Beer Sampling - Paradox Bandeau Artiste

I caught wind of this new brewery in Woodland Park while checking out what was on tap at the 2nd closest brewery to home, Pikes Peak Brewing. Paradox Beer Company apparently just opened up in Woodland Park. Their website is pretty scant, but some additional and worthwhile information about their beer and the brewery itself can be found on their Facebook page.

According to this post on the Focus on the Beer website, last Friday was Paradox's grand release party. I believe the party took place at Pike's. Perhaps needless to say, I opened up my Project Bandeau Artiste Trip on Friday night, albeit at home in the comfort of my office leather chair.

According to the brewery's website, the Artiste Trip is all of the following: a Belgian Style Golden Ale, a Peche Lambic, and a Farmhouse Style Saison. I stopped in at Monument's Cork and Bottle and picked up bottle # 622 of 720. Here are my tasting notes:

Paradox Bandeau Artiste Trip, #622 of 720

Paradox Bandeau Artiste Trip - American-Belgo Blond Ale; 7.9%abv; ale aged in wine barrles; bottle conditioned; golden in color; carbonation is active; very minimal heading; lacing that is light and subsides quickly; Belgian yeast all over the nose; fruity on the nose as well, with some malt-forward aroma; faint hints of peach or apple; taste-wise, the Belgian yeast shines through with additional hints of peach; a little champagne in the mouthfeel; perhaps Chardonnay barrels were used in the aging...overall, a pretty decent beer that begs additional investigation with new releases from the brewery.

Pikes Peak Brewing Co., Monument

Pikes Peak Brewing, visited on 3/2/12  (http://pikespeakbrewing.com/)

I pulled in to another non-descript commercial strip, but inside the feeling is anything but ordinary. As a now-steady snow flurry fell on a cloudy Friday afternoon, I half-expected the place to be dead, or at least a little slow. Instead, there wasn't a seat at the bar and most of the cozy spots near the fireplaces were taken by older men and younger gals. While a little tight, the joint is decidedly cozy, with a near full view of the brew tanks on display through the glass windows behind the bar. If I lived close, I'd live here.

Devil's Head Red - 7.1abv, 38 ibus; first of all, I love the name, after one of my favorite front range hiking spots, Devil's Head Firetower...about 5 miles from my front-door as a crow flies; there is a very minimal head; even less lacing; the beer is a dark red amber in color; it smells hoppy, with hints of chocolate and roasted malt on the nose; there's a crisp, almost dry hop flavor, although minimally bitter; the beer is well-balanced; it's similar to O'Dell's Red, although not as nuanced, and with a light malt aftertaste; mouthwise, this is pretty clean; I get more roasted malt the longer I keep the beer on my tongue.

Gold Rush Belgian Blonde - 7.4abv; 26ibus; half-inch head; nice golden color; head settles after first sip; great Belgian hop nose; very well balanced on the nose as well; totally Belgian forward; accessible; smooth flavor; again, balanced; overall light but fruit-flavored and well-hidden abv; almost Fruity Pebble cereal taste here; good beer.

There's a light menu of food; apps, cheese/meat plates; paninis; pulled pork; soup; enough of a menu you could hang here for hours. I love that it's in Monument as it requires no highway drive for me. Neat outdoor seating = summertime return. Good adult clientele and friendly barmaids. Overall, I was impressed with the inside atmosphere and the well-balanced and alcohol-serious beers! Great work Pikes Peak!

Fruity Pebbles in a glass? Pike's Gold Rush Belgian Blonde