Elevation Fanboy
Alcohol by Volume: 8.5%

Intro:
Located in Poncha Springs, CO, Elevation opened in 2012 and has gone through two expansions already. They now have a healthy total of 315bbls of fermentation capacity and are eyeing possible distribution to Washington in the next year or two. So, while you can’t find their beers here now, keep your eyes out for them in the future.

Description:
Big, complex aroma of burnt sugar, heavy oak and tropical fruits; the aroma seriously just jumps out of the glass in this one. The oak is really prominent in the flavor, but fruity hops and caramel malts soak it up fairly well. A heavy bitterness finishes things off. I love oak in a beer, but it is a bit over the top in this and actually a bit astringent. I’m a fan, but I’d love to see the oak toned down a bit and the base beer come through more. It’s certainly complex and interesting though. Blurs the line between a double IPA and a hop-forward barleywine.

Verdict: 3 out of 5 Booyas
Brewery Website
Ratebeer Info
BeerAdvocate Info

Commercial Description/Press Release:

Much like the magical movies of our childhood, running a brewery in a town far, far, away with great friends and family can seem like a dream. From sharing a pint with co-workers after a long day on the bottling line, to pouring our beers at the Great American Beer Festival next to my beautiful wife, sometimes the blessings I have received in my life can seem, well…inconceivable. A bold beer that no one has brewed before, this barrel aged double IPA somehow retains its lively hops while combining with flavors of vanilla and oak from our new barrels to create a beer that tastes of fortune and glory.

In the interest of full disclosure to satisfy the FTC regulations, this review was of a sample bottle received from the brewery.