardonnay and exotically spiced Pinot Noirs and other red wine grapes at 2,000 ft. –plus elevations, chilled by winds blowing in from the Pacific just 10 miles away.

Because of the intrinsic balance and emphasis on terroir (i.e. “sense of place,” often with minerally complexities) rather than simple varietal fruitiness of the Thomas Fogarty wines, TAG Chef Troy Guard has planned a special menu – working with longtime friend, wine journalist Randy Caparoso (the award winning founding partner of the Roy’s family of restaurants, and today, an editor for Sommelier Journal) – that emphasizes the “fifth sensation,” known as umami.

What is umami, and why such a big deal?  While not an everyday term, umami is one of the common sensations everyone tastes in foods and drinks, along with the sensations of sweet, sour, salty and bitter (the hot taste of spices might be considered a sixth sensation, but it is considered more of a tactile feel rather than something perceived by taste buds).

Caparoso, who will be guest speaking alongside Mr. Martella at this winemaker dinner, tells us, “if you boil it all down, umami is nothing more than a taste activated in by ingredients containing high amounts of amino acid.  A vine ripened heirloom tomato, for instance, is especially high in umami; so is authentic Parmigiano Reggiano, seaweeds, mushrooms, especially truffles and sea urchin, and the highly reduced veal and seafood stocks traditionally used by chefs as the bases of sauces that help bind and intensify dishes.

 “In restaurants the deliberate use of ingredients that are high in amino acids especially comes in handy when preparing dishes specifically to bind and balance matching wines, in the same way that sauces do.  After all, the best balanced dishes are always the easiest to match with wines; and vice-versa, the best balanced wines are always the easiest to match with food.”

Hence, the high umami menu planned for the wines of Thomas Fogarty, which by nature of their mountain origins are appreciated more for their balance rather than brute strength, and aromatic complexities as opposed to simple “varietal character.”

So are you ready for some high elevation culinary adventure?  Your entrée to this event, taking place in TAG’s underground dining room, is just $68/person (plus tax and gratuity).  Reservations are by pre-payment, which you can make by calling TAG at 303.996.9985, or through opentable.com.  The works:

Thomas Fogarty Vineyards & TAG present

a Santa Cruz Mountains wine meets umami dinner

November 30, 2011

with guest winemaker, Thomas Fogarty’s Michael Martella

& guest umami host, Randy Caparoso

amuse-gueule

Veal cheeks arancini with butternut squash & parmigiano reggiano

2008 Thomas Fogarty, Monterey Gewürztraminer

1

Fresh lemon grass lobster roll with monkfish paté, tarragon, mitusuba & crispy fennel

2008 Thomas Fogarty, Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay

2

Fresh roasted sea bass with soba & wakame in grilled tomato seafood broth

2008 Thomas Fogarty, Rapley Trail Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Estate Pinot Noir

3

Ravioli of crispy sweetbreads & porcini with Swiss chard & tofu skin

2007 Thomas Fogarty, Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Franc

4

Tasmanian pepper berry lamb with

smoked heirloom potato, charred onion soubise & pecorino salad

2006 Thomas Fogarty, Lexington Santa Cruz Mountains Meritage

5

Chocolate beet cake, sea urchin gelato & Sicilian pistachio crumble

Coffee or tea

Troy Guard

TAG chef/owner

It's Tasting Time Again!

Don't even think about missing this one!
Even more deets soon to follow.

112 Reasons to come to GIBF 2011

We hope to see you at the Falling Rock this Sunday!

1	Lion Imperial Lager
2	Lion Stout
3	Plank Pils
4	Plank Hefeweizen
5	Plank Heller Weizenbock
6	Plank Dunkler Weizenbock
7	Belgoo Magus
8	Cucapa Runaway IPA
9	Cucapa Low Rider Double Rye
10	Cucapa La Migra Stout
11	Steelhead Extra Pale
12	Steelhead Extra Pale
13	Steelhead Double IPA
14	Steelhead Extra Stout
15	Steelhead Scotch Porter
16	Steelhead Double Dread Red
17	Jamaica Sunset
18	Jamaica Red
19	Green Flash West Coast IPA
20	Green Flash Hop Head Red
21	Green Flash Double Stout
22	Green Flash Imperial IPA
23	Green Flash Le Freak
24	Ommegang Witte
25	Ommegang Hennepin
26	Ommegang BPA
27	Ommegang Three Philosophers
28	Duvel Belgian Ale
29	Duvel Triple Hop
30	d'Achouffe La Chouffe
31	d'Achouffe Houblon Chouffe
32	Maredsous Tripel
33	Liefmans Fruitesse
34	Liefmans Cuvee Brut
35	Liefmans Goudenband
36	Redstone Meadery Traditional Mead
37	Redstone Meadery Sunshine Nectar
38	Redstone Meadery Boysenberry Nectar
39	Redstone Meadery Black Raspberry Nectar
40	Redstone Meadery Juniper Berry Mead
41	Redstone Meadery Nectar of The Hops
42	Fort Collins Brewery Major Tom's Pomegranate Wheat
43	Fort Collins Brewery 1900 Amber
44	Fort Collins Brewery Kidd Lager
45	Fort Collins Brewery Red Banshee
46	Fort Collins Brewery Rocky Mountain IPA
47	Fort Collins Brewery Chocolate Stout
48	Fort Collins Brewery Z Lager
49	Fort Collins Brewery Wheat Wine
50	Fort Collins Brewery HellesBock
51	Fort Collins Brewery Maibock
52	Grand Teton Brewing Bitch Creek ESB
53	Grand Teton Brewing Sweetgrass IPA
54	Grand Teton Brewing Pursuit of Hoppiness
55	Grand Teton Brewing Persephone Pils
56	Grand Teton Brewing Lost Continent
57	MateVeza IPA
58	MateVeza Black Lager
59	Sünner Kölsch
60	Omer Blonde Ale
61	St Feuillien Saison
62	St Feuillien Biere de l'amitie
63	Urthel Saisonniere
64	La Trappe Isid'or
65	La Trappe Dubbel
66	La Trappe Tripel
67	La Trappe Quadrupel
68	Urthel Hop-It
69	Lucifer Golden Ale
70	Gouden Carolous Classic
71	Gouden Carolous Triple
72	Gouden Carolous Hopsinjoor
73	Gouden Carolous Keizer Rood
74	Gouden Carolous Keizer Blauw
75	Kasteel Tripel
76	Kasteel Donker
77	Kasteel Rouge
78	St. Louis Peche
79	St. Louis Framboise
80	Samichlaus Classic
81	Straffe Hendrik Tripel
82	Straffe Hendrik Quad
83	The Bruery Mischief
84	The Bruery Saison Rue
85	The BrueryTrade Winds
86	The Bruery Rugbrød
87	Saison Dupont Farmhouse Ale
88	Foret Organic Saison Ale
89	Scaldis Refermentee
90	Scaldis Peche Mel
91	Scaldis Blonde Triple
92	Dupont Avril
93	Aspall Organic Cider
94	Aspall Demi-Sec
95	Bateman's Triple XB
96	Bateman's Combined Harvest
97	De Proef Grande Blanche
98	De Proef Witte Noire
99	De Proef Zoetzuur
100	De Ranke XX Bitter
101	Geants Saison Voisin
102	Jenlain Ambree
103	EKU Pils
104	EKU 28
105	Kulmbacher Eisbock
106	Henney's Dry Cider
107	He'brew Messiah Bold
108	He'brew Origin Ale
109	He'brew Lenny RIPA
110	Coney Island Lager
111	Coney Island Albino Python
112	Coney Island Sword Swallower

GIBF 5

Time flies indeed.
It's time once again for our hugely popular trade tasting event, the Great International Beer Fest.
The venue will again be the Falling Rock Tavern at 1919 Blake from 2:00 to 5:00pm.

As always, there will be great food, prizes, and of course hundreds of our great craft beers to sample.
Mark your calendar--we'll see you there!

A Michelle of All Trades

Need your plumbing fixed, a stone cold pick for the Final 4 bracket, or just want to place an order for some Elite wines or craft beers? Our Michelle can help with all that and lots more.
In addition to her many duties at Elite, her mechanical know-how has bailed us out in several situations, and last week she easily won the company NCAA Bracket, correctly picking Butler and Connecticut to make the Final Four, and UConn to go all the way.
Brava Michelle!

Here's To Conferencing!

It's CBC - Brewer's Association Conference time right now in San Francisco. The Craft Brewers Conference is the premier craft brewing industry educational event, bringing together more than 2,600 of the world’s leading brewers, brewery owners, brewery/brewpub marketing and management, and brewing supply professionals.  This year's sessions were sold out, and record attendance of 3,900 (including, of course, Elite Brands) is expected.
Cheers to that!

New Cider--In the House!

 Since the first American settlers arrived to our country over 300 years ago until prohibition in the 1920’s, hard cider was the original drinking man’s beverage on the farm, in the factories and through our coastal shipyards.
     Located in the frontier gold mining town of Julian, California, our growing company continues the American tradition of handcrafted, quality hard cider production using the finest ingredients, painstaking attention to detail and good old fashioned hard work.
One taste of our premium hard cider and you will experience why Julian Hard Cider is “American to the Core”.
     The Julian Hard Cider recipe originates from 1670 colonial America and is comparable to the finest British ciders. Unlike many “impostor” hard ciders on the market, it is easy to have more than one pint of Julian Hard Cider as we do not use concentrated apple Juice or additives which leave the drinker with a lingering sugary film and after-taste.
     Why is Julian Hard Cider the choice of true cider lovers? We have only one ingredient… the freshest apples in the world! Our cider is lightly carbonated with tartness, acidity and a clean dry finish, enabling it to stand firmly on its own or compliment your favorite meal.

More Info: http://julianhardcider.biz/

Hoppy Anniversary!

Elite Brands of Colorado celebrated their 8th Anniversary in business this week.
They've come a long way, and are looking for many more years to follow.
Congratulations Terry and Elite Brands of Colorado!

Some of our morning crew enjoy an anniversary cupcake breakfast.

Eight great years and many more!

Another New Addition

Elite is happy to welcome Grand Teton Brewing to our craft beer lineup.
Grand Teton Brewing Company is the original brewery of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. We have been brewing their handcrafted beers at the base of the Tetons since 1988.

Since they've been around awhile, many of you are probably familiar with their portfolio, but for those who aren't, here are just a few of the highlights:

Bitch Creek

Bitch Creek perfectly balances big malt sweetness and robust hop flavor for a full bodied mahogany ale.  Like the stream for which it is named, our Bitch Creek ESB is full of character, and not for the timid. 

Sweetgrass

An American Pale Ale of distinction!  2009 Great American Beer Festival Gold Medal winner in its category, this crisp and fragrant beer is hopped and dry hopped with plenty of Amarillos and Cascades. Try it with any bold, flavorful food to complement its citrusy, resinous spiciness.

Pursuit of Hoppiness Imperial Red

Brewed to showcase the brash beauty of American hops--topping out at 100 IBUs, and about 8.5% alcohol by volume, this thick and warming beer is to be shared and savored. Tastes like it sounds--lots of hops and spice.

Lost Continent Double IPA (available Apr-Sept).

A more traditional Double IPA flavor profile--drier, less malty, more hoppy.To the delight of hopheads everywhere, the style has survived through the centuries and has become the beer of choice for adventurers with the curiosity to discover what lies over the horizon.