My Beercation To Beer Mecca & Beyond: Cervecería Colorado

After spending most of the day in the RiNo area, a quick stop on the way back to the hotel winds up being a pivotal beer experience for me. Along the beercation road, there are places that reveal themselves to be more than a good place to drink a beer. My experience at Cervecería Colorado epitomizes this concept. Not only are the beers unique and fantastic, the cultural focus on Latinos makes me feel like I belong here.

Belonging Is Important

As a Latino man, there has been one time where I have been part of the majority when it comes to the racial breakdown of a taproom. It happened on Sunday, June 30th at Cervecería Colorado. Since I started doing beercations in 2006, I have been to over 300 breweries.

Why is this noteworthy? Well, the answer is somewhat complicated. Being adopted from Colombia and being raised by white parents in a predominantly white suburb of Minnesota, I have always been used to sticking out a little. I have never been in any family or social situation where I have been amongst other members of my racial and ethnic background. So, over the last 40 years I have gotten used to it.

In life, we all want to belong. In craft beer, if you are a white male, you belong all the time. If you are white and female in craft beer, you are still represented well as a patron in a taproom, but you aren’t as represented in the industry as much.

If you check any other box regarding race or ethnicity in craft beer, you are woefully under-represented in taprooms-both as a patron and a brewery employee. These facts are to provide context for why Cervecería Colorado is such a revelation to me.

The Beers

What I like about a brewery is when the beers they brew cause me to think about how I view craft beer. That is definitely the case at Cervecería Colorado. Their portfolio provides everyone with something they will like. They are a popular place to watch a Fútbol match and there are beers that are perfect for that. They also have several beers on the menu that showcase different flavors and ingredients from Latin areas of the world. Cervecería Colorado also has a churro stout that blew me away.

The Venga, which translates to “let’s do it” in Spanish, is an approachable lager. The corn provides a bit of sweetness and there is also a little bit of honey from the malt. The Seńor Pińa is a blonde ale with bright and citrusy aromas of tangerine, pineapple, and ripe pear. The flavor is mild with a nice coconut and vanilla sweetness. The Chico Suave, in addition to being my favorite beer name ever, is an easy drinking pale ale with a grassy hop bite in the finish. There is some tangerine sweetness in the front to make it a wonderful sip of beer.

Perhaps the biggest eye-opener of the day, and definitely one of the best beers of the entire beercation is the Cervecería Colorado Churro Stout. The aromas of cinnamon and cake donut instantly put me at a street fair. The malt sweetness comes across as a pound cake with cinnamon spice and brown sugar. Because it is not too sweet, the sip finishes with a little crispness to it and it certainly is a delightful surprise. The Carjeta Borracha showcases rich and satisfying roasted malt character with a note of leather. There is a harmonious amalgamation of vanilla, light caramel, and cinnamon. The complexity of these two malty beers is truly stellar.

Lastly, the Poblano Pils is a crisp lager with a great poblano aroma. The smoked poblano adds a depth of flavor and texture to the beer. The vegetal notes of the pepper add a delicate dryness and heat to the finish. This beer is an illustration of what beer can be when a brewer has a clear vision. Food flavors are tricky to pull off in beer.

Necesitamos Más

Cervecería Colorado is a shining example of of how the Latino culture and craft beer culture fit together perfectly. In order for craft beer to bring more Latinos into the fold, places like Cervecería Colorado are important and necessary. I felt more welcome in the taproom here than I have most other breweries I have been to. The reason for that is when you are part of a group of people who has never quite fit in, you understand the importance of creating a culture of inclusivity.

I will visit Cervercería Colorado every time I beercation to Denver because their beers are fantastic. I will feel comfortable at Cervecería Colorado every time because they understand how to make everyone feel welcome. Prost!

Dan Beaubien has been involved with Beerploma since 2014 although his passion for craft beer dates back to 2006 when he started traveling for beer. Dan mostly covers craft beer events, festivals, brewery openings/releases, and beer reviews. Dan has a soft spot in his heart for authentic British Style ales, IPAs, and all things barrel-aged. If you have any questions or comments about this article feel free to email Dan at dan.beaubien@beerploma.com .