In 2015, Doctor of Physical Therapy Sean Buchan, microbiologist Chris Washenberger and financier Dan McGuire — all homebrewers — opened Cerebral Brewing in Denver’s Congress Park neighborhood along the city’s famed Colfax Avenue. The three met at Washenberger’s Denver homebrew club where the idea “to combine scientific methodology with an artistic viewpoint to create extremely drinkable beers spanning a broad spectrum of styles” became a reality. With their scientific background, Buchan and Washenberger want to make quality one of their hallmarks — and idea that carries through in their name. From its hop-bombs to its luscious stouts and sophisticated saisons, Cerebral has a menu that has been gathering national accolades from magazines, fellow breweries, and craft-beer fans. But Cerebral and head brewer Buchan are probably best known for their hazy, hoppy offerings. Today, Peaks & Pints presents another in-house flight of Cerebral beer — a flight we’re calling Peaks & Pints Beer Flight: Cerebral Beer.
Peaks & Pints Beer Flight: Cerebral Beer
Cerebral Hyperfixation
5.4% ABV
The next edition of Cerebral Brewing’s Hyperfixation fruited sour series is dessert-inspired, featuring mango, key lime pie and vanilla. Cerebral used more than 150 pounds of graham cracker crumbs in the mash, followed by fruit and vanilla to extract sweetness, fruitiness and the comforting taste of a perfectly crumbly graham crust.
Cerebral Paper Lantern Yuzu Lager
5% ABV
Cerebral’s Japanese-style lager, Paper Lantern Yuzu Lager, is brewed with rice and Saaz hops before fermentation it in their American oak foeders for a satisfying, crisp quencher. Expect doughy sweet rice malt with a touch of lemon zest, Asian pear, oaky tannins, and jasmine tea followed by herbaceous hops.
Cerebral Rare Trait
6.4% ABV
When it comes to flagship IPAs, Rare Trait is Cerebral’s crown jewel, their mission statement, a proverbial shot over the bow, their raison d’etre. Brewed with Citra, Mosaic, and El Dorado hops, Rare Treat strikes that balance between fruity hop notes of tangerine, mango and candied peach and restrained bitterness that has defined their style from their opening day.
Cerebral Cloaking Device
6.5% ABV
This hazy IPA is hopped with Mosaic and HBC 1019, which complement each other for ripe stone fruit character, while the resinous notes of Simcoe and Waimea bring the fruitiness back down to earth. It’s also brewed with several formats of wheat for a soft body and flavorful base for the hops to uncloak. The result is a smooth-sipping and flavorful beverage with notes of Mango Juice, Starburst Jelly Beans and Pineapple Gummies fit for any human or extraterrestrial out there.
Cerebral Nutrient Dense
7.3% ABV
A collaboration with Southern Grist Brewing in Nashville, Tennessee, Nutrient Dense hazy IPA is brewed with Rakau, Superdelic, Citra, Citra Cryo, Strata, and Rakau SubZero Hop Kief for notes of tangerine push pop, lemon Italian ice, and passionfruit syrup.
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