Steamworks’ March Firkin Friday to be moved to St. Patrick’s Day
Special firkin tapping of the “Irish Car Bomb” scheduled for Thursday, Mar. 17
DURANGO, Colo. – To coincide with St. Patrick’s Day, Steamworks Brewing Co. will hold its monthly Firkin Friday on a special day, Thursday, Mar. 17, 2011, introducing the “Irish Car Bomb.” The “firkin” cask will be tapped at 3 p.m.
“The Irish Car Bomb is at its core a stout – a good Irish brew,” said Spencer Roper, Steamworks assistant brewer, noting the beer’s name is more for the brew’s effect, and not intended as a political statement. “Its second fermentation is with Irish Cream and Jameson whiskey flavors. Smooth, but it could hit you hard, and you probably won’t feel it coming.”
A firkin is an old English unit of volume, typically a wooden cask equal to approximately one-quarter of a regular barrel, or nine gallons. Steamworks initiated its Firkin Fridays in Nov. 2010 to introduce specialty craft beers not suited to large draft production. Previous firkins have included Chocolate Belgian Dubbel, Cherry Vanilla Stout and Holiday Spice.
According to Steamworks Head Brewer Ken Martin, “Unlike most draft beers, firkin beer is unpasteurized, unfiltered and naturally carbonated, or conditioned, it its cask. The yeast transforms the sugar into alcohol within the cask, and carbonation results from the trapped carbon dioxide occurring as a byproduct.”
The Irish Car Bomb will be gravity-poured and served at approximately 55 degrees – cool, but not cold. Because it contains no preservatives, a firkin beer is designed to be consumed after tapping – which, given the firkin will be tapped on St. Patrick’s Day, it likely will go quickly.
Firkin Fridays is traditionally held the first Friday of the month, and the regular schedule will return on Friday, April 1, as Steamworks will welcome spring with a “floral” infusion firkin – details to come.
The award-winning Steamworks Brewing Co., open 11 a.m. to closing seven days a week, is located at 801 E. Second. Ave., Durango (970.259.9200). For further information, visit www.steamworksbrewing.com.
