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Upcoming Events

City Star Releases 50th Specialty Beer of the Year

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City Star Cans by Emily SierraCity Star Brewing, a small town craft brewery, had a big year of beer! Their New Years Eve beer release marks their 50th specialty beer of the year. Aegir (pronounced eye-ear) is a hazy IPA brewed with Norwegian Kveik yeast and double dry hopped with Citra and Galaxy hops. The Berthoud, Colorado brewery released 50 specialty beers in the year 2021 in addition to their mainstay beers available year round. City Star packaged 570 barrels (17,670 gallons) of beers throughout the year, brewed 100 gallons at a time on a humble 3.5 barrel brew system.

Inspiration for recipes comes from past experiences, staff ideas, culinary influence, industry trends, unique flavors, and available local ingredients.  The majority of City Star’s grain is grown and malted right up the road at Root Shoot Malting. Specialties released were made with a variety of yeasts: German lager and American, Norwegian and Belgian ale yeasts. The 2021 beer line-up featured classic hops as well as new varieties, including Sabro, Cashmere, Talus, Strata, El Dorado.  The most noteworthy hops though are the Centennial hops grown right in the City Star beer garden. They’re handpicked and added fresh to City Star’s Homegrown IPA each fall. City Star’s 2021 specialty beers incorporated many fruit adjuncts: pineapple, cherry, passionfruit, orange, strawberry, tangerine, peach, blackberry, soursop, raspberry, blueberry, watermelon, lime and mango. Vegetables made an appearance too: cucumber, carrot, pumpkin, sandia hot chili peppers, and even locally grown rhubarb.

These fifty specialty beers brewed at City Star Brewing throughout the year included a handful with philanthropic backgrounds. Honey Graham, brewed in memory of Jason Buehler, raised $1,200 for his family. Black is Beautiful blackberry stout was brewed to support equality and justice for people of color and raised $1,000 donated to NAACP. Harley’s Honey Wheat is brewed in honor of Harley’s Dream, a non profit who’s mission is to educate and spread awareness about puppy mills.

The greater Berthoud community has reinforced City Star’s expression, “You keep drinking it, we’ll keep brewing it”. Community support has enabled City Star to keep the fermenters full, and encouraged creativity in brewing. In 2022 City Star Brewing will continue creating craft beers you can hang your hat on.

City Star Celebrates Anniversary and Colorado Manufacturing Award Win

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City Star Brewing celebrates 9 years in business this week, a milestone after an unprecedented year. In advance of this weekend’s celebration the Berthoud craft brewery is honored to be recognized as the 2021 Colorado Manufacturing Awards Outstanding Craft Brewer, selected from a trio of finalists including Denver Beer Company and Holidaily Brewing Company. City Star Brewing joins a reputable group of past CMA craft brewer winners including Dry Dock Brewing, WeldWerks Brewing, Left Hand Brewing, Crooked Stave and Ska Brewing Company.

CMA founder and CompanyWeek publisher Bart Taylor said, “As it is every year, this was a very competitive category, with three companies representing distinct tiers in Colorado’s incredible craft brewing industry. Congratulations to the City Star team and the city of Berthoud.”


City Star Brewing’s 9th anniversary comes with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Berthoud, Northern Colorado and the greater craft beer community have been incredibly supportive since before the doors opened in 2012. The past year City Star has received generosity beyond words: from propane tanks and heaters to volunteer efforts and private donations. In appreciation of the community, City Star Brewing will be giving away 500 crowlers to-go (a glass growler aluminum can combination) during this Saturday’s celebration.

“City Star’s Hootenanny” anniversary celebration will span all day Saturday starting at noon with two new beers on tap: Salud wheat with watermelon, sea salt and lime and Easy Does It session pale ale featuring Sabro hops. Nacho Mama’s Tacos and Sweaty Moose food trucks will be out front all day. Live music on the beer garden stage will feature Dave Frediani and Joe Kuckla & Irons in the Fire. The Hootenanny is also defined by the annual relaunch of the Deputy mug club program, $10 commemorative t-shirts…and a cupcake toast courtesy B Sweet Cupcakes.

The downtown Berthoud brewery has remained open the past year as a staple in the community, pivoting as required, maintaining staff, and “keeping it flowing”. At the onset of the pandemic City Star Brewing launched crowler sales, online ordering, local deliveries, and canning. Annual events like Flap Jack Day and Lucky Charms Beer Flights adapted to be to-go friendly. City Star has worked hard to be a friendly, safe space for everyone the past year. The next year will be all about embracing local growth, stabilizing, and bringing a new 7 barrel brewhouse online for more efficient brew days.

Beer Release: Red Ryeder

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Irish-style red ale brewed with rye. Available on draft and in 16oz. cans to-go.

Shoutout Colorado Features Whitney Way

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Meet Whitney Way: Jill of All Trades at City Star Brewing

December 15th, 2020
Shoutout Colorado Interview

We had the good fortune of connecting with Whitney Way and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Whitney, how do you think about risk?

I haven’t gotten to this point in my life without taking risks. Smart, calculated risk taking is integral to growth and decision making. Amid the pandemic this year my partner and I made quick, pivotal decisions. We promised our staff continued employment without guaranteed income and later in spring we purchased a canning line, our most expensive piece of equipment purchased to date. Looking back some risks we took were probably more foolish, but good intuition and luck prevailed. For example, diving all in to open City Star Brewing in 2011 without a business plan or understanding of the demands of the local community was probably a foolish risk. Fortunately we took that risk and Berthoud proved thirsty.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
City Star is a taproom centric brewery with a focus on community and producing quality craft beer. We have become a keystone business in our downtown. The community believes us; they believe in what we’ve created and our messaging. Subsequently they’ve really shown up in strong support throughout 2020. Almost 9 years since opening our doors, we’ve gotten where we are by embracing organic growth, sticking to our principles, and doing what we love. Breweries are really passion pursuits, not money-making ventures (though there are notable exceptions). It is not easy to operate a brewery, balancing business finances and navigating the nuances of the industry. Many challenges along the way I’ve overcome by learning to be a better partner – in marriage and business. John Way and I opened City Star Brewing together in 2012 (before we were even married). Our most difficult times have been during big construction projects, in times of being overworked while understaffed, balancing having young children, and of course 2020 has thrown challenge after challenge our way. Relying on one another and working as a team in crisis has gotten John and I through. Being introspective, reviewing the data and facts, and boldly making hard decisions has been integral in times of struggle.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

Berthoud is a big, small town full of character and quirks. A tour of the town would have to include insider information on Berthoud, including the fixtures of the area. Headed to Berthoud from I-25, notice the 12-foot-tall silhouette of a camel who has stood near the Berthoud exit for 20 years (Bert is his name). Before entering downtown Berthoud pass Chewy the dinosaur, often dressed in the spirit of any upcoming holiday. Downtown Berthoud undoubtedly requires a stop at City Star Brewing. Retail shopping features Wishful Living, Simply Shabulous, The Rancher’s Wife and more. An afternoon at the Little Thompson Valley Pioneer Museum translates to a new appreciation for the area and all of the historic buildings throughout town. An entire day could be spent walking among old brick buildings, the iconic grain elevator, and through old neighborhoods. The Wildfire Arts Center of Berthoud hosts regular classes and events. Even if they aren’t open check out the mosaic dragon bench out front, affectionally named FireHeart. There is one copper penny hidden on him. Can you find it? Stop at Kofe House for a beverage, grab a fresh baked loaf of bread at Rise, enjoy a breakfast burrito at a different joint each day (share your favorite!), enjoy a Berthoud Pizza to-go, and be sure to pick up City Star beer brats at Hays Market if you are grilling. Larimer County’s Carter Lake and Pinewood Reservoir are great spots for fishing (Bennet’s Bait and Tackle in Berthoud is legit), camping, boating, and solo time on a SUP Board. Back in town you can enjoy some fresh air in Berthoud’s Fickel Park and a stroll through the hidden Hillsdale Park. The new TPC Colorado golf course is a must for golfers, and the beautiful club house boasts a fantastic restaurant…. plan on a sunset happy hour! Berthoud is the Garden Spot so be sure to take in and appreciate all the agricultural beauty in the area. In the spirit of beer, be sure to drive by the Root Shoot Malt House north of town and the Coors Grain Storage facility south of town (just admire both from the road please!). Did you grab your City Star cans to go?!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

So many have influenced who I am today: naturally my parents Dan and Rudi Taylor, my little sister and biggest advocate Emily Taylor, my partner in everything John Way, and Eric Adams who has taught me so much through martial arts and CrossFit.

Image Credit: all photos by Emily Sierra emilysierra.com

Original article source: https://shoutoutcolorado.com/meet-whitney-way-jill-of-all-trades-at-city-star-brewing/

Beer Release: Widow Maker Imperial Stout

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A winter favorite returns! Our darkest beer for the darkest day of the year. This Imperial Stout will be available on draft with variants TBD. Commemorative glasses available for purchase in taproom while supplies last. Grab your stouts to-go in a mixed 4-pack or single can option.

Beer Release: Time Machine

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West Coast Style IPA brewed with all Root Shoot malted barley and rye, dry hopped with Simcoe hops.

Available on draft and in cans to-go.

Beer Release: Happy Mango IPA

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Happy Mango IPA is a juicy American IPA is infused with pureed mango and dry hopped with Citra hops. Juicy, tropical and delicious!

Available on draft and in 16oz. cans.

Colorado Pint Day

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Raise a pint in support of Colorado beer! $1 from each limited edition glass goes to Colorado Brewers Guild which is instrumental in keeping breweries operational.

Glass sales launch online the morning of Colorado Pint Day, Wednesday 4/7. $8 glass + first beer. Take your glass ‘to-go’ by picking up from citystarpickup.com and we’ll include a ‘free beer’ nickel inside.

City Star Joins the Craft Malt Revolution

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Root Shoot Malting and City Star Brewing partnershipCity Star Brewing, Berthoud’s small town brewery is one of the first Colorado breweries to join the Craft Maltsters Guild. The Guild is a grassroots movement in today’s malting industry dedicated to promoting and sustaining the burgeoning craft malt tradition across North America. Small-batch, independent maltsters are coming together, in a rising tide to bring heart, diversity, relocalization, and excitement to the marketplace.

Joining the Craft Maltsters guild was originally inspired by City Star’s partnership with local malthouse, Root Shoot Malting. The two local businesses were brought together in 2016, when City Star crafted Local Yokel, all-Colorado ingredient pale ale that led City Star brewers to work with the then newly established Root Shoot Malting. The fifth generation farmers had just kilned their first batch of barley in their state-of-the-art malting facility. The Olander family had been growing quality barley for decades, but craft malting was a new venture. Since that first collaboration brew City Star has moved to use Root Shoot’s Genie Pale Malt as the base malt for all ales in addition to brewing with various specialty malts.

Root Shoot Malting and City Star Brewing CollaborationCity Star is committed to craft and quality from grain to glass. This means an emphasis on quality ingredients and where they come from. The brewery is supporting local farmers and community plus using a quality product that incorporates the Northern Colorado terroir. City Star’s carbon footprint is lowered by using barley grown and malted right in its backyard.

Root Shoot is “Saving Farms One Beer at a Time” and City Star is proud to play its role. Frankly, brewing with craft malt is an easy business decision. City Star Brewing and the Root Shoot family have forged a strong friendship. Northern Colorado communities and the greater craft beer scene reap the benefits of this partnership. As one of Root Shoot’s first brewery partners, City Star is excited to support our local maltsters, the Craft Maltsters Guild, and the greater craft malt movement.
City Star Brewing Craft Malt Certified Brewer

Chris Elliott

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Professional Banjoist Chris Elliott (C-Bob) is arguably one of friendliest and finest banjo players on the bluegrass scene, a formidable finger-picking musician. In 2007 he swept the Colorado Bluegrass Competition scene, championing the RockyGrass Banjo Competition,  RockyGrass Band Competition and 2007 Telluride Band Competition. C-Bob plays with local musician Geoff Union and his band Ragged Union. He’s also a former member of the acclaimed Spring Creek Bluegrass Band and Blue Canyon Boys.