Steamworks to Tap Special ‘S’more Firkin’ in February

26 Jan 2015 --- Childhood memories in an adult beverage: Steamworks Brewing Co. will serve up a special “S’more Firkin” for its January-February offering at the brewpub and Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort (DMR).

The S’more Firkin will be tapped on the mountain at Purgy’s, Friday, Jan. 30, 2015, at 3 p.m., and at Steamworks Brewing Co., downtown Durango, on Friday, Feb. 6, 2015, also at 3 p.m.

“To refresh everyone’s memory, s’mores are the tasty treats prepared for dessert around the campfire, including roasted marshmallows and chocolate between two graham crackers,” said Steamworks Brew Master and Certified Cicerone Ken Martin. “I think this firkin will turn out as very delicious and drinkable.”

Honoring Steamworks’ partnership with DMR, the S’more Firkin has a base of Steamworks’ award-winning Backside Stout, named for DMR’s ski runs on the backside of the mountain. In addition to its robust 6.4 ABV (alcohol by volume), the stout adds a strong chocolate quality to the firkin brew.

“For the graham cracker component I used milk sugar, pure vanilla extract, cinnamon, honey and molasses,” said Martin. “Then added a little cocoa powder for some additional chocolate character, plus a large quantity of marshmallow crème.”

By definition, a firkin is an old English unit of volume, typically a wooden cask equal to approximately one-quarter of a regular barrel, or nine/ten gallons. The word “firkin” is derived from the Middle Dutch word vierdekijn, which means “fourth” as in one-fourth the size.

“In the United Kingdom cask-conditioned beer, which we call a firkin, is known as ‘real ale,’” explained Steamworks Brewer and Certified Cicerone Spencer Roper. “Cask conditioned ale is considered by many to be the genuine article: real beer for real people who appreciate quality, character and distinction.”

With the cask conditioning, the yeast transforms the sugar into alcohol within the cask, and the natural carbonation results from the trapped carbon dioxide occurring as a byproduct. The beer’s flavors and characters develop within the cask. Firkin beer is unpasteurized and unfiltered and served at cellar temperature – cool but not cold.

Steamworks initiated its Firkin Fridays to introduce unusual, specialty craft beers to patrons, and augment its regular, award-winning offerings. It added the second Firkin Friday event at DMR in December 2014 to further the effort during ski season.

Steamworks, open 11 a.m. to closing seven days a week, is located at 801 E. Second. Ave., Durango.