In dog years, 19 years is like forever. Same with craft beer. Back in 1993, when Avery Brewing Co. first started its operations, there were barely 500 craft breweries in the U.S. Nineteen years later, there are nearly 2000 — a number which is growing at an exponential rate.

For those unfamiliar, Avery Brewing Co. is a family owned and operated microbrewery, located in Boulder, CO known for producing awesome and eccentric ales and lagers that defy styles or categories. I must admit that Avery’s beers were a big part of my early introduction to craft beer. Right around the time I became a hophead, I was constantly searching for bigger, bolder and hoppier beers. I immediately fell in love with Avery’s Maharaja and then, when I stumbled upon HogHeaven, it was love at first sight. HogHeaven was my first Barleywine experience, true story. And it was the very beer that made Avery take off.

“HogHeaven was born in 1998. That beer more completely turned our mindset around. It got attention from distributors and other brewers. I remember this ‘snot-nosed Solano Beach kid’ kept calling (Tomme Arthur). He wanted HogHeaven for his Strong Ale Fest. He kept saying “I need to get it.” But we had no distribution there. So someone picked up a keg and brought it out. Another guy, at the Strong Ale Fest the next year, drank it (Greg Koch). He had his own distribution network and wanted to distribute it. When I told Greg HogHeaven is a 100% Columbus hopped beer, Greg said it couldn’t be it because he didn’t like 100% Columbus-hopped beers. I told him that it was and I knew it because I brewed it start to finish and dry-hopped it myself.” — Adam Avery, Interview with the Beer Wench

Since then, Avery has turned out some amazing barrel-aged beers, sours and collaborations — many of which are aging in my cellar at this very moment. They were one of the first craft breweries that I fell in love with, and I still love them today!

On August 5th 2012, Avery is celebrating its 19th Anniversary. The tickets for the Avery Brewing Co. 19th Anniversary Party will go on sale at 9am mountain people time (whatever that means) on Friday, July 13th.For those of your lucky enough to live in aor around Boulder, I highly recommend attending, since it is guaranteed to be a good time. Details below!

Date: Sunday, August 5th
Time: 12pm – 5pm
Where: Avery Brewing Company
Cost: General Admission = $30 ($35 at door) Includes:

• Five 12oz Avery Brews
• All-You-Can-Eat Big Ol’ BBQ Spread
• Live Music

VIP ticket = $50 ($55 at door) includes all of the above + 5 Rare Pours from the cellar

100% of profits will be donated to Colorado Wildfire Relief. Tickets can be purchased HERE.