March is here, which means you might be tempted to start stocking your fridge with the latest spring seasonal beers hitting the market right now, but we argue for restraint. Even though we have left the chills of January and February behind us, winter has not released its grip upon the Rocky Mountains. In fact March and April are the first and third snowiest months of the year in the Centennial State. Instead of reaching for the easy-drinking, light-bodied sippers, we suggest you stock up on some local Colorado stouts to have on hand when the next big storm unleashes on us. Check out these five must-have stouts to enjoy this month.
Irish Blessing Oak-Aged Coffee Stout
Saint Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, which means it’s time to fill your fridge with dark and roasty Irish stouts, like Boulder Beer Company’s Irish Blessing. This robust, oak-aged coffee stout is brewed with fresh coffee from Ozo Coffee and aged in Tullamore Dew barrels to impart a hint of the Emerald Isle to each sip. It pours black as night with a nice creamy head and it’s packed full of delicious and warming chocolate and coffee flavors. boulderbeer.com
Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout
If you are going to grab any one beer to have around the house this month, make it Finkel & Garf’s Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout. Weighing in at 10 percent ABV, this beast is absolutely packed with complex flavors, yet might be one of the smoothest stouts out there. It has a boozy bite, but unlike other barrel aged beers, doesn’t overwhelm the roasted flavors of the stout. finkelandgarf.com
Sad Panda Coffee Stout
Horse and Dragon Brewing Co.’s Sad Panda Coffee Stout is the perfect large format beer to have sitting in the corner of your cupboard in case of a snow emergency. When it’s time to enjoy it, all you need to do is toss it into the snow for thirty minutes to chill, then enjoy. A classic stout best served slightly cold. This one perfectly mixes vanilla and coffee flavors which perfectly mingle together to make each sip better than the last. horseanddragonbrewing.com
Chocolate Cherry Yeti Imperial Stout
As one of the OGs of the Colorado craft beer scene, Denver-based Great Divide Brewing Co. has been churning out quality beers for over two decades. Beer drinkers anxiously look forward to their limited release spinoffs of their classic Yeti Imperial Stout. This year they have rolled out a Chocolate Cherry Yeti that is brewed with sweet and sour cherries that meld perfectly with the cacao flavors already quite prevalent in the original Yeti recipe. greatdivide.com
Barrel-Aged Hammer Imperial Stout
And we’d be remiss not to mention the Barrel-Aged Hammer Imperial Stout from Renegade Brewing Company. Packaged in one-pint cans, this beast will make your nose hairs curl with pleasure just sipping it. It has a hefty boozy punch up front that mellows the moment it hits your mouth. This one will be tough to find. Look for it in fine bottle shops and larger liquor stores. renegadebrewing.com
This content is proudly sponsored by Molly’s Spirits, Colorado’s most beautiful way to shop over 12,000 wines, spirits and beers. Molly’s values are rooted in serving our local community, collaborating with our industry partners and offering our customers the best experience possible. Located right off I-70 and Sheridan in Denver, Molly’s perfect first stop to stock up for all of your mountain adventures. Get directions here or check us out on Instagram here.
