Colorado's best wild beers from a blind taste-test

Colorado's most interesting beers are wild.

Be smart: Wild beers are made with a mixture of yeast and bacteria typically found in the wild, writes John, our resident beer geek.

• Most are tart or sour, and the microbes lend an array of flavors, from fruit to barnyard funkiness. All are unique, making it a fun tasting experience.

What to know: Colorado makes some of the best versions in America. In a PorchDrinking.com blind taste test I recently helped judge, we identified three standouts:

• Denver's Crooked Stave blew away the competition with its Spon, a beer spontaneously fermented with native microbes in the air.
• Long Table Brewhouse in Denver makes 5 On It, a beautifully hued and boldly flavored edition.
• Amalgam Brewing's Grand Tapestry showcased a bright peach flavor with a tart effervescence.

Of note: Other breweries that make great wild and spontaneous beer include Casey Brewing in Glenwood Springs, Cellar West in Lafayette and Our Mutual Friend in Denver.