Smoking River Brewing Co. recently collaborated with Ball Brewing to create a hazy IPA with Colorado ingredients and Smoking River hops. Top, Clark of Ball Brewing and Smoking River’s Julia Eskelson enjoyed music and brews Saturday evening. Bottom, the Eighth Street Pickers entertained the crowd. | COURTESY/CAITLIN WALKER PHOTOS
There’s a new brew in town. The folks at Smoking River Brewing Co. recently collaborated with Ball Brewing, located in Glenwood Springs, to create Snow Blind, a Colorado-centric hazy IPA made with Smoking River hops grown right here in Rio Blanco County.
According to Head Brewer Tyler Frye, “Snow Blind Hazy IPA was born from a passion to create a tropical fruit hazy IPA that uses local Colorado ingredients by local Colorado Brewers. Our friends at Ball Brewing were very excited to collaborate on a beer that they had not served in their taproom, and we wanted to make something new and fun to showcase this collaborative spirit as well as the amazing variety of Colorado ingredients.
As for the flavor profile of the drink, “Snow Blind contains tropical hops that are very pineapple and citrus-forward from Smoking River Hops off Hwy. 64, while the body of the beer contains sweet honey notes and soft malted grain characters from Proximity Malt and Root Shoot Malting, both from Colorado.
“Brewers Clark, Chad, and Bobby made the trip from Ball Brewing up to see our Brew House system in action. It was a great day of sharing ideas and experiences while tasting the local beverage selection. The collaboration was a huge success.”
Snow Blind and another Ball Brewing beer called “Captain Ron” were served along with the regular offerings at Smoking River’s latest event last Saturday, which featured live music by the Eighth Street Pickers.
As of press time Wednesday, there was a bit of the Snow Blind limited batch still available. Get your taste before it’s gone for good at 101 E. Market Street.
By Susan Greene — Colorado News Collaborative
