Dark beer is more than just a solid stout, which is why the Day of Darks Beer Festival started 13 years ago. After all, said Kat Hess, Wynkoop Brewing Company’s head brewer, the category includes porters, black IPAs, barley wine, and other beers made with over-malted grains.
“The longer the malt, the darker it gets, like a piece of toast,” explained Hess over the phone. “It doesn’t taste super great on its own, I tried it a few times, but once in the beer you get all these chocolate, roasty, and coffee flavors.”
These malts, she added, make for interesting beers that run the gamut from dark and heavy like Wynkoop’s own Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout (yes, made with real Rocky Mountain oysters), at around 9% ABV; to a lighter Schwarzbier, a dark German lager with a light body that has around 4% ABV.
These differences helped spur the creation of Day of Darks, which originally took place the evening before the Parade of Lights. While that may seem strange given the event now runs by Civic Center Park, 13 years ago it went right by the brewpub on Wynkoop Street. That celebration of dark then light fueled the festival, but the delight and chance to educate drinkers on dark beer kept it going long after the parade moved locations.
During the festival, expect to try dark brews by Downhill Brewing Co, Evergreen Brewing Co, Grimm Brothers Brewing, Left Hand Brewing Co, Holidaily Brewing Co, Lone Tree Brewing Co, Phantom Canyon, Seedstock Brewery, Strange Craft Brewing, and more.
“We got people who are known for dark beers and that’s what they do,” said Hess. “I think it’s cool we get to continue this tradition. There are not a lot of dark beer festivals around the country, and most of the beer festivals are in the summer.”
The Day of Darks takes place in Denver on Saturday, February 7 from 12 to 3 p.m. at Wynkoop Brewing Company (1634 18th St.). Each ticket runs $40, 21-and-up only, and includes all the tastes you desire during the festival. All proceeds from ticket sales go to the Movember Foundation, which supports men’s mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer. For a full line up of breweries and to get tickets, go here.
