Beyond the Brews
Beyond the brews
Odell Brewing Company’s Wellness Committee extends efforts to promote healthy living through hikes, fun runs and on-site activities
Sometimes, there aren’t enough hours in the day to enjoy all of the activities Colorado has to offer. Lucky for us, we work in a place that serves some of the best craft brews in our state, so it is easy to check that off our list. But when we decide to venture outside of the brewery we rely on the Odell Brewing Company Wellness Committee to lead us in the right direction. And yes, that direction typically still involves a beer.
Since its beginning in 2013, the Wellness Committee has been striving to promote positive living through exercise, healthy eating and overall work-life balance. Committee chair Eli Kolodny said that his interest in the program stemmed from his own personal commitment to health. “I’m a firm believer that your mind follows your body, and the other way around,” he said. “Even if your mind is in peak condition, if you’re not exercising your body there is a break in the chain.”
Kolodny, along with brewery co-founder Corkie Odell and tap room associate Katie Guiffre, plans quarterly “active meet-ups” (that is, local hikes or other excursions) and events like CPR/First Aid training and quarterly fresh produce offerings. He sees the different activities as extensions of the brewery’s message. “It’s important that quality extends beyond the beer we put in the bottle,” he said. “It’s a quality of life for our coworkers.”
This summer, the committee is planning a handful of fourteener hikes for employees to participate in. A small group from the brewery completed Mt. Bierstadt in June, and Guiffre is hoping that others will join in for the next summit. “[We are] getting people who are already doing it into it a little more, and then that rolls over and encourages others to do it as well,” she said.
And though the local employees reap the benefits of each meet-up, Odell Brewing Company also reaches out to those employees who live outside of Fort Collins. “Our out-of-state co-workers can submit requests for larger reimbursements [for fresh fruits and vegetables] so they can benefit from the fresh produce that we get,” Kolodny explained. “We aren’t going to ship them an orange, but if they want to go buy fresh fruit, we will pay for it.”
While working for a craft brewery is awesome in itself, the Wellness Committee has enjoyed boosting the level of health, fun and fitness among its employees, and hopes to continue planning events to encourage healthy living. “It’s a way to keep people engaged outside of what they’re doing [at the brewery],” Guiffre said. “It’s just something else to look forward to.”
Beer reigns
Though the Wellness Committee is all about health, Odell Brewing is still all about beer. That’s why we asked Katie Guiffre to pair Odell brews with some of her favorite summer activities.
What would you drink after…
Participating in a yoga retreat?
A: Friek
Stand up paddleboarding?
A: Loose Leaf
Reaching the peak of a fourteener?
A: St. Lupulin
Riding a bicycle?
A: 5 Barrel or Levity
Whitewater rafting?
A: IPA
Guest Brewer: Daniel Imdieke of Old Chicago
More than 30 years ago, Old Chicago opened its first location in Boulder, Colo. with a simple goal in mind: serve handmade pizza and craft beer to each of its guests. Today, they’re focus has broadened to include more locally-brewed beer than ever before.
Enter Daniel Imdieke, Old Chicago’s new manager of beer operations. Imdieke has spearheaded the effort to include Colorado craft breweries in special tappings and events at each of Old Chicago’s two dozen Colorado locations. And as an avid craft beer lover, Imdieke wanted in on the brewing process. “I’ve been working with it a long time, and I’ve gotten to see how many flavors and styles are out there,” he said. “It’s kind of like this endlessly interesting pursuit, where there are so many flavors and variations and styles and variations of styles; it’s a never-ending exploration.”
Thus, the Old Chicago Explorer Series was born, and Odell Brewing Company was invited to brew a beer for one of the first installments. Imdieke teamed up with brewer Tony Rau to create a Gose – a sour and salty wheat beer originating from Goslar, Germany. “We want to be at the forefront of bringing in new, exciting, exclusive, and fun beers,” Imdieke said of the choice to brew a Gose. “That’s why we’re trying to do this Explorer Series – to get people to try new things.”
Imdieke and Rau spent two days on the pilot system to test the Gose before brewing it on the larger system for Old Chicago. Imdieke is looking forward to using his first brewing experience to teach Old Chicago patrons about craft beer. “We’re going to educate the consumer as they come in with what’s in their glass and why are we pouring these specific beers,” he explained. “It’s really just about having fun and having a place that’s known for craft beer.”
Comes & Gose will be available in all Colorado Old Chicago locations from Aug. 25 through Sept. 13.
S’mores Dip + Cutthroat Porter
They’re ooey, gooey, and have become a staple at any campsite: s’mores. That’s great news for summer weekend treks to the mountains, but we’re often left yearning for the dessert sandwiches after a typical weekday meal as well.
That’s why, in celebration of National S’mores Day Aug. 10, we decided to share this s’mores dip recipe from Elaine at Hungry Brownie. Pair it with our Cutthroat Porter and you’ll feel like you’re fireside at the greatest campsite in Colorado.
Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 8 large marshmallows; cut in half
- Graham crackers for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
- In a small cast iron skillet, put chocolate chips in an even layer.
- Arrange the marshmallows on top of the chocolate.
- Bake in the oven for 6-8 minutes, until marshmallows are lightly browned.
- Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes.
- Serve with graham crackers for dipping.
– Serves 4-6 in a large cast iron skillet
*Recipe and skillet photo courtesy of Hungry Brownie
