Jordan Via — Breckenridge’s New Resident Distiller
California’s loss is Colorado’s gain, now that Jordan Via jumped from wine making to distilling spirits. While job titles are a little too straight laced for the likes of Breckenridge Distillery, Via (pronounced Vi) is officially known as the Lead Distiller, but better known as Still Monkey for his knack for climbing on the rafters and in the still. This may seem like monkey business, but Via’s background in analytical chemistry and wine making, teaching the craft of distilling was just too much for Breckenridge Distillery CEO Bryan Nolt to ignore.
Nolt, a medical doctor of radiology by degree and a whiskey-phile by DNA, attended one of Via’s classes at the American Distiller’s Institute in California. Not long after his first class, Nolt knew that Via was just the man he needed to help launch his new company. By the time he and Nolt met, Via was wellknown for producing the first American grape-based vodka, which has won global appeal. Nolt said in a company release that finding Via was “like getting the top 20 players in the NFL to sign at once…it may have been easier to get Limbaugh and Obama to become roommates.”
Via started out as a consultant, with roots still in California, but the water called him here. “I think Bryan just wanted me off his couch,” he says, but the water conditions were too perfect. Water accounts for more than half the volume of any spirit. The snowmelt water has the perfect pH balance and blend of trace minerals, which not only tastes superior to other regions in the country but also requires less costly filtering and energy usage, he explains.
The company credits the fine water and Via’s small-batch stilling techniques for the smooth, mineral flavors of their first product launches, Bourbon Whiskey and Vodka. The Bourbon is made with more rye than most other brands and the vodka is naturally sweet, with hints of floral and citrus. The countdown is on for a Breckenridge Single Malt Whiskey, which is about two years away from a release date.
The spirits sector appeals to Via because he has the freedom to craft new flavors. “Winemaking is reacting to what you get. Nothing is reproducible,”he says. “I’m a lab rat, a control freak. Science-geeks like to reproduce the same thing again and again.” Via is ready to launch a new bitters that he says will create an off-theradar cocktail. When this editor met Via, he served a dram of Zeitgeist, a private concoction of lavender, sage, rosemary, mint and ginger. Via plans to use other locally sourced herbs for future creations. Nolt and Via welcome visitors to their tasting room, at 137 Main Street, Breckenridge. breckenridgedistillery.com
Prost! Denver’s 42nd Annual Oktoberfest
Last year, USA Today crowned Denver’s Oktoberfest as one of the best in the nation. Even if there isn’t a smidge of German in your family tree, this primer will help you fit in as comfortably as a pair of lederhosen in Munich.
When: September 16-18 & 23-25
Where: 20th and Larimer
Info: oktoberfestdenver.com
Events to Remember:
Stein Hoisting: No need for a personal trainer, your favorite bartender is happy to help you get in shape for the Stein Hoisting competition. Pre-qualifying September 16, finals September 24.
Das Husslehoff 5K Run: Burnoff some of those extra beer calories in the Husslehoff 5K Run, September 17. Lederhosen and dirndl costumes are willkommen.
Long Dog Derby and Costume Contest: Hot Dog! September 25, from Little Links (puppies) to Senior Schnitzels (10 yrs plus), Denver’s Long Dog Derby will determine the city’s fastest dachshund. Don’t have a dachshund? Keine angst, the costume contest is open to all breeds. Registration, 10 a.m., race starts at noon.
Colorado Craft Beer, the American Dream
In a recently released documentary, Colorado was named the “Napa of Beer.” The movie Beer Culture, is a feature length documentary about the Colorado craft beer industry as a heady, foamy driving force in the economic growth of America. The film features Colorado breweries like Left Hand Brewing Co. and Oskar Blues in Longmont, Upslope in Boulder and Wynkoop in Denver.
It’s the story of how Colorado’s liquor laws were adopted to keep the mob out of liquor sales, but now the liquor laws keep big business out of the small, independent liquor retail market, which helps hold the state up in a sagging economy. “Craft beer is the perfect metaphor for the American Dream,” said Governor John Hickenlooper in the movie. The movie is written and directed by Denver’s Thomas Kolicko. Buy copies at: companybe.com/beerculture/
Spice up tailgating and game night with beer and brats
It’s pigskin party time and beers and brats are the fare of choice. Colorado is brimming with new beers choices from clean dry lagers to dark bitter porters. Rather than pair Colorado’s finest beers with just any old hot dog or grilled sausage, Denver Life Magazine hosted a beer and brat pairing party.
In beer and food pairing, the experts rely on the three Cs – the cut, the contrast and the complement. The cut is about offsetting the foods dominant flavors with the right beer choice. For instance, high-fat meat pairs well with a lighter pilsner. The contrast is about distinct flavors such as grilled steak and Indian Pale Ale are contrasting flavors. Lastly, complementary is just what it sounds like. A dark porter complements a chocolate dessert or a coffee-rubbed pork dish.
For your next beer and brat get together, think these 3-Cs and let your guests tap into their own culinary creative passions. Denver Life Magazine hosted a team of experienced college tailgaters, who came up with these not so common, but oh-so-good beer and brat pairings.
Upstream Salmon Brats
Our tasters loved these salmon brats, not only for their flavor, but also for their healthier attributes. Look for salmon sausages at Denver area Whole Foods market.
Salmon Sausage, topped with feta cheese, red peppers, micro-leaf lettuces, capers and chives.
Colorado Beer Pairing: Boulder Beer, Sweaty Betty Blonde Wheat. This cloudy and cool summer brew with banana and clove swims nicely with salmon of any type.
Bollywood Brats
This was the winner among all the tasters. Hot Indian flavors put a global spin on a traditional American favorite.
Beer bratwurst, with thinly sliced cucumber and a slurry of one part Major Grey’s chutney, two parts ketchup and a hefty pinch of curry powder.
Colorado Beer Pairing: Lefthand Polster Pilsner. Pilsners complement curry and help put out the fire from the spices.
Autumn Apple Chicken Brats
It seems that every Colorado grocery has a new brand of chicken sausages. We opted for a variety with apple and chicken.
Chicken sausage topped with sautéed apple, mushrooms, peppers, onions and thyme.
Colorado Beer Pairing: Great Divide, Claymore Scotch Ale. This wee bit rich ale brings out the meaty flavors in the mushrooms, chicken and roasted apples.
Italian Vegetarian Brats
Vegetarians will have more than coleslaw to eat with this Mediterranean brat.
Vegetarian sausage, with finely diced tomato, bits of fresh basil, shaved Parmesan and a splash of balsamic vinegar.
Colorado Beer Pairing: Breckenridge Avalanche Ale. With just a kiss of hops, amber ales go well with tomatoes, so think of this beer for spaghetti dinners and pizzas, as well as Italian vegetarian brats.
Chicago Dog, Colorado Style
Chi-town lovers will swoon over this trendy take on a traditional sausage.
Pork bratwurst, topped with mustard, pappadew peppers, diced dill pickle and celery seed.
Colorado Beer Pairing: Avery India Pale Ale. Avery’s IPA is like a favorite football jersey, it goes with just about any food on game day, but for this brat, it’s caramel and spice is a good match for the pickled toppings.
Denver Life Magazine Bratwurst and Beer Testers: Amanda Andersen, ReZa Berahmand, Katie Reilly, Kyle Stewart, Ian Stewart
