It’s called aqua vitae, or “the water of vitality,” and it flows throughout all of Colorado. To learn more about these various libations—local history, tips on how to imbibe—we turned to one of the state’s lead scotch seminar givers. His name just happens to be Buz. How’s that for self-fulfilling prophecy?

When choosing an alcoholic bevvy, one big piece of advice from Erie resident Buz Dabkowski is to avoid brand allegiance, and gauge what drink feels right. It could be the choice between cracking open a Coors Banquet or pouring a glass of Medovina honey wine or slamming down some Fireside Whiskey. “Think of all the variables in your life,” says Dabkowski. “Who you’re with. What you’re eating. What’s the temperature outside. And think of what you want to taste right now.”

To help you choose the best drinks to have and places to have them, we’ve compiled stories and events going on through BoCo and surrounding areas. (Did we mention Oktoberfest is coming?) Before putting your beer goggles on, take heed of some wisdom from our Spirit Guide, Buz. Believe us, it’ll be worth the hangover.

Beer

Perhaps it was Colorado’s rebellion against low-alcohol beer that caused it. But for a state with 179 breweries—89 percent of which focus on craft beer—it’s clear that we’ve forever changed the face of ale in America. When Buz goes into a bar, the first thing he does is ask the bartender not to have a chilled glass. “The only cold beer you want to drink is a bad beer,” he says. It’s a matter of being able to pick up the nuances, like the gases released from the beer. Those esters and aldihydes kick-start your taste buds, delivering flavors of the crafting process.

One of the most popular beers is wild (or sour) ale. These unconventional ales are often fermented in oak barrels with Brett yeast, mixed with bacteria such as lactobacillus and pediococcus (think kombucha and vinegar). Fort Collins’ New Belgium Brewing Company was one of the first breweries to bring sour ale to the states with their La Folie, and Boulder’s Avery Brewing Company hosts an annual Sour Ale Fest.

On the more traditional side, we have breweries working with local hop farmers, creating wet-hop beers. Only available in the fall during the annual harvest, these beers are brewed with hops picked within hours of being added to the brew kettle. Farmers get to showcase their crops, and beer geeks get to experience a unique beer, adding another layer of local camaraderie in an industry famous for its sense of community.

Although we didn’t invent wild and wet-hopped beers, we can revel in the fact that, in 2002, Longmont-based Oscar Blues Brewery was the first microbrewery to put their product in cans. Boulder’s Upslope Brewing Company followed suit, becoming the first in-state brewery to can Colorado’s favorite style of beer: the omnipresent IPA—which is much better than cracking open a lawnmower beer!