CHAMPION WINS THE GOLD
WITH HOME RUN ALE

Welcome to the Mile High City! Located in the middle of the country, Denver is just 340 miles from the exact center of the continental United States at an elevation of exactly 5,280 feet above sea level (on the west steps of the State Capitol.) With its ever present Rocky Mountain backdrop, Denver has plenty to boast about, from symphony orchestras to professional baseball, football and basketball teams and the prestigious Great American Beer Festival-the "Super Bowl" of beer. It seems appropriate for this exciting city to host the festival, considering more beer is brewed in Denver than any other American city. Home to the world's largest single brewery (Coors, with a production of over 17 million barrels of beer per year,) Denver also claims the nation's largest brewpubs (Wynkoop Brewing Company and the Rock Bottom Brewery,) and the highest number of home brewers. On a per capita basis, Colorado produces more beer and more varieties of beer than any other state.

"I never knew this place existed!" was a phrase heard while walking in the historic Larimer Square of Lower Downtown Denver, also known as LoDo. Proclaimed Denver's first Landmark Preservation District in 1971, Larimer Square was added to the National Register of Historic Places two years later. Serving as a catalyst for much of downtown Denver's urban renovation and redevelopment, Larimer Square is the focal point for downtown nightlife and home to Champion Brewing Company. Located on Denver's oldest street and nestled among other beautifully restored Victorian buildings, Champion opened for business in November of 1991, with a sports bar motif. "A big attraction is our outdoor seating, really it's key," said Greg A. Lightcap, general manager at Champion. "We have seating for about 130 people outside for lunch and dinner. During the lunch hours in the summer, we have entertainment-the Simmerin' Summer Series-on the patio. The place downstairs seats about 220, and we have 6 pool tables in the back, 2 foosball tables and shuffleboard. It's a nice attraction aside from just being a brewery." When Champion first opened, they hung a huge photo in the game area with instructions to "name the baseball player and win a trip to Las Vegas" The correct answer was only known by a few of the 1000 entries-Rube Foster.

With 22 TVs (one, a 72" bigscreen,) you can watch all your favorite sporting events, or take a free shuttle bus to the Broncos games and the Rockies games; you'll even get beer coupons to use when you come back after the games.

Don't sit on the stool at the end of the bar, though, that one's for Norm-as in Norm Clarke's Sports Ale. During a phone conversation with "the" Norm Clarke, sports writer for the Rocky Mountain News, our editor found he had this to say. "My colleagues in the sports writing industry think I must have "pictures" of one of the owners in order to get a beer named after me. Actually, I think Randy [one of Champion's owners] thought it was the least he could do after the public humiliation I suffered by jumping into a 100 gallon tank of chocolate mousse!" According Lightcap, "It made a great promotion, with TV news coverage and all. It was in January, and it was freezing outside...it has something to do with losing a bet." I'll bet it's an interesting story-you'll have to ask Norm about it the next time you make it to Denver. "It's a great beer, I love it," Norm said, "I'm proud to have it carry my name."

Besides Norm Clarke's, Champion features a regular lineup of four other beers including Home Run Ale, an English-style brown ale, which won a gold medal in its division at the 1993 Great American Beer Festival. Their wheat beer is Buck Wheat, light in color with a very subtle raspberry taste, almost an after taste of raspberry, and, says Lightcap, "It serves as a good introduction to a microbrewed beer." Larimer Red was originally brewed as an Irish special for St. Patrick's Day. The deep red Irish ale found a place on the permanent lineup after it became one of their most popular. Finally, Champion is one of the few microbreweries in the United States that produces a light beer. Red Light (a true light beer with only 110 calories/12 oz.) has a distinctive reddish color and a noticeable caramel flavor.

You'll also find a variety of seasonal beers depending on the whim of Brewmaster Michael Fahy. The Stout Street Stout, heavy and dark with a roasted flavor, will appeal to the enthusiast looking for a strong, complex beer. Coal Porter, an English-style porter, is dark, heavy and bitter. It is served warm and goes well with heavy food or long conversations. Fahy also brews a Christmas Bock, an Irish special, and Black Magic for Halloween. "It's a real kicker," said Lightcap. "We carry a standard line of other beers for those patrons who haven't acquired the taste for the heavier, natural flavor," he added, "and as a novelty, we also serve beer by the yard."

Champion Brewery interior

Champion's brewmaster, Michael Fahy, was originally a research scientist and the head brewer for Coors where he developed Coors Light and Killian's Red. At Champion Brewing Company since day one, Fahy is also a partner at this Larimer Square brewery. "Mike invented the gravity brewing system." said Greg Lightcap. The tiered brewing process goes down from the mash through the lauter into the brew kettle and over to the fermenters; it travels gravitationally. Champion uses a three step fermentation with a true lagering process. After the primary fermentation, the beer goes into a cold storage before going into the final serving tank. Fahy believes it is this extra process that makes Champion's beer cleaner-less harsh and less prone to the toxic chemicals that can cause people to have hangovers.

Though he rarely takes a day off, Fahy was gone the day the Brew Crew did the interview, so Eric Jastak, his apprentice for almost two years, was kind enough to show us around the brewery, and tell us about the operations. "We brew about 1500 barrels annually with 200 gallons / batch. Almost all is filtered," said Jastak, "and, only a small percentage is bottled." A microbiology graduate of University of California, Davis, Jastak finished with his brewing studies in December. "Group tours and tastings are scheduled for Saturdays," Jastak continued. Fahy does some presentations and tastings in the evening for prescheduled events.

On the Champion menu, you'll find a paragraph about their "founder" which defines the atmosphere at Champion Brewing quite well: [Dizzy O'Malley was a minor league baseball player with major league aspirations. Although he never made it to the big time, he did play long enough, and travel far enough, to know what he liked when it came to two of his favorite subjects-food and drink. Dizzy ultimately settled in Denver, bought "The Champion Power and Light Company" and turned it into a brewery. We have replicated Dizzy's favorite recipes from all over the country and brought them to you once again. Please enjoy them with one of our handcrafted house beers and follow Dizzy's motto-"Some food, some drink, some fun-think I'll have another."]

"Champion is a full service restaurant which serves regional American food with a modern flair," said Amy Greenberger, Larimer Square Marketing Director. The extensive menu features specialities such as: Cheese Philly Steak from the East Coast, Meatloaf from the Midwest, and, from the South, Pulled Pig Sandwich. "We're really well known for our Jamaican Jerk Chicken and our Brewery Fish and Chips-made with fresh Hawaiian Mahi." added Greenberger. Also featured are Rocky Mountain Oysters, Maryland Blue Crabs, Spicy Louisiana Popcorn Shrimp, Toledo Chicken Wings, and a great variety of sandwiches, salads, and desserts. Special events at Champion include: a homebrewer's competition and a special Brewmasters dinner. Also, The Champion opens its doors on Thanksgiving day to serve a full turkey dinner for the homeless.

Owners Randy Rutherford and Jeff Hermanson are the concept developers for Larimer Square, according to Greenberger, and they work with a design team to develop their vision. Diverse and creative menus providing a feeling of comfort is part of the concept. Champion is Larimer Square's microbrewery, and the starting point for a progressive dinner on the Square. Beginning with a full tasting and brewery tour, the diners move on to Josephina's, Mexicali Cafe, and Cadillac Ranch. It's quite a hit with convention attendees. Larimer Square is only three blocks from the Currigan Exhibition Hall and The Denver Performing Arts Complex. You'll enjoy the shopping at twenty-eight shops and galleries on the square, all easily accessible via the 16th Street Mall Shuttle; shuttle buses go back and forth between the Civic Center and Market Street at frequent intervals.

While in the downtown area, a visit to the Colorado State Capitol Building will take you to the mythical mile marker for the Mile High City. It's on the 15th step up to the building with the dome. Another interesting place to see is the U.S. Mint, where over five billion coins are struck every year. You can take a free tour of both places on weekdays. The Denver Art Museum, which just celebrated its centennial year, is home to the most comprehensive collection of artworks between Los Angeles and St. Louis, and the finest Native American collection in the world. Admission is free on Saturday.

Also downtown is Sakura Square, the center of Denver's Japanese community, where there's a tea garden, authentic restaurants, import shops, and a Buddhist temple. The square celebrates with an annual Cherry Blossom Festival each June - "Sakura" mean "cherry blossom" in Japanese.

A $97 million amusement park, Elitch Gardens, will be the first amusement park in history to relocate into the center of a downtown urban area. Scheduled to open in May 1995 in the Platte River Valley, the new 58-acre park will be just a short walk from downtown Denver. Another opening in 1995 is Denver's new $72 million Public Library. According to the Convention and Visitor's Bureau, "this gigantic 540,000 square foot structure will house over 4 million items on seven floors above the ground, and three below."

"If you build it, they will come," said the voice in Field of Dreams. Come see what they've built at Denver's new Coors Baseball Stadium (future home of the Colorado Rockies) scheduled to open April 1995 in "LoDo." The new stadium will have 5,000 parking spots on site with 27,000 spots in a 12 block area. The 16th Street Mall has been extended to Union Station, just three blocks from the new stadium, and the free shuttle buses leave either end of the Mall every 90 seconds to carry passengers from throughout the city almost to the stadium's front door. The16th Street Mall, alive with trees and flowers, is a mile long stretch of cafes, shops, street performers and cart vendors.

Though the modern day Denver bears little resemblance to the late 1800's "Queen City of the Plains," it is a town of tradition, born during the "Pike's Peak or Bust" gold rush of 1859. With the turn of the century came respectability as the riches of the gold and silver mines was used to build parks, fountains, statues, tree-lined boulevards and mansions making it the most elegant city in a thousand mile radius. For more than 125 years it has been the cultural, shopping and entertainment capital.

Throughout Colorado, there are 20 brewpubs, 18 microbreweries, and 2 major breweries, making a good argument for Colorado's claim that they are the "Napa Valley" of beer. It is possible to tour the state, visiting the major ski resorts of Aspen, Telluride, Vail, Crested Butte and Steamboat Springs, and enjoy a new brewpub in each town. On any given day, there are over 80 beers that are made and sold only in Colorado.

The first permanent structure in Denver was a saloon so it is fitting that today there are six brewpubs in metro Denver including the two largest in the nation.

For more information call:

Champion Brewing Co.
(303) 534-5444

Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau
(303) 892-1112

Larimer Square
(303) 534-2367

Lower Downtown District
(303) 628-5424

JANUARY
National Western Stock Show and Rodeo- January 10-22.
Denver hosts the world's largest stock show featuring 23 rodeo performances.
(303) 297-1166.

FEBRUARY
Buffalo Bill's Birthday CelebrationFebruary 25.
Features include a mountain-man festival and look-alike contest at the
Buckhorn Exchange Restaurant.
(303) 534-9505.

MARCH
St. Patrick's Day Parade - March 11
The nation's second largest St. Patrick's Day Parade winds through downtown Denver. (303) 399-9226.

APRIL
Baseball Opener- early April.
Coors Field officially opens with the Colorado Rockies' 1995 home opener.
(303) 292-0200.

MAY
Elitch Gardens- mid May.
Denver's 105-year-old amusement park, Elitch Gardens, opens at its brand new location in downtown Denver. (303) 455-4771.

Cinco de Mayo Festival- May 7.
Denver closes six blocks of Santa Fe Drive and puts on a fiesta for Cinco de Mayo.
(303) 534-8342.

Memorial Day Races- May 29. The Memorial Day tradition, the Bolder Boulder 10K and High Altitude Championships, races through Boulder.
(303) 444-RACE (444-7223).

JUNE
Bethesda Dutch FestivalJune 8-10.
Traditional song, dance, food and festivities bring a bit of Holland to the city for the Bethesda Dutch Festival.
(303) 759-6040.

Cherry Blossom Festival June 10-11.
Sakura Square comes alive with the art, sounds, tastes, music, and dances
of Japan during the Cherry Blossom Festival. (303) 295-0305.

JULY
U.S. Olympic Festival- July 21-30.
Denver co-hosts the U.S. Olympic Festival, where athletes compete for the opportunity to represent the nation in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. (303) 892-1112.

OCTOBER
Great American Beer Festival October 4-9.
Brewers from around the nation provide samples at the Great American Beer Festival at Currigan Exhibition Hall. (303) 399-1859.