Stick a lime in it

Our friends at Ska are making headlines again. This week, their flagship Mexican Logger was at the top of the Denver Post’s “12 Colorado craft beers to keep stocked in your fridge” (or river cooler.)

“Ska Brewing has been making this Mexican-style lager for more than 20 years,” writes Jonathan Shikes, who has the enviable role of being the Post’s beer reporter. “The reason for its popularity isn’t surprising: It tastes a lot like the No. 1-selling beer in America, Modelo Especial … Knowing it is made by a Durango company makes it taste just a little better. At 5% ABV, you can have a couple while you’re mowing the lawn, grilling out back or settling into the kiddie pool for a siesta.”

Other beers making the cut and Shike’s tasting notes follow:

• Upslope Craft Lager: “If cowboys and cowgirls drank craft beer, this is what they’d order,” writes Shikes. A silver-medal winner at the 2019 Great American Beer Festival, the 4.8% ABV beer is brewed with Saaz hops.

• Crooked Stave NZ Pils: In this case, “NZ” stands for New Zealand, the source for the beer’s Motueka hops, which give it tropical, hoppy flavors and a mellow citrusy bite. Lighter than an IPA, it comes in at 5.4% ABV.

• Westbound & Down Infinity Pils: Part of a new wave of light pilsners using different varieties of hops, this 5.4% GABF gold-medal winner is brewed using Mosaic, Citra and HBC 586 hops giving it tropical notes. 

• Wibby Brewing Volksbier Vienna Amber Lager: Rich and malty; comes across almost like an amber or red ale, with rounded sweetness and smooth-drinking feel.

• Odell 90 Shilling Ale: An OG Colorado beer first brewed in 1989, this Scotch ale is one of the Fort Collins brewery’s oldest and most renowned offerings. Coming in at 5.3%, it is amber in color and has a rich aroma.

• Odell Brewing Sippin’ Pretty Fruited Sour: Loaded with flavors of guava, elderberry and acai and aromas of pineapple and mango, this is fruit punch in a can. Slightly tart, slightly sweet and just 4.5% ABV.

• Ratio Beerworks King of Carrot Flowers: Saison brewed with elderflower and carrot juice is a GABF gold medal winner. Smooth and balanced, boasting a touch of vanilla.

• Outer Range Brewing In the Steep: Straightforward, aromatic, charismatic and loaded with orange juice-like flavor. Smoothly drinkable – almost pillowy soft – with a sweet undertone and no bitterness.

• Denver Beer Co. Graham Cracker Porter: An ideal campfire beer. Coming in at 5.6%, it tastes like graham cracker crust in a can.