Mmmmm, beer ... a funny lady and folk-rocker

by Chris Aaland

“One of America’s funniest female comics,” Kathleen Madigan, returns to the Concert Hall on Thurs., April 3.

Spring is in the air and that means Beer Thirty! But the brewing wars are ruthless. On Tuesday, Ska Brewing sent out a press release announcing litigation against Longmont-based Oskar Blues for copyright infringement. “They’re using our whole name,” wrote Ska honcho Dave Thibodeau. “It’s right in the middle of their name, like we wouldn’t notice as long as they put an ‘O’ at the beginning and an ‘R’ at the end.” OB spokesman Chad Melis retorted, “First, they copy our whole canning idea, then they make an IPA that’s as tasty as ours, and now this?” Of course, it was all an April Fool’s joke … Ska and OB have collaborated before, including the tasty OSKAr The G’Rauch American double imperial IPA. Thibodeau calls their relationship a “widely known bromance.”

No word yet on whether or not BREW Pub & Kitchen will be suing Durango Brewing, Carver Brewing, Steamworks Brewing and Ska Brewing for the use of “Brew” in their names.

In all seriousness, spring means our five local brewers are busy releasing seasonal favorites. Yesterday, Ska’s annual release party for Mexican Logger signaled the return of the 12-oz. lime green hand grenades that are Durango’s unofficial summer party beer. Ska’s spring seasonal stout, Vernal Minthe Stout, made with spearmint, peppermint, vanilla beans and cocoa nibs, hit shelves on the spring equinox.

BREW, which rotates suds on a regular basis, just tapped one of the best new ales I’ve tasted in a long time. Imogene, Erik Maxon’s best bitter, is smooth, refreshing and has a low ABV … perfect for spring imbibing.

And Durango Blueberry Wheat and Carver’s Raspberry Wheat are both guilty summer pleasures of mine (DBC Blueberry Wheat pancakes with fresh blueberries are a festival campground breakfast favorite of mine). My little brother Billy teases me that real men don’t fruit their beers. Word to the wise: Love the garnish. Embrace it. Nurture it.

April’s firkin at Steamworks is no joke: The Devil’s Bouquet will be tapped at 3 p.m. Friday. “The base is our Ale Diablo, which is a strong, golden ale,” said brewmaster Ken Martin. “We added rose hips and elderflowers as a nod to the spring season here in Durango, and maybe to pay a bit of reverence to the weather gods to send us some much-needed precipitation.” Also added to the cask was concentrated wine grape juice as a sugar source to achieve refermentation. Drink too many of these bad boys and you may need some morning-after hydration: Ale Diablo already has a potent ABV of 8 percent and the extra fermentables are expected to raise the Devil’s Bouquet ABV to 9.5 percent. “This will not be a beer for amateurs,” warns brewer Spencer Roper.

The Durango Bootleggers Society hosts its Spring Tonic Release and Repeal of Prohibition Party to benefit the La Plata County Historical Society at 6 p.m. Monday at El Moro Spirits and Tavern. “El Moro, with its authentic Durango history and décor, is the perfect location to celebrate the repeal of Prohibition,” said Steamworks cofounder Brian McEachron. “Plus the folks at the Historical Society and the Animas Museum helped us ‘find’ so much of El Moro’s history, we want to return the favor with a fundraiser.” The Spring Tonic elixir, co-brewed by the brewers (physically this year at Carver’s) will be tapped at 6 p.m. and served in a commemorative jar. The tonic’s recipe, for an American pre-prohibition lager, is thought to be from the late 1800s. Buy a Tonic, keep the jar.

As an added bonus, historian, author and professor Duane Smith will be on hand to speak about Prohibition, its repeal and how it played out in Durango. Guests are encouraged to wear “speakeasy” fashions typical of the day with prizes for best dressed. The Bootleggers Society is comprised of Durango’s five breweries: Carver’s, Durango, Ska, Steamworks and the new kid on the block, BREW.

The Community Concert Hall welcomes “one of America’s funniest female comics,” at least in the opinion of Jay Leno, when Kathleen Madigan returns with her one-woman show “Madigan Again” at 7:30 p.m. tonight (Thurs., April 3). The only comedian to ever go unchallenged on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing,” Madigan is a regular on the late night circuit, having appeared countless times on “The Tonight Show,” Letterman and Conan. She also defeated comedic icon Larry the Cable Guy to win the 2007 Sirius Radio Comedy Cup.

Over at the Dolores River Brewery, socially conscious folk-rocker Dan Bern holds court at 9 p.m. Friday. Critics have praised Bern as the “next Dylan” in the line of such songwriters as John Prine, Steve Forbert and Loudon Wainwright III.

If you’re heading up to Denver this week, consider the SnowBall Music Festival, held Friday through Sunday at The Park at Mile High at Sports Authority Field. Colorado’s own Pretty Lights tops the bill with shows Saturday and Sunday. Also scheduled are GRiZ, Busta Rhymes, the Juan Maclean, What So Not, STRFCKR, Yeasayer, Brother Ali and many more.

Act the April fool at Moe’s this Saturday in full superhero garb and get a free shot while boogieing to DJ Squooze. That follows a local music jam featuring Booty Conda from 6-10. Other Moe’s highlights include Salsa Night (free dance lessons!) from 7-10 p.m. tonight and Latin Music Night from 6 ‘til close Sunday.

KDUR’s spring membership drive kicks off this Friday and continues for a week through Friday, April 11. Pledge your support online at kdur.org or by calling 247-7262.

I’ve probably ventured down this highway before, but this week’s Top Shelf list honors 10 San Juan Mountain beers that I’m hankering for.  Some you can buy at any local liquor store; some might require a trek into the brewery to drink on-site; others might happen to be a perfect nightcap to days on the river, trail or festival grounds. Bottoms up!

•         Ska Mexican Logger

•         Steamworks Colorado Kölsch

•         Carver’s Raspberry Wheat

•         BREW Imogene Best Bitter

•         Durango Blueberry Wheat

•         Pagosa Brewing Alpine Abbey Trinity Series

•         Dolores River ESB

•         Telluride Bridal Veil Rye Pale Ale

•         Smugglers Rocky Mountain Rye

•         Avalanche Treasure Mountain Pale Ale

I crawl to the refrigerator and I peek inside? Email me at chrisa@gobrainstorm.net.