What’s Brewing at Lee Hill?

• January 23, 2015
• upslopebrewing
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Specialty Barrels at Lee Hill

We may have moved up and out of the microbrewery category (we recently became a regional craft brewer based on our levels of production), but don’t think for a minute that we’ve forgotten where we came from!

Just in case you did, how about the world’s quickest rundown! Just over six years ago, Upslope Brewing Company got our start on a little brewhouse in North Boulder up on Lee Hill Road. When we outgrew that 7 bbl system, instead of moving to a new location altogether, we opened a second, much larger facility across town at Flatiron Park to serve as our main production facility. So what happened to our Lee Hill brewery? Well, it’s pumping out more specialty brews than you can drink! Upslope’s, now small batch, North Boulder brewery and tap room, celebrates experimentation and creativity.

“Upon building a second Boulder brewery, our plan was to retain our original location at Lee Hill to continue the legacy of innovation, collaboration and experimentation that has brought us to where we are today,” says Founder Matt Cutter.

Among all of the small batch beers we brew at Lee Hill, most will hit our tap rooms, but our favorites get canned as part of our experimental, Lee Hill Series. Each quarter we select a beer to put into 19.2 oz cans to showcase the best of what has emerged from this brewer’s playground. As Upslope’s tribute and continued commitment to experimenting and crafting small batches of beer, the Lee Hill Series offers new and innovative styles that are sure to be cellar keepsakes.

Tiffany removing spent grains from the mash tun

So what’s brewing right now?

When we stopped into the brewery last Thursday, Charlie was brewing up a batch of our Wild Christmas Ale with Cranberries added, so Tiffany jumped in to lend a hand.

Wait. A Christmas Ale? Why are we brewing a Christmas Ale in January?

Known around the brewery as, The Grinch, this beer begins with our Christmas Ale that we will age in red wine barrels with our house sour culture until it’s re-release next December.

The addition of 200 lbs of fresh cranberries accentuates the complex malt body and sour notes from the Lactobacillus and Brettanomyces. Finishing with just a hint of spice and a warming alcohol note, this version of the Christmas Ale gives a whole new meaning to holiday spirit.

Peruvian Ginger, Coriander, Blade Mace, & Orange Peel all go into our Christmas Ale

So have patience, ya’ll! We all know that good things come to those who wait, right? We plan on putting this bad boy into 19.2 oz cans as part of our Lee Hill Series set to be released December 2015. For the eager beer lover, you can stop by our Flatiron Park tap room for a glass of our 2014 version of the Wild Christmas Ale while supplies last.