Bootstrap Brewing wins GABF Gold

Niwot-born Bootstrap Brewing has once again medaled at this year's Great American Beer Festival awards. The brewery received a gold medal for Stick's Pale Ale, a win which placed it among 20 other GABF gold, silver, and bronze medal winners in Colorado.

Although the festival portion of this year's event was canceled due to pandemic-related concerns, the awards portion of the ceremony proceeded in person. Brewers, many of whom were already in town for the Craft Brewers Conference, carefully gathered for a live event at the Colorado Convention Center. For Bootstrap Brewing, that meant being able to enjoy the full experience of winning their gold medal.

Surprisingly, that full experience meant head brewer Mike Kasian nearly missed the big moment.

Bootstrap Brewing co-owner Leslie Kazceus described how the moment proceeded. "I looked over and wanted to see where Mike was. I said to myself, 'I can't believe he's missing this.' Then, just as we were lined up to take the picture, he came scrambling down the aisle and just slid into place like a cat. We were all laughing."

Fellow area brewery owner Robin Wibby, the wife of brewer Ryan Wibby whose parents live in Gunbarrel, found him in the hallway and let him know he needed to find his way to the main stage -- fast. "She was just screaming 'Mike, you just won an award' " Kazceus said.

It seems the drama around winning the medal didn't dampen Bootstrap's delight at winning. This is particularly true in a category with a straightforward, frequently brewed and beloved style that's not known for adjuncts or strong flavors.

Said Kazceus, "This is our second gold medal for having the best American Pale Ale in the country. This is a tough category, there were more than 150 competitors, and it's not easy to compete in it. We're so honored to have won."

This isn't the only award for Stick's Pale Ale. The brewer's website lists 13 other awards for the beer, including a pair of 2016 Goal medals at GABF and the U.S. Open Beer Competition.

Bootstrap is following its win in what is perhaps the best way for a brewery, by releasing more beer. This week they are packaging a new six-pack approach that they're calling The New Adventure Series. Available starting this week, the six pack will rotate through varying styles that have been previously available only through Bootstrap's taproom. Some of them are brand new releases. The first six-pack will include an ESB-style amber, while the brewery is considering a cherry gose, foreign style stout, and hazy IPA for future releases.

Bootstrap Brewing Company is located at 142 Pratt Street in Longmont, after moving from 6776 N. 79th Street in Niwot. Bootstrap beer is the featured beer at Niwot's Rock & Rails Summer Concert Series.