I was inundated with shallow ideas about heavy metal in my more formative years. I was raised in Christendom and told to keep my distance from the tools of the Devil. These ignorant ideas were thrust on me long before I had a taste for fine handcrafted brews and even longer before I knew that beer goes so well with the sounds of Cannibal Corpse playing in the background. I hope we can move on from my wretched past because now I found a wonderful compromise to bring heavier tunes into my life in the form of TRVE Brewing (Pronounced “True Brewing”) on Broadway Blvd.
The lighting was dim as I walked in and the growl of Morbid Angel came in over the speakers. There was a long table down the center of the room that looked like something out of a medieval castle. The gothic appeal of Trve Brewing was surprisingly inviting.
As I settled next to the bar in anticipation of a Tinder date I realized that I have lived 30 years without hearing my fair share of heavy metal. If music is from the Devil then, apparently, I am down to have a craft beer with Lucifer. Times are changing and I now embrace it all. Both heavy metal and Satan are my friends – not the serious end of either like Ozzy’s Bat Sacrifice or BDSM – but I don’t see anything wrong with throwing on some Slayer and participating in an orgy in a stranger’s high rise condo.
I asked the barkeep for a starter Saison with heavy floral notes and he handed me one called Caeruleus. It was delicious. All of their beers were moderate to inexpensive and I appreciate that.
Once she arrived we got to talking about life and backgrounds and other tidbits of information about our relative sphere of existence. I learned that she was raised in a strict religious household, but she wised up and abandoned the whole gig as an adult like me. She got bonus points for that one. The heavy metal playing in the background was not as distracting as one might think. The people in charge of the music had it at a comfortable volume. It was almost hypnotic as the good conversation flowed and I sipped on a nice stout called Atma.
We sat before the alter-like decorations behind the bar and leaned into each other as the alcohol distorted our hearing. The sounds never overpowered, only drove us to be more intimate in conversation.
Finally, as the light faded from the windows, I came under the possession of TRVE Brewing. Ironically, I realized my state of affairs, as I drank a Saison of theirs called Possession. This final beer was a dark angel sent to save me from wholesome behavior. The devil sat comfortably on my shoulder and I ate up every word. I remember the pungent smell of Possession being akin to some delicious version of jet fuel. At 9% alcohol, it also carried a smart flavor combination that eludes me now as it was on my fourth beer.
We ended the night in a heavy make out session by my car. The devil and all of his handy work won the night through the sounds of guitar and drums. And I think TRVE Brewing will be bringing people to the glorious dark side for many years to come.
TRVE Brewing
Website: trvebrewing.com
Address: 227 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203