Funk Werks (Fort Collins, CO)

Though it had been fun wheeling and dealing in Denver, it was good to be back on the road.  That open expanse of unseen country, unfolding before you.   New sights, people, and beers, just waiting to be introduced.  Ft. Collins was also a much anticipated destination, for the obvious reason of being home to two of the largest micro breweries in the Western United States: New Belgium and Odells.  But aside from these two giants of industry, there are nine breweries in Ft. Collins, and seemingly more popping up every year.

Ft. Collins is also a city of vision, of the future.  Bike libraries can be found throughout the city, allowing for people who register with the city to check a bike out, cruise it, and return it to where ever you find another bike library.  Magic art pianos have been installed around downtown in order to coddle any homeless prodigies out of obscuria.  Did I mention the nine breweries too?  Clearly any city with that much craft beer has got its ducks lined up pretty well.

For our first evening, we’d planned to tackle three breweries, Funkwerks, Equinox, and Coppersmith.  Funkwerks is one of Ft. Collins’ new kids on the block, having been around for a few years.  They also specialize in saison style of beers, French/Belgium farmhouse style of brewing lighter beer and then letting them ferment and mature through the winter in order to have beer reserves for farm workers during the summer.  The taste of saison (or session) beers typically tends towards lighter, less hoppy beer, but full of wonderful taste created by the malt and yeast. 

Chardonnay blonde:  Conditioned and aged in chardonnay wine barrels, this is quite possibly one of the best blondes we’ve ever had.  Crisp and sweet, this beer certainly carries the taste of the chardonnay with it to the finish. 

Keylime Saison:  Yep, infused with key lime zest.  Who’d of thunk it?  Well, these guys did, I guess.  Not bad, but you’re probably well aware of my opinion of fruit and beer fusions.  It’s like reading a band flyer that says jazz/funk/rock/dubstep fusion on it:  you’re really not sure what you’re going to get, and it’ll probably suck anyway.  This beer is so pale it’s almost crystal clear, but is able to satisfy in the end.

Hibiscus Resistance:  Brewed with hibiscus flowers, it would be tempting to mock this beer by not calling it floral, but what can I say here that’s not going to be a pun?  Another quality beer, rich in color and flavor, just like the flower.

Rating:  20 out of 25 late night back ally Mexican wrestling matches.