Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It’s Friday December 18th, and we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Every week day we’re sharing a closer look at one of our top stories. Today we‘re discussing Rocky Mountain Barrel Company. They’ve been especially aware of how the demands have changed in the industry amid the pandemic.

Before we begin, let’s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

Today, we take you back to December 18th, 1888 when ranchers Richard Wetherill and Charles Mason were searching for stray cattle. While standing on a ledge they found the ruins of Cliff Palace, the most famous remnant in what has now become Mesa Verde National Park. 

Now, our feature story. 

All around, hundreds of barrels and casks are stacked high inside Rocky Mountain Barrel Company’s warehouse in Wheat Ridge. 

This is where the great Colorado beers take shape. Half of the barrel broker’s customers are local breweries that use the vessels to age beers that range in style from rich stouts and porters to effervescent sours.

For smaller breweries, which account for the majority in Colorado, the barrels create a conduit for experimentation and the ability to appeal to consumers who are always chasing new flavors. 

The small-batch barrel-aged beers -- particularly dark stouts and porters that match the dark days of winter -- are a bright spot that defies other trends in the beer industry.

Colorado Sun reporter John Frank is joining us today to tell us more.

John, thanks so much for joining us today, can you start by talking about how breweries actually get the barrels for the beer?

And what does a barrel add to beer in terms of flavor?

And finally, how high is the popularity in barrel-aged beers right now?

Thanks so much for joining us, John.

In recent years, the increase in consumer interest for fruity IPAs, low-calorie beers and hard seltzers put a dent in production of barrel-aged styles that are more complex in flavor and more expensive to make. 

The coronavirus pandemic and economic downturn have added their own drop off as many beer drinkers turn to budget-minded brews and those easy to find in one stop at the grocery store.

But the limited availability of barrel-aged beers from smaller breweries still drives consumer interest. The pinch has hit larger brewers most. 

Thanks for listening. Finally, here are a few stories that you should know about today:

U.S. Rep. Ken Buck announced Thursday that he will not seek a second term as Colorado’s GOP chairman, formally launching the race to replace him and lead the party out of two disappointing election cycles.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser is taking the lead in a 35-state, bipartisan lawsuit filed Thursday against tech giant Google that accuses the company of “anticompetitive conduct” and monopolistic behavior surrounding its search engine and advertising arm.

On Tuesday, Gov. Jared Polis and a group of public health and education leaders laid out a roadmap for getting children back to the classroom as soon as possible in 2021. But the report is short on details about how the state will help schools overcome logistical challenges.

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. Now, a quick message from our editor.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It&rsquo;s Friday December 18th, and we&rsquo;re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Every week day we&rsquo;re sharing a closer look at one of our top stories. Today we&lsquo;re discussing Rocky Mountain Barrel Company. They&rsquo;ve been especially aware of how the demands have changed in the industry amid the pandemic.
Before we begin, let&rsquo;s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett&rsquo;s book &ldquo;Colorado Day by Day&rdquo;:
Today, we take you back to December 18th, 1888 when ranchers Richard Wetherill and Charles Mason were searching for stray cattle. While standing on a ledge they found the ruins of Cliff Palace, the most famous remnant in what has now become Mesa Verde National Park.&nbsp;
Now, our feature story.&nbsp;
All around, hundreds of barrels and casks are stacked high inside Rocky Mountain Barrel Company&rsquo;s warehouse in Wheat Ridge.&nbsp;
This is where the great Colorado beers take shape. Half of the barrel broker&rsquo;s customers are local breweries that use the vessels to age beers that range in style from rich stouts and porters to effervescent sours.
For smaller breweries, which account for the majority in Colorado, the barrels create a conduit for experimentation and the ability to appeal to consumers who are always chasing new flavors.&nbsp;
The small-batch barrel-aged beers -- particularly dark stouts and porters that match the dark days of winter -- are a bright spot that defies other trends in the beer industry.
Colorado Sun reporter John Frank is joining us today to tell us more.
John, thanks so much for joining us today, can you start by talking about how breweries actually get the barrels for the beer?
And what does a barrel add to beer in terms of flavor?
And finally, how high is the popularity in barrel-aged beers right now?
Thanks so much for joining us, John.
In recent years, the increase in consumer interest for fruity IPAs, low-calorie beers and hard seltzers put a dent in production of barrel-aged styles that are more complex in flavor and more expensive to make.&nbsp;
The coronavirus pandemic and economic downturn have added their own drop off as many beer drinkers turn to budget-minded brews and those easy to find in one stop<a href="https://coloradosun.com/2018/12/11/colorado-beer-new-law-2019/"> at the grocery store</a>.
But the limited availability of barrel-aged beers from smaller breweries still drives consumer interest. The pinch has hit larger brewers most.&nbsp;
Thanks for listening. Finally, here are a few stories that you should know about today:
U.S. Rep. Ken Buck announced Thursday that he will not seek a second term as Colorado&rsquo;s GOP chairman, formally launching the race to replace him and lead the party out of two disappointing election cycles.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser is taking the lead in a 35-state, bipartisan lawsuit filed Thursday against tech giant Google that accuses the company of &ldquo;anticompetitive conduct&rdquo; and monopolistic behavior surrounding its search engine and advertising arm.
On Tuesday, Gov. Jared Polis and a group of public health and education leaders laid out a roadmap for getting children back to the classroom as soon as possible in 2021. But the report is short on details about how the state will help schools overcome logistical challenges.
For more information on all of these stories, visit our website,<a href="http://www.coloradosun.com/"> www.coloradosun.com</a>. Now, a quick message from our editor.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we’re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. For more visit us at https://coloradosun.com/.

The Daily Sun-Up

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we’re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. For more visit us at https://coloradosun.com/.

Our intro music is by Matt Skellenger Group: https://mattskellenger.bandcamp.com/album/subspace-transmission 

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we&rsquo;re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. For more visit us at <a href="https://coloradosun.com/">https://coloradosun.com/</a>.
Our intro music is by Matt Skellenger Group: <a href="https://mattskellenger.bandcamp.com/album/subspace-transmission">https://mattskellenger.bandcamp.com/album/subspace-transmission</a>&nbsp;