DENVER, Colo. — Two custom-made Wynkoop Brewing Company beers — Elitch Gardens Orchard Wheat and Elitch Gardens Fire Roasted Amber — are back on tap at the famed Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park in Denver.
Wynkoop designed and brewed these two beers last year for the park (now open for the 2013 summer season), and both were a hit with Elitch Gardens beer lovers.
“Our guests really enjoyed the Wynkoop custom brews last summer,” says Rod Rankin, General Manager for Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park. “So this year we are bringing back those two great beers and introducing a new craft beer.”
This year’s new Elitch Gardens beer is Thrills & Spills Summer Ale, a hoppy, low-alcohol, English-style summer ale designed for warm-weather quaffing. It is fermented with an English ale yeast and weighs in at just 4.2 % ABV.
The beer is amply hopped with whole-leaf Kent Goldings hops from the UK. A large portion of these hops are used in a post-boil addition (in Wynkoop’s trademark Hopinator hopback device) to provide extra hop aroma.
On Wednesday, May 15 from 5-7 PM, as part of Wynkoop’s American Craft Beer Week festivities, Wynkoop will host a tapping party in honor of the release of the beers.
The event takes place upstairs at Wynkoop and will feature drafts of all three Elitch Gardens beers and giveaways of Elitch hats, shirts, tickets and other items.
“In Denver,” says Wynkoop’s Marty Jones, “more and more people want a thrilling, locally made beer when they’re out having a great time. The park’s management saw that firsthand last year.”
“Our beers provide unique fun for Elitch Gardens’ guests,” Jones adds, “and something special for those who crave small-batch beer. They also give the park a jumbo dose of hometown beer credibility, and a way to showcase its ‘buy local’ practices.”
“A day at our downtown theme and water park,” Rankin says, “while enjoying a locally made, custom craft brew makes for a Denver summer day at its finest.”
The custom Wynkoop beers are being served in a number of locations at the park, including the Blue Moon Beer Garden, J.M. Mulvihill’s Bar & Grill, Rustler’s Food Court, Draught Works, Fresh Cut Fries and Island Breeze.
They are also being served at Wynkoop Brewing Company and will soon appear at a select number of Wynkoop’s beeriest draft accounts.
Elitch Gardens Orchard Wheat is a 4.8% ABV unfiltered American-style wheat made with pale malt, malted wheat, German hops, kaffir lime leaf and a small dose of peach juice. It’s a complex, creamy bodied, ultra-refreshing wheat beer with hints of citrus and peaches.
Elitch Gardens Fire Roasted Amber is made with pale and crystal malts, US and UK hops, roasted-in-house Anaheim and ancho chiles, and smoked Serrano peppers. It features fresh-roasted pepper aromas and flavors, mild heat and caramel flavors. It’s fermented with an English Ale yeast and is a very drinkable 5.2% ABV.