You did it! You made it through Dry January! And while a reset was likely needed for all of us, the arrival of February will also welcome the return of Stout Month throughout the state of Colorado.
The state-wide embrace of the dark and roasty first originated in 1993 at the Mountain Sun collection of brewpubs as a showcase of their house-made Stouts in addition to a handful of all-star guest Stouts. However, across the last 30+ years, February’s focus on exciting new stout releases has extended to breweries and brewpubs throughout the Centennial state.
The Mountain Sun family now consists of Mountain Sun, Southern Sun, and Under the Sun in Boulder, and Longs Peak Pub in Longmont, as well as Denver’s Vine Street Pub, which has remained closed since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. However, in the comments section of a recent Stout Month post, there may be indications that Vine Street may be primed to re-open by May 2024.
For a full history of Mountain Sun’s illustrious Stout Month history, check out our original post where we sat down with John Fiorilli, Director of Brewing Operations for the Mountain Sun family, and dialed the clock back on Stout Month’s humble beginnings.
For those looking to celebrate Stout Month in 2024, we’ve helped compile a list of special tappings, releases, and events beginning with Mountain Sun’s 2024 Stout Month Lineup.
- Mountain Sun Stouts
- 48 Smooth Chai Stout
- Addition Imperial Coffee Stout
- Coconut Cream Stout
- Dropkick Stout
- Girl Scout Stout
- Korova Cream Stout
- Loompa Land Vegan Dark Chocolate and Ginger Stout
- Ludovico’s Vanilla Cream Stout
- Megatron Imperial Stout
- Moloko Plus Coffee Cream Stout
- Montserrat Foreign Export Stout
- Ned’s Two-Alarm Cherry Chili Stout
- NIHILIST Russian Imperial Stout
- Norwegian Wheat Stout
- Oatimus Prime Imperial Oatmeal Stout
- O’Stengl’s Dry Irish Stout
- Planet Lovetron Chocolate Coconut Imperial Milk Stout
- Ravenglass English Imperial Stout
- Stoked Oak Stout
- Thunderhead Stout
- Trickster Stout
- Wizard’s Staff Imperial Stout
- Yonder Mountain Stout
- YUM ALERT! Vegan Imperial Pastry Stout
2024 State-Wide Stout Month Events & Releases
Mythmaker’s Imperial Coconut Stout Release
When: Thursday, February 1 | 4pm
Where: Mythmaker Brewing – 1035 S Taft Rd, Fort Collins, CO
What: Celebrate Stout Month with us as we tap ‘Imperial Coconut Stout’! We will have just one keg of this beer so it’s sure to go pretty quickly. Our 10.4% alc/vol Imperial Stout was conditioned on freshly toasted coconut and will be a great kickoff to Stout Month!
Vantabrew Guided Tasting at Cerebral Brewing (Aurora)
When: Saturday, February 3 | 11am
Where: Cerebral Brewing – 9990 E Colfax Ave, Aurora, CO 80010
What: In honor of our annual Vantabrews event, we’re doing a deep dive into our portfolio of stouts. Join us at our Aurora Arts Taproom on Thursday, February 1 to kick off Vantabrews weekend with our co-founder Sean and Head Brewer Sam as they cover flavor profiles, brewing processes, barrel selection and more.
- A welcome beer
- A guided tasting through a flight of 4 different stouts (including our Vantabrews Here Be Monsters releases)
- A commemorative glass
Cerebral’s Here Be Monsters & Vanilla Here Be Monsters Release
When: Friday, February 2 | 9 am
Where: Cerebral Brewing – 1477 Monroe St, Denver, CO 80206
What: 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗕𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦 – 𝗕𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝟱 – 𝟭𝟰.𝟯%
Imperial Stout aged 25-28 months in 10 Year Old Rip Van Winkle, 12 Year Weller & 6 Year Blantons Bourbon Barrels.
Tasting notes: Chocolate-covered Almonds, Irish Whiskey Cake, Hot Chocolate with Tiny Marshmallows Limit (2) PP – 32/500ml
𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗕𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗖𝗢𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗨𝗧 & 𝗩𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗔 – 𝟭𝟯.𝟳%
Imperial Stout aged 28-36 months in 15 Year George Dickel Whisky, 15 Year Woodford Reserve & 26 Year Wild Turkey Bourbon. Conditioned on coconut and a blend of Brazilian and Tahitian vanilla.
Tasting notes: Swedish Chocolate Balls, Affogato with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Limit (2) PP – 34/500ml
𝗞𝗘𝗬 𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗢
Member pre-sale: now until 9am Friday 2/2
Oznr sale: 9am Friday, 2/2
Pickup window: Saturday, 2/3 through Saturday, 2/17
Pickup location: You MUST pick up from the location that you select during the purchase process – Congress Park or Aurora Arts. We are unable to accommodate pickup attempts from the opposite location.
Both bottles will be available through the @get.oznr app starting at 9am MST FRIDAY, 2/2.
*Order pick-up will begin SATURDAY, 2/3 and continue through SATURDAY, 2/17 Proxies are allowed, but we ask you to limit them to two proxies per person. You will be able to assign your proxy in the Oznr app.
**NOTE: If you or your proxy cannot pick up during the pick-up period, please DO NOT purchase bottles. We will NOT be allowing late pick-ups. All bottles not picked up during the pickup window will be FORFEITED.
Verboten Brewing’s Pure Imagination Oatmeal Stout Release
When: Friday, February 2 | Noon
Where: Verboten Brewing – 127 E 5th St, Loveland, CO 80537
What: Pure Imagination, returns! One of our most highly decorated ales is back on Friday, February 2nd! Dive into our 2023 World Beer Cup gold medal-winning oatmeal stout, where velvety smooth oats intertwine with rich dark chocolate and robust espresso with Aromas of toffee and caramel and dark chocolate! All wrapped with a comforting dark velvety finish.
Pure Imagination proudly boasts the following awards:
U.S OPEN BEER CHAMPIONSHIP:
2015 Bronze
2017 Gold
WORLD BEER CUP:
2014 Silver
2023 Gold
Available on draft and to-go in 32oz Crowlers!
Ratio Beerworks’ 2024 Genius Wizard Release Party
When: Friday, February 2, 2024 | 7-10pm
Where: Mercury Cafe – 2199 California St, Denver, CO 80205
What: For the first time since its inception, Genius Wizard is hitting the road and bringing some new (and old) friends along…
Join Ratio Beerworks on Friday, February 2nd from 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM, for the 9th annual release of Genius Wizard Barrel Aged Stout at a new venue, Mercury Cafe! This year, we have invited our buddies from Laws Whiskey House to join in on the tasting and have a few tricks up our sleeve with long-time art partner Shadows Gather.
$25 Ticket Includes:
-Access to the Mercury Cafe Launch Party Event
-2024 Collectible Genius Wizard Glass
-4oz Tastings of each 2024 Genius Wizard Variant
-1.5oz tastings of four Laws Whiskey House Bourbon and Rye Variants
-1 full pour of the OG Genius Wizard from the Mercury Cafe Bar
-Small bites from Uptown and Humboldt
$50 Ticket Includes:
-Access to the Mercury Cafe Launch Party Event
-2024 Collectible Genius Wizard Glass
-4oz Tastings of each 2024 Genius Wizard Variant
-1.5oz tastings of four Laws Whiskey House Bourbon and Rye Variants
-1 full pour of the OG Genius Wizard from the Mercury Cafe Bar
-Small bites from Uptown and Humboldt
-Mixed 4pk of 16oz Genius Wizard Barrel Aged Imperial Stout to go*. P.S.Mixed 4pks go for $40 each in the taproom so this is a KILLER deal!
Cerebral Brewing’s Vantabrews 2024
When: Saturday, February 3 | 11am
Where: Cerebral Brewing – 1477 Monroe St, Denver, CO 80206
What: Once again we embrace the shades that even black cannot capture, we spotlight the epitome of darkness – Vantablack. Save the date for Saturday, February 3rd for our annual tap takeover of the darkest stouts we can find from near and far featuring in-house tappings as well as several guest taps.
This year’s guest tappings include:
- Corporate Ladder Brewing – Double Barrel Vile Maxim – BA Imperial Stout with Coconut and Cacao
- Finback Brewery – BA Banana Drip – BA Imperial Stout with Banana, Coffee, Vanilla & Peanut Butter
- Mikerphone Brewing – Blend Session (Collab with Cerebral & New Image) – BA Imperial Stout
- Pinthouse Brewing – Jaguar Shark Deep Search (Collab w/ Cerebral) – BA Imperial Stout with Almonds, Cacao, Vanilla, and Sea Salt
- Resident Culture Brewing – Single Barrel Select: Barrel 97 – BA Imperial Stout
- Southern Grist Brewing – Batch One Theory – BA Imperial Stout with Banana, Cacao, Marshmallow, Caramel
No tickets required!
When: Saturday, February 3 | 11am – 2pm
Where: Wynkoop Brewing – 1634 18th Street, Denver, 80202
What: Join Wynkoop Brewing alongside 15+ Denver breweries as we sip on a ‘stache of deliciously dark beer at the Wynkoop Brewing Co.
Tickets include unlimited dark beer tastings, appetizers, desserts and a commemorative Day of Darks glass to accompany mo’ dark beer deliciousness than you can imagine. To commemorate our annual slip into the darkness, we are brewing some special edition goodies that will be exclusively tapped for Day of Darks ’24.
Day of Darks is in benefit of the Movember Foundation, the leading charity changing the face of men’s health on a global scale — focusing on mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. Movember’s fundraising efforts deliver innovative, breakthrough research and support programs that enable men to live happier, healthier and longer lives. To donate directly or learn more, please visit movember.com.
TICKETS: General Admission $40 // Day-of $45
Wiley Root’s Celebration of Dark Beers
When: Saturday, February 3 | 12pm
Where: Wiley Roots Brewing – 625 3rd Street, Greeley, CO
What: On Saturday, February 3rd, we’re “taking over” our taps in celebration of one of our favorite stylistic categories of beers: DARK BEERS! We’ll have 10 draft lines pouring some of our favorite porters, stouts, and Dark Lagers – from rich and chocolatey stouts to smooth and roasty porters, we’ll have something for every dark beer lover.
And what better way to celebrate than with a tasting package! If you purchase the Presale Base Ticket Package, you’ll get 20 tickets for $20 to sample through our draft list – each beer will be a different point value based on a combination of ABV, style, and/or rarity, so don’t be afraid to purchase a couple extras to indulge in our limited cellared selections. Each Base Ticket Package includes a Wiley Roots Taster Glass to take home as a souvenir!
Base Ticket Packages raise to $30 for 20 tickets on February 3rd (the day of the event).
When: Saturday, February 10 | 1-5pm
Where: Chilson Recreation Center – 700 E 4th St, Loveland, CO 80537
What: Get ready for our yearly celebration of stout indulgence as we proudly present our 5th Annual Stout Fest – where all of our deepest and darkest beer fantasies become reality! This year’s Stout Fest is not just an event; it’s an experience. Bigger, better, and longer than ever before, we’re taking over the Chilson Center event space in downtown Loveland for an expansive celebration of stout craftsmanship.
Event Highlights:
✨ Stout Selection: Dive into the depths of stout excellence with our specially curated selection of 15 new and unique stout options crafted by our talented production team. From velvety smooth to robustly rich, each brew is as unique, as it is fun, as it is flavorful!
✨ (NEW ADDITION) Guest Taps: Elevate your stout adventure with 5 special guest taps, introducing a symphony of diverse flavors and limited-edition brews that you won’t find anywhere else in Loveland! That equates to a total of TWENTY-ONE new and unique selections at this year’s event!
✨ Unlimited Pours: Your ticket grants you access to a world of unlimited pours – a passport to savor the diverse and exquisite stouts we’ll have to offer without constraints.
✨ Gourmet Delights: Fuel your stout exploration with delectable offerings from a guest food truck. Culinary delights add an extra layer of enjoyment to your festival experience.
🎟️ Ticket Information:
Regular Ticket Pricing: $50 (LOW TICKET ALERT!!!)
Diebolt Brewing’s Vladislav Imperial Stout Variants Release
When: Saturday, February 10 | 1pm
Where: Diebolt Brewing – 3855 Mariposa St, Denver, CO 80211
What: The 2024 variant release of our award-winning Imperial Stout Vladislav is finally upon us and this year we decided to hold off on the lactose and fruit. New this year is the single-origin barrel series and the return of our Mexican Chocolate.
Jack Diebolt will be serving all 4 variants in the brewhouse, talking all things beer, and even popping a few Imperial Stout Variants from our cellar. If nerding out on beers is your thing or if you can’t get enough Vladislav in your life, this is the event for you.
Introducing the 4 variants for 2024 Vladislav vintage…
- Port – Just the Barrel.
- Rum – Just the Barrel.
- Maple Syrup – Just the Barrel.
- Mexican Chocolate – Aged 12 months in a Heavens Door barrel, then rested on Guajillo and Ancho Chile Peppers, Ceylon Cinnamon, and Cacao Nibs.
17oz bottles and 16oz cans will be available to-go. All variants will be on draft at once, Feb 10th only. Cheers.
Vintage Stout Tasting @ Wiley Roots Brewing
When: Saturday, February 17 | 12pm
Where: Wiley Roots Brewing – 625 3rd Street, Greeley, CO
What: Get ready for the ultimate stout experience at Wiley Roots Brewing – Our Vintage Stout Tasting on Saturday, February 17th at 6:30 pm!
Join us for an intimate, behind-the-scenes deep dive into the Barrel Aged Stout program at Wiley Roots. Get ready to take a deep dive into 6 vintage releases from our program, alongside a guided tasting with members of our production team complete with a charcuterie pairing! Also… psssst…. you might even get a sneak peek at an upcoming release
Each ticket includes:
-Seven 3oz pours of incredibly exclusive offerings
-Behind-the-scenes access to our production facility
-In-depth education from our production team about the beers and the brewery’s history
-A Wiley Roots taster glass
-Charcuterie and delicious palate cleansers from our Taproom selection
Month-Long Stout Month Events
Stout Month at Hops & Pie
Throughout the month, Hops & Pie will have some of the nation’s best stouts on tap including:
- La Cumbre’s Malpais
- Fremont’s Dark Star
- Prairie Artisan Ales’s Bourbon Weekend
- Telluride’s Ski-in-Ski-Stout
- WeldWerk’s Oatmeal Stout
- Amalgam’s Another Realm
- Westbound & Down’s Tennessee Special
- Casey Brewing and Blending’s Vanilla Bean Stout.
The beers will be just $4 for Beer Club Members throughout the month.
They’ll also have a “Stout Month” cocktail, a Darker and Stormier with rum, lime, vanilla, molasses, ginger, topped with La Cumbre’s Malpais Stout.
Stout Month at Bull & Bush Brewery
Throughout the month of February, Bull & Bush Brewery will also be featuring a healthy supply of in-house Stouts as well as guest Stouts from incredible local and national breweries.
Bull & Bush In-House Stouts
- Stonehenge Stout – “Stout, Stout, Let It All Out!” Brewed with Premium English Malts
- Chocolate Makes Me Curvey – Milk Stout brewed with Maris Otter Malt and local Milk Chocolate Curvatures
- Thin Mint Stout – Brewed with cacao, peppermint chocolate sugar, and freeze dried mint
The Legend of the Liquid Brain Imperial Stout – 2019, 2021, 2023
Guest Beers:
- Cannonball Creek Brewing Company, Machairodus Imperial Stout
- Comrade Brewing Company, Koffee Kream Extra Stout
- Comrade Brewing Company, Quit Stalin Russian Imperial Stout
- Avery Brewing Company, The Czar 2011
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Narwhal 2014 and 2015
- Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Firestone Walker Velvet Merkin 2018
- Stone Brewing, Stone Russian Imperial Stout 2014
- Alaskan Brewing Company, Perseverance Russian Imperial Stout 2016
- Green Flash Brewing, Silva Stout 2017
- Destihl Brewery, Dosvidanya 2019
- Dogfish Head Brewery, World Wide Stout 2013
- Great Divide Brewing Company, Yeti Imperial Stout
- The Lost Abbey, Serpent Stout 2018
- De Dolle Brouwers, Extra Export Stout 2014
We will also be featuring a Coffee Blueberry Stout Burger – Coffee rubbed 1/2 lb Colorado beef patty, topped with blueberry cheddar cheese, Stonehenge Stout syrup, onion strings, and savory blueberry aioli.
Special Stout Month Releases
FlyteCo Brewing – Ski Plane Stout
The aptly named beer for the aviation-themed brewery will have its Ski Plane Stout on draft throughout February. The American Stout (5.6% ABV) carries rich notes of roasted grain that reminds us of freshly roasted coffee as well as a subtle nuttiness. Flavors of coffee and chocolate are present, while still carrying a balanced sweetness. Not dry, but not overly sweet, this beer really highlights the dark and chocolate malt used in this beer. The hops in this beer help create a dry finish that leaves you looking for another sip.
WeldWerks Brewing – Cuvee de Chocolatier
WeldWerks’ Cuvee de Chocolatier collection, which includes a trio of three indulgent 500-milliliter barrel-aged stouts, is the perfect addition for Stout Month imbibing. The gift box set ($59) can be purchased on Eventbrite now with pickups Jan. 31 – Feb. 18. The gift box includes the following flavors:
- Caramel Edition: An Imperial Stout aged for 30 months in Blanton’s & Eagle Rare bourbon barrels, then perfected with Colombian cacao nibs and caramel
- Coconut Infusion: Dive into this Imperial Stout aged for 28 months in Buffalo Trace Experimental bourbon barrels & Law’s Whiskey House rye barrels, culminating in Bolivian cacao nibs and coconuts
- Strawberry Symphony: Immerse yourself in the rich taste of this Imperial Stout aged for 22 months in Buffalo Trace & Blanton’s bourbon barrels, harmonized with Ecuadorian cacao nibs and strawberry
Woods Boss Brewing Company
Just in time for the 2024 Stout Month, Denver’s Woods Boss Brewing has announced a robust lineup of dark and roasty options for stout lovers to enjoy throughout February. Channeling a diverse array of flavor profiles, fans of chocolate-y, fruit-forward, coffee, and cocktail-inspired flavors alike will find a new favorite beer to enjoy.
- Sakura Chocolate Cherry Stout- Perfect for Valentine’s Day, this rich decadent stout is brewed with real chocolate and cherry puree. Its luscious mouthfeel and complex yet classic flavors pair perfectly with desserts like New York Cheesecake. Join Woods Boss on Saturday, February 3 for a special cheesecake and beer pairing featuring Sakura Chocolate Cherry Stout. Tickets available here for $12 and include a 10oz pour of Sakura.
- Hisolda Irish Coffee Cream Stout- Soft, rich roasted malts and bold Irish Coffee Beans meld together with a generous addition of lactose to create an incredibly smooth and creamy coffee stout with subtle tones of whiskey sugar reminiscent of fine Irish Coffee. Super rich and decadent, this stout is sure to satisfy those who love the flavors typical of the style.
Additional stouts will be available at select times in February, including:
- Dark Hedges, a lighter, classic, Dry Irish Stout
- Magical Narwhal Candy Cane Unicorn, a holiday stout with crushed candy canes and a light lactose addition.