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Dry Dock Brewing

Thu, Dec 01, 22  |  beer

Dry Dock Brewing – Colorado raised and proud

When Dry Dock founder Kevin DeLange landed on purchasing the Brew Hut in Aurora in 2002 he didn’t know his future in beer would be so … land locked. But 14 years DeLange’s determination to brewing great craft beer and his allegiance to his adoptive state, Dry Dock is firmly anchored in Aurora and is one of Colorado’s premier craft breweries.

Do It Right From the Start

For any brewery, making great beer starts with quality ingredients and excellent recipes. It is a simple and fundamental philosophy that is the basis for everything Dry Dock has done since they began brewing on a meager 7 BBL system. Yet it paid off immediately, as the brewery won its first GABF®Gold Medal in 2006, a mere 6 months after beginning operations, for its HMS Victory ESB (now the Dry Dock Amber Ale). The brewery has since won GABF® medals, the Brewer’s Association’s Small Brewery of the Year, and five World Beer Cup® awards.

Dry Dock Beer: Made in Colorado for Coloradans

One of Colorado’s great exports over the past 10 years is craft beer. Many of the state’s leading breweries have expanded their distribution throughout much of the United States, even opening brewing facilities in other states. While Dry Dock has the popularity and the capacity to make this business leap it has not and does not plan to distribute outside of Colorado. One reason is the demand in the state is so strong for their beers that Dry Dock is doing all they can to accommodate thirsty Coloradans. It is also a sense of pride for the brewery to be distributed only in Colorado. It’s not that Dry Dock has something against the other 49 states and they don’t begrudge other breweries for their expansion or their success; they just take pride in being born local and serving their beers locally.

Growth, expansion and experimentation

In 2012 Dry Dock began brewing in their North Dock facility, 2801 Tower Road Aurora, and vastly increased production. The company estimates they are growing up to 30 percent each year and it is in the new facility where they brew and can many of their flagship beers, including: Amber Ale, Apricot Blonde, Hop Abomination and Hefeweizen. But they still experiment on their recipes, tweaking existing beers to come up with cool new flavors, such as their Sour Apricot. Much of the recipe testing and experimental beer tastings happen at their original location, the 16 tap South Dock facility, located at 15120 E. Hampden Avenue in Aurora.

Beer of the Month

As a Colorado company that believes in working hard and playing hard, Molly’s Spirits is proud to offer Dry Dock Brewery as its Beer of the Month for June. When you’re looking for great Dry Dock beers at great prices for the backyard BBQ, camping, or volleyball in the park, stop by Molly’s Spirits check out Molly’s Spirits for a Beers of the Month selections – ALWAYS A GREAT DEAL at $6.99 for a 6-pack.

Dry Dock Beer of the Month Selections:

Amber Ale:

Dry Dock’s first flagship beer is a full, rich tasting ESB with sweet malt flavors and enough bitterness to round out it all out.

Apricot Blonde:

Dry Dock’s best selling beer, this blonde ale is fermented with apricots for a crisp, clean finish and just enough apricot to make this a favorite.

Sour Apricot:

Tart and fruity the Sour Apricot still has a rich apricot flavor – a perfect summertime beer.

Hop Abomination:

A great version of the American IPA, the hops come at you with citrus and tropical flavors then smacks you with at 70 IBU finish.

Hefeweizen:

A traditional German-styled Hefeweizen that is brewed with yeast – so rouse that yeast to realize all its flavors.