Colorado Brewers Celebrate Centennial with Commemorative Bock Beer
In 1876, as the United States approached its centennial, Colorado brewers marked the occasion with a special commemorative bock beer. Joseph E. Bates, owner of the Denver Brewing Company, announced the release of 'Centennial Bock Beer' to saloonkeepers, urging them to place orders for shipment by May 1. The beer was praised by the Rocky Mountain News as a 'peculiar and superior beverage.' At the time, Denver had at least five breweries, and beer taxes were a significant revenue source for the federal government. Brewers paid excise taxes of $1 per 31-gallon barrel, with revenue stamps affixed to kegs. The beer industry in Colorado was influenced by German-American immigrants who introduced lagers, and notable brewers like Philip Zang and Joseph E. Bates played key roles in the local brewing scene. 
