oskar blues brewery

Oskar Blues Brewery started out as a humble restaurant with Dale Katechis handling its operations. Katechis dabbled in homebrewing from time to time, but it was only when he had the idea to turn his restaurant into a brewpub that he started brewing for real. After realising how popular his brews were amongst the Lyon community, Katechis decided to do the unthinkable and can his beers. Back then, the general perception of canned beers was not great, but Katechis saw the potential in cans; their durability will allow craft beers to be involved in active, outdoor lifestyles. With that, Oskar Blues became one of the pioneers of canning craft beer in the United States!

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Oskar Blues Brewery was founded in 1997 by Dale Katechis in Lyons, Colorado. Back then, Katechis dabbled a little in homebrewing, a hobby that quickly became Katechis’ full time job, much thanks to the encouragement of a fellow brewer friend. Katechis and his highschool sweetheart, now wife, Christi had to max out 4 credit cards to open their restaurant.

Oskar Blues - Beer That Works

Katechis named their restaurant Oskar Blues after 2 friends he met on a bike tour, and the humble restaurant thrived in Lyon. Katechis’ initial plan was to serve good food and beer to the local community. However, Katechis had a great idea which was the real game changer; he turned his restaurant into a brewpub. Katechis served his homebrews on tap at Oskar Blues and transformed the basement into the first incarnation of the brewery.

Soon, people were flocking to his brewpub for his delicious concoctions which were also racking up awards. Katechis knew there and then that he had something special, and so he decided to start packaging his beers for sale at retailers. Back then, the general public perception towards cans was that canned beers were light, cheap, and not tasty.

However, Katechis decided to can his microbrews, which prompted a collective gasp - of both scepticism and admiration - in the craft beer industry. Katechis saw the potential of cans; their durability makes them the perfect fit for an active, outdoor lifestyle that includes craft beer.

In 2002, Oskar Blues became the first craft brewery to can its own beer, starting with its flagship beer, Dale's Pale Ale. Since then, the idea of great-tasting canned beers started to take off, and even developed into an aggressive trend where drinkers are also bikers, climbers, hikers, and campers!

Oskar Blues award-winning beers

The Dale’s Pale Ale is Oskar Blues’ most popular brew that is known for its hop-forward character, balanced maltiness, and its citrusy, piney flavours. The tasty American Pale Ale was not only Oskar Blues’ first beer, but it also played a crucial role in establishing the brewery’s reputation.

Since then, Oskar Blues has continued to expand its offerings, introducing other notable beers such as Old Chub Scotch Ale, Ten FIDY Imperial Stout, and Mama's Little Yella Pils.

The Ten FIDY Imperial Stout is an immensely viscous stout that features notes of chocolate-covered caramel and coffee underneath a smooth blanket of malt. Oskar Blues’ Ten FIDY is a reference to the beer's 10.5% ABV but it is also an acronym: "Fuck the Industry, Do it Yourself". The intense beverage is packed full of dark malts as well as fluffy oats that result in a dark, cosmic beer abyss.

Oskar Blues philanthropic efforts and beyond

Oskar Blues may be most known for being the first craft brewery to can its microbrews, but its philanthropic efforts are equally admirable. In 2013, Oskar Blues formed the Can’d Aid Foundation after the devastating flood that ravaged Lyons and Longmont. Since then, the Foundation has raised over $6 million, recycled the equivalent of 72 million cans, and donated over 3.1 million cans of water to communities post-disaster.

Today, Oskar Blues Brewery remains a prominent player in the craft beer industry, known for its innovative approach, commitment to canning craft beer, and philanthropic heart. The brewery continues to produce a wide range of beers, which are distributed to various states across the United States.