Editor’s note: In this first installment of BLDRfly’s Friday Night Flight series, Rebecca Zinner visits all-organic brewer Asher Brewing Company in Gunbarrel.
Asher Brewing Company has been around since 2009, so I’m embarrassed to admit that this was my first visit to its taproom. Maybe I was overthinking the “organic” aspect, but I was expecting a stark-white interior with a lot of succulents. Instead, I found a pretty typical bar with a few high tops.
A side room furnished with a slouchy couch and retro video games and the Funbarrel Room, a big open space boasting corn hole, darts, and a foosball table, give visitors entertainment options and room to stretch.
The outdoor patio space is surprisingly pleasant and cheerful, given that it sits in the middle of an officepark parking lot. There is no kitchen at Asher, but the brewer is cool with patrons bringing their own food and also has snacks for sale in the taproom.
Everyone was friendly, even the other patrons!
Still smarting from the recent loss of another local favorite, Vindication Brewing (oof, me too, RIP VB), Mike J. tells me that Asher has “restored [his] faith in humanity.” A big statement for the relatively small company, but Mike says that it’s all good beers and good people ready to have some good conversation – all the makings of a solid, neighborhood bar.
The beer
I ordered a full flight, which included all of Asher’s current offerings. The taproom consistently serves eight different beers, four non-rotating flagship drafts and four rotating seasonal styles which change every four to six months.
The eight-barrel Asher flight. Photo: Rebecca Zinner, BLDRfly
During this visit, its selection was on the lighter side: a mix of primarily IPAs and Kölsches among a few others.
The standouts for me included its way-too-easy-drinking Greenade Double IPA (my choice for a growler fill-up) and its cozy, malty Treehugger Amber.
Of its seasonal selections, I thought the flavorful — without being overpowering — Ginger Bomb and the light, ready-for-day-drinking Café Kolsch (because who doesn’t need more coffee!?!) also stood out. And of course, the lack of GMOs really rounded out the taste of all of these.
The crunch
I feel the need to say that buying all-organic everything is not my thing. This is mostly due to the fact that I have been a student for far too long and I have been burned by $3 organic bell peppers at King Soopers before.
Having said that, I was surprised to find that Asher Brewing Company – the first certified organic brewery in Colorado – offers pints in the fairly typical price range of $5 – $7. In fact, if the signage didn’t allude to such, I might have missed the fact that ABC is completely organic or that it employs a range of ecofriendly practices.
While the brewery is proud of its organic stature, it doesn’t feel like a gimmick meant to play to a crunchy audience. It’s more like a brewery that just happens to go the extra mile and doesn’t gloat (too much) about its moral superiority.
Upcoming special events at Asher include its Monstah Mash Halloween Party on Saturday, Oct. 27 and its 9th Anniversary Party on Saturday, Dec. 8. There will be food trucks, so come hungry!
I assume that costumes are welcome to the Halloween party, but if anyone wants to make it interesting and wear costumes to both events, I’m sure they’d welcome it!
Feature Image: Asher front patio. Photo: Rebecca Zinner, BLDRfly
