The Mash - Tommyknocker Brewery

The Mash
Tommyknocker Brewery Co.

Tommykocker is located high in the Rocky Mountains in Idaho Springs, CO, located just 25 miles west of Denver. Idaho Springs is a historic mining town and somewhat still has the presence of miners and how the town looked back in the mining days in 1890's. the Tommyknocker name comes from the knocking on the mine walls that happens just before cave-ins - actually the creaking of earth and timbers before giving way. To some of the miners, the knockers were malevolent spirits and the knocking was the sound of them hammerings at walls and supports to cause the cave-in. To others, who saw them as essentially well-meaning practical jokers, the knocking was their way of warning the miners that a life-threatning collapse was imminent.

They offer a wide variety of food and many vegetarian plates. They also make their own sodas and many excellent award winning ales and lagers. The head brewer is Steve Indrehus and assistant brewer is Eric Rode.

The five sodas they make are: classic Root Beer, Almond Creme, Strawberry Creme, Orange Creme, Key Lime Creme.

The beer list is plentiful and unique. They make a very complex and multiple award winning Maple Nut Brown ale, and an Imperial Nut Brown ale. Cocoa Porter Winter Warmer, Ornery Amber lager, Jack Wacker Wheat ale, Butt Head bock, Alpine Glacier Lager, Pick Axe Pale Ale, Tundrabeary Ale, Rye Porter, and Black Powder Stout

Find them at: www.tommyknocker.com

The Mash - Il Vicino

Welcome to the second edition of THE MASH! Today we present to you one of the best breweries in the southwest: Il Vicino Brewery www.ilvicino.com

History:
An Italian Trattoria and now having 8 locations in New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri this pizzeria/brewery had humble beginnings. They began the brewery as an afterthought to the original Il Vicino pizzeria located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Not having much room they turned the basement into a crammed brewery and started to pump out quality beer. As a matter of fact they started to win prestigous medals as soon as they brewed the first batch, well almost. They have been winning medals more many different styles since 1995 a winning tradition that continues today. And oh they also serve GREAT FOOD!

Today they have a small brewery located just off I-25 open mon-fri and is even fit with a tap room. Here is where they make all of the beer that feeds all of its 8 restuarants. You will not find there beers in bottles as they only make the beers for their restuarants and for pick up at their brewery.

Brewers:
Brew Master - Brady Mckeown
who brews on a 7bbl system and brews 1500bbls/year

Beers:
The tap list is always changing but here are some of there beers:
Wet Mountain IPA - multiple WCP & GABF medal winner **my favorite**
Slow Down Brown - multiple WCP & GABF medal winner **my favorite**
Irish Red - WCP medal winner
Past Due Porter - medal winner
Pig Tail Blone
Joe's Stout
Grandpa's Porter

The Mash - Santa Fe Brewing

"The Mash" will be a (bi-) weekly-ish installment of breweries that peak my curiosity from around the world.
The first installment will be the "Santa Fe Brewing Co.".
(from brewery website)

The History:
They are located in nonother than Santa Fe, New Mexico. They opened the brewery in 1988 (NM's 1st microbrewery) and use custom square vats for open fermentation. The brewery now boasts a 30bbl system and a bottling line.

The name has historical beginnings as it was first used in 1877. An early advertisement of the local brew stated " Guaranteed equal to any St. Louis or Milwaukee beer!"

Famed anthropologist Adolph Bandelier noted in his journal:
April 27, 1889. Went to Mass. In the afternoon to the brewery. It was "Bock" day.
April 28, 1889. Unwell, as might be expected; could do nothing at all.

The Brewers:
Brian Lock, Ty Levis and a chap named Nick are the current brewers.

The Beers:
They make 6 beers year round and 3 beers on a seasonal basis. The beers are distictive as the cap bares the NM zia symbol found on its state flag. The beers of distinction are their "Chicken Killer Barleywine" and "State Pen Porter" (my fav.)
Year round:
Santa Fe Pale Ale
State Pen Porter
Santa Fe Nut Brown
Santa Fe Wheat
Chicken Killer Barley Wine
Fiesta I.P.A.
Seasonal:
Santa Fe Stout (available feb-may)
Freestyle Pilsner (avail. may-august)
Vizsolay Belgian (august-feb)

Anyway, if you are in the area do stop by the historic brewery and pick up some tasty beer. I recommend the Porter and Barleywine. Visit their website at www.santafebrewing.com.

Prost!