Emily Dickinson once wrote, “A light exists in the spring, not present on the year at any other period, when March is scarcely here.” We couldn’t agree more, because now is the time when spring seasonals from Colorado best breweries arrive to brighten up our days. With most of these beers already in stores we can drink spring now even though snow is still on the ground.

Spring Blonde:
Up in Fort Collins, New Belgium is rolling out a new edition to their seasonal offerings. Spring Blonde, featuring pale and Munich malts, was inspired by the employee-owners’ recent anniversary trip to Belgium. The brew is available in stores now.

Rumble IPA:
Great Divide produces this seasonal brew using Northwest hops and is aged in French and American oak barrels, which gives the beer an interesting blend of bitterness with caramel and vanilla. Find around town April through June.

Ophelia Hoppy Wheat:
From Breckenridge Brewery comes a new hoppy wheat ale called Ophelia. The brewery calls it a “tale of two styles,” mixing the citrus of a wheat brew and the hoppiness of a pale ale. Using Mosaic hops, this beer is available now through April.

Good Juju: 
From the crafty folks at Left Hand Brewing, Good Juju is exactly what spring needs to wake up from winter. Using fresh ginger from Hawaii this golden ale will wake up your senses like a dose of smelling salts. After a long polar vortex, we could all use some Good Juju.

Kinda Blue:
This March release is from Boulder Beer Company and features organic Oregon blueberry puree added to a wheat beer during the cold fermentation process. The result is both cool and warm like a day of spring skiing.

Valencia Grove Amber:
From Blue Moon Brewing this spring seasonal tells us warmer weather is on the way. Brewed with Valencia orange peel, this malty wheat brew is the perfect transition from heavy winter beers to lighter summer ales. Find the Amber on its own or inside the Blue Moon Spring Sampler Pack.

Vernal Minthe Stout:
Leave it to the crazies at Ska down in Durango to come up with a spring stout beer. No ordinary stout, the Vernal Minthe uses real spearmint and peppermint (not extract) mixed with cocoa nibs and vanilla beans. We call it dessert in a can. 

Tree Shaker:
This seasonal favorite is back again from Odell’s. An Imperial IPA, this beer is brewed with 3,000 pounds of pureed Colorado peaches from last fall’s harvest. With a hoppy, citrus scent and fruity sweet finish, this beer represents the return of springtime to Colorado.

 Photo: Flickr user fincher69