Wilford, Wit’s End Brewing Company, Denver

Style: Belgian Oatmeal IPA

ABV: 7 percent

Serving Type: Draft

Malty? Hoppy? Medium bitterness and smooth caramel malts

Reviewed: April 2013

We dug Wit’s End Brewing from the moment we walked through the door for the first time. Indeed, the joint—which is tucked into a warehouse building west of I-25 and south of Highway 6—is easy to like: Head brewer Scott Witsoe greeted us with a smile and a handshake, and the tap list was packed with exciting brews loosely based around traditional beer styles—a Black IPA, a smoked rye ale, and a beer Witsoe calls Wilford, which he describes as a Belgian Oatmeal IPA.

Admittedly, we don’t get to the brewery as often as we should, which is why we’ve been excited to see Wit’s End brews showing in bars around the Mile High City. Recently, we stumbled upon a pint at Lucky Pie in Lodo, which boasts an impressive tap list. Sure, a Belgian Oatmeal IPA may sound unnecessarily complex, but Witsoe deftly balances the ingredients in this beer: clove and citrus flavors from the Belgian yeast, a medium bitterness from the hops, and a silky smooth character thanks to the oats. This beer is a must-try for any Colorado craft beer drinker.

Would we buy it again? We’re on the lookout for this brew on draft.