Thirst Colorado September-October 2021

SERVING UP THE COLORADO EXPERIENCE

DURANGO DAYS

FALL IN LOVE WITH FALL IN THE SOUTHWEST

Vol. 6, No. 6 September-October 2021

TOUR DE WINE TASTE THE BEST WINES ON THE WESTERN SLOPE

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Fall in Colorado Means Exhilaration While running around the state this fall, make it a point to explore outside the comfort zone and devour Colorado’s south and west territories.

Acres and acres of gold, orange and red aspen leaves are the shiny objects that will get you started. But invest a bit more in the experience and leave the day-trippers behind.

Palisade, Durango and Trinidad are destinations that will plant the seeds of experience needed to understand this state.

Although Palisade has long been known for its peaches, the wine coming from the area is creating additional excitement and luring more people to the Western Slope.The wineries in Paonia, Cedaredge and other nearby towns are producing excellent products that are just as good – in some cases better – than those coming out of California and beyond.

If the itinerary has more room, Durango is just a few hours away. The Four Corners area is like Disneyland for adults. Hiking, biking, fishing, rafting, off-roading and more give way each winter to every snow sport imaginable.The terrain ranges from serene desert to craggy 14ers with some gorgeous lakes in between. What’s not to like?

And then there’s the tiny town of Trinidad on the New Mexico border, which has attracted a combination of developers and artists who are bringing forth a hip vibe.

Obviously, everyone can’t go on a week-long sojourn across the state this fall. If the Front Range is going to serve as the entertainment mecca, no problem. Eef and the Blues Express is one of many fantastic bands to check out.And Colorado Springs has exploded with breweries, venues and restaurants. Check our calendar listingsforadditionalideas.It’sColoradoafterall.Exhilarationhappens!

Enjoy responsibly and please continue to let us know what you’d like to read about in the magazine and online.

Publisher Paul Johnson paul@thirstcolorado.com Associate Publisher & Editor Joe Ross joe@thirstcolorado.com Sales Tod Cavey Rebel Hunter Nicole Park Christine Werner Design & Layout Sandy Birkey President & Founder Emeritus Wilbur E. Flachman Digital & Marketing Manager Steve Graham Contributors Steve Graham, Kyle Kirves, Natasha Lovato, Jay McKinney, Kristin Owens Editorial Interm Olivia Venuta For advertising and editorial information, please contact Joe Ross at 303.428.9529 Ext. 227 or email joe@thirstcolorado.com Proud member of the Colorado Brewers Guild Thirst Colorado is produced by The Publishing House, a division of Colorado Word Works, Inc. The Publishing House also produces Colorado’s Performing Arts Publications, serving arts venues along the Front Range.

7380 Lowell Blvd., Westminster, Colorado 80030 303.428.9529

Joe Ross Associate Publisher and Editor Drink up life in large amounts, but restrict your alcohol consumption. We do not endorse or support excessive drinking.

Thirst Colorado is published six times a year by The Publishing House, 7380 Lowell Blvd., Westminster, CO 80030. © The Publishing House, 2021. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

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September-October 2021

Except where noted, the content of Thirst Colorado is the property of the magazine and should only be reprinted with permission. Thirst Colorado is not responsible for false or misleading claims made in advertising or editorial materials published herein. Thirst Colorado Magazine is distributed in part by DJM Distribution, Inc., and Community Racks Distribution, LLC.

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INTERSECTIONS

14 Wine Country Invitation There’s no need to leave Colorado to find great wine

24 Untapped

Check out this fall’s hottest Colorado entertainment

26 Riding the Express

38

Music and food keep the “tall Dutch girl with the red guitar” busy

14

36 Prime Pairings

Palisade Peach Berry Cobbler anyone? Yes, with a Peculier Ale

38 Finding Direction

Chrysalis Barrel Aged Beer was destined to produce great sours

On the cover: Nightfall in the Weminuche Wilderness.

Photo by Nick Kogos

8

32

44 Brewery, Distillery, Winery, Cidery and Meadery Guide Find great craft beverages wherever you end up in Colorado

ADVENTURES

8 Deep Dive

Drop in on Durango this fall for a never-ending lineup of outdoor adventure

20 Double Duty in Silverton

Serving the public and serving beer in San Juan County

28 Southern Magnetism

Trinidad is attracting artists and other creatives to Southern Colorado

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32 Pass Time

With ski season around the corner, the independents want to grab your attention

42 Can It

Aluminum cans and bottles expand choices for backcountry libations

DURANGO

Always in Season

Whether you’re riding the world famous historic Durango Train deep into the Rockies of Southwest Colorado or enjoying breathtaking views on a hike, Fall in Durango is your pristine escape to creating life-long memories.

Take Your Fall Getaway In Durango.

Photo by Anthony D’Amato

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TRAINING FOR A 14ER All aboard for a backcountry deep-dive

By Joe Ross September-October 2021

ThirstColorado.com 9

E

veryone has a different idea of a peak experience when exploring Colorado’s backcountry.

While hopping off a train at 8,000 feet in elevation with just a backpack is not for the faint of heart, it offers a nextlevel experience that few will ever have the chance to consider.

The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad carries thousands of tourists back and forth between the towns throughout the year, providing incredible views of the Animas River in the San Juan National Forest. While a seat on the train will provide impressive photos, getting off your seat and hiking into the Weminuche Wilderness guarantees memories for a lifetime.

Nick Kogos and friends hopped off the train in June and spent three days wide-eyed, crossing paths with wildlife and taking shelter from lightning that felt close enough to make your hair stand up. As a marketing manager for Visit Durango, Kogos has spent considerable time exploring the Four Corners area. However, the train trip into the backcountry was a first, and it presented a few harrowing moments and fantastic stories.

The Weminuche Wilderness includes nearly a half million acres, including Chicago Basin, which served as a base camp for Kogos and crew, and Mount Eolus, at 14,085 feet.

Because this particular backcountry wilderness is only accessible by train or hiking (no cars, bikes or off-highway vehicles), Kogos said he saw more wildlife than people. Dall sheep, more curious than afraid, shared the mountainsides throughout the trip, along with marmots foraging for snacks.

About six miles separate the train from the Chicago Basin base camp.

Kogos said travelers need to have a pack strategically loaded with highenergy foods and other staples required to cover all scenarios for the length of the trip.

“There is no quick escape,” he points out. “The train runs twice a day and is six-plus miles away from where you’re camping.”

With roughly three hours of hiking needed to reach the train flag stop, inexperienced backpackers would be

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ill-advised to venture off into the wilderness without being accompanied by veterans.

ASCENT

With their mountain legs under them, Kogos and company headed up Mount Eolus on the second day of the trip, summiting North Eolus at 12:45 p.m. Because snow and ice are common on Colorado’s high peaks in June, Kogos said hiking became more of a scramble, with a bit of ice climbing near the top.

After reaching the top and celebrating being the first to summit that day, the group could see that another exhilaratingadventureawaitedthem:an afternoon thunderstorm.

After descending for roughly an hour, Kogos said the storm had unleashed lightning that was within one mile. Many experts have discussed what to do in such situations, but Kogos said instinct and fear forced the group to seek shelter under pine trees at about 12,000 feet.

Sharing a hot-apple tea with spiced rum later in the day – long after the storm had passed and the group was comfortable in camp – Kogos and his friends were able to loosen up and celebrate. But when on the mountain during the storm, his thoughts ranged from: “Where is the closest place to duck where the lightning will strike something else instead of me?”

To, “How quickly can I separate myself from my metal hiking poles and tripod?”

He acknowledges that the adventure includes some high-risk situations that elevate the experience.

“At the same time though,” he said. “I would not want to be in the news cycle and Facebook as another idiot who died from the elements and knew better.”

Kogos survived the adventure unscathed with a 14er under his belt and beautiful photos documenting the fun.

Once they hiked back down to the train to catch the ride back to Durango, Kogos said he drank two Mexican Loggers from Ska Brewing and gobbled up a bag of sour cream and onion potato chips. Adventure complete.

27th ANNUAL

September-October 2021

ThirstColorado.com 11

NOTHING LIKE FALL IN SOUTHWEST COLORADO

By The Thirst Team The event begins with a balloon festival all day Friday, Oct. 15, closing with a balloon glow at dusk in front of the Durango Silverton Railroad.Thentherallyculminateswithmass ascensions at 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 16 and 17, at Hermosa Creek Trail.

All events are free, including free tethered balloon rides on Saturday and Sunday morning, weather permitting.

Donations are accepted and tax-deductible, as the rally is a non-profit organization.

For more information, visit animasvalleyballoonrally.com.

Photo: Nick Kogos

DURANGO AND SILVERTON NARROW GAUGE RAILROAD

Photo Courtesy of 2021 Animas Valley Balloon Rally

2021 ANIMAS VALLEY BALLOON RALLY

Want to see a flying clown? Or a flying circus (the nylon kind, not the Monty Python variety)?Ahighlight of the fall is the stunning sight of two dozen colorful and creative hot air balloons rising over a train and the San Juan Mountains.

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September-October 2021

shops within walking distance of the historic train depot.

The 8 a.m. departure includes stops for backpackers’ wilderness access. The 9 a.m. train is more of an “express” ride.

The Skyway tour is a third option, combining the train ride with a deluxe bus ride in either direction, saving a little time and offering a different view and experience.

For more information, visit durangotrain.com.

© Kristina Blokhin / Adobe Stock

D

urango’s small-town charm exists alongside an array of outdoor opportunities that attract folks of every age who might want to experience the backcountry from a comfortable train seat -- or from the notorious Colorado Trail. And, fair weather affords fall visitors the chance to participateineverythingsouthwestColorado has to offer.

Some great hotels line Main Avenue downtown, but just one street away are a few boutique hotels that cater to outdoorsy types who might be traveling with bikes, kayaks or other gear while also working remotely.

The Leland House Suites and the Rochester Hotel are across the street from each other on the 700 block of East 2nd Ave. The hotels share a coworking space andThe Rochester offers a courtyard and small bar. The Leland House is planning upgrades to allow more storagespaceforlong-termtravelers,aswell as those who bring gear for multiple activities planned for the Four Corners area.

Here are a few ideas to get the party started when staying in Durango.

It’s hard to find a better way to unplug and see the fall colors in the rugged San Juan National Forest than on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. This National Historic Landmark does as much as possible to mirror the experience of the first trips back in 1882.

That includes limits on modern technology. Don’t think about live-tweeting your ride. A lack of cell service or wifi along most of the route will force the whole family to put down the devices and enjoy the vistas.

Through Oct. 31, one-way and roundtrips are available. The trip takes about 3 ½hours each way, with a two-hour stop in Silverton, a historic mining town with two breweries and several restaurants and

COLORADO TRAIL

Durango is also the western terminus of the Colorado Trail, a long-distance trail running 486 miles to the mouth of Waterton Canyon, southwest of Denver. Its highest point is 13,271 feet above sea level, and most of the trail is above 10,000 feet, so check weather conditions along the route if you trek the trail in the fall.

There is no single right way to travel the Colorado Trail, which has been called the most beautiful trail in the nation. Many people explore it piecemeal one or two days at a time, while others take on the challenge of climbing a total of 90,000 feet while through-hiking the whole trail.

If you want a serious challenge, try to finish the entire route in less than nine days and 14 hours to beat a record set byAspen’s Nika Meyers. In August, she set the fastest recorded time for a self-supported traverse of the Colorado Trail by a woman.

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Slow down and enjoy

Great wines await in the Colorado countryside

By The Thirst Team Photos: Paul Johnson

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T

he varieties are endless. The colors vary greatly. The grapes come from all over the world. The only thing consistent about wine is that everyone has a strong opinion about its taste.

Dave Aschwanden of Chill Switch Wine says that Colorado’s wine scene suffered in the early days. As recently as 15 years ago, it was unlikely that a Colorado-produced wine would make the Thanksgiving dinner table. Generally, it just wasn’t that good.

ButtimeshavechangedandtheWestern Slope has come into its own, bottling wine that is proudly served to guests for any occasion.

Adapting to Colorado’s climate is important to grape-growing success, especially when the fruit is known to have its own personalities. Thousands of wine grapes are grown around the world and new ones are developed each year using a variety of grafting techniques. While consumer tastes evolve rapidly, the wine industry, while acknowledging tradition, also has pushed beyond the basics to draw out new enthusiasts.

Thirst Colorado visited several wineries on the Western Slope in order to learn more about the progress and challenges the vintners face moving forward.

SAUVAGE SPECTRUM

We started with Sauvage Spectrum, which is headed up by a local winegrower Kaibab Sauvage and winemaker Patric Matysiewski.

With roughly 60 acres of vineyard, the team grows 26 varietals and is constantly experimenting to produce a taste that is specific to the high-desert town of Palisade, which is part of the Grand Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA).

Matysiewski said the winery is proud of its Sparklet, a sparkling wine that is fruitforward and affordable. Why wait until New Years to pop a cork when this dry bubbly ­— made with proprietary grapes — is available year round?

Of course not all grapes are proprietary at Sauvage Spectrum. The winery is known to share its bounty, when plentiful, with other producers in the area.

Matysiewski said he and his peers in Colorado have fought the premise that “Colorado wines suck and they’re overpriced.” Although nothing happens overnight, Sauvage Spectrum and others are winning over wine drinkers who have been lucky enough to stumble onto the varieties coming out of the Western Slope.

RED FOX CELLARS

The Palisade winery produces a wide variety of wine with an eye toward creativity rather than perfection. Although the staff is not “classically trained” in winemaking, it doesn’t slow down the creative process.

With an eye toward reds, owner Scott Hamilton relishes making wines that are a bit out of character. He’s worked with breweries and he’s aged his products in multiple barrels to achieve something unique: “wines that move freely between tradition and invention,” according to one of their slogans.

As enthusiasts arrive at the winery and tasting room by horse carriage, bike or car, Hamilton explains that he has also focused on a variety of ciders.Yes, his award-winning merlot is the best seller, but variety is king at Red Fox. Achile-roasted cider might please some looking for a tongue tingle. Or, an aperitif named Grapple Jack will warm up palates with an apple wine blended with grape spirits and aged in American oak barrels.

Demonstrating his eclectic taste, Hamilton said he enjoys a good beer as much as wine. A few of his current favorites are Denver’s Hogshead Brewery and Bierstadt Lagerhaus.

September-October 2021

ThirstColorado.com 15

Kaibab Sauvage discusses grapes at his vineyard in Palisade.

They invite folks to stop by and say hi, and don’t forget to greet Daryl, their little bulldog, who seems to enjoy his laid-back, wine-country lifestyle.

STONE COTTAGE CELLARS

MESA PARK VINEYARDS

Entrepreneurs Brandon and Laura Black met while both were working in the housing industry. Later, while traveling in Argentina, they both fell in love with the local wines. They eventually purchased Mesa Park and doggedly pursued perfecting the Grand Valley taste that visitors enjoy. While the Blacks fight to keep up with demand,

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September-October 2021

the tasting room and overall setting is calm, quiet and inviting.

The cabernet sauvignon is popular, as is the cabernet franc. The Finz Dessert Wine also attracts attention from tourists looking for something different.

“I’m so proud of some of these grapes,” Brandon says with a smile. Just getting the wine produced and into the hands of visitors is a thrill, he adds. “It blows your mind.”

Stone Cottage Cellars was launched by Brent and Karen Helleckson in 1994 after jumping from the corporate world into the grapes and blending world. They settled on the hillside above Paonia, which affords incredible views of nearby peaks.

The Hellecksons built the property one stone at a time with help from family and friends.The stone cottage, tasting room and wine cellar were built with rocks from the property and provide a scenic, gorgeous setting.

The never-ending battle to produce grapes with Mother Nature’s fickle touch has presented challenges but Brent says they’ve enjoyed working with the soil, the rocks, the grapevines and the end product. The winery sits at about 6,200 feet, and features one of the highest merlot vineyards in the northern hemisphere, Brent says. continued on page 18

estern Colorado Community College, a division of Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, was the first college in Colorado to offer an associate degree in viticulture and enology to support Colorado’s wine industry and provide students with the technical and entrepreneurial skills needed for the business of growing grapes (viticulture) and making wine (enology). In 2021, a $150,000 grant from the Winiarski Family Foundation established the Warren Winiarski, Gerald Ivancie Institute of Viticulture and Enology at Colorado Mesa University. The institute aims to advance the Colorado wine industry through applied research projects that will focus on Colorado’s special growing conditions with the goal of advancing the quality of Colorado wines from vine to glass.

Find in-depth coverage of ...

Viticulture and Enology

• Outdoor experiences statewide

Warren Winiarski, Gerald Ivancie Institute of Viticulture and Enology

• Beer, wine, spirits & food

Learn more about the program, how you can enroll, and how to support the Institute by visiting

• Historical hotspots & cultural gems

coloradomesa.edu/ wccc/winiarski.

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ThirstColorado.com 17

“We don’t try to make California wines out of Colorado grapes.”

– Brent Helleckson Because of grape shortages, the Hellecksons have bought grapes from outside their vineyard to keep up with demand. But Brent is proud of the Colorado grapes he uses. He has planted merlot and chardonnay vineyards, and has a plot of gewurztraminer. The gewurztraminer wine is popular among visitors who can enjoy beautiful views of the valley.

The merlot, often featured at pairings held at the winery with local restaurants, is bold and rich. Brent said his family loves Italian food and finds the pairing with his merlot to be magical.

He suggests every wine should start with good grapes and then “keep it all clean,” he says of his process.

“We don’t try to make California wines out of Colorado grapes,” he points out.

STONEY MESA WINERY

Stoney Mesa’s story started in 1989 when the Neal family purchased a 50-acre farm in Cedaredge and began establishing vineyards. Gewurztraminer and merlot grapes were planted early. In 2010, the Neal’s planted 2.5 acres of pinot gris and an acre of zwiegelt and baco noir.

They first retailed wine in 1994, and with help from the family, much of which lives between Cedaredge and Grand Junction, the Neals have continued to produce award-winning wines. Bret Neal runs the operation and is considered the first secondgeneration winemaker in the area. He says his mom also has vineyards on her property, which isn’t too far from Cedaredge.

The cabernet franc and the malbec are two of the more popular wines that Stoney Mesa distributes. Like most wineries in the area, the tasting room is countryside pleasant, both inside and out. The greenery and hills make for a never-want-to-leave setting.

CHILL SWITCH WINES

“We take risks and sometimes it turns out to be magic,” DaveAschwanden says. “You never know.”

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Above: Chill Switch owner Dave Aschwanden pulls a sample at his winery and tasting room in Cedaredge. Below: The tasting room at Red Fox Cellars offers a variety of wines and gifts.

Those thoughts sum up many Colorado wineries that must stand out enough to be noticed and yet provide great tasting libations that meet high expectations.

AschwandenopenedChillSwitchWines in Cedaredge in 2012. He has served on the ColoradoAssociation for Viticulture and Enology (CAVE) board. The organization hosts the Colorado Mountain Winefest in Palisade each September.

He and his wife, Christie, were living in Europe when he first caught the wine bug.

He’s never looked back as he continues to make a variety of wines that cover the gamut from an excellent white zinfandel to a merlot, whichAschwanden describes as an “absolute fruit bomb.”

Additives are not part of the equation at Chill Switch – it’s all Colorado and all natural.

So, if it’s time to hit the chill switch, consideraperipateticrunaroundColorado’s wine country and enjoy your favorites every afternoon.

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BREWING UP CHANGES IN SAN JUAN COUNTY Austin Lashley is serving beer and serving the public

By Natasho Lovato

W

hen you have a problem, you can either take it up with a local politician or complain to the barkeep at your local pub. In Silverton, those two roles are likely filled by the same man:Austin Lashley.

While many hunkered down and tried to survive the pandemic with their jobs intact, Lashley expanded Avalanche Brewing Co., which he launched and owns, and was elected as a San Juan county commissioner.

So now he is crafting both beer and policies for the 500 residents of Silverton, the San Juan county seat.

The town was a silver mining hub but is now mainly a tourism and outdoor recreation destination between Durango and Telluride. It might be best known as the terminus of a narrow-gauge rail line from Durango that has been running since 1881 (see page 12).

Like Apple, Maglite, Mattel and many other legendary business journeys, Lashley’s story starts in a garage — his parents’ garage in Durango.

“My buddies and I started home brewing when we were in high school actually,” Lashley said. “It didn’t take long before we all thought, ‘you know this would be really cool to do for a living.’”

He left Colorado to pursue anthropology and religiondegrees(andmorehomebrewing)atDartmouth College. But he soon returned and started working for Durango’s Ska Brewing. He then moved to Alaska for another brewing gig.

Lashley returned to Colorado, and his family helped him start a coffee shop before he transformed it into a different kind of brewing business.Avalanche Brewing Co. roared to life in 2011. Lashley also met his wife-tobe, Casie, at the San Juan Brewfest, and she joined the family affair.

“You know, I thought to myself once, if I could do what I wanted to do for work and live where I wanted to live, that’s really the dream,” Lashley said.

The 7-barrel brewery crafts and serves 15 beers.

All Lashley’s garage experimentation led toAvalanche serving something for everyone, from a blood orange pale ale and a gluten-reduced pilsner to an oatmeal stout and a high-octane Baltic porter. Meanwhile, the kitchen slings a variety of tacos, wraps, salads and pizzas.

In December 2019, Avalanche invested in a larger location, the former Romero’s Family Restaurant, on the only paved street in Silverton.

Lashley was just expanding into the space in March 2020, when he suddenly had to shut down for almost three months during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was super scary with this big mortgage payment and no money in the bank,” he said.

Fortunately, the summer months provided something of a comeback.Avalanche was once again full of customers, albeit at limited capacity.

It was a hectic year as Lashley navigated everchanging government regulations on to-go alcohol, business capacity, cleaning protocols and more.

Lashley had been sitting on the Silverton town board for a couple of years, but his pandemic struggles pushed him to seek higher office.

“As a small business owner, it was tough to watch decisions be made without you,” he said.

Lashley saw his window of opportunity when incumbent San Juan County Commissioner Pete McKay announced his retirement after more than 20 years on the board.

In November 2020, Lashley was elected as the new commissioner. The 36-year-old said it is important for young people to come forward and help decide their community’s future.

Natasha Lovato is a Colorado native with a love for her cats, writing and a cold Holidaily Blonde Ale.

Avalanche Brewing Co. owners Austin and Casie Lashley keep things rolling in Silverton.

Photo Courtesy of Austin Lashley.

September-October 2021

ThirstColorado.com 21

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MOUNTAIN HARVEST FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 23-26 Paonia

Expect to shop for local arts and crafts, listen to music, participate in fun activities such as the Great Chili Cookout, and experience life in the North Fork Valley. mountainharvestfestival.org

FRUITA FALL FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 24-25 Fruita

The festival is surrounded by stunning landscapes and beautiful mountain views. The weekend is full of live music, food trucks and noteworthy art vendors. fruitachamber.org

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COLORADO ARTFEST SEPTEMBER 11-12 CASTLE ROCK

The 32nd annual Artfest is being held in downtown Castle Rock and admission is free

SEPTEMBER

for everyone. The two-day festival features more than 90 artists from across the country.

Pre-register to be entered into a drawing to win prizes. castlerock.org

The 27th annual festival features street vendors, live entertainment, cooking competitions and of course, an abundance of chilies. festival.pueblochamber.org

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BOULDER FALL FEST SEPTEMBER 10-12 Boulder

Spread along the Pearl Street Mall you will find local food, music and children’s activities. boulderdowntown.com/fall-fest

VAIL OKTOBERFEST SEPT. 10-12, 17-19 Lionshead and Vail

Oktoberfest returns for two weekends in both LionsheadandVail.Celebratewithtime-honored traditions like brat eating contests, keg bowling and stein lifting. oktoberfestvail.com

Enjoy craft beer at the 12th annual OktoberWest. The event is scheduled in the Wildhorse Marketplace and includes more than 30 brewers, live music and food. steamboatoktoberwest.com

BINES AND BREWS HOPFEST SEPTEMBER 18 Monument

Take in the scenic views all afternoon while tasting beer, moonshine, gin and mead from Colorado breweries and distilleries. allcoloradobeerfestival.com

TELLURIDE BLUES & BREWS FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 17-19 Telluride

COLORADO MOUNTAIN WINEFEST SEPTEMBER 18-19 Palisade

The 27th annual festival brings a dynamic mix of live acts including Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and Buddy Guy. tellurideblues.com

Listen to live music and look for chef demonstrations and educational seminars celebrating the Western Slope. coloradowinefest.com

COLORFEST WEEKEND SEPTEMBER 17-19 Pagosa Springs

THE BLOODY MARY FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 19 Denver

Enjoy the Passport to Pagosa Wine and Food Festival, the Bands and Brews Festival, and a mass balloon ascension. pagosachamber.com

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CHILE AND FRIJOLES FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 24-26 Pueblo

September-October 2021

Seek out your favorite bloody mary from downtown Denver bars. You may just find the best bloody mary in Denver. thebloodymaryfest.com

THE DENVER BBQ FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 17-19 EMPOWER FIELD AT MILE HIGH

If you love barbeque, you should not miss this event.

Take advantage of the free entry fee or opt into the

COLORADO DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 25-26 Denver

This year’s festival celebrates Asian and Asian American heritage with boat races, music, food and crafts. The festival was moved from spring to fall to avoid a pandemic shutdown. cdbf.org

OCTOBER

CEDAREDGE APPLEFEST OCTOBER 1-3 Cedaredge

Celebrate the fall season surrounded by changing leaves and apple trees. The Cedaredge Apple fest includes live music, food vendors, a 5K and more. deltacountycolorado.com

CIDER DAYS OCTOBER 2-3 Lakewood

Photo: Courtesy of Glow at the Gardens

The 45th annual Cider Days celebrates the agricultural history of Lakewood and includes tasty treats, hard cider tastings, entertaining live performances and more. lakewood.org

all-you-can-eat and drink Q Pit Pass. Either way, there will be music, dancing and more than 18,000 pounds of smoked meat. denverbbqfest.com

GLOW AT THE GARDENS OCTOBER 19-24 DENVER

Head to the Denver Botanic Gardens on York Street this October to wander through the

CHEESMAN PARK ART FESTIVAL OCTOBER 2-3 Denver

TELLURIDE HORROR SHOW OCTOBER 15-17 Telluride

MAN OF THE CLIFF OCTOBER 8-9 Avon

BOO AT THE ZOO OCTOBER 16-17, 23-24, 29-31 Colorado Springs

RAFTOBER FEST OCTOBER 15 Glenwood Springs

HALLOWEEN ZOMBIE CRAWL OCTOBER 30-31 Denver

Shop for custom-made art pieces from more than 135 artists and craftspeople across the U.S. In addition, 12 food trucks will serve diverse cuisines while local musicians play in the park. dashevents.com

Grab your flannels and start growing your beard because Man of the Cliff is back at Nottingham Park in Avon. This two-day event includes axe throwing, speed chopping, beer drinking and keg tossing. manofthecliff.com

The third annual Raftober Fest begins with rushing down the Shoshone Rapids, and ends at the Whitewater Boathouse for food, drinks, music and a silent auction. epicexperience.com

Photo: Courtesy of The Demver BBQ Festival

illuminated landscape just in time for spooky season. Admire local artists’ intricate jack-o-lantern carvings and sculptures. botanicgardens.org

The first and largest horror film festival in Colorado returns for a weekend filled with the best and latest films from around the world. The three-day festival is the perfect way to celebrate Halloween. telluridehorrorshow.com

Bring your family to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo for a night filled with a pumpkin patch, a haunted house, candy galore and zoo animals, of course. cmzoo.org

The event includes an all-access pass to 10-plus bars and nightclubs, drink discount vouchers, free welcome shot tickets for select venues and a pub crawl map of the participating locations. eventbrite.com - Compiled by Olivia Venuta September-October 2021

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NEVER A DULL MOMENT

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Eef the “Tall Dutch girl” juggles several bands and a small business

By Steve Graham

A

leading Colorado blues musician has had many titles, but just one name: Eef. For 11 years, she has been driving Eef and the Blues Express, an acclaimed funky blues mainstay on the local scene. She has been a small business owner for even longer. And that job followed a globe-trotting career in computers.

Eef launched both her technology and music careers in her native Netherlands, working for Hewlett-Packard and joining a Top 40 cover band. While she was having fun and finding local fame singing Madonna covers, she had a passion for the blues.

“That’s what spoke to me,” she said, lamenting that she couldn’t find other Dutch blues musicians.

She moved stateside — to Connecticut, then Fort Collins — for HPjobs, and started finding local blues musicians to jam with. She found some more regular gigs and ended up as a permanent member of the Mike Kaylor Band.After Kaylor left, she found herself reluctantly taking lead on both guitar and vocals.

“That was my first step into fronting a band, and that eventually became Eef and the Blues Express,” she said.

The band officially debuted in 2010, and after some lineup changes in the early years, the five members haven’t changed for five years.

Eef also plays rhythm guitar and sings for Nick of Time, a Bonnie Raitt cover band, and she has stripped-down duo gigs with Stacey Turpenoff.

Eef and the Blues Express was selected to play at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, and was a semi-finalist in 2017. The group has also opened for major blues acts such as Coco Montoya and Tommy Castro, and won local blues awards. Eef is well-known in the scene as “the tall Dutch girl with the red guitar.”

She calls the band’s funky style “Eef Blues,” and steers away from playing traditional blues.

“I wasn’t born in Mississippi. I think it’s disrespectful, honestly, to try to mimic the real traditional blues,” she said.

“I’m a white girl from Europe, so I play my own stuff.”

In between blues sets, Eef makes sandwiches and strong coffee, and sells Dutch cheeses, licorice, chocolates and more out of a cozy storefront in northwest Denver. Dubbel Dutch opened in 2003, and is a combination deli, coffee shop and specialty grocery store.

Eef started importing Dutch food while living in Fort Collins, mostly to satisfy her cravings for the flavors of home.

She created a website to resell her bulk orders, but quickly had more customers rummaging through her home inventory than her digital store.

Photos Courtesy of Eef and the Blues Express

“Not a lot of people bought online back then, so they would come down to my basement where I had it stored,” she said. “The Dutch people, they wanted the food.”

At work, she was getting burned out despite surviving multiple reorganizations and rounds of layoffs at HP, so she decided to turn the website into a shop.

She started searching for a brick-and-mortar storefront in the Denver area to capture a larger customer base — both Dutch and Dutch-curious. She said she happened upon her retail space at Lowell and 50th by accident while driving to a gig at a longtime northwest Denver blues bar.

“I was on my way to Ziggy’s as a musician, so I took Lowell up and missed 38th and kept on driving,” Eef said. “I ended up here on 50th and saw this ‘for rent’ sign written on the window.”

She said she didn’t even realize the space was just a block from Regis University.

“It was by chance,” she said. “I like to live my life that way.”

She said Regis students and staff drive business during the school year. Foot traffic and Dutch tourists keep the store even busier in the summer.

Her shop’s hours of “10ish to 6ish” six days a week reflect her easygoing spirit. She is relaxed, funny and jovial in person, despite juggling several bands, a business and a family.

Steve Graham is a freelance writer and former newspaper editor who takes his two boys biking, hiking and brewery-hopping in northern Colorado.

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BURGEONING ON THE BORDER Just 13 miles north of New Mexico, Trinidad is becoming an arts and recreation hub

By Steve Graham

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T

rinidad might be Colorado’s next art and outdoor recreation mecca. “You better take a picture of Trinidad now because in three to five years, it’s going to be a whole different ballgame,” said Jared Chatterley, director for outdoor recreation for Trinidad.

The southern Colorado town has a burgeoning arts district, music and comedy festivals, a new bike race series and other draws for tourists and residents.

Chatterley is especially excited about a new series of gravel-grinding bike races and marathon-length trail runs.

The first Rad Dirt Fest is coming to Trinidad in October. It will showcase the 1,500 miles of gravel roads that sprawl in every direction from the town, and is timed to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the Santa Fe Trail. Chatterley expects the races to draw 800 to 1,200 athletes to this town of roughly 9,000 residents.

The McCormick Building is one of the downtown structures featuring intricate architecture.

Photo Courtesy of City of Trinidad

Trinidad has weathered some dark history and many economic ups and downs.

Most recently, the town had 26 marijuana dispensaries and plenty of purchases from across the New Mexico border, just 13 miles south of town. Some of that business is likely to drift back south, as recreational marijuana became legal in New Mexico as of late June.

Regardless, boosters hope tourists will keep coming to Trinidad, walking the red brick streets and admiring the old buildings of a revitalized downtown.

“The pride of Trinidad is its architecture,” said Trinidad tourism manager Marty Hackett. “There have been booms and busts in the community, but buildings were never knocked down.”

The Bloom House Mansion, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, McCormick Building and several other notable downtown structures date to the 1880s. The town was established

along the Santa Fe Trail in 1861, and became a coal hub for southern Colorado.

Several historic buildings are now part of the Corazón de Trinidad Creative District, which has grown from a state pilot project into a larger community of artists.

“It has enticed some creative individuals to move here and discover what we have here,” Hackett said.

The project is now expanding with the development of The Commons, a new mixed-use community space with affordable lofts and workspaces for artists.

“Now that we’re seeing a little boost in our economy, we’re seeing people restore those architectural buildings,” Hackett said.

The district also includes the A.R. Mitchell Museum of Western Art, celebrating Arthur Roy Mitchell, whose paintings graced the covers of more than 160 Western books and pulp magazine covers between 1920 and 1950.

Trinidad also is home to the Art Cartopia Museum, which grew out of the annual September ArtoCade, the nation’s second largest parade of drivable sculptures and art cars. Highlights include “Phoenix,” the dragon car with wings; “Boney Whipman,” the giant skeleton on a rocket-styled car; and the indescribably bedazzled “Earth, Wind and Fire.”

The downtown theater also is getting revived. The former Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre is now Main Street Live, which plans to offer more than its traditional community theatre productions.

Gloria Hall, president of the board of directors of Main Street Live, said the group has been reaching out to musicians, comedians, performance artists and others.

“We are really hoping to become known as a place for creatives to come,” she said.

“We encourage all of that in our organization now.”

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Photo: Rodney Wood

The Art Cartopia Museum includes some wild rides.

“It’s a place you can come and spend a week and do a different thing every day.”

– Jared Chatterley She moved to Trinidad 11 years ago, and has seen rapid growth in the arts scene in that time.

“Almost every week, we get an email from someone saying ‘I moved to town, and I have a background in theater,’” she said.

Main Street Live has plays and events scheduled every month through the end of 2021, including a melodrama adapted to Trinidad businesses and history. It will be performed in July, then revived in October for the Santa Fe Trail Bicentennial.

The group is also hosting a playwriting contest for a scheduled November show,

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September-October 2021

and crowdsourcing ideas for a December show.

Trinidad is also a draw for athletes and nature lovers.

“My goal is to make Trinidad the Disneyland of outdoor recreation,” Chatterley said. “It’s a place you can come and spend a week and do a different thing every day.”

He said the town is conducting a “visioning process” to establish more trout fishing and recreation along the Purgatoire River running through the town.

The town is also bordered by two state parks: Lake Trinidad and Fishers Peak.

The latter is Colorado’s newest state park, and the second largest. But only 250 acres of the 19,000-acre park are open to the public. State parks officials are asking potential tourists to wait a couple of years for further development of the park.

East of town, the Comanche National Grassland is home of the Picketwire River Tracksite, with more than 1,300 dinosaur footprints that date back 150 million years.

Steve Graham is a freelance writer and former newspaper editor who takes his two boys biking, hiking and brewery-hopping in northern Colorado.

Photos Courtesy of City of Trinidad

ESCAPE! Independent ski resorts offer atypical experiences to skiers and boarders

By The Thirst Team

Photo Courtesy of Monarch Mountain

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F

ollowing the herd isn’t always the best option, especially when it comes to skiing Colorado’s backcountry this winter. Yes, the big resorts offer incredible experiences for the masses but some of the smaller independent resorts are going out of their way to capture fans who appreciate a less-crowded experience with more attention to snow-sport details.

Monarch Mountain, which opened 82 years ago, is working with other independent resorts to deliver skiers and boarders more ski time and less time standing around in lift lines. The destination has come a long way since a pull-off on the side of the road served as a parking lot and a Chevy engine ran the tow rope up the mountain for skiers to hold onto until their descent.

“Monarch is a great value featuring all-natural snow, one base area that all ski runs naturally flow back to, and easy parking,” says Dan Bender, vice president of marketing. “Monarch is out of the rat race of the I-70 resorts and has a very chill, laid-back vibe.”

Monarch is part of a group of smaller Colorado resorts that offer passes that make skiing and boarding more affordable.

Monarch’s ski pass offers numerous partners across the region. Colorado partners include Copper Mountain, Loveland, Purgatory, Sunlight Mountain Resort,Arapahoe Basin, Ski Cooper, Silverton Mountain and Powderhorn Mountain.

Seventeen other resorts throughout the West are also included as Monarch partners. The 2021-22 season pass costs $479 for adults 18-61; $329 for teens 13-17; $219 for juniors 7-12. Monarch also offers a pass that is only good at its resort, which is about 30 minutes west of Salida.

All resorts offer their own passes, which vary in price and offer a variety of partner resorts.

Running short on time? Fly into the Durango-La Plata County Airport and visit Purgatory, which is about an hour north of Durango. The resort in the rugged San Juan Mountains offers more than 100 trails on 1,600 acres of terrain.

Closer to the Front Range and about 10 miles north of Leadville, Ski Cooper also offers fewer people and less pretense. The terrain is varied, offering a challenge for all family members.Touting itself as affordable (especially when a ski pass is considered), Ski Cooper also features lessons and clinics for those hoping to brush up on their skills.

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Millions of twinkling lights. More than 12 hours of magical activities and events.

One incredible holiday experience. It’s SO. MUCH. CHRISTMAS. at Gaylord Rockies.

WELCOME TO MORE ChristmasAtGaylordRockies.com

Prime Pairings Palisade Peach Berry Cobbler Story and Photo by Kristin Owens When gathering Colorado’s bounty of fresh vegetables and fruits at the local farmer’s market, Palisade peaches should make your list of musthaves. Sweet and juicy, they’re like an explosion of candy. Your first thought may be a pie. But if you’re challenged on preparing pie crust (or just don’t want to) we have a first-rate answer.

Here’s an easy cobbler that not only tastes deliciously fresh but will scent your kitchen delightfully. And if you need to pull a dessert together quickly it’s ready in just over an hour. Serves 6-8 people.

© polinaloves / Adobe Stock

Pair with You may have missed this new taproom in Windsor, but heads-up!

Peculier Ales opened in summer 2020 and is no longer a secret. The 305 Alive sour-fruited series is extremely well-balanced: not too fruity, not too tart. We tasted the current edition – a mixture of strawberry, pineapple and guava – and it’s a great complement to the sweet cobbler. At 7 percent ABV, this beer hits the right level for quenching the summer heat. Its foamy pink color looks like a frosted smoothie. We advise serving cold in a proper stemmed glass to keep your hot, sweaty hands from warming it.

Peculier also has a Peach & Blueberry Ala Mode – a coincidence? In any case, it’s peculiar.

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Ingredients For the Filling

For the Topping

8 fresh Palisade peaches (or 4 cups frozen if out-of-season)

8 graham crackers

1 cup blueberries 2 tbsp vanilla 1 tsp cinnamon ½ cup brown sugar

1 cup oats ¾ cup flour ½ cup brown sugar 1 tsp baking powder ¼ tsp salt 6 tbsp cold butter vanilla ice cream

Directions Prepare the filling Bring a pot of water to boil.

Slice an X into bottom of each peach and drop into the boiling water for less than a minute.

Remove peaches with tongs and place in a bowl of ice water. When cooled, peel skins away with a small knife, starting at the X. Cut in half, remove pit, and slice into ½ inch pieces.

Combine peach slices, blueberries, vanilla, cinnamon and brown sugar in a bowl and mix gently.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a cast iron skillet and place in oven to warm as it preheats.

Prepare the Topping Place graham crackers into a Ziploc bag and crush gently with a rolling pin.

In a medium bowl, stir together graham crackers, oats, flour, brown sugar, baking powder and salt.

Cut cold butter into small pieces. Use fingers to combine it into a dry mixture until large crumbs form.

Assemble

All natural • Colorado proud Now available at

Remove warmed skillet from the oven and pour in fruit mixture.

Sprinkle the dry topping evenly over fruit.

Bake for 45 minutes, or until fruit bubbles and topping browns.

Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

WILDGREENSAUCE.COM September-October 2021

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Sour Puss Long road to brewing success for Chrysalis Barrel-Aged Beer Story and Photos by Kristin Owens

I

magine fulfilling your dreams of opening a taproom, but the wrong paperwork is filed. Then, once it’s finally approved, a pandemic hits. Chrysalis Barrel-Aged Beer has had quite a saga. In a quest to provide a superstar line-up of sours in Paonia, it felt like the fates were conspiring.

AN ORIGIN STORY

It started off simply. Head brewer Shawn Larson wanted to make exceptional Belgian and farmhouse-inspired sours. With barley, hops and fruit literally down the road, beer would be brewed and aged using the best and freshest ingredients possible.

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In fall 2018, a successful kick-starter campaign helped get things started. Spring 2019 saw weekly meetings with partners Frederick Zimmer and Adam Gall, and most importantly, the planting of barley. Despite full-time jobs, the partners busted butt, laying concrete and building the bar, while brewing and barrel aging.

Finally, in an old Palisade cherry orchard, among antiquated Porsches and motorcycles, copper Champion brewing tanks from Denver appeared. It was all meant to be.

Even though beer is art, a brewery is a business. They opened in July 2019 only to find out while filing paperwork that approval issues would put a pause on the

tap room. After a few months, they rebooted in November 2019. Then boom… COVID. They closed with everyone else, to reopen only for carry-out. They had yet to order Chrysalis growlers, so locals brought in their own, as well as mason jars, Tupperware and any other containers they had, to help support the brewers.

IT TAKES A SMALL MOUNTAIN TOWN

Larsen says the partners knew there would be, “troubled waters to sustain the business.” But they hadn’t counted on a deluge lasting years. Determined to not let Chrysalis fail, they were prepared to pay the rent out of their own pockets to get over the

Head brewer Shawn Larson with taster tray.

hump. Later in 2020, they were open three days a week, which “was enough to pay the bills… we scratched by,” says Larsen.

Overwhelming community support helped them keep the lights on.

In a mountain town better known for wine, a second brewery in Paonia was a risk, but a good one. Ironically, Paonia United Brewing, right around the corner, isn’t competition. They’re friends, and Larsen knew creating something unique could only add to the town’s limited beer menu. Chrysalis would “heighten the level of choices in Paonia,” he says. But in a small town, only so much business can come from locals. Summer tourism is really key.

So far in 2021, business is good. People are traveling and spending money. And

Chrysalis is open five days a week with a steady customer stream lining the bar.

YEAH, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE BEER?

The line-up isn’t all sours.

“There’s always one guy in the bunch who hates them,” laughs Larsen. So, Chrysalis offers customers different options, like a brandy barrel-aged tripel, a bourbon barrel-aged stout and a barrelaged farmhouse ale. Yes, there’s a constant thread: everything is barrel-aged.

Everything. “With a twist,” Larson says. Their apricot sour is deliciously tangy and sweet, with a big juicy mouthfeel. The creativity continues with an Earl Grey and lavender sour. And it’s terrific.

When asked, Larson agrees, “Timing isn’t always everything.” It’s about persistence. Chrysalis was going to happen no matter what. And the strength of the partnership really mattered when things not only got tough, but bordered on insurmountable. They’ve got beer and customers to prove it. And lots of smiles.

SOMETHING TO TRY Desert Dreams sour - 1 ½ years in barrel, 1 year in stainless on Chambourcin grapes with a beautiful cranberry cocktail color.

Kristin Owens is a Colorado writer who specializes in all things liquid and may have the best job in the world. Check out her writing at kristin-owens.com.

September-October 2021

ThirstColorado.com 39

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Great adventure calls for great spirits Now in the lightweight Aluminum “Backcountry Bottle” Perfect for your outdoor lifestyle

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Contact us to have an arborist come out to give you a consultation on your trees (and other plant life).

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Visit us or Order Online woodsdistillery.com Salida, Colorado

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ThirstColorado.com 41

© Krzysztof Wiktor / Adobe Stock

BACKCOUNTRY LIBATIONS MADE EASY

Story and Photos by Jay McKinney

Y

es, Dale Katechis and his gang at Oskar Blues in Lyons made craft beer uber accessible when they started canning in 2002. The owner of Oskar Blues has never rested on his laurels and continues to push the beer scene forward. But the days of being able to bring only canned beer into the backcountry are over. Consider these locally produced libations for your next outdoor adventure. Not only are the aluminum containers safe to toss into a backpack, most are also recyclable.

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WOOD’S WHISKEY AND VODKA

For those longing for a cup of something a little stronger on a backpacking excursion, Wood’sHighMountainDistillery has come to the rescue. The Tenderfoot American malt whiskey and San Luis Valley Colorado potato vodka are available in aluminum bottles and will fit into any pack, giving hikers the peace of mind that glass bottles can’t. Bring the proper ingredients to make a special cocktail or drink it neat, and enjoy the mountain countryside with a spirit made for the occasion.

September-October 2021

IRONTON SWITCHBACK SINGLE MALT WHISKEY

Switchback up the mountainside and celebrate on the summit with a swig of Ironton’s single malt whiskey.

Better yet, gather at the campfire after a long day in the backcountry and sip this whiskey with friends. The flavor profile has a light smoke and subtlesweetnessthatpairswell withanycampfire-cookedmeal.

And once this sturdy bottle is empty, it can be reused as a water bottle or filled with one of Ironton’s other whiskeys for the next trip.

COCKTAIL SQUAD COCKTAILS

With zero grams of sugar, just 90 calories and no carbs, Boulder-based Cocktail Squad has delivered a 5-percent ABV canned cocktail that’s perfect for hiking into the backcountry and not getting bogged down.

The two flavors, whiskey ginger and vodka lemon, are equally delightful and can be purchased in four-packs for $14 or in six-packs for $17.99.

Made with real spirits and naturalingredients,thiscocktail is a winner in every way.

ELEVATED SELTZER

The alcoholic seltzer craze that has stormed the scene in recent years has seen both craft breweries and macro breweries try their hand at the popular drink. The founders of Elevated Seltzer, brothers Hunter and Warren Wood, come from a background in the craft beer industry but decided to go all in on the hard seltzer phenomenon when they created the first independent, seltzer-only operation. The seltzers are 100-percent natural and come in a variety of flavors including lemon lime, acai, mango, pina colada and others.

MILE HIGH SPIRITS PUNCHING MULE

INFINITE MONKEY THEOREM WINES

From bottles to boxes and now cans, winemakers have been innovating in their methods of packaging a vineyard’s final product. Denver’s RiNo neighborhood may seem like an unlikely location for a winery, but The Infinite Monkey Theorem embraces an unconventional approachtowinemakingandisbig on canning delicious wine. While the winery still bottles as well, consider taking a four- pack of canned red, white or carbonated wines on your next outdoor adventure.

DALE’S PALE ALE

Oskar Blues Brewery got the ball rolling when it decided to can a craft beer with its flagship beverage, Dale’s Pale Ale. The convenience of a can influenced other craft breweries to follow suit and now there are an abundance of canned beer options to take into the backcountry. The folks at Oskar Blues also help across town at Bootstrap Brewing, which has some of the coolest-looking cans in the industry. Also, some of the smallest nanobreweries are now offering aluminum crowler fills on site.

No copper mug, no problem. Mile High Spirits’ Punching Mule may come in a can, but it’s just as flavorful as a Moscow Mule in a high-end bar. The combination of ginger beer, lime and vodka is popular for good reason, and at 7 percent ABV, this mule packs a punch. Mile High Spirits may be known for its collection of bottled spirits with everything from bourbon to gin, but this canned cocktail is a valuable addition to the distillery’s portfolio.

ANNAPURNA MEAD

Bees are the unsung heroes of the ecosystem and without them, there wouldn’t be very much to eat or drink. But with Annapurna’s mead, bees get the credit they deserve. Honey is the essential ingredient in this ancient beverage, which can now be purchased in a can. With flavors like Cherry Bee Dazzled, Sauvage Mead Blanc, The Bee’s Squeeze and For the Love of Ginger, there are plenty of refreshing choices to take into the backcountry and enjoy among the wildflowers that bees use to make their honey.

Jay McKinney is a Colorado native who recently graduated from Metro State University of Denver with a bachelor’s degree in communications. He loves spending time outdoors, playing golf and hiking.

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COLORADO BREWERY, DIS ● – Serves Food ● – Food Truck ● – Live Music

BREWERIES ARVADA Denver Beer Co Elevated Seltzer ● ● LUKI Brewery New Image Brewing ●

Bristol Brewing ●

Southern Sun ●

Cerberus Brewing Co ●

Stein Brewing Co

Cogstone Brewing Co ● ●

Twisted Pine Brewing ● ●

Colorado Mountain Brewery ●

Unnamed Beer Co

Dueces Wild Brewery ●

Uhl’s Brewing Co

FH Beerworks ●

Upslope Brewing Co ● ●

Fossil Craft Beer Co ●

Very Nice Brewing ●

Funky Town Brewing

Vision Quest Brewing Co

Goat Patch Brewing Co ●

LODO

Wild Provisions Beer Project

JAKs Brewing Co ●

Denver Beer Co

Local Relic ●

Denver Chophouse ●

Lost Friend Brewing ●

Great Divide Brewing Co ● ●

Manitou Brewing Co ●

Jagged Mountain Craft Brewery ●

Mash Mechanix Brewing

Rock Bottom Denver ●

SOUTHEAST DENVER

Metric Brewing ●

Sandlot Brewery

Bull and Bush Brewery ● ●

Nano 108 ●

Wynkoop Brewing Co ●

Paradox Beer Co ●

MILE HI/AURARIA

Odyssey Beerwerks ● ●

BRIGHTON/FREDERICK/ERIE

Resolute Brewing Tap & Cellar ●

Big Choice Brewing

Someplace Else Brewery

Flood Stage Ale Works ● Mirror Image Brewing Co

AURORA

Mountain Cowboy Brewing Co

Bent Barley Brewing Co

Something Brewery

BJ’s ●

Bierstadt Lagerhaus ●

Ska Street Brewstillery

DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Tom’s Urban Diner and Tivoli Brewing ●

FIVE POINTS Cohesion Brewing Co Spangalang Brewery Woods Boss Brewing

Black Shirt Brewing Co ● ● Blue Moon Brewing Co ● ● Cohesion Brewing Co ● Epic Brewing Co ● Great Divide Brewing Co ● ● Mockery Brewing ● New Belgium - The Woods at the Source Odell Brewing Co Our Mutual Friend Ratio Beerworks ● ● River North Brewery

Comrade Brewing ● comradebrewing.com 720.748.0700

Cheluna Brewing Co

BROOMFIELD/WESTMINSTER

Peaks N Pines Brewing Co ●

Dry Dock Brewing Co North Dock ●

4 Noses Brewing Co ●

Briar Common Brewery + Eatery ●

Phantom Canyon ● ●

Dry Dock Brewing Co South Dock ●

BJ’s ●

Burns Family Artisan Ales

Red Leg Brewing ●

Frolic Brewing Co ●

Cervecería Colorado ● ●

Copper Kettle Brewing Co ●

Jade Mountain Brewing Co

Red Swing Brewhouse

Launch Pad Brewery

Gordon Biersch ●

Denver Beer Co ● ●

Rock Bottom Colorado Springs ●

SOUTHWEST DENVER

Six Capital Brewing & BBQ ●

Kokopelli Beer Co ● ●

Little Machine Beer ●

Rocky Mountain Brewery ●

Black Sky Brewery ●

Two22 Brew ●

Rails End Beer Co ● ●

Odell Brewing Sloan’s Lake ●

Smiling Toad Brewery ●

Chain Reaction Brewing Co ●

Ursula Brewing Co

Westminster Brewing Co

Raices Brewing Co

Storybook Brewing ●

Crazy Mountain Brewing Co ● ●

Wonderland Brewing Co ● ●

Seedstock Brewery ● ●

Trinity Brewing ●

Renegade Brewing Co

Strange Craft Beer Co ● ●

CAÑON CITY AREA

Whistle Pig Brewing Co ● ●

Wah Gwaan Brewing Co.

Tivoli Brewing ●

BAILEY Mad Jack’s Mountain Brewery ● ● ●

Florence Brewing

BOULDER AREA

World’s End Brewing Co

DENVER

Asher Brewing Co

CASTLE ROCK AREA

BAKER/SOUTH BROADWAY

Avery Brewing ●

105 West Brewing Co ● ●

Baere Brewing Co

Beyond the Mountain Brewing Co

Burly Brewing ● ●

Banded Oak Brewing Co

BJ’s ●

The Elizabeth Brewing Co

Busey Brews

Great Divide Brewing & Roadhouse

Black Project Spontaneous & Wild Ales

Cellar West Artisan Ales ●

Iron Mule Brewery

Crystal Springs Brewing Co

Rockyard Brewing Co ●

Echo Brewing Co ●

Wild Blue Yonder Brewing Co ●

Finkel & Garf Brewing Co Fritz Family Brewers

CENTENNIAL/LONE TREE/ HIGHLANDS RANCH

Front Range Brewing Co ● ●

3 Freaks Brewery ●

Gravity Brewing ● ●

Blue Spruce Brewing Co ● ●

Gunbarrel Brewing Co

Grist Brewing Co ●

Howlin Wind Brewing and Blending

Halfpenny Brewing Co ● ●

Industrial Revolution Brewing Co

Holidaily Brewing Taproom

Kettle and Spoke Brewery

Lone Tree Brewing Co

Knotted Root Brewing Co

Resolute Brewing Co

Liquid Mechanics Brewing Co ● ●

Rock Bottom Centennial ●

MainStage Brewing ●

Rock Bottom Highlands Ranch ●

Mossdeep Brewing Co

Spice Trade Brewing Co

Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery ●

COLORADO SPRINGS AREA

Long Table Brewhouse ●

Odd 13 Brewing Inc ● ●

Atrevida Beer Co ●

Pints Pub ●

Oskar Blues Brewery ● ●

Battle Mountain Brewing ●

Reverence Brewing Co

The Post Brewing Co ● ●

BierWerks Brewery ● ●

Station 26 Brewing Co ●

Redgarden Restaurant & Brewery ●

Black Forest Brewing Co ●

Vine Street Pub & Brewery ●

Sanitas Brewing Co ● ●

Brass Brewing Co ●

12Degree Brewing ● ●

44 ThirstColorado.com

September-October 2021

7677 E Iliff Ave Denver

Zuni St. Brewing Co ●

WHEAT RIDGE/EDGEWATER/ LAKEWOOD

NORTHEAST DENVER

6 and 40 Brewery

Blue Tile Brewing

Barquentine Brewing Co

J. Moe’s Brew Pub ●

Brewery Rickoli ●

NORTHWEST DENVER Amalgam Brewing

Denver Beer Co ●

Bruz Beers ●

Dos Luces

Call to Arms Brewing Co ●

Grandma’s House

Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project

Lowdown Brewery + Kitchen ●

De Steeg Brewing

Novel Strand Brewing Co

Diebolt Brewing Co ● ●

Platt Park Brewing Co ●

The Empourium Brewing Co

So Many Roads Brewery

Factotum Brewhouse

TRVE Brewing Co

FlyteCo Brewing

CAPITOL HILL/E COLFAX/ PARK HILL

Goldspot Brewing Co ● ●

Colorado Plus Brew Pub ● ● Great Frontier Brewing Co Green Mountain Beer Co Joyride Brewing Co ● Landlocked Ales Old 121 Brewhouse Westfax Brewing Co

DURANGO AREA Anarchy Brewing Animas Brewing Co ● Bottom Shelf Brewery ● Carver Brewing Co ●

Alpine Dog Brewing Co

Grateful Gnome Sandwich Shoppe + Brewery ●

Bruz Off Fax

Hogshead Brewery ●

Durango Beer and Ice Co

Cerebral Brewing ● ●

Oasis Brewing Co ● ●

Counter Culture Brewery & Grille ●

Prost Brewing Co ●

J. Fargo’s Family Dining & Micro Brewery ●

Fiction Beer Co ●

RINO

Lady Justice Brewing

10 Barrel Brewing Co ● ● 10barrel.com 720.573.8992 2620 Walnut St Denver

14er Brewing Altitude Brewing & Supply

®

Dolores River Brewery ● ●

Main Street Brewery & Restaurant ● Mancos Brewing Co ● Ska Brewing Co ● ● Steamworks Brewing Co ● WildEdge Brewing Collective

EAGLE COUNTY 7 Hermits Brewing Co ● Bonfire Brewing ●

TILLERY & CIDERY LINEUP Gore Range Brewery ●

Carbondale Beer Works ●

Vail Brewing Co ● ●

Casey Brewing and Blending

Westbound & Down Brewing Co ●

San Luis Valley Brewing ●

Outer Range Brewing Co ●

Square Peg Brewerks

Pug Ryan’s Brewery ●

Glenwood Canyon Brew Pub ●

KREMMLING

Three Barrel Brewing Co ●

Steep Brewing and Coffee ●

Roaring Fork Beer Co ●

Grand Adventure Brewing Co

PAONIA

WALSENBURG

Dead Hippie Brewing ●

GOLDEN

LAKE CITY

Chrysalis Barrel Aged Beer

Crafty Canary Brewery

Peak View Brewing Co

Barrels and Bottles Brewery ●

Lake City Brewing

Paonia United Brewing Co

Cannonball Creek Brewing Co ●

LITTLETON AREA

PARKER

Big Trout Brewing Co

Blue Spruce Brewing Co

Barnett and Son Brewing Co ● ●

Camber Brewing Co

Breckenridge Brewery ●

Downhill Brewing Co ●

Fraser River Beer Co

Coal Mine Ave. Brewing Co

Los Dos Potrillos Mexican Restaurant y Cerveceria ●

Hideaway Park Brewery

ENGLEWOOD AREA Brewability Lab ● ●

ESTES PARK Avant Garde Aleworks Estes Park Brewery ● Lumpy Ridge Brewing Co Rock Cut Brewing Co

FAIRPLAY South Park Brewing Co ●

FORT COLLINS AREA Anheuser-Busch BJ’s ● Black Bottle Brewery ●

Coda Brewing Coors Brewing Co Golden City Brewery ●

Holidaily Brewing Co Holidailybrewing.com 303.278.BEER

DC Oakes Brewhouse & Eatery ● Envy Brewing Equinox Brewing ● Funkwerks Gilded Goat Brewing Co Horse & Dragon Brewing Co Intersect Brewing Jessup Farm Barrel House ● The Marmot Fort Collins Mash Lab Brewing Maxline Brewing McClellan’s Brewing Co ● ● New Belgium Brewing Co ● ● Odell Brewing Co ● ● Old Colorado Brewing Co Pitchers Brewery ● Prost Brewing Co Purpose Brewing Rally King Brewing Ramskeller Brewery ● Red Truck Beer ● Snowbank Brewing

Mountain Toad Brewing ●

Locavore Beer Works

Paradox Brewing Trinidad Outpost

New Terrain Brewing ● ●

LONGMONT

Ohm Brewing

300 Suns Brewing ● ●

Over Yonder Brewing

Bootstrap Brewing ● ●

GRAND JUNCTION AREA

Collision Brewing Co ●

Dented Face Brewing Co

Grossen Bart Brewery ● ●

Edgewater Brewery ●

Left Hand Brewing Co ●

Kannah Creek Brewing Co ●

Oskar Blues Brewing ●

Eddyline Restaurant and Brewing Co ●

Mad Russian Brewing Co

Outworld Brewing

Elevation Beer Co ●

Donovan Brewing Co

Monumental Beer Works

Primitive Beer

Moonlight Pizza and Brewpub ●

Durango Brewing Co

Palisade Brewing Co ● ●

Pumphouse Brewery ●

Soulcraft Brewing

Gemini Beer Co

Ramblebine Brewing Co ●

Shoes and Brews

Tres Litros Beer Co

Idylwilde Brewing

The Rockslide Restaurant and Brewery ●

Wibby Brewing ● ●

Two Mile Brewing Co ●

The Larimer Beer Co

LOVELAND/BERTHOUD

SOUTHWEST COLORADO

Berthoud Brewing Co

Avalanche Brewing Co ●

Big Beaver Brewing Co ●

Colorado Boy Brewery - Montrose, Ouray, Ridgway ●

GREELEY AREA Brix Taphouse and Brewery ● ● Crabtree Brewing ● ● G5 Brew Pub ● Green Earth Brewing High Hops Brewery ● ● Lonesome Buck Brewing Co ● Mighty River Brewing Co Peculier Ales ● ● Rule 105 Brewing Co ● Sheaf & Kettle Brewery WeldWerks Brewing Co Wiley Roots Brewing Co ●

Copper Club Brewing Co ● Suds Brothers Brewery ● ●

GLENWOOD SPRINGS/ CARBONDALE/ASPEN

Big Thompson Brewery City Star Brewing ● Crow Hop Brewing Drätz Brewing Co Grimm Brothers Brewhouse Loveland Aleworks Rock Bottom ● Rock Coast Brewery Verboten Brewing Co

MONUMENT Pikes Peak Brewing Co ● ●

The Eldo Brewpub & Venue ● ●

FRUITA

The Peak Bistro & Brewery ●

Brues Alehouse Brewing Co ● ●

Sparge Brewing

Zwei Brewing Co ● ●

Never Summer Brewing Co

Living the Dream Brewing Co

801 Brickyard Cir., Golden

GUNNISON/CRESTED BUTTE

Timnath Beerwerks

Welcome Home Brewery

PUEBLO AREA

Soul Squared Brewing Co ● Stodgy Brewing Co ●

Jackass Hill Brewery ● Lariat Lodge Brewing

Coopersmith’s Pub & Brewing ● Crooked Stave Brewing

Comet Brews ●

WINTER PARK AREA

High Alpine Brewing Co ● Irwin Brewing Co

IDAHO SPRINGS/EVERGREEN/ CENTRAL CITY/GEORGETOWN Cabin Creek Brewing ● Dostal Alley Saloon & Gambling Emporium ● El Rancho Brewing Co ● Evergreen Taphouse ●

Aspen Brewing Co ●

Guanella Pass Brewing Co

Ball Brewing

Lariat Lodge Brewing Co ● ●

Capitol Creek Brewery ●

Tommyknocker Brewery & Pub ●

NORTHEAST COLORADO Parts & Labor Brewing Co

Reservoir Brewing Co Shamrock Brewing ● Walter Brewery & Taproom

SALIDA/BUENA VISTA/ CRESTONE/LEADVILLE Browns Canyon Brewing Co

DISTRIBUTION ONLY AC Golden Brewing Co Acidulous Brewing Co Amalgam Brewing Beer by Design Black Sheep Brewery Boulder Beer Co Centennial Beer Co Ceria Brewingf Dive Bar Brewing Co

New Planet Beer Open Door Brewing Co Rustica Sleeping Giant Brewing

Golden Block Brewery ●

Social Order Brewing

Horsefly Brewing Co ● ●

Swole Beer

Ouray Brewery ●

Syndicate Brewing Co

Ourayle House Brewery

Uhl’s Brewing Co

Red Mountain Brewing ●

Woba Beer

San Juan Brews Smuggler’s Brewpub ● Stoik Beer Co

DISTILLERIES

Stronghouse Brew Pub

DENVER/BOULDER

Telluride Brewing Co

52Eighty Distilling - Littleton

Two Rascals Brewing Co

Anders’ Vodka - Parker

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS AREA Mahogany Ridge Brewery & Grill ●

Archetype Distillery - Denver Arta Tequila - Englewood

Mountain Tap Brewery ●

Art of the Spirits Colorado Whiskey - Denver

NORTHGLENN/THORNTON

Storm Peak Brewing Co

atōst Lounge - Golden

Mother Tucker Brewery ● ●

Yampa Valley Brewing Co

Ballmer Peak Distillery - Lakewood

Satire Brewing Co ● ●

SUMMIT COUNTY

Bear Creek Distillery - Denver

PAGOSA SPRINGS/ DEL NORTE/ALAMOSA

Angry James Brewing Co

The Block Distilling Co - Denver

The Baker’s Brewery ●

Boulder Spirits by Vapor Distillery - Boulder

Tumbleweed Brewing & Wine Co

The Break Room Brewing Co The Colorado Farm Brewery Pagosa Brewing Co ● Riff Raff Brewing ● ●

Breckenridge Brewery & Pub ● Broken Compass Brewing Dillon Dam Brewery ● ●

Broken Arrow Spirits - Centennial Denver Distillery - Denver Deviant Spirits - Boulder

HighSide Brewing ● ●

September-October 2021

ThirstColorado.com 45

Deviation Distilling - Denver Downslope Distilling - Englewood The Family Jones Spirit House Denver ●

Colorado Gold Distillery - Colorado Springs

Maison la Belle Vie Winery & Amy’s Courtyard - Palisade

Deerhammer Distilling Co - Buena Vista

Mesa Park Vineyards - Palisade

Distillery 291 - Colo. Springs

Golden Moon Distillery - Golden

Peachfork Orchards and Vineyards - Palisade

Allis Ranch Winery - Sedalia

FOUR CORNERS

Aspen Peak Cellars - Bailey

Flying T Wine - Cortez

Balistreri Vineyards - Denver

Four Leaves Winery - Durango

Bigsby’s Folly - Denver

Fox Fire Farms - Ignacio Guy Drew Vineyards - Cortez Pleasant View Vineyards - Pleasant View

Lee Spirits - Colo. Springs

Plum Creek Cellars - Palisade

Black Arts Cellars - Littleton

Meridiem Spirits - Elizabeth

Ptarmigan Vineyards - Grand Junction

Blanchard Family Wines - Denver

Mystic Mountain Distillery - Larkspur

Ram’s Point Winery - Grand Junction

Bonacquisti Wine Company - Denver

Sand Creek Distillery - Hugo

Red Fox Cellars - Palisade

Carboy Winery - Littleton

Sangre Distilleries - Westcliffe

Restoration Vineyards - Palisade

Colorado Sake Co. - Denver

Spirits of the Rockies - Pueblo

Shiras Winery - Grand Junction

Creekside Cellars - Evergreen

St. Kathryn Cellars Winery & Gift Shop - Palisade

Deep Roots Winery & Bistro - Denver

Summit Cellars - Palisade

Golden City Winery - Golden

Talon Winery - Palisade

Golden Valley Winery - Denver

Two Rivers Winery - Grand Junction

Big B’s Juices and Hard Cider Hotchkiss

Two Swedes Glögg - Grand Junction

The Infinite Monkey Theorem Denver

Boco Cider - Boulder

WESTERN SLOPE

Varaison Vineyards and Winery Palisade

InVINtions, A Creative Winery Greenwood Village

Spirit Hound Distillers - Lyons

10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Co - Vail

Kingman Estates Winery - Denver

State 38 Distilling - Golden

Whitewater Hill Vineyards - Grand Junction

39 North Spirits - Eagle

Stranahan’s - South Denver

808 Distillery - Eagle

CENTRAL WEST AREA

Leap of Faith Winery - Wheat Ridge

5680' Vineyard - Paonia

Point Blank Winery - Centennial

Alfred Eames Cellars at Puesta del Sol Vineyards - Paonia

Purgatory Cellars Winery - Parker

Azura Cellars - Paonia

Spero Winery - Denver

Black Bridge Winery - Paonia

Vino Passarelli - Lakewood

Endless Endeavor Winery - Paonia

Water 2 Wine - Centennial

Evening Grace Vineyards - Hotchkiss

Waters Edge Winery - Centennial

Jack Rabbit Hill - Hotchkiss

The Ice Cave Cider House Monument

Wild Women Winery - Denver

Leroux Creek Vineyards - Hotchkiss

Locust Cider & Brewing Co- Boulder

The Wine Barrel - Parker

Mesa Winds Farm and Winery Hotchkiss

Old Mine Cidery & Brewpub - Erie

NORTHERN FRONT RANGE

Scrumpy’s Hard Cider - Fort Collins

Qutori Wines - Paonia

Augustina’s Winery - Nederland

Snow Capped Cider - Cedaredge

Stone Cottage Cellars - Paonia

Bad Bitch Cellars - Eaton

St. Vrain Cidery - Longmont

DELTA & MONTROSE COUNTIES

Blendings at the Preserve - Fort Collins

Stem Ciders - Denver ● ●

Blue Mountain Vineyards - Berthoud

Summit Hard Cider - Fort Collins

BookCliff Vineyards - Boulder

Talbott’s Cider Co - Palisade

Decadent Saint - Boulder

Teal Cider - Dolores

River Garden Winery - Fort Lupton

Waldschänke Ciders - Denver

Settembre Cellars - Boulder

Wild Cider - Firestone

Snowy Peaks Winery - Estes Park

Zanamiel - Centennial

Hogback Distillery - Wheat Ridge J & L Distilling Co - Boulder Ironton Distillery - Denver Laws Whiskey House - Denver Leopold Bros - Northeast Denver Local Distilling - Golden Mad Rabbit Distillery - Westminster Mile High Spirits - Lodo Mythology Distillery - Denver ●

Woods High Mountain Distillery woodsdistillery.com 719.207.4315 144 W 1st Salida

On Point Distillery - Lafayette Rising Sun Distillery - Denver Rocker Spirits - Littleton Santa Fe Spirits - Littleton

Strongwater Spirits & Botanicals - Denver Talnua Distillery - Arvada Tighe Brothers Distillery - Denver Tingala - Denver Weaver’s Spirits - Parker

Breckenridge Distillery ● breckenridgedistillery.com 970.547.9759 1925 Airport Rd Breckenridge

Coal Creek Distillery - Crested Butte

Whistling Hare DistilleryWestminster ●

Durango Craft Spirits - Durango

Fraser Valley Distilling fraservalleydistilling.com 970.363.7792

NORTHERN COLORADO Big Fat Pastor - Loveland

410 Zerex St Fraser

Bouck Brothers Whiskey - Idaho Springs Coyote Gold Margaritas - Fort Collins

Highlands Distillery - Grand Junction

Coppermuse Distillery - Fort Collins

Honey House Distillery - Durango

Dry Land Distillers - Longmont

Idlewild Spirits Distillery- Winter Park

Elevation 5003 Distillery - Fort Collins

KJ Wood Distillers - Ouray Marble Distilling Co - Carbondale ●

Elkins Distilling Co - Estes Park

Montanya Distillers - Crested Butte

Feisty Spirits - Fort Collins

Peach Street Distillers - Palisade

The Heart Distillery - Windsor

Peak Spirits - Hotchkiss

Longtucky Spirits - Longmont

Stoneyard Distillery - Dotsero

Mobb Mountain Distillers - Fort Collins

Storm King Distilling - Montrose

NOCO Distillery - Fort Collins

Telluride Distilling Co - Telluride

Old Elk Distillery - Fort Collins

Woody Creek Distillers - Basalt

Old Town Distilling - Fort Collins

WINERIES

Still Cellars - Longmont Spring 44 Distilling - Loveland Steamboat Whiskey Co - Steamboat Spring ●

Stoney Mesa Winery - Cedaredge Winery at Cedars Farm - Cedaredge

SOUTH FRONT RANGE

C Squared Ciders - Penrose ● Clear Fork Cider - Denver Climb Hard Cider Co - Loveland Colorado Cider Co - Denver Colorado +49 Cidery & Pub- Golden Fenceline Cider - Mancos Golden City Winery - Golden Haykin Family Cider - Aurora

Stem Ciders Acreage- Lafayette ● ●

Stonebridge Farm Winery - Longmont Sweet Heart Winery - Loveland

MEADERIES

Ten Bears Winery - Laporte

Annapurna Mead - Colorado Springs

Turquoise Mesa Winery - Broomfield

Black Forest Meadery - Colorado Springs

Viewpoint Wines - Boulder

Golden City Winery - Golden

Legatum Cellars - Canon City

Continental Divide Winery Breckenridge

Honnibrook Meadery Castle Rock ● ●

Mountain Spirit Winery, Ltd. - Salida

Monkshood Cellars - Minturn

Hunters Moon Meadery - Severance

Sette Dolori - Black Forest

Vines at Vail Winery - Wolcott

Meadery of the Rockies - Palisade

Desert Sun Vineyards - Grand Junction

Songbird Cellars - Beulah The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey Canon City

Winter Park Winery - Fraser

Mechalore Meadworks - Loveland

Garfield Estates Vineyard & Winery - Palisade

Medovina - Niwot

The Winery at Pikes Peak - Cascade

Steamboat Winery - Steamboat Springs

Vino Colorado Winery - Colorado Springs

PLAINS

Queen Bee Brews - Denver

Claremont Inn & Winery - Stratton

Waddle Buzz Meadery - Golden

Mummy Hill Winery - Holyoke

Redstone Meadery - Boulder

DeBeque Canyon Winery - Palisade

Grande River Vineyards - Palisade

Byers Cellars - Cripple Creek D’Vine Wine - Manitou Springs Evergood Elixirs - Palmer Lake

Blackhat Distillery - Colo. Springs

Graystone Winery - Clifton

Cockpit Craft Distillery - Colo.

Springs

Gubbini Winery - Palisade

Vino Salida Wine Cellars - Poncha Springs

Hermosa Vineyards - Palisade

CENTRAL FRONT RANGE

46 ThirstColorado.com

Branch Out Cider - Fort Collins

Dragon Meadery - Aurora

Colterris Winery - Palisade

Black Bear Distillery - Green Mountain Falls

Mountain View Winery - Olathe

Boxing Brothers Cider - Colorado Springs

Buckel Family Wine - Crested Butte

Avant Vineyards - Palisade Colorado Cellars Winery - Palisade

Axe and the Oak - Colo. Springs

Garrett Estates Cellars - Olathe

Artisan Craft Cellars - Westminster

CENTRAL MOUNTAIN

GRAND JUNCTION AREA

Tower 56 Distilling - Greeley

1350 Distilling - Colo. Springs

Cottonwood Cellars/The Olathe Winery - Olathe

Silver Vines Winery - Arvada

CIDERIES Apple Valley Cider Co

Colorado Honey Wine - Distribution Only

Carlson Vineyards - Palisade

3 Hundred Days of Shine - Monument

24621 Tannin Rd, Cedaredge

Ladrón Cellars - Englewood

Yellow Car Country Wines - Cortez

Vinnie Fera - Boulder

Syntax Spirits - Greeley

SOUTHERN COLORADO

Chill Switch Wines chillswitchwine.wordpress.com 303.518.0581

Gaijin 24886 Sake - Denver

Sutcliffe Vineyards - Cortez

September-October 2021

Reds Wine Boutique - Sterling

Miracle Stag Meadery - Loveland

Available in bottles, recyclable kegs & now fountain!

zuberfizz.com 970-946-4561

We are all in t We are all in this together.

Stay healthy and Stay healthy and support local!

Winners of 2020 Best of Denver Readers’ Choice Award for:

Winners of 2020 Best of Denver Readers’ Choice Award for:

Store Argonaut Best Has It!On Colfax Avenue Best Liquor Store - Selection Best Liquor Store - Price

We are all in this together.

Stay healthy and support local!

Argonaut Has It! It! Argonaut Has

Best Store On Colfax Avenue Best Liquor Store - Selection Best Liquor Store - Price

WE DELIVER! Support local.

We are all in this together.

Stay healthy and support local!

Winners of 2020 Best of Denver Readers’ Choice Award for:

Best Store On Colfax Avenue Best Liquor Store - Selection Best Liquor Store - Price

Winner Of Best Of Denver 2021 Readers Choice Award

2020 Best of Denver hoice Award for:

760 EAST COLFAX 303-831-7788 Mon-Sat 8am-11pm Sunday 8am-10pm

Over 15,000 item Over 15,000 items to chose from SHOP ONLINE AT WWW. 40,000 sq.

40,000 sq. feet of fun ARGONAUTLIQUOR.COM

On Colfax Avenue or Store - Selection Over 15,000 items to chose from or Store - Price 40,000 sq. feet of fun

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CHEERS TO THE RETURN OF

INSIDE JOKES

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After a year that felt more like a decade, we raise our glasses to seeing familiar faces at our favorite local haunts.

Here’s to people and places we’ve missed the most.

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