Fresh off the big news that Colorado dominated the Great American Beer Festival—local beers won 45 medals during the festivities—I’m even more excited than usual to try new Colorado brews.

Thankfully, we can keep that momentum alive this Friday at Avery Brewing, when the brand-new duganA IPA is released. As Avery fans know, the brewery doesn’t necessarily need to add another hoppy beer to its lineup. But the brewers wanted to create a beer that falls somewhere between the Avery IPA (one of my favorite crisp IPAs) and the Maharaja Imperial IPA (a potent, hoppy seasonal available from March through August).

Weighing in at 8.5 percent ABV, brewers describe duganA’s flavors as “brutally bitter, dank, piney, and resinous.” Which, frankly, don’t sound like the most flattering adjectives, but if we think about the goal—to create a more drinkable Maharaja, as well as to create a beer that works among fall seasonals—something with a darker hop quality might just be the perfect choice.

Check it out for yourself Friday from 4-7 p.m. at the Avery tasting room during the duganA release party. The cost is $15, which gets you three pours of duganA or your choice of other Avery pours, as well as light snacks. And if you can’t make it, the beers will be available soon in 22-ounce bottles.

5763 Arapahoe Ave. #E, Boulder, 303-440-4324