Sigda’s Ghost Chili Beer is back on tap at Coopersmith’s Pub and Poolside, and lovers of spicy foods are already making room in their schedule to enjoy a pint of one of Fort Collins’ most unique brews.
Living up to the ghost chili promise, Sigda’s packs more heat than your traditional chili beer. There’s more to life (and beer) than pure heat, though, so we age Sigda’s on a blend of Anaheim, jalapeno, Serrano, habanero and ghost peppers, giving it a blend of raw pepper aromatics that perfectly complement the fiery kick this blonde delivers.
Chili beer fanatics may be familiar with the beer, the man that inspired it isn’t as widely known. Before becoming the architect of our menu, Coopersmiths’ brewer, Brad, served in the Peace Corps in Kenya in 1983. While helping locals develop their infrastructure, he worked alongside John Sigda. Sigda grew up in Poland, eating those spice-laden traditional dishes of Central Europe, and continued his quest for mouth-burning eats, exploring African spices.
It wasn’t just Sigda’s love of hot food that inspired Brad to name one of Coopersmith’s craft beers after him, though. Sigda graduated from Harvard and spoke fluent Swahili. His father was a plumber and, despite his ivy-league credentials, never lost the respect for everyday folks.
Sigda’s Ghost Chili beer isn’t for the faint of heart, so it’s OK if you’re not ready to fire up your taste buds with a pint. Coopersmith’s in Old Town Fort Collins has a craft beer to suit virtually every taste. Summer favorites like Fairway Session IPA and What-A-Melon are on tap, while year-round staples like Punjabi Pale Ale and Horsetooth Stout are ready to meet your hoppy or malty preferences. Looking for something more refined? We have a Bourbon Barrel Barleywine (aged in barrels from Four Roses Distillery) and Cask Conditioned Punjabi Pale Ale on tap.