Tommyknocker Brewery gets its name from the tommyknocker, a mythical elf-like creature who was said to live in the cracks of gold and silver mines. Some miners said they could hear the tommyknockers singing and working deep in the dark mine shafts and cracks within the walls. Two legends of the tommyknocker were brought to the U.S. by immigrants from Cornwall, England. One kind was mischievous, dumping out the miners’ lunches, blowing out their candles, and hiding their picks and axes on them. The other kind was friendly, said to knock on the mine walls to show where the richest deposits of gold could be found. Your favorite Beer of the Month Club believes in the GOOD tommyknockers, because they bring you truly great beers!
Originally established in 1859 to meet the needs of the many prospectors and miners of the Gold Rush era, the current Tommyknocker Brewery is well-known for its beer, flavored water and root beer, with beer and root beer being their highest selling products.
They distribute their products across the U.S. and into Canada, and are proud of the distinctive ingredients they use, such as mountain cherry, mountain maple and valerian root, to name a few. For more than 22 years, Tommyknocker has brought award-winning craft beer and food to the Idaho Springs area, with flavors ranging from the traditional ales and lagers to German Bocks, a Cocoa/Honey Winter Blend and their famous Pumpkin Harvest Ales.
A delicate amount of maple syrup is added to each barrel of award-winning Tommyknocker Maple Nut Brown Ale to impart a roasted sweetness. This addition balances the nut flavor produced by Munich, caramel and chocolate malts used in the brewhouse. It’s an easy-drinking brown ale with a relatively low alcohol content.
Jack Whacker Wheat is an American-style wheat, low-hopped to allow the refreshing aroma and citrus flavor of a late addition of lemon grass to dominate. Unfiltered, it retains all of its protein, flavor and some of its yeast, resulting in a traditionally cloudy appearance.
Featured Beer from Tommyknocker Brewery:
Maple Nut Brown Ale & Jack Whacker Wheat www.tommyknocker.com
MAPLE NUT BROWN ALE —Tommyknocker’s Maple Nut Brown Ale: All ales are top fermented, expressive and complex in flavor, usually with a fruitiness not found in lagers. This brew’s beautifully balanced with maple syrup for a roasted sweetness. Tommyknocker’s Maple Nut Brown Ale is perfect served as an aperitif, or with lamb chops or salmon.
WHEAT BEER — Tommyknocker’s Jack Whacker Wheat — Another top fermented ale, German wheat beer is on its way back, with variations of recipes that are more than 6,000 years old! Enjoy the lemon grass, paired with Artesian cheeses, cold cuts or ham.
