Every brewery we visited in Durango had a number of mixed beers customers regularly ask for. We had to try some while seeing what the brewers had to say of the practice.
Ska Brewing Co.
Sampled mix: Decablonde – 50 percent True Blonde Ale (ABV: 5.3 percent; IBUs: 20) and 50 percent Decadent Imperial IPA (ABV: 10 percent; IBUs: 80). Notes: Hops up the Blonde while lessening the ABV of the Decadent. Reminds of the True Blonde Dubbel, an 8 percent ABV Belgian strong pale ale.
Other mixed incarnations: Decadent double IPA with Mexican Logger; Sexy Mexi (half True Blonde, half Mexican Logger)
Brewer’s take: [Pauses] “You know, I couldn’t say one way or the other. Me personally, I just like beer. I like to try different beers that are brewed, like one-offs or different flavors mixed in.” – Head Brewer Kurt Randall
Carver Brewing Co.
Sampled mix: Silly Rabbit – 80-85 percent Jack Rabbit Pale Ale (ABV: 5.7 percent; IBUs: 33) and 15-20 percent Raspberry Wheat Ale (ABV: 5.2 percent; IBUs: 20). Notes: If you’re a steady Jackrabbit drinker, a splash of raspberry is a refreshing treat. However, the ratio is important, with no less than 80 percent Jackrabbit. “You’re just drinking a raspberry otherwise,” said beertender Brendan Lantzy.
Other mixed incarnations: Bikelberry (Big Bike Double IPA with Raspberry Wheat Ale); stout with Lightner Creek Lager or Raspberry Wheat Ale
Brewer’s take: “[I’m OK with] certain ones, some combinations – people have been doing that forever: Black and Tan – come on, classic mix right there. Or the Priest Collar, which is cider and stout. I don’t know. Some of them I’m not a fan of – double IPA and anything. For me, if I’m going to drink a double IPA, I want to taste a double IPA. I don’t need fruity beer in there. If I want a fruit beer, I’ll drink a fruit beer or mix that with the stout. I don’t like big, hoppy beers with other beers in general.” – Head Brewer Patrick Jose
Steamworks Brewing Co.
Sampled mix: Train Smoke – 60 percent Conductor (ABV: 8.9 percent; IBUs: 81.8) and 40 percent Backside Stout (ABV: 6.2 percent; IBUs: 28). Notes: Perfect if you’re after a tasty combo of hops and malt. The gasses have to be consistent, both should be nitro or CO2, but not one of each.
Other mixed incarnations: Red Eye (Third Eye P.A. and Lizard Head Red); Chili Stout (Backside Stout and Prescribed Burn)
Brewer’s take: “The whole idea of our beers as brewers is that it’s supposed to be our representation. So whether it’s on the verge of that style, or whether it’s what a lot of American brewers are doing, creating new styles. We here at Steamworks are a little more traditional. We don’t get pulled into trends, like hazy IPAs, we’re not going to do that. Some of that is directed by the consumer. A lot of people are demanding it. So we try to stick true to our styles and not blend – I don’t want to say ‘bastardize styles,’ but that’s kind of what it is, a deprecation of what the true origin should be.” – Brewer Chad Quinn
Durango Brewing Co.
Sampled mix: 60 percent Irish Red (ABV: 4.8 percent; IBUs: unavailable) and 40 percent India Pale Ale (ABV: 7.3 percent; IBUs: unavailable). Notes: A perfect blend. In fact, the layperson would be hard-pressed to even tell they were mixed.
Other mixed incarnations: Black and Blue (Blueberry Wheat and Dark Lager); Douchebag (Derail Ale and Blueberry Wheat)
Brewer’s take: “Nowadays, they’re going crazy – barrel-aging, blending. But customers at the bar doing it, it’s an interesting one. I don’t mind it, honestly. If they want to do it, they can. The customer can do whatever they want. We definitely don’t design them to be mixed … It’s one of those things where the community controls it more than us. I think the more open to change we are, the better. That’s craft brewing in America: Be innovative.” – Brewer Troy Sliter
David Holub
