The Ultimate Spring Skiing Guide

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Colorado is our home. It’s where we work, and it’s where we play. And the kicker?? Our work is fun…and we love it! As Coloradans, we hold a few things to be sacred, and when you live as close to the Rocky Mountains as we do, one of those sacred things is skiing. And snowboarding. When the flurries start to fly in October and November, we’re getting our skis and boards turned, our edges sharpened, and we’re plotting out our first tracks and last calls. In honor of all of those who love to ski and ride, we’ve put together the New Planet Spring Skiing Guide. Complete with best places to enjoy your aprés and lesser-known secrets of the resorts, this guide is your Spring Skiing best friend!

BYOM: Bring Your Own Meat

Vail

You read that right. Bring your own meat. As the days get a bit warmer and as spring storms continue to drop the fluffy white flakes, lunchtime on the slopes tend to be a bit more elaborate than the standard PB&J-on-the-lift that happens earlier in the season.

Tucked away high up on Vail mountain are some free gas-powered grills for guests to enjoy. Two such grills are located on Parker’s Deck, just below Buffalo’s Lodge at the top of Lifts 4, 5, and 11. Offering spectacular views of the Vail Valley, Parker’s Deck is the perfect place to take a longer lunch.

Whether you’re throwing on a few burgers and dogs or getting fancy with a steak that’s been marinating in your day pack since breakfast, these grills offer an excellent alternative to the pricey lodge meals and run-of-the-mill granola bars. Just be sure to bring your own utensils and clean up after yourself.

Arapahoe Basin

Can we all just take a moment to appreciate A-Basin’s laid back culture and top-tier terrain?

Wait….

Wait…

Okay we’re good. We love A-Basin. Typically the first mountain to open after the summer and the last one to close (it’s not unheard of to see skiers and riders Pond Skimming as late as the 4th of July), A-Basin as it is affectionately known, is home to the epic “Beach Day.”

For those of you unfamiliar with this, Beach Day is any day at A-Basin. A section of the parking lot always has a tailgate-like atmosphere: people breaking out camping grills, canopy shades, outrageous costumes, drinks, and dogs running around. Oh, and skis. People make the trek to A-Basin early to stake their claim on the coveted spots between the Exhibition lift and Pallavicini (aka “Palli’) lift. Even though the lifts don’t usually open until 8:30 or 9am, you’ll see die hards lining up as early as 6am or 6:30am to kickstart the grills, crack a few beermosas, and get in line for first tracks.

The atmosphere on any given Beach Day is spectacular and an absolute Must if you’ve never been.

Aprés Me!

After a day of skiing, nothing is as rewarding as taking off those stiff boots, throwing on your sneakers, and sharing a cold one or clinking cocktail glasses with friends. Sore legs are ignored as you lounge by an outdoor firepit or watch the game with your new best friends. Ski towns are excellent hosts and know how to treat their goggle-tanned brethren when it comes to aprés ski options.

Breckenridge

The town of Breckenridge (Breck) is full of excellent restaurants and bars ready to cater to your every whim. One of our favorites is the Kenosha Steakhouse. With a great beer and cocktail list, their back patio is tough to beat on a warm spring day. Facing the mountain, keep your shades and beanie nearby, because this deck gets plenty of sunshine. Their nachos are killer and so are their steak cuts (duh).

Vail

When in Vail, there are plenty of places you can grab that post-run drink or three. Because it’s Vail, you can cozy up to a hot toddy at the Four Seasons or hit up the basement bar, The Georges, in the Vail Village. Another great spot in the Vail Village is the Red Lion. Easily spotted by its bright red umbrellas, this joint has everything you may need to sate your thirst and appetite after a great day on the slopes.

Eldora

Small but mighty, Eldora Mountain is a quick 40 miles outside of Boulder, and it is the perfect place to take a few weekday runs before lunch. And whether you’re looking for a place to grab a beer during lunch or after a full day of skiing, look no further than the Timbers Tap Room. This cozy cabin feel has great beers, excellent bloody mary’s and isn’t huge, which gives it an intimate, comfortable vibe.

And even though Eldora is only a short drive from us in Boulder, it still feels like you’re “getting away.” That’s why our go-to beer when we’re skiing the slopes at Eldora is Seclusion IPA. Conveniently packed in cans, this smooth IPA is the perfect pairing for a day on the slopes.

Of course, Colorado is big and full of other mountains and haunts that we haven’t mentioned above…that’d take pages and pages! But we do hope that you find yourself somewhere up in the high country this spring, and if you’re not sure where to spend aprés, grab a six-pack of New Planet Beer and make your own aprés wherever you go. Drink and ski responsibly!

Ultimate Guide to Gluten Free Beer in 2018

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With 2017 tucked safely away, the New Planet Beer team is anxiously looking forward to what 2018 has in store. Maybe you’re still sticking to your New Year’s Resolutions (or not…we’re not judging) to do More of X or Less of Y, or whatever it may be. If so, keep it up!

We think 2018 will be a great year for gluten-free and gluten-reduced beer awareness. Why? Well, for starters, we love gluten-free and gluten-reduced beers, and secondly: We’ve compiled this Ultimate Guide to Gluten-Free and Gluten-Reduced Beer! We hope that by educating, explaining, and imbibing, gluten-free and gluten-reduced beers will become more mainstream than ever before. We believe that the more people understand what’s in (and absent) from their beers, the better off they’ll be. So, let’s get started!

Gluten Free Pale Ale

Let’s begin with our Pale Ale. This classic beer with a contemporary recipe is bold and hoppy, offering rich citrus notes and a wonderfully distinct finish. Brewed with a combination of Cascade and Sterling hops, the New Planet Pale Ale also includes water (duh), millet, gluten-free oats, maize (non-gmo blue corn), Belgian candi syrup, Demerara sugar, and yeast.

Like several of our gluten-free beer options, the Pale Ale substitutes traditional grain with millet. If you’re not familiar with millet, it is a small, round grain (similar in size to quinoa) that is naturally gluten-free, and offers the many of the same flavor and texture profiles of more “traditional” grains used in brewing. The result? A killer Pale Ale of 5.3% that makes the most seasoned beer connoisseurs do a double-take and ask, “This is gluten-free??”

Gluten Free Blonde Ale

They say that blondes have more fun. We don’t know if that’s true, but we know our customers have more fun with our Blonde Ale than with others. And who can blame them? The Blonde Ale is refreshing, easy drinking, and well-balanced at 4.5% ABV and is gluten-free to boot. Perfect for lounging on a Colorado summer day or as a refreshing reward after a grueling bike ride up the Peak to Peak Highway, the Blonde Ale is your go-to for gluten-free unwinding.

Similar to the Pale Ale, the Blonde is brewed with millet, gluten-free oats, maize (non-gmo blue corn), hops and yeast. Pair it with pineapple grilled chicken or fish tacos to get a perfect complement of flavors!

Gluten Reduced Seclusion IPA

Has anyone ever told you to Take a hike? Kind of rude, right? Well, the joke’s on them…we live for hiking, and when we hit the trail, we make sure to pack a sixer of the portable and insanely drinkable Seclusion IPA. This IPA is hopped 4 times with a combination of Cascade, Sterling, and New Zealand hops to deliver a bold, unique IPA that satisfies the hop head in all of us.

Specifically crafted to remove gluten, the Seclusion IPA is a more “traditional” beer recipe that then undergoes our rigorous process to remove gluten. Does that process take out all of the gluten? The short answer is No. But the FDA has strict requirements about what constitutes a “gluten free” beer, and a beer that has less than 20 parts per million (PPM) of gluten is considered gluten free. And while “crafted to remove gluten” isn’t regulated by the FDA, New Planet Beer is proud that its gluten-reduction process has been tested non traceable at TTB test at 10 PPM. Wink wink… that means we are well below that benchmark. We’ll drink to that!

Gluten Reduced Tread Lightly Ale

Hi. Say hello to Tread Lightly Ale. Don’t be shy. Tread Lightly is approachable, well-balanced, and is ready to be your year-round go anywhere, do anything pal. This canned beauty is crisp with a citrusy hop character that clocks in at 20 IBUs and 4.9% alcohol by volume.

Like its IPA brother, Seclusion IPA, Tread Lightly Ale is artfully crafted to remove gluten, resulting in a beer that will leave you feeling refreshed without having to worry, “Is this beer going to wreak havoc on my gut?” And we like it that way. Try it with pan seared scallops with spinach and cannellini beans for a perfect combination of rich and refreshing.

At New Planet Beer, we hope that 2018 is filled with fun, adventure, and fond memories. After all, there are few things in life as fulfilling as sitting with friends or family after a day of exploring, enjoying a delicious beer, and reliving the day’s excitement. So, from the New Planet Team, we hope that 2018 is filled with “Cheers!” moments.

The Gluten Free Beer Holiday Guide

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Well, here we are. Thanksgiving 2017 is in the history books. Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday (what, no love for the rest of the week!?) broke all sorts of records, and the rest of the holidays are right around the corner!

For people who have Celiac or a gluten sensitivity, the holiday season can be extra stressful. After all, travelling, family gatherings, and holiday meals aren’t always conducive to a solid gluten free diet. This year, though, you don’t need to worry about any of that, because you’re going to plan ahead and include some tasty selections from New Planet Beer in your holiday plans! Whether you or someone you know has Celiac or a gluten sensitivity, taking along some New Planet Beer is sure to raise your holiday spirits.

So, while Grandpa overindulges on eggnog (not recommended), you and yours can sit back, relax, and responsibly enjoy one of our great beers, knowing that it won’t leave your gut in agony when Kris Kringle makes his way down your chimney.

New Planet: Gluten Free Beer

At New Planet, we take pride in crafting both gluten free and gluten-reduced ales. For our gluten free line, we’ve got something for everyone, and let’s be honest: a beer always sounds great.

Our flagship Blonde Ale is as delicious as it is approachable. Whether you’re new to craft beer or you’re well-versed in the difference between Sterling, Galaxy, and Cascade hops, the Blonde Ale is light and refreshing, while staying crisp and clear…and gluten free. Over the holidays, this beer, which is brewed with grain-alternative millet and blue corn, pairs best with lighter foods, like white meat turkey, fish, and cheese.

If you’re looking for something a little bit more robust this holiday season, give the New Planet Pale Ale a whirl. A multiple gold medal winner (and not just in a gluten free category), this beer has a killer hop profile courtesy of the Sterling and Cascade hops, and when paired with some smokey foods like steak or ribs, the bitterness balances out the smokey for a party for your tastebuds.

New Planet: Gluten Reduced Beer

For you hop heads out there, New Planet’s Seclusion IPA is bold and begging to be imbibed this holiday season. Brewed with grains and then specially treated to remove gluten, Seclusion IPA is great whether you’re reducing gluten in your diet or just love a solidly brewed beer. If your holidays are warm like Colorado’s sometime are, hit the trail with this canned brew and enjoy the fresh air. Or, if your in-laws are visiting and you just need some “you” time, the aptly-named Seclusion IPA will keep you company while Aunt Mildred finds someone else to massage her feet.

When it is time to unwind and kick back, crack open the gluten reduced, awesomely drinkable Tread Lightly Ale. Easy drinking and supremely refreshing, this year-round staple delights around the holidays. It has an approachable ABV of 4.9% and just enough of a hop character to satisfy the “I only drink IPAs” guy while being inviting enough for those who are new to the wonderful world of beer. Perfect for an apres ski or night by the fire, wherever you find yourself this holiday season, don’t leave home without a six pack of these delightful cans.

As 2017 comes to a close, the team at New Planet Beer has so much to be thankful for this year. Namely, you, our customer and and good health and happiness. So, whether you’re traveling this holiday season or find yourself at home, we send you our warmest wishes for the same: health, happiness, and a wonderful holiday and New Year.

Cheers!

New Planet Beer’s Thanksgiving Guide

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We know! We know! You still probably have leftover Halloween candy in the house, and here we are at New Planet Beer, already talking about Thanksgiving! But we’re doing it for you! If you’re anything like us, the holidays seem so far away and then BAM! your mother-in-law is ringing the doorbell with her “World Famous” fruitcake.

Take it from us: It is never too early to start planning for Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving can be a tough holiday for folks with Celiac or who have a gluten sensitivity. There is so much excitement around classic family dishes and traditional staples that it is easy to forget that a friend or loved one might have a sensitivity or allergy. So, be the favorite person at the Thanksgiving Table this year, and follow the New Planet Beer guide to a gluten-aware meal!

Let’s Get it Started

Thanksgiving is a time to surround yourself with family and friends. Hopefully, you can spend the holiday with people you love. And if you’re travelling, well, we hope it is quick and painless! And if you’re the one doing the hosting this year, make sure that your road-weary travellers are taken care of when they step into your home!

For Thanksgiving, this means appetizers. Before you stuff yourself with turkey and pumpkin pie, get your guests primed and ready to go with some amazing apps. One of our personal favorites is shrimp cocktail. Not only is it delicious (because, shrimp!) but it is also a gluten-free solution that everyone can love. Pair it with a tasty cocktail dipping sauce and a spritz of lemon, and it’ll be gone before you know it.

Another great gluten-free Turkey Day appetizer is bacon-wrapped potatoes. Using small potatoes (think fingerling or golden potatoes), wrap them in a slice of bacon and bake until the potatoes are soft and the bacon is done. For the full recipe and cooking instructions, click here.

Side Dishes to Wow

Is it just us or should there be specialized “oversized plates” for Thanksgiving? After all, by the time the turkey comes around the table, you’re lucky if you can squeeze any on your plate with the abundance of amazing side dishes.

Here’s a side dish idea that is on the lighter side, which everyone will appreciate in between bites of mashed potatoes and gravy.

Arugula salad with peach and avocado. This one is simple, and the beauty of it is that not only is it gluten free, but it doesn’t require the stovetop or oven, which means you don’t need to sweat over a hot stove to make this delicious dish.

Take 2-3 ripe peaches and (optionally) remove the skin. Slice them up into crescents and set them aside. Next, take 1-2 ripe avocados and slice them into crescents, as well. Set aside. Slice one red onion into thin slivers, and also set aside. In a large bowl, add your arugula. Then, toss all ingredients together in the bowl with a light dressing (try olive oil, cracked pepper, and lemon juice for a light, refreshing dressing). This simple salad will be a hit and leave everyone feeling a little less full (maybe).

Imbibing and Feasting

Before we make it to the main course (the bird), chances are there will be plenty of wine, spirits, and beer at your Thanksgiving table. The words “Eat, drink, and be merry” come to mind! New Planet Beer is proud to be a staple at many Thanksgiving feasts, and the good news is that our gluten free and gluten-reduced beers pair great with a variety of dishes and meats.

Even if you aren’t Celiac or don’t have a gluten sensitivity, it is always nice to have a non-gluten beer on hand in case any of your guests are. They’ll be happy that they aren’t “left out” of the toasts, and it will make your event that much more seamless. Pick up our popular Pale Ale or Blonde Ale.

The Bird is the Word

Okay…now that you’ve got a New Planet Beer in hand at the table, it’s time to talk turkey!

Thankfully (pun very, very much intended), turkey is by its very nature gluten free. But depending on how you prepare it, you may introduce gluten to the mix. We’re huge fans of this recipe from the folks over at Food & Wine. Its straightforward (meaning you probably have most of the spices already, and the other ingredients are easily picked up at the supermarket), and it leaves the turkey with a just-crispy-enough skin and a tender, juicy inside.

It only takes about 4 hours, which includes time to let the meat rest, and needs just occasional basting. While that beauty is roasting, chow down on those appetizers, catch up with loved ones, enjoy the extra days off from work, and soak it all in.

No matter where you find yourself this Thanksgiving, we hope you have a wonderful holiday.

At New Planet Beer, we are truly thankful to have such a wonderful community of people who enjoy good beer and good company. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for joining us as we do what we love!

Cheers!

History of Oktoberfest

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This past weekend we had the privilege of pouring New Planet Beers at the Niwot Oktoberfest. For those of you who have never heard of it, Niwot is a small town just northeast of the New Planet headquarters in Boulder, Colorado. Each year, the local Rotary Club hosts the Oktoberfest event, and despite sporadic bad weather, we had a great turnout!

We had a blast pouring Tread Lightly, Seclusion IPA, and our Blonde Ale. As is pretty typical anytime we’re pouring our beers at cultural events or beer festivals, we were the only brewery pour gluten-free and gluten-reduced beers. People are always curious to try the beers, especially those folks who don’t have a gluten allergy or sensitivity. The main thing we hear is, “I’ve gotta try this…there’s no way it can taste like ‘real’ beer!”

Then we wait.

After that first sip, they look at us incredulously. “Holy cow!” Is a pretty common refrain.

But, I digress! In the spirit of a successful Oktoberfest event, we thought we’d explore this very German holiday in more detail. So, crack a beer, settle in, and let’s talk Oktoberfest!

Historical Roots

Oktoberfest really began in 1810, in Munich, Germany. The first celebration was actually a gathering to celebrate the marriage of the Bavarian Crown Prince, Louis (who would later become King Louis I of Bavaria) to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The celebration was held in the fields, later named Theresienwiese (ie “Therese’s Fields”) and the royal family held horse races at the end of the event. The horse races were held around all Bavaria that year, though the royal family was present at the Munich events with Munich citizens.

The first party was such a hit that they decided to repeat the horse races again in 1811. 1811 also heralded the introduction of an Agricultural Fair at Oktoberfest, meant as a boon to the region’s agricultural contributions. By this time, a few enterprising Münchner (Munich citizens) set up beer stands at the festival, and the idea caught on in subsequent years.

Finally, in 1896 the now-iconic first beer tents and beer halls replaced the beer stands, and the rest is history.

Oktoberfest Today

Nearly 200 years later, Oktoberfest lives on in cities across the world, though the Munich Oktoberfest is still the largest, attracting over 6 millions visitors from around the world annually.

Each Oktoberfest is a bit different, but many of the cornerstones of those first celebrations can be found in even the smallest Oktoberfest event. Games and events for kids of all ages are still prominent in today’s celebrations, while the horse racing is largely a historical footnote now. Classic Bavarian music and cultural dress such as lederhosen for men and dirndl for women are prevalent and popular, though by no means required attire.

No matter where you find yourself celebrating Oktoberfest, we encourage you to take it all in. Dress in whatever makes you feel comfortable, dance to some traditional polka, grab a liter of bier, and toast to this most awesome holiday! As always, please drink responsibly, and next time you fill your bierstein with beer, reach for a New Planet Beer!

Prost!  

The Truth is Out There! Demystifying Gluten-Free and Gluten-Reduced Beers

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While it may not be an age-old question, it is certainly one that we at New Planet Beer get a lot: What is the difference between gluten-free and gluten-reduced beer?

Grab a pint and let’s dive in! Also, be sure to check out our sweet new infographic at the bottom of this article. Whether you’re Celiac or unsure if you have a gluten intolerance, the infographic is designed to help you understand a bit more whether gluten-free or gluten-reduced is the right choice for you!

Gluten-free beer is brewed with ingredients that are naturally gluten-free, such as millet, sorghum, rice, corn, quinoa, gluten-free oats, and cane sugar. If you’re not sure if a beer is truly gluten-free or not, know that all gluten-free beer labels must adhere to specific FDA standards.

Gluten-reduced beer is brewed with traditional ingredients such as barley and rye, which is then given an enzyme that specializes in breaking down the gluten-containing proteins. Gluten-reduced beers are technically called “crafted to remove gluten” and, similar to gluten-free beer’s need to adhere to FDA standards, must adhere to the TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) standards. To obtain a “crafted to remove gluten” label the TTB requires that the beers pass a laboratory test at less than 10 ppm (parts per million) of gluten. When choosing a “crafted to remove gluten” beer, be sure to look for the TTB language on the package (the can or bottle) as there are many breweries that claim their beer is crafted to remove gluten despite it never being tested to TTB standards.

The key to brewing gluten-free beers is to start with 100% gluten-free ingredients and to develop a consistent process to eliminate cross contamination. As far as the actual brewing process is concerned, ensuring that your equipment is absolutely clean is an essential step for creating gluten-free beers. Cross contamination from gluten grains can completely ruin a gluten-free batch. That’s why at New Planet we only brew gluten-free beers after a scheduled CIP (clean in place) of the equipment and a deep clean of the surrounding areas. This way, we can ensure our equipment is 100% clean and free from possible gluten contaminants.

When brewing “crafted to remove gluten” beers, it is best to incorporate friendly grains like oats, non-gmo blue corn, and cane sugar into the grain build and start the brewing process with less gluten than a traditional barley craft beer. Also, we have tested and calibrated the enzymatic process over the last three years and have developed a proprietary process in dosing the enzymes to ensure the best possible outcome. (If you can’t tell, we nerd out about this, because we love making beers for everyone!)

No matter where you fall on the gluten-free or gluten-reduced spectrum, there is promising news: more and more breweries are seeing the opportunity that these beers present. As more people begin to ask about what’s in their beer, breweries are adapting and making tasty brews with this market in mind. For you, this means more choices will be available for you to drink gluten-free or gluten-reduced beers.

Below, explore our helpful new infographic to get a better understanding of whether gluten-free or gluten-reduced beer is best for you.

If you’ve already been diagnosed Celiac, the answer for you is simple: Drink gluten-free beer!

For those of you who haven’t been diagnosed Celiac, a few options exist for you. If you have already tried gluten-reduced beer and you still react to it, it is best that you stick to gluten-free beer altogether. Afterall, a beer is only good if you enjoy it during and after!

Lastly, if you’ve had both gluten-free and gluten-reduced beer, and the gluten-reduced beer doesn’t seem to give you any issues, we’ve got good news for you: drink both gluten-free and gluten-reduced brews!

At New Planet Beer, we’re proud to be brewing gluten-free and gluten-reduced beer. Not a group to settle, we continually improve our recipes to give you the highest quality beer that fits your dietary needs and your wallet.

So, next time you’re in your local liquor store and reach for a gluten-free or gluten-reduced beer, check the packaging so you see what we’re talking about…and keep supporting your local brewers by picking up a New Planet six pack for your next adventure.

Cheers!

Spotlight: Tread Lightly Session Ale

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There’s just something about a warm summer day that begs for an easy drinking beer to accompany your adventures. Put a beer like that in a light, hassle free, pack-in-pack-out can, and you’re well on your way to a great day.

This summer, we can’t get enough of Tread Lightly Ale. Clocking in at just under 5% ABV (4.9% to be precise), this beer is about as sessionable as they come. We love that we can have a few of these refreshing libations throughout the day without worrying that we’ll end up passed out under a table before dinnertime.

We’re obviously partial to Tread Lightly, but if you’ll allow us to indulge ourselves (pun intended), here’s why Tread Lightly is perfect for Anytime Drinking.

Tread Lightly Session Ale

It’s the Hops, Baby!

Crafted with Sterling hops, Tread Lightly lends a delicate, subtle citrus character to the overall profile of the beer. The beauty of the Sterling hop, too, is that it doubles as an aromatic. So if you’re not taking Tread Lightly with you as you backpack and camp the Rockies, do yourself a favor: pour this bad boy into a tulip glass. Once the beer has settled, dip your nose into the glass and take a deep inhale. If you pay close attention, you may get a whiff of some of the spicy notes that Sterling is also known for.

All. Day. Long

Session beers. Not familiar with this term for beer? Don’t worry, not everyone is, but at New Planet Beer, we’re pretty sure session beers are here to stay. While there is no tight rule as to what really defines a session beer, the typical brewer school of thought is anything under 5% ABV qualifies for a session beer. The key difference between this and, say a Big Brewer Lager, is a session beer’s ability to stay true to the style of the beer that is being made. In other words, a “normal” amber ale could clock in at 6.5% ABV. A session amber could be well below that ABV, but it is critical to ensure that the flavor, nose, and mouthfeel are all in line with what makes an “amber” an Amber. Still with us? Great!

A beer’s sessionability means it is great for lawn games at the park on a weekend day. It means you can put a few of these away and still remember to reapply that SPF 50!

A Beer for the Foodie

Tread Lightly’s drinkability and light, refreshing profile goes great with a variety of foods, too. Mild seafood dishes like shrimp scampi or pan seared scallops are an especially nice combination with Tread Lightly. Once again, it isn’t necessary, but pouring Tread Lightly into a glass will reward your tastebuds with another layer of goodness when paired with a food you’re particularly fond of.

Salads of mixed greens with strawberries, almond slices, goat cheese, and a light vinaigrette go great with Tread Lightly.

Tread Lightly is not only approachable in its flavor and nose profile and characteristics, but it is also crafted to remove gluten. This means that it is something to be enjoyed by everyone. We’ll drink to that!

Summertime is a great time to make memories and catch up with friends and family. No matter where your adventures take you, be sure to check out your local liquor store to pick up a six pack. If you don’t see it, it’s because we sold out of it at the distributor level…but don’t worry: We’ll have more if it for you in September. In the meantime, check out other liquor stores in your area for supply if you just can’t wait until September!

Summer Getaways with New Planet Beer

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Waiting for summer is always bittersweet. Here in Colorado, a late-May snowstorm was quickly followed by 90°+ heat and before we knew it, the kids were out of school! And here we are, just days away from the beginning of July, figuring out how to best spend those precious days and weekends of warm weather. At New Planet Beer, we love the outdoors, and in that spirit, we’ve compiled a list of outdoor themed activities for you and yours to tackle in the last few months of summer.

Camping

Everyone has a different definition of camping. To some hardcore enthusiasts, it isn’t “camping” unless you’re backpacking 10+ miles into the wilderness with nothing but dried beans and a water filter for survival. If that’s your MO: good for you! We’d just encourage you to pack in an extra 12 ounces of our mountain-ready Seclusion IPA to keep you company and reward you once you set up camp!

For others, it isn’t camping unless it is “glamping.” That’s right: the combination of glamour and camping. Why leave behind the comforts of showers and running water if you don’t have to? For those of you who prefer the RV, bring the whole family with you to our amazing National and State Parks. These gems are perfect for families to explore the best of what mother nature has to offer.

Lastly, you may be an inbetweener, and you don’t mind sleeping on the ground in your tent, but you don’t want to hike for miles and miles to get there. Many weekend warriors are more than happy to car camp: break out the tent, sleeping bag, and lantern, and just sit by a campfire telling stories with friends as you listen to the nearby water and look up at the cloudless, star filled night.

Fishing

Another summertime favorite, fishing is a great way to while away the summertime hours. Bait fishing or fly fishing? People swear by both, so we’re not going to choose sides here! Whatever your passion, grab your rod and reel or pole and tackle box and hit the rivers and lakes near your home.

If you’ve got kids, fishing is a great way to teach them about local ecosystems, aquatic animal life, and (if you dare!) the peace and quiet that comes with being silent trying not to “scare the fish.” (Author’s note: I’m a lot older now, and I still don’t know if noises actually do scare fish away or if I just talked too much as a kid and it was a trick my dad invented to get some silence out of me…)

Water Parks

Getting away for a night or two or even a long day to fish or camp isn’t always feasible for everyone, so on those hot days, find a local swimming pool or water park. With waterslides and  rides, kids of all ages can cool down and have a ball splashing through the parks. Before you go, call ahead and ask if they have group discounts or see if local grocery stores offer any coupons for the parks. You’d be surprised how many offer deals to families in the summer time. Most places also let you bring in food for snacks and lunches, but be sure to leave those glass bottles at home!

Craft Brew Festivals

It wouldn’t be summer (at least in our minds) without one or two craft beer festivals! Summertime offers an endless array of brew fests, both large and small. We’ve seen advertisements for Belgian Beer Fests, festivals for breweries 5 years old or younger, local neighborhood fests, the list goes on.

Why do we love them so much? It combines two of our favorite things: beer and being outside in the sunshine. There is something really fun and unique about walking around from tent to tent with a small tasting glass and shooting the breeze with brewers and festival attendees. Friendships are made, people have smiles on their faces, and the beers are flowing! So hitch a ride and find a beer fest that interests you this summer!

No matter what you decide to do with your summertime hours, we hope that you enjoy the most of it with the people you love and with a cold beer in hand. And if you do find yourself in the Great Outdoors this summer, don’t forget New Planet Beer’s insanely portable six-packs of Seclusion IPA and Tread Lightly Ale!

New Planet Beer summertime getaways

New Planet Beer Wins Denver International Beer Competition

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The 2017 Denver International Beer Competition results are now announced!

The competition took place on April 1 & 2, 2017 at the Omni Interlocken Resort in Broomfield, Colorado.

Over 270 beers and ciders were judged double blind by 12 BJCP certified and national judges.

We are honored to have not just one, but THREE beers receiving awards.

  • New Planet Beer Blonde Ale Gold
  • New Planet Beer Tread Lightly Ale Silver
  • New Planet Beer Seclusion IPA Silver

New Planet Beer wins Denver International Beer competition

Schoolin’ Lesson 1: Gluten Free vs Gluten Reduced Beers

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Summer is just around the corner, and that is getting the brew crew at New Planet Beer really excited! Don’t get us wrong, we love a fresh blanket of snow on the Rockies, but there’s just something about a cloudless blue-sky spring day that gets us going!

But, as any parent with a kid will remind you: It isn’t summer yet. School’s still in session. In that spirit, we’ve developed a few “Lesson Plans” we wanted to share with you. Below is Lesson 1. Stay tuned for more lessons over the next few weeks!

Alright, class: Pay attention!

Gluten Free vs Gluten Reduced Beers

At New Planet Beer, we brew only gluten free and gluten reduced beer. In fact, we’re the only brewery around that has that claim to fame. There are other breweries who brew gluten free or gluten reduced beers, but not both.

Please raise your hand if you know the answers to the following questions.

What’s the difference between gluten free and gluten reduced?

Easy. “Gluten Free” is defined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and it gets even more in depth when discussing gluten free beer.

The definition from the FDA is long and boring, but in truth, those details makes a world of difference to our customers and how we brew our beer.

In short, in order to call a beer “gluten free” (and be labeled as such by the FDA), it must be brewed with ingredients that test out less than 20 Parts Per million (PPM), and the brewing process itself must mitigate cross-contamination with gluten. Finally, the resulting beer must be less than 20 PPM, too.

Long story short: Any gluten free beer will have a label saying it is 100% gluten free. No label? Not gluten free. Simple as that!

Okay, so what about Gluten-reduced?

Gluten-reduced is a bit different. It is a brewing industry term and isn’t regulated by the FDA, but is a category created and tested by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Trade Bureau (TTB)…try to say that fast five times after a few beers!

While the TTB may not be the FDA, it is still strict! Just to give you an idea of the testing the TTB puts a gluten-reduced beer through: New Planet’s Seclusion IPA and the Tread Lightly Ale both went through the TTB testing process. And it took 12 months to get approval!

Why so long? Well, the TTB performs lab tests, formula ingredient reviews, as well as tests the beer for PPM of gluten. We’re proud that our beers that are gluten-reduced test out at less that 5 PPM…that’s pretty awesome.

Using Gluten-free or Gluten-reduced ingredients is one thing, but how do we ensure that our beers stay that way?

This is a question we get a lot. Gluten, after all, seems to be everywhere.

We have incredibly strict policies at New Planet that guides how we brew our beer. For example, we only brew gluten-free beers on Mondays. Why Mondays? Because our brewery undergoes a deep clean on Sunday. This eliminates any traces of gluten that could remain from when we brew our gluten-reduced brews.

By doing it this way, we ensure that our equipment is in pristine condition, and no other beers are brewed during this time. Our adherence to this policy, among many others, ensures the integrity of our beers.

Alright class, that’s it for today. Your homework for the week is to crack open a New Planet Beer and kick your feet up. Good luck!