Boozy & Bookish Pairing No. 4: Nine Month Contract + Colorado Mountain Brewery Flight

Hello friends, I'm back with Boozy & Bookish, where I, romance author Babette Scott, pair delicious cold craft beers with hot romance reads.

It's week four, and I'm already mixing it up with a special edition. I'm in Colorado for a writer's retreat (more on that soon), and it seems necessary to make this week's pairing Colorado-themed. 😉

And you won't be disappointed; it's a match made in mountain heaven because when a book's setting is in Colorado, only local brews will do.

The Book: Nine Month Contract by Amy Daws 🤰🏼

Set in the scenic Colorado mountains, Nine Month Contract is a slow-burn rom-com jam-packed with chemistry, charm, and a genuinely original premise. When grumpy, broody, emotionally repressed mountain man Wyatt needs a surrogate to fulfill his dream of fatherhood, and bubbly, big-hearted Trista needs a fresh start, they strike a deal neither expects to turn into anything more. It's a perfect cozy read to sip with a view (or a flight of brews).

The Beer: Why Choose? 😂

Um, yeah, I'm having a real "why choose" moment, so fuck it, I'm pairing an entire beer flight. I'm sitting here sipping six handcrafted beers that perfectly echo the stages of Wyatt and Trista's relationship. Here's how each pour pairs with the book:

🍺 7258 Blonde Ale™

It's a crisp, clean, European-style ale with a refreshing finish. It's the meet-cute beer—smooth, no-frills, and disarmingly easy to love. Like Trista on page one, it's instantly likable and sets the tone for what's to come.

🍺 Unibrau Hefeweizen™

Light, traditional (with a cheeky Dodgeball reference), this one's a playful mid-book moment. A nod to Trista's humor and resilience as she shakes up Wyatt’s world with her quirky charm and emotional openness.

🍺 Panther IPA™

Bold, bitter, and strong, this West Coast IPA is all Wyatt: emotionally guarded, no-nonsense, and packing a punch. As the story unfolds and feelings become complicated, this is the beer that best captures those intense, will-they-won't-they moments.

🍺 Ole '59er Amber Ale™

Warm, rich, and grounded. This ale honors history and legacy, much like Wyatt’s dream of fatherhood. It’s the comfort beer, a perfect match for the chapters when characters start letting their guards down and imagining a real future together.

🍺 Roller Coaster Red Ale™

With caramel malts and a lingering chocolate finish, this red ale is sweet and complex just like the emotional roller coaster of falling in love when you’ve promised not to. A great companion for the story’s most heartfelt moments.

🍺 Monumental Stout™

Full-bodied, intense, and lingering—this Irish stout is the endgame beer. It’s everything the book builds to, honest, rich, and emotionally satisfying. Raise a glass to the HEA that hits you right in the feels.

Why This Pairing Works

The book's setting is classic Colorado.

I'm drinking six sample beers brewed in Colorado.

I'm sitting at a brewery in Colorado, RIGHT NOW.

If you're in Colorado Springs (or planning a trip), make time for a beer flight at Colorado Mountain Brewery and bring Amy Daws' Nine Month Contract along for the ride. Trust me, between the swoony mountain romance and the smooth local brews; this is one pairing you'll remember long after the last page (or pint).