DENVER – Senate Shout Out Stout by the Colorado State Senate and Cannonball Creek claimed the title of Hop the Vote winner at the 2015 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) competition. Presented by the Colorado Brewers Guild (CBG), Hop the Vote is a spirited but friendly brewing competition held between the Colorado State House of Representatives and the Colorado State Senate.
“When the CBG approached us to participate in Hop the Vote this year, we jumped on the opportunity,” said Brain Hutchinson, co-founder and head brewer at Cannonball Creek Brewing Company. “Winning this competition is awesome. This program highlights what the Colorado craft beer industry is doing and what small businesses and local governments can do when we work together.”
On July 18 the Colorado House of Representatives brewed with Big Choice Brewing. Team members included Representatives Dan Pabon, Polly Lawrence, Jeni James Arndt, Joann Ginal, Paul Lundeen, Kim Ransom and Yeullin Willet.
The beer: The Ayes Have It Aye-PA
A very citrusy hop forward IPA that finishes clean. The team used floor malted Marris Otter and Crystal 45 grain combined with copious amounts of Warrior, Mosaic, Simcoe, and Amarillo hops to make this beer a grapefruit slam-in-the-mouth tongue-splitter. To finish they used a Pub Ale yeast to really get an American inspired flavor. At 7.5 percent alcohol by volume (ABV) and almost 200 International Bittering Units scale (IBUs).
The Colorado State Senate team brewed at Cannonball Creek on July 21. This team is made up of Senators Chris Holbert, Andy Kerr, Matt Jones, Tim Neville and Pat Steadman.
The beer: Senate Shout Out Stout
A mocha stout brewed with copious amounts of dark chocolate and fresh, locally roasted coffee. The chocolate and coffee are complemented by notes of caramel malt and roasted barley. This beer used American 2-row, Munich, British Crystal, Chocolate Malt and Roasted Barley along with American Centennial hops and American Ale yeast. This big, full bodied, dark ale clocks in at 8 percent ABV.
Voting began on September 24 at 5:30 p.m. and end at 3:50 p.m. on September 26. More than 1,000 GABF attendees visited the Colorado Brewers Guild booth to cast their votes. The final vote was 52 percent to 48 percent.
“Winning the 2015 Hop the Vote competition means that we get to bring the brewer’s trophy to it’s rightful home in the state Senate. We’re tied now with each chamber scoring a win, which ought to liven up the 2016 competition,” Senator Chris Holbert of District 30. “It would seem an appropriate peaceful transition of power for the co-captains of the House brewing team to carry our trophy to the Senate and then for them offer their praise of our incredible coffee and chocolate stout. After that, all 100 legislators could meet up at Cannonball Creek Brewing in Golden so that we wannabes can thank them for brewing great beer.”
About the Colorado Brewers Guild
The Colorado Brewers Guild (CBG) is a non-profit trade association promoting the Colorado craft brewing industry. With the majority of the 305 licensed Colorado breweries as members, CBG provides information for Colorado beer lovers, and promotes Colorado craft breweries by advocating for Colorado craft beer with policymakers. For more information, visit www.coloradobeer.org.