For the past several years, the fine, fresh craft brews created and served at Coors Field's Sandlot Brewery were among the few things worth getting excited about at a Rockies game. That all changed with the team's thrilling charge to the World Series last fall. Now beer fans have more to cheer when taking in a game at the ballpark.

Just as the team has a new identity as a National League contender, the on- site microbrewery has a new identity: Blue Moon Brewing Co. at the Sandlot. Coors, which owns the brewery, obviously is proud of the Blue Moon brand and saw an opportunity to give the name more prominence. It's not too far a stretch, either: Blue Moon's flagship Belgian White beer was invented at the Sandlot.

Master brewer John Legnard has batches of Right Field Red, Pinch Hit Pilsner, Blue Moon and Honey Moon, a summertime seasonal, ready to go when fans head into the ballpark Friday for opening day. He also expects to launch Pale Moon, a new addition to the lineup.

"It's a Belgian-style pale ale, which is an underappreciated, little- known style," Legnard says. "It has floral, Cascade hop notes, without the heavy hop bitterness you might get from other pale ales. It's not so overpowering that you can't drink more than one. Everybody wants something flavorful and full-bodied, but most people don't want a really hoppy, bitter beer."

You'll find Pale Moon in stores and on tap before too long: Denver is one of five markets where Coors is rolling out the product.

There's one old favorite you won't find on tap on opening day: The mighty Slugger Stout has struck out. The Irish stout was the bar's slowest seller, so it's no longer a year-round offering. Legnard says it'll be back as a pinch hitter, entering the rotation occasionally.

* Of course, Blue Moon doesn't hold a brew monopoly at Coors Field. Not even Coors does. Budweiser and Miller beers have long been available throughout the ballpark, and that continues this year. Beer lovers also know that if you hunt a little bit, you can find everything from Guinness to Foster's, Fat Tire to 90 Schilling.

* Where was your grandfather 75 years ago next week? Quite possibly toasting the end of Prohibition. The 21st Amendment wasn't ratified until December 1933, but on April 7 of that year, a congressional provision allowed for the return of 3.2 beer. To mark the occasion, Anheuser-Busch is among the industry members encouraging suds sippers to raise a toast on Monday, the anniversary of the repeal.

This raises an interesting question: Would your grandfather recognize the newest A-B products as beer?

Wild Blue is a magenta-colored blueberry lager with intense berry flavor - closer to a wine cooler in taste and body than a beer. Chelada is a premixed red beer in a can - a cocktail of either Bud or Bud Light with Clamato tomato-clam juice. So long as you're careful when turning the can ever-so-gently to mix it before opening, this is a handy product that beer lovers can choose over a Bloody Mary. Finally there's Sun Dog Amber Wheat, Anheuser- Busch's new spring seasonal, a wheat beer with hints of caramel and lemon. My guess is that Granddad would choose the last one, and that's my recommendation, too.

* For its second annual outing, the Breckenridge Beer Festival moves from summer to spring. From 1 to 5 p.m. April 12, Main Street Station will be the site for samplings from 17 brewers big and small, from Colorado and beyond. Try out new and familiar tastes while enjoying live music by the Subdudes, the Railbenders and Tony Furtado. Prices for sampling mugs and lodging packages vary; for details, go to breckenridgebeerfestival.com.

* The Boulder-based Brewers Association has proved time and again it knows how to put on a major beer event; look no further than Denver's annual Great American Beer Festival for evidence of that.

The trade group lets the rest of the world in on the competition at this month's World Beer Cup. Held every other year since 1996, it's in San Diego this time, in tandem with the Craft Brewers Conference. Up to three medal winners will be named in each of 85 categories on April 19.

Less than a month later, the Brewers Association launches a new event in Washington, D.C., called Savor: An American Craft Brew and Food Experience. There'll be plenty of beer, obviously - 96 craft beers from 48 breweries, including five from Colorado. But unlike the Great American Beer Festival, fine food truly shares the spotlight at this event, where participants will enjoy dozens of gourmet appetizers paired with samples of brews. It's set for May 16 and 17; for details, go to savorcraftbeer.com.

Beer of the Month

CHAINSAW ALE

* The story: Its alias is Double Sawtooth, indicating a bigger, bolder version of Lefthand Brewing's best-selling Sawtooth Ale. Part of the Longmont brewery's Big Mo seasonal series.

* The taste: A complex, malty ale, with subtle butter and car- amel flavors. You might detect a hint of cherry, too. Full-bodied with a creamy head, it'll warm on cool, rainy spring nights. Despite the name, keep the power tools locked up while enjoying this one.

* Food pairings: Smoked meats, salmon, cheese, fruit

* On sale: In cork-topped bomber bottles, $11.99

* Alcohol by volume: 7.5 percent

dedrickj@RockyMountainNews.com