Gov. John Hickenlooper, long a craft-beer industry backer, has a new draft beer system at the Governor’s Mansion in Denver.

Durango’s own Steamworks Brewing Co. has one of the three beers on tap, Colorado Kolsch. The other beers are made by Oskar Blues Brewery in Lyons and Wynkoop Brewing Co. in Denver.

Hickenlooper founded Wynkoop, one of Colorado’s first brewpubs.

“The Governor’s Mansion is symbol of our state – it’s where we entertain, and it’s where we can show off Colorado,” Hickenlooper said in a news release. “That makes the mansion a perfect place to showcase craft beer from all across the state.”

The taps were donated by the Colorado Craft Brewers Guild, and their unveiling kicks off Craft Beer Week.

“It’s an honor, especially having a governor like ours that’s so supportive and basically a pioneer of the craft-beer industry,” said Kris Oyler, co-founder of Steamworks.

Herald Staff