Telluride Brewing Company’s Russell Kelly Pale Ale can release
(Denver, Co) – Telluride Brewing Company is pleased to announce the can release of Russell Kelly Pale Ale, which was inspired by local Telluride skier, world-class kayaker, and friend to Chris Fish, founder of Telluride Brewing Company, a small-batch craft beer producer in Telluride, Colorado. Kelly passed away in an automobile accident in 2004,just six days shy of his 30th birthday. Russell Kelly Pale Ale will increase the number of canned beer varietals Telluride Brewing Company produces to six, while paying homage to Fish’s adventure-loving friend.
“Russell embodied all that makes Telluride unique and special—he was an adventurous soul,a world-class skier and a music fanatic,” said Telluride Brewing Company founder, Chris Fish.“Coping with Russell’s death has been one of the hardest things in my life, which is why I wanted to create a beer that captured his spirit. Russell Kelly Pale Ale is a tribute to a great friend who left a lasting impression on me.”
The flavor profile for Russell Kelly Pale Ale (RKPA) was inspired by Kelly’s favorite beer, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, but with a higher ABV percentage and hop profile added to match Kelly’s vivacious personality and his passion for Class V Whitewater. Kelly was one of the top expedition kayakers in the world who successfully accomplished many first descents of some of the world’s most challenging rivers.
Known for its earthy, floral and fruity notes including blueberry, tangerine and hint of grassiness, Mosaic is the prominent hop showcased in the ale. A gentle current malt bill,German rye and American wheat add depth to the brew, while Chinook hops, primarily used for bittering the beer, round out the flavor profile, adding aroma notes of grapefruit and Pine.
Head brew-master, Chris Fish, maintains that the production secret to Russell Kelly Pale Ale,is cranking the dial to maximum volume while listening to Jerry and Co. throughout the entire production process, as Kelly was a dire Grateful Dead fanatic, and had attended more than
100 shows.
In total, the production time for Russell Kelly Pale Ale takes approximately two weeks. For seven days, RKPA is held at fermentation temperature. Then, for three days, one pound ofMosaic Hops are steeped in the beer between fermentation and packaging- a process called dry hopping. In total, there are three pounds of Mosaic hops per bbl in each batch of RKPA. After the primary fermentation and filtering, the beer is then steeped for four more days in a brite tank for conditioning/maturation, before heading to packaging where it is kegged and canned.
“We are thrilled to be adding the addition of the Russell Kelly Pale Ale to our package lineup,as it has been the most requested draft beer to be canned over the last few years,” saidTelluride Brewing Company co-founder, Tommy Thacher. “It already has a dedicated followingand we are excited that Russell Kelly Pale Ale will become more accessible in the marketplace.”
The can release party for Russell Kelly Pale Ale will take place in two locations on Friday, May5, 2017: Telluride Brewing Company, located 156 Society Drive, Telluride, CO at 4pm on and at Freshcraft, located at 1530 Blake Street, Denver, CO at 5pm.
“Over the years, we brought many kegs of Russell Kelly Pale Ale on the river and celebrated many a powder day with pints too,” said Fish. “Finally, after brewing only draft beer for overthirteen years, we are now introducing it in cans. Of course, Russell’s true essence can never be packaged, but at least now we can take his memory with us on our many adventures.”
Telluride Brewing Company founders Chris Fish and Tommy Thacher continue questing to make an ever more perfect beer for all to savor.
Telluride Brewing Company crafts gold-medal beer in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in Telluride,CO. Brewed with premium malts and worthy hops, the beers it produces are distinct yet classic. In just six years, the brewery has grown from a local favorite to a state-wide sensation, serving up its beers in kegs and cans throughout Colorado. Telluride Brewing Company has earned accolades for its Whacked Out Wheat at the World Beer Cup(2015) and Great American Beer Festival(2015) and for its Face Down Brown at the World Beer Cup(2012) and the Great American Beer Festival(2012&2014,2015). Telluride Brewing Company cans its Face Down Brown, Tempter IPA, Fishwater Double IPA, Whacked Out Wheat, Bridal Veil Rye Pale Ale and Russell Kelly Pale Ale.
telluridebrewingco.com – @TellurideBrew – facebook
August 26, 2020 @ 6:14 pm
You’re awesome Adam. Big thanks to you for sharing such a great story with a great friend. It warmed my heart. Thanks to Telluride and Chris Fish for a nice beer. Wishing everyone the best. Much love.
Josh
May 5, 2017 @ 7:00 am
Chris I don’t know if my last comment went through probably because it was 3 pages long
May 5, 2017 @ 6:56 am
Wow so amazing. Russ & I were the best of friends. I would fly out from Darien,C.T. to stay with Russ for weeks at a time. We volunteered helping build the local skate park & when it was done one of the local carpenter’s & now this guy was if I remember right probably 6′-5″ ran home & came right back and chrissined the half pipe that I think we put 4′ of vert on it and put on his 1970’s old school black leather roller skates still wearing his rainbow suspenders and tore it up I mean the guy had skills. Russ was living in his tent up in Bear Creek and working nights at the Senate restaurant which was enough to get him by just as long as he could cover his season pass and eat thats all Russ cared about the ability to ski 6 0f 12 and then kayak 6 of 12. The first time I was visiting Russell out in Telluride we decided to go on a 3 day treck & free climb with no tent just a tarp incase(actually I think it was a choice of bring the tent or bring his bong and of course we left the tent but it was one of my most amazing 3 days. We climbed Wasatch peak & then Ballard a couple times on the last stretch of both was just enough to get a hand hold free climbing the pure vertical shutes that Russ made look so easy. He just climbed staight on up like it was nothing but me I did fine untl I stopped half way up and did what he said no matter what not to do, look down but I did and it was a little terrifying for @ sec but then he said it’s either we turn back it being the only way or buck up and just go for it which I did. The next part was great we both had a slick Patagonia shell on which w tied underneath us & dropped off the otherside of Ballard peak and we slid all the way to tree line where we knew we had to make it to so we could have wood for a campfire to stay warm, cook the little bit of spaghetti we brought for dinner and then luck would have it for a father and son that were hiking & got off the trail then lost & kept getting peaked out running into dead end after dead end rising in elavation all the way up to the treeline level which is way up there where they spotted our campfire. We fed them giving up most of our food and water rashions but hey the dad was in spandex leggings with a matching windbreaker and the son in blue jeans, sneakers & a grey Russell athletic (no B.S.) grey pull over hoodie. If not for us they likely wouldn’t of made it back to there family alive. We had made sure they had enough wood to keep the fire going all night and we drew them a map and walked them down where they could not mistake the decent to Bridal Vail falls. Even tho we sacrificed not just food but had barely made it down Bridal Vail falls to town with little to no water left but wow what an experience and when we woke up with showing them and equipping them with a map they had left at daybreak but not without leaving a thank you note and it also said I wish I had more on me but here is a 20 dollar bill to at least replace the food and water you 2 gentleman were so kind to sacrifice. Of course we hit town and went straight to Baked in Telluride this little deli that had the most kick ass deli sandwiches. I always loved my time I got to spend with a dear friend in such a badass little town. The 2 things I always remembered were that I never saw a gas station in Telluride which I guess would suck if u had a car struck me as really cool & I remember talking to rasta Stevie who I think was on the town Council which was cool to see a town with a white boy with dread locks serving Telluride trying to make a difference and being given a chance regardless off his whole look. I doo hope someone does get a chance to enjoy talking about a few of my experiences with one of my best friends and Love you guys for naming a beer after Russell. A lot of people gave him crap for being able to go to ski school/High School in Steamboat and what had happened to Chris And then Alex which I was friends with through being friends with Russ. My name is Adam L. Cassidy & I graduated from Darien high school and again have know clue how this came together and how I stumbled across it but who ever is responsible thank you from the bottom of my heart. You’re awsome!!!!!!
If there is anything I can do to help or if anything you can send me any info about this or need a couple killer pics of Russ standing on the top of many different peaks overlooking the Telluride Basin with the biggest smile feel free to call or email me(Adam L. Cassidy 253-255-0927 in Gig Harbor/Seattle area – [email protected] – 6876 Windlass ln. Gig Harbor, Washington 98335