Ken Martin, left, master brewer for Steamworks Brewing Co., Joe Hull, head brewer with Ska Brewing Co., and Susan Aldrich, with Steamworks, go over the brewing process on Monday for their collaboration beer, the Face Plant Orange Blossom Lager, to be released in conjunction with the 50th Iron Horse Bicycle Classic in May. Steamworks and Ska Brewing have joined forces to create a this year’s Face Plant beer. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)

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Ken Martin, left, master brewer for Steamworks Brewing Co., Joe Hull, head brewer with Ska Brewing Co., and Susan Aldrich, with Steamworks, go over the brewing process on Monday for their collaboration beer, the Face Plant Orange Blossom Lager, to be released in conjunction with the 50th Iron Horse Bicycle Classic in May. Steamworks and Ska Brewing have joined forces to create a this year’s Face Plant beer. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)

Steamworks Brewing and Ska Brewing Cos. have joined forces to create a new brew for the 50th anniversary of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic in May.

“From a brewing perspective, this is one of our collaborations we look forward to – being able to hangout with the Steamworks crew,” said Kristen Muraro, sales and marketing director for Ska Brewing.

The annual collaboration is known as the Face Plant. Each year the Face Plant is a different style of beer. This year it is a lager brewed with Mandarina Bavaria hops, Mandarin orange electrolytes and orange blossom honey. The electrolytes come from Tailwind Nutrition, a Durango business.

“We have a sort of captive audience with all the high-end athletes that will be there that’ll try the beer, so we figure we might as well give them a little benefit with the electrolytes,” said Steamworks head brewer Ken Martin.

Brew days for the Face Plant are fun work days between brewers at Steamworks and Ska. Brewers from the two breweries work together and share tips and knowledge that make beer in Durango better all around.

“It’s great to get to hangout with the Steamworks folks and get to nerd out a little bit about beer, and have some fun,” said Ska brewer Trevor Lovato.

Trevor Lovato, a brewer with Ska, works on brewing the Face Plant beer, an annual collaboration beer with Steamworks Brewing Co. for the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic in May. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)

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Trevor Lovato, a brewer with Ska, works on brewing the Face Plant beer, an annual collaboration beer with Steamworks Brewing Co. for the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic in May. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)

“There’s definitely a shared knowledge when we get together, especially when we’re on the brew deck and in each other’s houses,” Martin said.

This is the 25th year that Steamworks and Ska have collaborated on the Face Plant. According to Ska co-owner Dave Thibodeau, the Face Plant is the first ever craft beer collaboration.

Ska started brewing in 1995 and Steamworks started brewing in 1996, and the two have been brewing the Face Plant beer for the Iron Horse since 1997. Ska and Steamworks refer to the brew as the “original joint effort” beer.

Brewers from Ska Brewing and Steamworks Brewing show off the mash for the annual Face Plant beer, which is being done as part of a collaborative effort between the two breweries. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)

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Brewers from Ska Brewing and Steamworks Brewing show off the mash for the annual Face Plant beer, which is being done as part of a collaborative effort between the two breweries. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)

This is the first year the Face Plant beer will be available in cans. Martin said to his recollection, this is the first year that brewing for the Face Plant is taking place at Ska, which is being done to make a larger batch for the can release.

Cans will begin appearing on shelves in Durango starting early May. Labels are being designed by local artist Laurie Cullem.

“The weekend of the Iron Horse we’ll release the draft on tap at Steamworks, here at Ska and at the Iron Horse events,” Muraro said.

njohnson@durangoherald.com

Steamworks Brewing and Ska Brewing Cos. employees make a toast Monday to their annual collaboration beer for the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, the Face Plant, which this year will be an orange blossom lager. (Jerry McBride/ Durango Herald)

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Steamworks Brewing and Ska Brewing Cos. employees make a toast Monday to their annual collaboration beer for the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic, the Face Plant, which this year will be an orange blossom lager. (Jerry McBride/ Durango Herald)