Thirst Colorado, January-February 2017

SERVING UP THE COLORADO LIFESTYLE

Vol. 2, No. 2 January-February 2017

STEAMBOAT SHREDDIN’ ON AND OFF THE SLOPES

SNOWED IN

BEERS FOR WHEN THE SNOW’S PILED HIGH

PRAIRIE TO PLATE BEHIND THE SCENES OF COLORADO BISON CUISINE

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&

LIBATIONS BEYOND Hello 2017!

It’s that time of year when we reflect on our aspirations and goals for the new year. We take stock of what and who we are thankful for. As I sit pondering what 2017 has in store, I am grateful for family, friends and life in Colorado.

Living in Colorado is like nowhere else. From Big City excitement to small mountain town paradises, we embrace our state and all it has to offer.

Winter in Colorado is a wonderland with such diversity that when the questions arise: Where’s your favorite place to ski, snowmobile, snowshoe, ice fish … the answers are as varied as our many mountain ranges. We each have a favorite destination that stands out in our mind.

Serious backcountry skiers might choose the rugged terrain of the San Juan Mountains as a preferred stop. Snowshoe enthusiasts could choose the immense open spaces around Grand County for a desired path or perhaps Rocky Mountain National Park for some elevation gain.

In this issue, we explore one of our favorite mountain gems for winter fun: Steamboat Springs and its plethora of activities for all ages. The picturesque descent from Rabbit Ears Pass into the Yampa Valley basin sets the scene for a playground like no other.

From free bunny slopes for the wee ones to intense backcountry aspen dodging, skiers and boarders can find their utopia. Gear up and head to Steamboat Lake for ice fishing or into Medicine Bow National Forest for some snowmobiling fun.

For those who aren’t that excited about hitting the slopes, they can climb aboard a sleigh and enjoy the landscape. Or, jump on the gondola and take in the slopes from a comfortable seat with an incredible view.

ADVISORY BOARD Jean Ditslear Owner, 300 Suns Brewing Bess Dougherty Head Brewer, Grateful Gnome Sandwich Shoppe and Brewery Alan Laws Owner, Laws Whiskey House

Kimberly Naslund Owner, Dancing Pines Distillery Charlie Sturdavant Owner, Golden City Brewery Terri Viezbicke Owner, Boulder Distillery

Publisher Paul Johnson paul@thirstcolorado.com Associate Publisher & Editor Joe Ross joe@thirstcolorado.com Vice President of Sales Tod Cavey Advertising Sales Nick Gardner, Bryan Schleigh, Jason Van Houten Design & Layout Michele Garner, Stacey Krull, Sandy Birkey President & Founder Wilbur E. Flachman Marketing & Digital Coordinator Neill Pieper Editorial Assistant Dylan Hochstedler Contributors Elizabeth Buckingham, Holly Gerard, Steve Graham, Kyle Kirves, Kristen Kuchar, Nick Nick Photography, Lisa Van Horne, Angie Wright For advertising and editorial information, please contact Joe Ross at 303.428.9529 Ext. 227 or email joe@thirstcolorado.com Proud member of Brewers Association and 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

Top off your day with native beer, spirits, food and music, all of which you can read about in this issue.

As always, Thirst responsibly!

Paul Johnson Publisher & Tasting Guru

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, 2017. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

facebook.com/thirstcolorado twitter.com/thirstcolorado @thirstcolorado

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January-February 2017

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 | January-February 2017

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INTERSECTIONS

16 Art of Brewing

Steamworks’ brew art epitomizes Colorado spirit

20 Elevated Liquid

Winter warmers to warm the soul

25

Product Spotlight

34

For you or as a gift, perfect gear for adventures in the snow

36

30 Prime Pairings

Decadent and zesty recipes paired for your kitchen

32 Strange Brews

Nom nom nom, me want cookie ... beer

40 Characters of the Craft

Personalities behind Colorado’s craft scene

42

Q&A

Berkeley’s locally sourced go-to for food

43 Brewers’ Favorites

Brewers share insight into the best Colorado beers

26

44 Brewery, Cidery & Distillery Guide

We’ll help you find great drinks wherever you end up in Colorado

ADVENTURES

8 Destination Steamboat

Cover Photo: Snowed In by Neill Pieper

Live music, a carnival and pristine slopes, what else could you want?

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26 Untapped

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34 Apples to Apples

Prairie to Plate

Behind the scenes with Colorado bison cuisine

22 A Perfect Night Out

Indecisive? Locations that offer a cornucopia of activities

January-February 2017

Local businesses collaborate for a delicious outcome

12 Snowed In

Essential beers for deep snows and fires in the hearth

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24 Uncommon Cacao

Plan out your winter activities

Brush up your knowledge on local cider

36 Worthy Glassware Beer is important and your glass is too

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EXPLORING STEAMBOAT Horsing around in iconic ski town is part of the adventure

By Joe Ross

E

veryone knows about the fabled skiing at Steamboat Ski Resort – the larger-than-it-looks mountain, beautiful runs through trees and kneedeep powder. But don’t limit yourself.

Steamboat can be experienced in many ways.

One of the best ways to experience the mountain-town charm is to attend the Winter Carnival, happening Feb. 8-12.

The streets of Steamboat will be filled with enough entertainment to tire out the youngsters and put a smile on the face of their parents.

Steamboat’s carnival got rolling more than a century ago. It was launched to relieve residents of cabin fever during long winters, said Maren McCutchan, public relations manager at the Steamboat Springs Chamber. “It’s Steamboat’s Western heritage shining through. It’s part of why people like living here. The carnival is not only special for visitors, but locals as well.”

The 104th carnival promises a great -- and at times unusual -- experience.

Visitors will see people on skis (ski joring)

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and on snow shovels being pulled down the snow-covered street by horses.

Dozens of young athletes take part in contests and exhibitions to demonstrate the extreme nature of boarding and skiing. The Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club trains the young athletes to compete at every level. The club has produced more winter Olympians than any other town in North America, McCutchan said.

Steamboat Springs High School students compete in a snow sculpture competition, and the high school band straps on skis and performs for the crowds.

Attendees should expect less athletic entertainment as well. Don’t be alarmed if you run into the Lighted Man. Jon Banks will ski around Steamboat’s famed Howelsen Hill wearing 32 Roman candles, 12 sky rockets and a metal cylinder mounted on a football helmet studded with flashing lights. The tradition started with Banks’ dad in 1936.

A thunderous fireworks show will also echo down the valley during the Winter Carnival celebration.

For those who can’t attend the carnival and need something to do besides skiing or boarding, read on. The Steamboat area is loaded with choices. Here are a few: • Ice fishing at Steamboat Lake • Snowmobiling on Rabbit Ears Pass • Snowshoeing on Howelsen Hill • Soaking in the local hot springs • Ice skating at Howelsen Ice Arena • Ice climbing at Fish Creek Falls Wrapping up an afternoon of fun at one of the local breweries should help round out a perfect day. Stop by Mahogany Ridge Brewery & Grill, where you can get a meal, craft beer and have access to a full bar. Mountain Tap Brewery also serves food, including wood-fired pizza.

Or, bring your own food to Butcherknife Brewing or Storm Peak Brewing Co. With a seven-barrel system, Storm Peak brewers will throw some choices your way that will range from straightforward IPAs to a few barrel-aged specialties.

Wherever you choose to dine, ask for locally made beers.

So, remember to expand your Steamboat horizons on your next visit.

Photos: Larry Pierce/Steamboat Ski Resort

TURN THE PAGE FOR MORE STEAMBOAT SHREDDIN’

January-February 2017

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WONDERGRASS

BOOGIE FROM SLOPE TO STAGE THIS FEBRUARY Photos: Courtesy of WinterWonderGrass Festival

By Neill Pieper

S

ki in and out will have a whole new meaning this February at Steamboat Ski Resort.

Envision yourself carving wide turns through leafless aspen trees and across Champagne powder slopes straight into Steamboat Springs. Kick off your skis, take a few steps through the base area and looming before your eyes are your next two favorite things: bluegrass music and craft libations.

For three days this winter, Steamboat Resort hosts the WinterWonderGrass festival, just steps from the slopes. The annual party celebrates bluegrass music, craft beer, spirits, food and a plethora of outdoor offerings.

Pop-up jam-sessions on the slopes and workshops at the base area make for an immersive experience at this year’s reinvigorated festival.

The fest, now in its fifth year, will make

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its debut in Steamboat Springs Feb. 2426. While the festival has been mountaintown based in Vail in previous years, the WinterWonderGrass team wanted a more “on-mountain” feel. Founder Scotty Stoughton said, “The move to Steamboat allows us to realize our original vision of a truly integrated music and mountain experience with on-mountain events and a festival site next to the ski hill.”

Colorado-born bands Leftover Salmon and Elephant Revival will be joined by the Infamous Stringdusters and Railroad Earth as headliners. Blues performers The California Honeydrops, bluegrass legend Sam Bush, and the North Carolina sextet known as the Steep Canyon Rangers are exciting additions to a cast of 25 bands set to play.

But the weekend offers more than just music and skiing. The festival is host to 20 breweries, a hard-cider booth and

craft spirits from Breckenridge Distillery.

While the libations themselves will lend a hand against cold weather, beer tents will be heated and host live music in between main sets. Lucky VIPs will be treated to a special beer release from event sponsor Great Divide.

One thing is for certain: Coloradans and visitors alike love the crossover between outdoor activities, craft beer and Colorado’s other great scene – live music. Those lines will intersect in Steamboat Springs this winter. So, if you are lucky enough to get a ticket, make your way up to the northwest part of the state and check out what looks to be an unparalleled winter wonderland get-down.

When he’s not in a brewery or on the mountain, Neill Pieper works on marketing and digital media for Thirst Colorado.

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EIGHT REASONS TO GET SNOWED IN THIS WINTER

By Neill Pieper

S

nowflakes cascade from cloudy skies. Slowly the boughs of evergreen trees begin to dip under the weight of accumulating snow. Snow begins to pile along window ledges. With growing intensity, a storm rages outside and the inhabitants realize that they are soon to be isolated, confined – snowed in.

Indoors, crackling kindling erupts into a warmth that spills from the hearth – perfect.

This winter you may find yourself in such a situation. As thoughts of fresh tracks, warm fires and snow-filled glades flitter across your mind, a winter ale in your fridge calls, supporting those fevered dreams. So, crack open one of your prized barrel-aged stouts as you sit in front of the fire, because days like these are meant to be enjoyed.

Northwest of Denver in Lakeside, the folks at Molly’s Spirits have provided a lineup of beers with tasting notes. Included are dark stouts, barrel-aged porters and winter-spiced ales.

Whether you are curling up in front of the crackling fire, sheltering in a backcountry hut or sipping after a day on the slopes, the following beers come highly recommended for consumption. You can find more information about these beers and more Colorado craft libations by stopping at Molly’s or at mollysspirits.com.

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1. BROKEN COMPASS COCONUT PORTER Broken Compass owner Jason Ford stumbled upon the recipe for Coconut Porter seven years ago while homebrewing. Using 100 percent organic, handtoasted coconut from Whole Foods, Broken Compass uses game bags to infuse the coconut into its porter, imparting loads of fresh coconut flavor. The bottle features artwork from renowned Denver artist John Fellows who creates the designs from a combination of carving and drawing.

Pairs well with a curry dish and coconut cream pie.

2. GREAT DIVIDE BARREL AGED HIBERNATION As the days grow even colder and darker, Great Divide Barrel Aged Hibernation is the perfect beer to have by your side.

This rendition of a winter warmer is aged in whiskey barrels for more than 12 months. You’ll pick up notes of whiskey, char and toast, rounded out by chocolate, dark fruit and vanilla notes.

Pairs well with grilled beef tenderloin, Romano cheese and pecan pie.

3. COPPER KETTLE SNOWED IN The name says it all. The snow is piled high outside and all you want to do is sit back, relax and enjoy a stout. Snowed In is an imperial oatmeal stout aged in bourbon barrels with coffee and chocolate. The 2016 release of Snowed In comes in at 13.3% ABV and was aged in Breckenridge Bourbon barrels with Sumatra coffee from Pablo’s Coffee in Denver and chocolate from Cholaca in Boulder.

Pairs well with hearty stews and deep powder.

Photo: Neill Pieper

4. LOCAVORE FIRESIDE WINTER SPICE Caramel, toffee and light toasty malt notes jump out of this flavorful winter offering from Locavore Beerworks.

Holiday spices follow through the finish with hints of clove, cinnamon, orange, and ginger.

Pairs well with sharp cheddar, roasted turkey and fruit cake.

5. CROOKED STAVE SERENATA NOTTURNA

6. ODELL ISOLATION ALE

7. EPIC BIG BAD BAPTIST

Crooked Stave always brings the funk, and they did not disappoint with this beer.

Serenata Notturna is tart, funky and has toasty, sherry oak qualities. Big flavors and a growing complexity linger on the taste buds.

Pairs well with chevre, mussels, fruit and custard.

From the first look at the package of Odell Isolation Ale, you picture yourself getting snowed in and cozying up to a warm fire.

Isolation opens up to flavors of rich caramel with a hint of graham cracker. The sip ends with a balanced earthy/ woodsy hop finish.

Pairs well with pepper jack cheese, chili con carne and biscotti.

Epic’s Big Bad Baptist is the epitome of happiness after a long powder day.

It’s a perfect storm of rich mouthfeel with oaky bourbon notes that are combined with accents of coffee, dark cocoa and an elevated ABV to warm the soul.

Pairs well with German chocolate cake, Gorgonzola cheese and Molly’s single barrel bourbons.

8. LIQUID MECHANICS PEANUT BUTTER PORTER Reese’s better watch out. Liquid Mechanics Peanut Butter Porter quite literally tastes like a peanut butter cup in a glass, in all the best ways. There are bright chocolate notes that balance with a savory peanut butter finish. The solid malt backbone has enough sweetness to leave the taste buds wanting more.

Pairs well with peanut butter cookies, pad Thai and curry foods.

January-February 2017

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January-February 2017

Y L NT

D E P P O H A G A V A R T EX

t We pu

ART OF BREWING

BREW GRIT

Steamworks Brewing Embodies Work (and Play) Ethic of its Durango Home

By Kyle Kirves

Y

ou had a nightlight, right? Maybe it was just a simple bulb plugged into an outlet. If it was fancy, maybe it sported a Wonder Woman logo or an R2-D2. And your teddy bear was maybe a Winnie the Pooh or a Paddington. That is, if you’ll admit to having either.

Right? Right.

Well, Brian McEachron of Steamworks Brewing in Durango might have you beat.

“My nightlight as a kid was an Olympia beer sign,” he says.

“With the oscillating waterfall and everything. And I have a Hamm’s (beer) bear that I got as a kid from my dad. It’s still in my office.”

So it’s not surprising that those old-school 1960s and ’70s beer labels influence the new Steamworks art for its cans and bottles of Conductor IPA, Steam Engine Pale Ale and Backside Oatmeal Stout.

These three containers, with their crisp white labels, limited color choices and simple iconography would look right at home alongside the old enamel cans your dad has in his collection. My favorite, the Backside Stout, features

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a skier in vintage apparel in black-and-white-and-bronze, inside an image of wrought brass, maybe cutting stem christies down Purgatory Mountain in Durango. Even the Steamworks-branded ribbon at the top and bottom seem cut from the same cloth as beers you’d find in grandad’s Philco ’fridge. It’s oldschool street cred in a can.

Yes, the art is clearly in the mode of old Milwaukee beer branding. But, though the imagery may be nostalgic, what’s in the can is completely 21st century: polished, drinkable beers that McEachron describes as “quick off the palate, sessionable, tight beers that you want to drink more than one of.” Couple that with a nitro-injection — in the case of the Backside — that demands that you “pour stoutly,” and you have a recipe for an awardwinning concoction, one of many, in fact. Time and time again, Steamworks

continues to bring home the hardware from Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup. It’s more than just nostalgia that influences Steamworks’ choices in artwork. Durango itself is infused in everything Steamworks does, and has been for nearly 20 years.

“We chose Durango as where we wanted to be because there is still a great hard-working, blue collar ethic there,” McEachron says. “We know so many people who have done whatever it took to stick around the place they love. It’s a small town. Still working class. Still affordable. And what we do is a tribute to that place and the people in it. Nuts and bolts and gears and steam. That’s Durango.”

Justin “JT” Travis, onetime staffer at Steamworks and now designer of their can and bottle art, suggests Steamworks owes a debt of gratitude to Durango’s traditions.

“We like being associated with our town’s historical, frontier reputation,” Travis said. “The (Durango and Silverton) Narrow Gauge Railroad is part of that frontier

tradition that we’ve kind of tapped into in terms of our branding and can art.”

Travis said the inspiration for the imagery has always been steam-powered industrial, but with a less modern take. He calls it vintage industrial. “Steamworks was steampunk way before it was fashionable to be so,” he said.

One notable departure from the Steamworks branding catalog is the eminently drinkable and instantly recognizable Colorado Kolsch, showcasing the Colorado state flag as a wrap. When I asked him about being way out in front of the whole Colorado flag branding phenomenon, McEachron laughs and says, “We’ve been out in front of a lot of things. Nobody was doing collaboration years ago. Now it’s a huge thing. And that’s so, so unbelievably great for everybody. Everybody is learning from everybody else.”

McEachron cites decades old “friendly competition” with fellow Durango brewers Ska Brewing, and recent collaborations with Denver’s Dry Dock Brewing (“Dry Dock is killing it. Great people making great beer,” McEachron says.) as mutually beneficial creative crucibles. Dry Dock cans Steamworks’ beers for distribution, and you’ll find shout-outs to Dry Dock on the cans, giving credit where credit is due.

But all work and no play makes for a dull brewery.

McEachron is quick to point out that the good, hard working people of Steamworks — and the city of Durango, of which they are a microcosm — are also very much about good, hard play, too. They’re committed hikers, bikers, boarders, rafters, rowers … you know, typical Coloradans. McEachron himself on any business day could easily be taken for a fly-fishing guide on a day off.

“We are contractually obligated to ski certain places in Durango,” McEachron says, citing local landmark Purgatory as sacred ground for Steamworks. “And we stock a lot of back-country ski and Snowcat operations. We love those people. Those folks are Colorado.” He might as well have said “Durango.”

Like its home city, Steamworks continues to strike the balance between work and play, business and family — and life, and love, and everything else. Their story — both Steamworks and Durango’s — is well-told in the images on beers that you’d be proud to pull out of your own refrigerator, slap in Dad’s hand and say, “Here’s to __________.” It’s up to you to fill in the blank.

Kyle Kirves is a solid dude who believes drinking beer should be a ‘five senses’ experience.

January-February 2017

ThirstColorado.com

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PRAIRIE TO PLATE

A STORY OF BISON IN COLORADO

By Lisa Van Horne

O

nce a month, Chef Jeff Bolton at Kachina Southwestern Grill in Westminster receives a whole bison from the Prairie Ridge Buffalo Ranch in Limon. Not just a pack of sirloin steaks, flank steaks or ribs.

A whole bison. What happens next is a culinary collaboration between Bolton and Kachina’s in-house butcher to not only figure out how to use this sheer 600 to 700 pounds of meat, but also how to craft dishes that will both utilize the entirety of the animal and uniquely entice their patrons.

“From nose to tail, we work to incorporate the entire bison into our menu,” said Bolton. “Instead of just serving something like tenderloins, we get at least eight to nine cuts of meat from the same bison, so the whole bison hits the shelves.”

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This sustainable practice and philosophy is indicative not just of Bolton’s exploratory, creative mindset, but also of the bison industry in Colorado as a whole. According to Dave Carter, executive director of the National Bison Association, there are about 400,000 bison in North America today, making it a small market even after its spike in growth over the past decade. Only in the past 10 years or so have chefs throughout the West and in Colorado begun experimenting with and introducing bison dishes to the public. As more people experience the delicious and unique taste of bison, demand continues to grow.

As the bison industry has expanded, operating and abiding by sustainable philosophies and practices has and continues to be key to its success. From

the time when Ray and Debbie Thieman started the Prairie Ridge Buffalo Ranch in 1999, demand for bison meat has increased dramatically.

However, that doesn’t mean there is anything mass market about raising bison. Prairie Ridge, which has about 1,000 head of bison, only offers buffalo meat in quarters, halves, or as a whole animal, eliminating the wastefulness of only selling certain cuts of steak.

It’s illegal to use growth hormones when raising bison, and the animals at Prairie Ridge roam freely over 15,000 acres, never consuming anything that contains stimulants or antibiotics.

Because of this free-roaming practice, raising bison is agriculturally sustainable as well. As Dave Carter notes, bison have historically shaped the landscape of the ecosystem of the West

Photos: Kachina Southwestern Grill

Photo: Prairie Ridge Buffalo Ranch

and, as the popularity of bison continues to grow steadily, they are continuing to shape that ecosystem today.

Chefs in recent years have likewise capitalized on the versatility of bison meat. Here in Colorado, bison dishes can be found at countless restaurants and breweries. In a state of healthconscious citizens, bison meat is a more nutritious option for getting your red meat fix. From the Bison Brat at Colorado’s ViewHouse restaurants to the bison jerky and smoked bison meatloaf at Kachina, bison has become a quintessentially Colorado dish.

Kachina has become the gold standard in preparing and serving unique, hearty bison dishes. Chef Bolton uses each carcass to its full potential, right down to the skull, which is often decorated by a local artist and ends up

adorning the walls of the restaurant as a piece of décor. Kachina also engages Colorado’s craft beer industry and hosts regular beer and bison dinners.

Kachina partners with a local brewery to offer various bison dishes paired with craft brews, creating an experience that is authentically local to Colorado on all levels.

So, the next time you’re asked to name Colorado’s most famous dish, consider answering with bison. From the sustainability and care with which it’s raised to the creativity and craft with which it’s prepared, local Colorado bison are unique indicators of the state’s craft food culture.

From Massachusetts to New York to Reno to San Diego to Boulder, Lisa Van Horne is a writer who has found a home here on the Front Range.

January-February 2017

ThirstColorado.com

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ELEVATED LIQUID

COLORADO CRAFTED COCKTAILS

Throwing a party this winter? Entertain your guests with these do-it-yourself winter warmers. In this issue, we feature cocktails from Distillery 291 in Colorado Springs, Stoneyard Distillery in Dotsero and Leopold Bros. in Denver. ◆ Distillery 291 developed its citrus clove liquor on a snowy day in 2011.

Owner Michael Myers was originally planning to make “Whiskeyritas” but when the snow started flying, he improvised.

With some quickly sourced ingredients he concocted The Decc. Tasting it, Michael

291 DECC HOLIDAY CROCK POT COCKTAIL Fill crock pot with the following: 1 gallon of Tillman cider A cheese cloth sachet filled with: 1 tsp cloves 2 tbsp lightly crushed cardamom pods 1 tbsp whole allspice 10 pods star anise 4 cinnamon sticks Bring cider and sachet up to high temperature one hour prior to serving. Add 2 ounces 291 Decc to a mug and ladle hot cider on top until full. Garnish with orange slice and one floating star anise.

thought, “wow, you can drink this on a snowy deck, but if you drink too much of it, you will hit the deck.” Hence the name. ◆ Lucky Oh Horchata Specialty Spirit was created from a partnership between Lucky-Oh Beverages and Stoneyard Distillery. The rice, cinnamon and vanilla

STONEYARD HORCHATA COCKTAIL 2 oz Stoneyard horchata rum 4 1/2 oz horchata Cinnamon Mix the Stoneyard Lucky-Oh rum with horchata into a shaker. Pour into a low-ball glass filled with ice. Sprinkle fresh cinnamon on top. Garnish with cranberry and a rosemary sprig.

Serves 1

concoction pairs well with Stoneyard’s rum. ◆ Taryn Kapronica from Leopold Bros. provides us with a winter warmer, perfect for entertaining. Big Apple Punch is packed with citrus and spice tones that make one think of cooler times.

BIG APPLE PUNCH 1 bottle Leopold Bros. New York Apple Whiskey 3/4 cup Leopold Bros. Three Pins Alpine Herbal Liqueur 1/2 cup Domaine de Canton 2 cups fresh lemon juice 4 cups ginger ale 4 cups club soda Combine all ingredients in a punch bowl and serve with ice. Garnish with lemon slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and other seasonal ingredients.

Serves 10-12

Serves 12-14

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Photo: Neill Pieper

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ONE-STOP EVENING

Parking yourself in one spot for entertainment, good food and fine Colorado craft beer

By Steve Graham

S

ure, the occasional pub crawl is fun. And sometimes it’s worth planning an elaborate night out with some beers at your favorite brewery, dinner at the neighborhood bistro, and a movie at the multiplex.

On the other hand, there’s all the driving and parking, the separate reservations and the tricky scheduling. If only you could just spend a whole evening in one spot. Well, we found three Front Range joints that cover all your bases — good food, craft beer and entertainment aplenty.

“You can walk into a movie theater in Amsterdam and buy a beer. And I don’t mean just like in no paper cup. I’m talking about a glass of beer,” raved Vincent Vega in the classic movie “Pulp Fiction.”

Vincent Vega can skip the international flight and get a glass of great local beer, along with a truly gourmet “royale with cheese,” at the Alamo Drafthouse movie theater in Littleton.

The three-year-old South Santa Fe Drive location has a rustic taproom with full bar, or you can order beers to your comfortable theater seat. A second location near Sloan’s Lake is scheduled to open this year.

The theater has 64 taps, including 20 rotating beers, as well as a solid list of bottles and cans. They also make adult milkshakes with Left Hand Milk Stout or

Breckenridge Vanilla Porter.

The Drafthouse focuses on Colorado breweries, and has tapped a few exclusive brews. Odell created the Beyond IPA for the Drafthouse chain in conjunction with the most recent Star Trek movie, then went a step further with the exclusive Tweaked Beyond Repair double IPA. Odell also brewed the Good Night Sweet Prince for a screening of “The Big Lebowski” attended by Jeff Dowd, the real-life inspiration for The Dude in that cult classic.

The theater screens first-run movies, as well as classics and other repertory fare. Seating is reserved, and the theater replaces the standard ads before each film

with short films and other content related to the feature. Rules against talking, texting and arriving more than 10 minutes after a film’s start time are strictly enforced, which may be a drag for casual viewers or perpetual latecomers. Also, servers may interrupt the movie from time to time.

The food menu goes far beyond Twizzlers and popcorn (although bottomless popcorn is available with herbed parmesan cheese and real clarified butter, not that sketchy squirt-on stuff). The Drafthouse serves gourmet pizzas, sandwiches and entrees, with plenty of gluten-free or vegetarian choices — and that royale burger, topped with smoked bacon, cheddar cheese and aoli.

Photos: Alamo Drafthouse

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If you would rather play Battleship than watch the movie, Manny and Melissa Garza have you covered. They are the owners of Dungeon & Drafts, a gaming mecca in central Fort Collins.

The Garzas are former military intelligence analysts who relocated from Washington, D.C., to open a restaurant and bar that combines their passions for

craft beer and board games.

The bar opened in 2015 after a successful Kickstarter campaign that helped buy sturdy wooden gaming tables, a professional-grade smoker, and the armor, crests and other medieval décor.

Just inside the front door, you will be greeted with an ever-growing collection of more than 200 board games — and expert staff that can help you find a new favorite game (if you think Risk and Monopoly are the best options, you are missing the current golden age of board games).

The games are a mixed blessing for staff and customers. Long game sessions can lead to lingering patrons. An early

attempt at table fees wasn’t well received, but Dungeons & Drafts imposes time limits on some busy nights.

The bar also has 30 taps of all Colorado craft, including some cider and mead (you know, to fit the medieval theme).

Manny Garza said he keeps a handful of permanent mainstays on tap.

The rest of the tap list is a rotating tour of northern Colorado breweries, including City Star, Zwei, Snowbank and more. For the bar’s first anniversary, Horse & Dragon Brewing Co. brewed two exclusive firkins of their popular Sad Panda coffee stout, flavored with cherry and hazelnut.

Manny said part of his role is supporting breweries and other local businesses.

“Little people should help other little people out,” Manny Garza said.

The kitchen makes salads, fried pub fare, gourmet made-to-order baked mac and cheese, and a variety of smoked burgers, brats and other meat, including whole turkey legs for that five-senses Settlers of Catan experience.

Photos: Dungeons & Drafts

The bartenders also make their signature new-school cocktails and namesake punchbowls with whiskey and other spirits from Breckenridge Distillery, Leopold Bros. and Stranahan’s.

Collier said the food menu is “inspired by southern home cooking.”

So settle in for some sweet tea-brined chicken and roll some bocce balls.

Photos: Punchbowl Social

Think of Punchbowl Social on South Broadway as a giant playground for grownups, which includes a hot, gourmet lunch and a water fountain that flows with Breckenridge Agave Wheat.

Punchbowl Social combines Southern-inspired diner food with a full bar and a bowling alley, but also has ping pong, vintage arcade and pinball games, bocce, magnetic wall-sized scrabble, private karaoke rooms, skeeball, marbles and more.

It can easily suck you in for a full

evening of entertainment and drinking.

“We call it the ‘sticky factor’ where guests often come to Punch Bowl Social for a quick drink or bite to eat, spend time watching others have a great experience and end up staying much longer than originally planned,” marketing director Jodi Collier said.

The bar has 12 taps, and at least seven flow with Colorado craft beers.

Steve Graham is a Fort Collins freelance writer who would love to challenge you to a game of Seven Wonders Duel at Dungeons & Drafts.

January-February 2017

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Photo: Angie Wright

COLLABORATIVE CACAO: CHOLACA & COLORADO CRAFT BEER

I

By Lisa Van Horne

ra Leibtag admittedly didn’t know much about craft beer when local breweries started seeking to incorporate the pure liquid cacao his company creates.

“I’m in the chocolate business,” says Leibtag, CEO and founder of Boulderbased Cholaca. “But when you’re openminded about your business and focused on giving people what they want, the next thing you know you’ll turn around and people are doing things with your product that blow your mind.”

Cholaca’s products are a simple but unique combination of just three natural ingredients: cacao, water and coconut sugar. This natural, organic product philosophy helps the cacao flavor shine through. Cholaca also strives to find and use the best cacao in the world, partnering with farms in Peru and Ecuador. Having

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originally tested out their hot and cold cacao drinks and beverage mixers at local Ozo Coffee Company locations in Boulder, Cholaca has expanded into coffee houses such as the Laughing Goat and natural grocers including Alfalfa’s, Whole Foods, Natural Grocers and Lucky’s Markets.

This pursuit of the best ingredients for the most delicious product is akin to making craft beer, so Cholaca’s brewery partnerships are a natural fit.

“Local craft brewers have an amazing attention to detail,” says Leibtag. “They are always on the search for the best ingredients out there, and we simply have the best chocolate.”

For local brewers looking to infuse chocolate into their beers, liquid cacao is a more reliable, consistent, and flavorful alternative to solid cacao nibs or powders.

Whereas these solids must be added prior to fermentation in order to extract the flavor, using a liquid cacao allows brewers to infuse the chocolate into their brews after fermentation, leading to fewer potential variables in strength of flavor.

As Cholaca’s local brewery clientele has expanded, they have gone even further to create convenience for breweries, fashioning 5-gallon and 50-gallon bulk drums of their liquid cacao specifically for brewery purchase and use.

Cholaca’s pure liquid cacao has been used throughout Colorado, including at Copper Kettle Brewing Company and Crazy Mountain Brewery in Denver, and FATE Brewing Company in Boulder.

Cholaca cacao was also recently used in Oskar Blues’ award-winning Death by Coconut beer and in the Breckenridge Brewery seasonal Nitro Chocolate Orange Stout. As more local breweries partner with Cholaca, Leibtag noted he is excited to be a part of a collaborative and positive environment.

From Massachusetts to New York to Reno to San Diego to Boulder, Lisa Van Horne is a writer who has found a home here on the Front Range.

MOUNTAINS FRONT RANGE OUTDOORS SKI SNOWBOARD RUN WALK BIKE HIKE PADDLE SHRED SWIM GEAR ZIP LI NEWS BREWS SPIRITSM STILLS HOPS BARLEY WHEAT KEG CASK MOUNTAINS FRONT RANGE OUTDOORS SKI SNOW RUN WALK BIKE HIKE PADDLE SHRED SWIM GEAR ZIP LINE NEWS BREWS SPIRITS STILLS HOPS BARLEY WHEAT KE MOUNTAINS FRONT RANGE OUTDOORS SKI SNOWBOARD RUN WALK BIKE HIKE PADDLE SHRED SWIM GEAR ZIP LIN BREWS SPIRITS STILLS HOPS BARLEY WHEAT KEG CASK MOUNTAINS FRONT RANGE OUTDOORS SKI SNOWBOAR

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Colorado Bottle Opener

Spyder Geared Synthetic Down Jacket

Your Colorado pride will never end when opening your favorite beverage on this locally handmade bottle opener. These are all made out of fallen beetle killed trees from Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, painted, roughed up for that rustic look, and sealed with earth friendly shellac. Great for any bar, kitchen, craft room, garage and man cave. jccustomdesignworks.com

The Geared jacket is an ideal, on-the-go, insulated, synthetic down piece that you can layer with another shirt, or wear as a stand-alone top. This garment is perfect for walking to the gym, commuting to class or cruising the store aisles, and is available in both men’s and women’s styles. spyder.com

Acuswedemat

For fitness enthusiasts who are serious about recovery, the Acuswedemat offers premium acupressure therapy and delivers professional results.

Thousands of points on the mat work to stimulate blood flow and release endorphins to provide pain relief.

The increased circulation carries oxygen to muscles to speed recovery and moves lactic acid and toxins through the system, which makes you feel relaxed. acuswede.com

Shappell Bay Runner II Ice Shanty

This on-ice fishing resort features a solid, one-piece frame for a quick set up. The sled-based bottom easily glides across the snow and ice, which makes it mobile. There is extra storage space inside under the bench which ensures that you will never run out of beer. shappell.com

Topo Designs Klettersack

The Klettersack is an ideal companion, workmate or pack mule for the daily hike in the hills.

Topo Designs uses a thick, synthetic material for the exterior and a coated pack cloth for an entirely lined inner compartment. The natural leather lash tabs are perfect for attaching extra gear or a light for night safety, and the internal sleeve will hold most 15-inch laptops. All Topo Klettersacks are handmade in Colorado. topodesigns.com - Compiled by Dylan Hochstedler

The Bev Paw

We like to be outside all year, whether we are screaming down the slopes or enjoying a craft beer with friends. The Bev Paw is simply a glove that can be used to keep your hand warm and your beer cold during the winter months. Based in Edwards, owner Ian Mundy points out that it has an elastic band that slips over your hand so you won’t lose the Bev Paw during a festival.

It holds a variety of bottles, cans and cups. thebevpaw.com Do you have products you can’t live without? Send suggestions to: joe@thirstcolorado.com January-February 2017

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UNTA

WINTER X GAMES JANUARY 26-29 Aspen

The X Games return to Aspen for the rowdiest on-mountain party this winter. The world’s best extreme athletes compete for your viewing pleasure. College students receive special lift ticket pricing for the weekend. xgames.espn.com/xgames

DENVER BREW FEST JANUARY 27-28 Denver

The Brew Fest at Mile High Station will celebrate craft beverages from around Colorado and beyond. There will also be local bands, food and vendors. There will be more than 40 breweries. denverbrewfest.com

ULLR GRASS MUSIC & BEER FESTIVAL JANUARY 27-29 Golden

Photo: David Foxen

BIG BEERS, BELGIANS & BARLEYWINES JANUARY 5-7 BRECKENRIDGE

After an incredible run in Vail, Big Beers has moved to the Beaver Run Resort & Conference

JANUARY

NATIONAL WESTERN STOCK SHOW JANUARY 7-22 Denver

A Denver tradition since 1906, the National Western Stock Show celebrates the best of the West. Rodeos, livestock, Western art and parades are a few of the activities surrounding the event. Look out for the kick-off parade January 5 when cowboys and steers can be seen wandering through downtown Denver. nationalwestern.com

ULLR FEST JANUARY 11-14 Breckenridge

Breckenridge invites snow lovers of all ages to join the party. ULLR enthusiasts will fill the streets for the parade, while crazy participants ski jump on Main Street or glide through town in a hot tub. gobreck.com

66TH ANNUAL WINTERSKÖL CELEBRATION JANUARY 12-15 Aspen

Aspen celebrates the thriving ski community with its annual Wintersköl festival. You will see a canine fashion show, a fat cycle challenge and many other events at this winter bash. aspenchamber.org

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Center in Breckenridge. Most events will be held at Beaver Run during the 17th anniversary of the event. Discounts are available on ski and snowboard rentals, as well as lodging.

bigbeersfestival.com

ESTES PARK WINTER FESTIVAL JANUARY 14-15 Estes Park

This event is quickly becoming a popular destination not only for Colorado, but for people from surrounding states. Beer and wine tasting will be available throughout. visitestespark.com

OURAY ICE FESTIVAL JANUARY 19-21 Ouray

The Ouray Ice Festival is an annual gathering and fundraiser for the Ouray Ice Park. Whether it’s your first time ice climbing or you are hoping to improve your skills, the Ice Festival has something for everyone. Festival attendees can participate in climbing clinics, demo the latest gear, spectate during climbing competitions and attend multimedia evening presentations. ourayicepark.com

BOURBON & BACON FESTIVAL JANUARY 21 Denver

Taste your way through a dizzying array of specialty bourbons and unique whiskeys from distilleries both large and artisanal, while you munch on a bevy of smoky, porky treats. The event will include samples from the area’s best restaurants. denver.bourbonandbaconfest.com

Enjoy a fun-filled day of bottomless craft beer samplings from notable breweries and wineries, along with an afternoon of live music, local vendors and food trucks. The event will take place in Parfet Park and comes with a commemorative sampling cup. ullrgrass.com

INTERGALACTIC SNOWDOWN FEBRUARY 1-5 DURANGO

Back in 1979, the land of Durango was covered in winter’s darkness and the people were depressed.

Then came the Snowdown – the original cabin fever

APPED FEBRUARY

104TH STEAMBOAT WINTER CARNIVAL FEBRUARY 8-12 Steamboat Springs

For several days, the entire town is given over to racing, ski jumping and a parade featuring Steamboat’s skiing high school band (the only one in the United States). Also scheduled is the famous ski joring events down Lincoln Avenue. steamboatchamber.com

COLORADO POND HOCKEY TOURNAMENT FEBRUARY 17-19 Silverthorne

WINTERWONDERGRASS MUSIC & BREWFEST FEBRUARY 24-26 Steamboat Springs

WinterWonderGrass finds the perfect new home in Steamboat Springs, bringing a more integrated music, mountain and brew experience. After four sold-out events in the Vail reliever. Plan on shooting to another galaxy while sampling beers from several of Colorado’s finest breweries.

snowdown.org

Photo: Eddie Clark Media

It’s time to lace up the old skates, re-tape the stick and hit the pond this February. Lake Dillon is the venue for this winter’s Colorado Pond Hockey Tournament featuring $10,000 in prizes, a beer garden, campfire area and more.

Put together a team and register for your chance at glory! coloradopondhockey.com

OLD MAN WINTER RALLY FEBRUARY 12 LYONS

Shake off the winter blues with either a 5.8 mile run, or a bike rally (50km or 100km)

Valley, live national, regional and local bluegrass bands will jam while you are sampling tasty craft beers, wines and spirits. winterwondergrass.com

DENVER RESTAURANT WEEK FEBRUARY 24 – MARCH 5 Denver

Oodles of Denver restaurants join forces for 10 days of unparalleled culinary choices. Multicourse offerings from participating restaurants are offered for great prices around the city. The celebration provides a chance to try upscale cuisine without breaking the bank. denver.org/denver-restaurant-week

MARCH

CRAFTED CRESTED BUTTE MARCH 4 Crested Butte

Are you a foodie? Visit Mt. Crested Butte in early March and enjoy spring skiing and Crafted, a tasting featuring Colorado’s best craft brews, spirits and local fare. The event will be held in the event tent at the base area of Crested Butte Mountain Resort, where you will enjoy delicious libations and tasty treats with live music and views of the West Elk Mountains. skicb.com

Photo: Scott DW Smith

- Compiled by Dylan Hochstedler

that starts off at Sandstone Park in Lyons.

Participants will be rewarded by Oskar Blues with luxury aid stations, a hot meal, cold beer and a rocking good time.

oldmanwinterrally.com

SKI JORING & CRYSTAL CARNIVAL MARCH 4-5 Leadville

Ski joring is taking Colorado by storm, yet Leadville has been celebrating the horse-drawnskier festivity since 1949. The festivities occur on Leadville’s historic main street and include a winter carnival. If you are feeling adventurous, sign up for an 11-mile nighttime Fat Bike ride. leadvilletwinlakes.com

FROZEN DEAD GUY DAYS MARCH 10-12 Nederland

Frozen Dead Guy Days takes place in the Colorado mountain town of Nederland with three days of frosty hilarity, featuring 30 live bands in heated tents and outrageous events like coffin races, costumed polar plunging, frozen t-shirt contests and much more. frozendeadguydays.org

DENVER ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE MARCH 11 Denver

The Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a festive and fun event for all ages that celebrates Irish culture and heralds the start of spring. It’s the largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade west of the Mississippi River. denverstpatricksdayparade.com January-February 2017

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33 ROTATING TAPS FEATURING CRAFT BEER, CIDER, WINE, KOMBUCHA & MORE TWO OFF LEASH PLAY AREAS AN ECLECTIC EVENT SCHEDULE FEATURING PUP-FRIENDLY VENDORS HEATED PATIO SEATING

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FINALLY, A BOX CLUB FOR BEER FANS!

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Get a sweet local brewery shirt and coupons to the tasting room sent to your door every month from our friends at Shirts On Tap! Right now they are offering new members 1/2 off their first box with promo code THIRST. YES...THEY ARE THAT AWESOME.

Drink better beer, wear better shirts http://bit.ly/2bPF1Q0 28 ThirstColorado.com

January-February 2017

www.HydrateIVBar.com

753 S. University Blvd.

Denver, CO 80209 303-209-0989

COLORADO’S 1ST AND LARGEST LIVE ESCAPE GAME!

theclueroom.com

BIRTHDAY PARTIES CORPORATE TEAM BUILDING COMMUNITY GET-TOGETHERS FAMILY FUN EVENTS AND REUNIONS

DENVER BRONCO CHEERLEADERS

GREAT VALENTINE’S GIFT OR DATE NIGHT

7600 E. Arapahoe Road, Suite 211 • 7255 S. Havana St, Centennial 80112 (near Top Golf)

theclueroom.com

clueroom.colorado@gmail.com • 303-955-1722

Prime Pairings Chocolate Gingerbread Cake Rye ales offer milder hoppiness than most traditional IPAs, but also provide spicy and sour flavors, making them perfect for winter’s gingery desserts. This pairing showcases a dark and rich chocolaty ginger cake with Black Shirt Brewing Company’s Timekeeper Rye Pale Ale, “filled with overtones of juicy tropical fruits and undertones of pine and citrus,” BSB says.

Learn more about Chad and Carissa Miller’s Red Ale Project and commitment to local music and great beer at blackshirtbrewingco.com.

Ingredients For the cake: (Adapted from Rosanne Toroian)

2 ½ cups plus 2 tbsp all-purpose flour ½ cup cocoa powder, plus more for dusting 1 tsp baking soda

Recipe by Chef Elizabeth Buckingham Photo: Nick Nick Photography

Directions

½ tsp salt 1 tsp ginger 1 tsp cinnamon ½ tsp allspice ¼ tsp cloves ¼ tsp nutmeg ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper 12 oz bittersweet chocolate chunks 12 tbsp (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 cup sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 eggs 1 cup dark molasses 1 cup very hot water

Position a rack in middle of oven and preheat to 350°F. Butter a 10-cup Bundt pan and dust with cocoa powder. In a bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, pepper and chocolate chunks.

Pair with Timekeeper Rye Pale Ale Denver’s Black Shirt Brewing Company calls it a “precise, balanced and crisp Rye Pale Ale.” The softly bitter but refreshing finish is a perfect complement to the rich, sweet spiciness of this wonderful cake.

Using an electric mixer, beat together butter, sugar and vanilla on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl with rubber spatula. Reduce speed to medium and add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Whisk together molasses and hot water in a heatproof container. Using rubber spatula, add flour mixture alternately with molasses mixture in three batches, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl with spatula and combining just until well blended.

1 cup sugar

Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake until cake begins to pull away from sides of pan and is firm to the touch, 55 to 60 minutes. Transfer pan to wire rack and let cake cool in pan for 20 minutes. Invert cake onto rack and let cool completely.

¼ cup water

Bourbon Caramel Sauce

½ cup heavy cream

Simmer sugar and water on medium heat, swirling pan until mixture is a deep amber color. Watch closely so as not to let it burn. Turn off burner and remove from heat; slowly whisk in cream. Add salt and bourbon and place back on still-warm burner for another minute while stirring until smooth. Transfer to a heatproof container and let cool.

Simple Bourbon Caramel Sauce (Adapted from Martha Stewart)

1 tbsp bourbon Pinch of salt

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Caramelized Onion Beer Dip A slightly hoppy pale ale lends a welcomed flavor update to this classic party staple and comfort food. It’s a great appetizer for a crowd since it can be made in advance and is delicious cold or at room temperature.

Serve the creamy dip with crackers, tortilla chips, pita bread, potato chips or veggies. Leftovers? Use it as a silky spread on sandwiches, burgers or wraps.

Ingredients

18

1 tbsp olive oil

18

1 tbsp butter*

18

/ tsp garlic powder / tsp salt, to taste / tsp black pepper, to taste

2 large sweet onions, thinly sliced

½ cup sour cream*

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup cream cheese*

½ cup Bootstrap Brewing’s Sticks Pale Ale

1 tbsp dried chives, plus additional for garnish

/ tsp paprika

1 tbsp dried dill

18

Pair with Bootstrap Brewing’s Sticks Pale Ale Highlight the brew used in the dip by washing it down with Sticks Pale Ale, from Bootstrap Brewing. The refreshing, mildly bitter beer complements the hearty, thick dip.

Directions

Recipe and Photo: Kristen Kuchar

Heat olive oil and butter on medium heat. Add onions and sauté for 25 minutes, stirring often. Onions should be translucent and soft and not browned.

Add in garlic and cook for an additional minute. Add beer and bring to a slight boil. Turn down heat to low and cook 5 minutes. Let onion mixture cool slightly.

Add onions and remaining ingredients to a food processor or blender. Mix to your desired consistency. Serve or let cool in the fridge for at least 30 minutes for a thicker consistency. Sprinkle with fresh or dried chives. *You can opt for dairy-free options of these to make this dip vegan and dairy-free.

Killah Wu-Tang Chili On a wintery night in Boulder, I initially popped open a bottle of Ghost Face Killah to enjoy by itself. The Twisted Pine Brewing creation is selfproclaimed as “the hottest beer this side of hell.” Finding this out for myself, I decided to repurpose the fiery brew and added it into a pot of steaming chili. Voila! While some may be brave enough to drink it by itself, the Thirst team is partial to creating a spicy beer chili that will warm you to your core.

Ingredients 1 poblano pepper diced

4 oz green chile diced

Directions

1 serrano pepper diced

2 16 oz cans Hatch green salsa

1 onion diced

2 lbs chicken (whole)

2 oz fresh cilantro

32 oz can of black beans

Combine all the ingredients except the beans in a slow cooker. Cook on medium for 4-5 hours. Remove whole chicken pieces and shred. Return chicken to slow cooker and add beans. Heat until chili is hot.

1 bunch of green onion chopped

1 Twisted Pine Ghost Face Killah pepper beer

Salt, cayenne & pepper to taste

Serve with fresh cilantro, sour cream and tortilla strips.

Recipe and Photo: Neill Pieper January-February 2017

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STRANGE BREWS

Colorado Plus satisfies sweet tooth with Cookie Monster Stout

By Steve Graham

N

ow that Cookie Monster only has cookies as “a sometime snack” on Sesame Street, he might share some of his Nilla Wafers and Fudge Shoppe cookies with James Coulter and Adam Draeger.

When Coulter was named head brewer at Colorado Plus last summer, the pair wanted to collaborate on a dessert beer.

So they made one barrel of the sweet, dark and creamy Cookie Monster Stout.

To sweeten the brew, they added three pounds of fudge-filled cookies, vanilla cookies and vanilla wafers to the mash. The grain bill also included chocolate malt, roasted barley and lactose. The result was sweet, but welcoming.

“Cookie Monster Stout is a wonderful gateway beer for those that are still adjusting to more acquired tastes, but the regular enthusiast is still impressed with the complexity of this craft beer,” said bartender Jesse Madsen, who also helped brew the beer.

Colorado Plus is a brewpub that replaced Valente’s, a neighborhood Italian Photo: Neill Pieper

COOKIE MONSTER STOUT Style: Brewery: Location: IBU: ABV:

32 ThirstColorado.com

cookie milk stout Colorado Plus Wheat Ridge 33 7 percent

January-February 2017

mainstay on West 38th Avenue and Reed Street. The pub has 56 taps of in-state beers, including up to 10 house beers from the onebarrel nanobrewery Coulter now operates.

Coulter and Draeger share a passion for sweeter beers. Draeger has made a cinnamon-almond winter warmer, a Fruity Pebbles cereal beer and an Oreo stout, with cacao nibs and vanilla extract added during fermentation. Coulter recently had a honey porter and a fruity Belgian on tap. For Thanksgiving, he brewed a sweet potato casserole beer with marshmallows and sweet potatoes.

He also made a small batch cookie stout in December, featuring spiced holiday cookies. He said both cookie stouts are a little sweeter and creamier than some he has tried, thanks mainly to the added lactose.

“The Cookie Monster Stout really speaks for itself,” said Madsen.

“It’s a far better alternative to normal cookies, considering it doesn’t require milk and there’s no chance of them getting soggy.”

Steve Graham is a Fort Collins writer who enjoys the outdoors and great beers.

16434 N. Washington St. Thornton, CO 80023 (303) 951-3820 www.daveco-liquors.com

www.cbcrafted.com facebook.com/cbcrafted VOTED BEST NY-STYLE PIZZA by the Westword

New Year’s Resolutions:

An estimated 45% of Americans make them.

If you own a brewery and feel inclined to do so, we hope you’ll consider the following: • Resolve to never over serve one of your guests.

• Resolve to never drink and drive.

• Resolve to review your insurance.

The last one may sound silly, but you’ve put barrels of blood, sweat, and tears into your brewery.

Start 2017 by ensuring all of your had work and all of your great people are protected.

Daily Lunch Special Quick In - Quick Out Slice + Side + Soda $8.99 2915 W. 44th Ave., Denver 303-955-5580 ErniesDenver.com

We promise it will be easier than going to the gym more.

No strings attached.

Chris Hardin - 303.534.2133

We love large groups.

Call for a reservation January-February 2017

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33

Comparing Apples to Apples - Easier Said Than Done

By Dylan Hochstedler

B

y now, you have probably heard that Colorado is one of the leading states for craft beer sales. If you really keep up with craft spirits, you may even be aware of the rising number of distilleries throughout the state that are selling whiskey, vodka and other spirits like they are going out of style.

But have you met hard cider? We would love to introduce you to one of the fastgrowing segments of the adult beverage industry. After consulting with our friends Xandy Bustamante and Brad Page from Colorado Cider Co., as well as Eric Foster, Courtney O’Rourke and Arline Kellogg from STEM Ciders, we have compiled nine must-knows that will get your taste buds itching for some delicious craft cider.

Photo: Dylan Hochstedler

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1

3

2

4

H ard cider is NOT beer.

The only thing beer and cider have in common during the production process is fermentation. The yeast strains that are used in cider are commonly used in the production of wine. Therefore, it is not incorrect to refer to cider as wine.

Cider is packed with antioxidants.

That’s right, cider is actually a healthy beverage. A half pint of cider contains the same amount of antioxidants as a full glass of wine.

Photo: Dylan Hochstedler

T raditional cider is naturally gluten free.

Since cider contains no barley or wheat, there is no need to worry about gluten, making cider an ideal alternative for gluten-free consumers.

C raft cider is not industrialized cider.

Here is an example of an ingredients list for a craft cider: Fresh pressed apple juice, yeast and sulfites.

Here is an example of typical ingredients found in industrialized ciders: apple juice concentrate, glucose syrup, water, sugar, carbon dioxide, dextrose, water sucrose, malic acid, flavor, caramel color and sulfites. To quote Eric Foster, “The measure of a good cider is the sum of its parts,” usually meaning a lower sum equals higher quality.

5

any different types M of apples go into hard cider.

There are table apples, cooking apples and cider apples, says Brad Page.

Since prohibition halted the production of cider apples in the 1920s, cider cultivators have been required to use cooking apples and table apples, which are less bitter and dry than cider apples, but they still get the job done.

6

I t takes bushels of apples to make a small amount of cider.

Depending on the type of the apple, it can take up to 20 pounds to make just one gallon of hard cider. A few cideries,

including Colorado Cider Co., have purchased local land in order to start their own orchards, allowing them to experiment with several different kinds of apples to make the perfect cider.

7

I n 2014, there were over 54 million gallons of cider sold.

This required 18 million bushels of fruit, or 7 percent of the nation’s total apple production for the year. Hard cider production has seen an average increase of 73 percent in annual sales across the U.S. from 2008-2015, according to a University of Vermont study.

8

C ider can be barrel aged.

Just like beer, hard cider can be aged in whiskey, bourbon, tequila and wine barrels. The process usually takes a few months and it results in the cider having a smoother, creamier feel.

9

C ider can be made at home.

Homemade hard cider is as easy as home-brewed beer. There are numerous recipes, so if your first batch isn’t to your liking, try another.

Dylan Hochstedler is a marketing student at Metropolitan State University of Denver who enjoys great beers and great times.

Photos: Holly Gerard

January-February 2017

ThirstColorado.com

35

GLASSWARE MATTERS Toss aside your shaker pints and don’t look back

By Neill Pieper

T

he craft beer industry is constantly updating the ways in which beer should be consumed. Crowlers, growlers, cans, bottles, kegs, mini-kegs, teku glasses – there is no end. But when it comes to glasses, it really does matter what you pour your beer into. As Broncos linebacker Von Miller has famously said, “You can’t put regular gas in a Ferrari.”

Similarly, you wouldn’t put a $20 barrelaged stout in a pint glass that still has remnants of your favorite college party beer. Bill Eye, the owner of Bierstadt Lagerhaus, said he would like to see brewers have the same respect for their beer as winemakers do for their wine. You wouldn’t put wine in a mason jar, so why would you put your pilsner into a chalice?

But it is confusing! When do you use a teku? A tulip? A beaker? Every glass has its time and place and as a general consensus, there is not one glass to rule them all. On the upside, there are a plethora of local options at your neighborhood brewery to kick-start your glass collection. Packed glass shelves and hoarding tendencies can lead to domestic disputes, so try to keep your collection in check.

We’ve done some of the work for you and picked out a few of Colorado’s coolest glasses, literally and figuratively.

Left Hand’s IPA and stout glasses are designed to stay cold longer than regular pint glasses.

So, pour your premium beer into a vessel worthy of its stature. Imbibe on.

Left Hand Brewing Co. Stout

Left Hand is THE Colorado stout and nitro brewery.

Glass developer Spiegelau partnered with Left Hand on the development of its stout glass and the product is truly great.

You’ll never go back to your regular pint glass. From the bottom of the glass to the top, it has been engineered for perfect stout consumption. Laser etchings on the bottom of the glass create a nucleating affect, sending bubbles to the surface, retaining head and accentuating aroma.

Behind the Left Hand bar, beer slinger Steve Davis explained it best: “It’s like dropping a Mentos in a Coke.” The candy agitates the CO2 much like the nucleation point agitates the CO2 or nitrogen in a beer.

Left Hand Brewing Co. IPA

The Spiegelau IPA glass has been around for a while, yet it still seems to perplex. The rippled edges of the glass act as a “refresher” that aerates and balances the flavors while you drink. In both the stout and IPA glass, the “bowl” of the glass amplifies the hop and malt aromas, wafting the tropical, piney, chocolate, coffee flavors from your beer to your nose. The aromas of your beverage help shape your tasting experience. In addition, the extremely thin glass keeps your beer cold longer.

Photo: Neill Pieper

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January-February 2017

January-February 2017

ThirstColorado.com

37

Bierstadt Lagerhaus Pils

One of the most thoroughly designed and thought-through glasses in the lineup, the Pils glass from Bierstadt is a testament to better beer and the brewery’s German roots. The .3-liter size is designed to keep the beer the same temperature from start to finish.

“Pilsners are delicate beers,” says Bill Eye, owner of Bierstadt Lagerhaus. “(Pilsners) are at their best at the same temperature for the whole experience.” The narrow opening helps concentrate aroma.

According to Eye, German brewers believe the pilsner is the purest expression of their craft. The elegant beer style of the pils lends itself to the art deco feel of Bierstadt’s glass, which pays homage to their 1932 German brewhouse. The folks at Bierstadt believe in their product and glassware wholeheartedly. Bierstadt will only sell its beer to bars that adopt their glassware, in the hopes that consumers may enjoy their product the right way.

Cerebral Brewing Co. Munique & Beaker

Cerebral brews are served up in the munique tulip, perfect for multi-grained saisons or dryhopped grisettes. Cerebral’s taster beaker, however, is one of the things we love most about the staff’s creative approach. The Cerebral beaker is simplicity and authenticity all wrapped into one. Taking great beer and displaying it in a fun and creative way keeps the analytical discourse on beer to a minimum and the focus where it should be: on camaraderie.

TRVE Brewing Co. Teku

With a lineup of American Wild Ales, TRVE deploys a Teku-style glass to embrace its counter culture vibe and beer. The TRVE team wanted a glass that highlighted all the hard work it takes to make their beers. An aesthetically appealing glass that also

pronounces the nose (aromas) and flavors of the beer is important to the drinking experience.

Crooked Stave Artisans Tulip and Charente

One of the most versatile glasses in the lineup, the tulip (pictured) is suitable for a wide range of styles. This Belgianimported glass is great for head retention and aroma. The delicate nature of this glass lends itself to smaller swigs. Andy Acker, taproom manager at Crooked Stave, points out their lineup of sour beers are made to be sipped and not chugged. Both the tulip style and Crooked Stave’s new Charente glass (not pictured) are made to reflect a drinking experience similar to that of wine. Swirling your beer around the bowl of the glass releases volatiles that increase the aroma and taste.

When he’s not in a brewery or on the mountain, Neill Pieper works on marketing and digital media for Thirst Colorado.

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ThirstColorado.com

39

CHARACTERS OF THE CRAFT

A

re you looking for a locally sourced slab of beef, pork, poultry, lamb or bison? Look no further because Justin Herd, owner of The Local Butcher Shop, is your go-to man. The Local Butcher is located inside The Denver Central Market, an airy new marketplace at 27th and Larimer Streets in the RiNo district.

Growing up, Herd’s parents convinced him that all you needed for a great time was great food, great music and great people. He certainly took the great food aspect to heart, eventually carving out a career for himself.

However, Herd started his career working in the finance industry in California. When he and his

The Local Butcher Shop - Denver Central Market

Justin Herd

C

hris Haver, who grew up in North Carolina and regularly took ski trips to Colorado with his family, must have enjoyed those stays as a youngster. Yet, running a bed and breakfast in a small Colorado town wasn’t even a distant dream at that time.

One day in the late 1980s, his brother approached him with a homebrew kit and asked for help brewing. Although their first batch turned out to be a distasteful bust, Haver stuck with it and became obsessed with the process of brewing.

After visiting Crested Butte on a winter road trip, he was blown away by the skiing and the majestic atmosphere of the small mountain

W

ade Johnston is a skilled artist who started his professional career as a geologist.

With only a handful of art classes through high school and college, he was primarily self taught until he moved to Maui in 2007. While there, he developed the artistic style that defines his work that can be found at Lumpy Ridge Brewing Co. and elsewhere.

Once he left Maui, he chose Denver as his next stop and he scored an apprenticeship as a tattoo artist. The next seven years of Johnston’s life were consumed by the tattoo industry.

He gained priceless knowledge, inspiration and capital. That experience would serve him well after he met Nick Smith, owner and

40 ThirstColorado.com

January-February 2017

town. Crested Butte became his annual winter vacation destination, and the small hamlet began to stick in his mind, more so after each visit. He started looking at property in the area and stumbled across a 1920s mining office that had been converted into a bed and breakfast in 1976. He and his wife, Mollie, bought the property and run it as Purple Mountain Bed & Breakfast, located less than four miles from the Crested Butte slopes. Because of Haver’s passion for craft beer, Purple Mountain B&B offers a free daily beer tasting, which involves a craft beer before dinner. Purple Mountain also offers a spa, concierge service and endless information about the surrounding area.

Purple Mountain Bed & Breakfast

Chris Haver

Wade Johnston

wife decided it was time to relocate, Denver was at the top of their list.

While pursuing his MBA at the University of Denver, he did a complete 180 and decided to chase his passion for food. He started working at a local meat market and quickly began to form the blueprints for his own butcher shop.

Herd said he takes tremendous pride in what The Local Butcher Shop offers customers from a product and customer service perspective.

He works with local farmers to source meat instead of going through national chains, which Herd says results in higher quality products for customers.

brewmaster of Lumpy Ridge Brewing Company in Estes Park. He designed the artwork for the new brewery and hit it off with Smith. Before he knew it, Smith had brought Johnston in as a partial owner at Lumpy Ridge. Luckily, Johnston was looking to transition out of the tattoo industry, and saw this as the perfect opportunity.

As an accomplished artist and co-owner of a brewery, Johnston says he is “living and playing out my childhood dreams in real time.”

He said he could not be happier with the way things have panned out. Check out his artwork at theartofwade.com.

Lumpy Ridge Brewing Co. Characters of the Craft by Dylan Hochstedler

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41

Q.A. and

SERVING UP COLORADO GOODNESS AT IL PORCELLINO SALUMI Q& A and Photos by Holly Gerard Bill Miner is the chef and co-owner at Il Porcellino Salumi, which is part of the food and beverage renaissance taking place in northwest Denver.

Q. A.

What is your background and what led you to opening your shop?

I’ve been a chef in Colorado for 20 years, having bounced around at some restaurants, hotels, country clubs and catering companies. My business partner, Brian Albano, was one of my cooks for about five years. We started kicking around the idea of a salumeria after we taught ourselves how to cure meats.

Q. A.

Why did you decide to open in the Berkeley neighborhood and when did you open?

We initially had signed a lease in Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe, but that fell through and we ended up on West 41st and Tennyson Street in the heart of the Berkeley neighborhood. And we’re thrilled to be where we are – everything happens for a reason! After planning the business for three years, we opened our doors on Oct. 22, 2015.

Q. A.

Do you only source your products locally?

We source all of the animals we use in our in-house curing program locally, mostly from within 90 miles of Denver. Everything in the store is sourced from within Colorado including cheeses, our sandwich bread, retail products and beverages.

42 ThirstColorado.com

January-February 2017

Q. A.

Have you considered tasting events with local craft beers and/or spirits?

We will offer a number of classes in the new year in conjunction with Slow Food Denver. There will be everything from hog butchery demos to sausage making, basic meat curing, a chicken butchery class, and maybe even pasta making for the home cook. We’ll be offering two per month. There will be more salumi and beer pairings and more hog roasts in the spring at various breweries around town.

We started serving breakfast sandwiches in the fall featuring Rosenberg’s Bagels, and that’s been a big hit so far!

Late last year, we had a pig roast at Call To Arms Brewery and we released a specialty salami made with a barrel-aged beer from CTA. We also participated in the Denver International Wine Festival, where we were sampling our housecured meats.

Q. A.

What’s an unusual sandwich you serve that is really popular?

We’ve been serving a sandwich that we call The Pâté Melt, which is a play on a patty melt with our Pork Pistachio Pâté served on rye toast with caramelized onions, Swiss cheese and our Reveille dressing. It’s delicious, but definitely an unusual sandwich!

Holly Gerard is a Front Range photographer and journalist about town.

BREWERS’ FAVORITES

WHERE INSIDERS SHARE THEIR OPINIONS

1

Proboscis Simcoe American Pale Ale, 6% ABV, Four Noses Brewing Co.

With so many amazing choices out there sometimes something simple does the trick.

One of my favorite beers is Proboscis Simcoe American Pale Ale by Four Noses Brewing.

It is light bodied and brewed with 100% Simcoe hops, which leaves you with a hint of pineapple and passion fruit. Overall it’s a delicious, bright, well-made beer that I find myself coming back to time after time.

Gregory Tanner, Brewer/Co-Founder, Black Sheep Brewing

4

Tart’n Juicy Sour IPA, 4.5% ABV, Epic Brewing Co.

Tart’n Juicy Sour IPA by Epic Brewing is my current go-to. It is a new style that is turning into one of my favorites. The combination of sour tartness with citrus and tropical hops makes for an amazing beer. This beer fits any occasion because it is so refreshing, easy drinking and flavorful.

Ryan Kilpatrick, Owner/Head Brewer, Fiction Beer Company

2

The Hopfather IPA, 7.1% ABV, Coopersmith’s Pub & Brewing

I love The Hopfather from Coopersmith’s Pub and Brewing in Fort Collins. It’s one of my favorite local hop bombs and has a ridiculous amount of citrus and dank pine hop flavor and aroma. The bitterness is there, but not face melting. The light malt base makes it a perfectly balanced IPA in my opinion. Coops kind of flies under the radar with their newer hop-forward beers, but they’re really worth checking out.

Slow Pour Pils, 5.1% ABV, Bierstadt Lagerhaus

One of our collective favorites right now at Our Mutual Friend is Bierstadt Lagerhaus’ Slow Pour Pils. So crisp, so delicious. It’s pretty much perfection in a glass. If you swing into the Rackhouse Pub (the home of Bierstadt and C Squared Ciders) in the middle of any day you will discover all of the great reasons why it is becoming a brewing industry hangout.

Brandon Proff, Managing Partner, Our Mutual Friend Brewing Company

Jay Shambo, Brewer, Soul Squared Brewing

5

Green Gate IPA, 6.7% ABV, High Alpine Brewing Co.

I am really about the Green Gate IPA from High Alpine brewery in Gunnison. The fresh mosaic hop is one of my favorites, and it is under appreciated. The heavy stone fruit and citrus combo that Green Gate IPA reps with the combo of mosaic and citra hops is a must try. High Alpine also has a strong connection with the surrounding community, which to me is very important.

Danny Wilson, Head Brewer, Palisade Brewing Company

- Compiled by Dylan Hochstedler

3

6

Superpower IPA, 7.5% ABV, Comrade Brewing Co.

Superpower IPA is first introduced to you as a rich golden ale with a snow white head. The aroma is rich with ripe grapefruit and resinous pine and it carries a hint of caramel and citrus zest. At first taste there is a moment of malt sweetness from caramel malts and just the right touch of bitterness, followed by a wave of grapefruit and fresh cut pine. Superpower leaves you with a lingering hop freshness and a powerful urge to have another.

Patrick Jose, Head Brewer, Carver Brewing Co. January-February 2017

ThirstColorado.com

43

COLORADO BR Front Range Brewing Co ● ● frontrangebrewingcompany.com

● – Serves Food ● – Food Truck

Gravity Brewing ● ● thegravitybrewing.com

● – Live Music

ARVADA Grand Lake Brewing Tavern ● ● grandlakebrewing.com New Image Brewing ● nibrewing.com

Kettle and Spoke Brewery facebook.com/KettleandSpoke

Someplace Else Brewery someplaceelse.beer

Liquid Mechanics Brewing Co ● ● liquidmechanicsbrewing.com

Yak and Yeti ● theyakandyeti.com

Mountain Sun ● mountainsunpub.com

AURORA

New Planet Beer newplanetbeer.com

BJ’s ● bjsrestaurants.com

Odd 13 Brewing Inc ● ● odd13brewing.com

Cheluna Brewing Company cheluna.com

Open Door Brewing opendoorbrewco.com

Dads and Dudes Breweria ● breweria.com

Oskar Blues ● ● oskarblues.com

Dry Dock Brewing Co ● ● drydockbrewing.com

The Post Brewing Co ● ● postbrewing.com

Launch Pad Brewery ● launchpadbrewery.com

Powder Keg Brewing Co ● ● powderkegbrewingcompany.com

Mu Brewery brewbymu.com

Raices Brewing Co facebook.com/RaicesBrewing

Two22 Brew ● two22brew.com

Sanitas Brewing Co ● ● sanitasbrewing.com

Ursula Brewing Co ursulabrewery.com

Shine Restaurant & Gathering Place ● ● shineboulder.com

BAILEY Mad Jack’s Mountain Brewery madjacksmountainbrewery.com

BOULDER AREA 12Degree Brewing ● 12degree.com

Boulder Beer ● ● boulderbeer.com BRU Handbuilt Ales ● bruboulder.com Cellar-West Artisan Ales ● cellarwest.com Crystal Springs Brewing Co crystalspringsbrewing.com Fate Brewing Co ● fatebrewingcompany.com

Twisted Pine ● ● twistedpinebrewing.com

1898 S. Flatiron Ct., Boulder

Atom Brewing Company facebook.com/AtomBrewingCompany

Bootstrap Brewing ● ● bootstrapbrewing.com

Southern Sun ● mountainsunpub.com

Upslope Brewing Co ● ● upslopebrewing.com 303.396.1898

Asher Brewing asherbrewing.com

BJ’s ● bjsrestaurants.com

Industrial Revolution Brewing Co theirbc.com J Wells Brewery jwellsbrewery.com

Odyssey Beerwerks ● ● odysseybeerwerks.com

Avery ● averybrewing.com

Gunbarrel Brewing Co gunbarrelbrewing.com

COLORADO SPRINGS AREA

Echo Brewing Co echobrewing.com

BierWerks Brewery ● ● bierwerks.com

Floodstage Ale Works ● facebook.com/floodstagealeworks2013

Bristol Brewing ● bristolbrewing.com

Something Brewery somethingbrewery.com

Cerberus Brewing Company cerberusbrewingco.com

BROOMFIELD/WESTMINSTER

Classic Brewing Company classicbrewingco.com

4 Noses Brewing Co ● 4nosesbrewing.com Big Choice Brewing bigchoicebrewing.com BJ’s ● bjsrestaurants.com C.B. & Potts Broomfield ● cbpotts.com C.B. & Potts Westminster ● cbpotts.com Do Your Brew doyourbrew.com Gordon Biersch ● gordonbiersch.com Kokopelli Beer Co ● ● kokopellibeer.com Nighthawk Brewery ● nighthawkbrewery.com Rails End Beer Co. railsendbeerco.com Rock Bottom Orchard Town Center ● rockbottom.com Rock Bottom Westminster Promenade ● rockbottom.com Westminster Brewing Co ● ● westminsterbrewingco.com Wonderland Brewing Co ● ● wonderlandbrewing.com

CASTLE ROCK 105 West Brewing Co ● 105westbrewing.com Castle Rock Beer Company castlerockbeerco.com

Cogstone Brewing Co ● cogstonebrewing.com Colorado Mountain Brewery ● cmbrew.com Fieldhouse Brewing Co ● fieldhousebrew.com Florence Brewing Co. florencebrewing.com Fossil Craft Beer Co ● fossilbrewing.com Gold Camp Brewing Co goldcampbrewing.com Great Storm Brewing ● greatstormbrewing.com Iron Bird Brewery ironbirdbrewing.com JAKs Brewing Co jaksbrewing.com Local Relic localrelic.com Lofty Brewing Co loftybrewingcompany.wordpress.com Manitou Brewing Co ● manitou-brewing.com Nano 108 nano108brewing.com The Occasional Brew theoccasionalbrew.com Paradox Beer Co paradoxbeercompany.com Peaks N Pines Brewing Company peaksnpinesbrewery.com Phantom Canyon Brewing Co ● ● phantomcanyon.com

Uturn BBQ ● facebook.com/UturnBBQ

Rockyard Brewing Co ● rockyard.com

Very Nice Brewing ● verynicebrewing.com

CENTENNIAL/LONE TREE/ HIGHLANDS RANCH

Vindication Brewing Co vindicationbrewing.com

3 Freaks Brewery ● 3freaksbrewery.com

Vision Quest Brewing Co visionquestbrewing.com

Rock Bottom Colorado Springs ● rockbottom.com

Blue Spruce Brewing Co ● ● bluesprucebrewing.com

Walnut Brewery ● walnutbrewery.com

Rocky Mountain Brewery therockymountainbrewery.com

C.B. & Potts Highlands Ranch ● cbpotts.com

West Flanders Brewing Co ● ● wfbrews.com

Royal Gorge Brewing & Restaurant ● royalgorgebrewpub.com

Grist Brewing Co ● gristbrewingcompany.com

Wild Mountain Smokehouse and Brewery ● ● wildmountainsb.com

Smiling Toad Brewery smilingtoadbrewery.com

Halfpenny Brewing Co halfpennybrewing.com

Storybook Brewing storybookbrewing.com

Lone Tree Brewing Co lonetreebrewingco.com

Trinity Brewing ● trinitybrew.com

Resolute Brewing Co. resolutebrewingco.com

Triple S Brewing Co ● triplesbrewing.com

Wild Woods Brewery wildwoodsbrewery.com

Finkel & Garf Brewing Co finkelandgarf.com

44 ThirstColorado.com

BRIGHTON/FREDERICK

Rock Bottom Park Meadows ● rockbottom.com January-February 2017

Pikes Peak Brewing Co ● ● pikespeakbrewing.com Red Leg Brewing redlegbrewing.com

EWERY LINEUP Ute Pass Brewing Co ● utepassbrewingcompany.com

Deep Draft Brewing Co deepdraftbrewery.com

Whistle Pig Brewing Company whistlepigbrewing.com

Fiction Beer Co ● fictionbeer.com Lost Highway Brewing Co losthighwaybrewing.com

DENVER

BAKER/SOUTH BROADWAY

Pints Pub ● pintspub.com

Baere Brewing Co baerebrewing.com Black Project Spotaneous & Wild Ales blackprojectbeer.com Grandma’s House grandmasbeer.co

Station 26 Brewing Co ● station26brewing.co Vine Street Pub & Brewery ● mountainsunpub.com

FIVE POINTS

Lowdown Brewery + Kitchen ● lowdownbrewery.com Sojourner’s Brewing Project facebook.com/sojournersbrewingproject

Spangalang Brewery spangalangbrewery.com Woods Boss Brewing woodsbossbrewing.com

TRVE trvebrewing.com

LODO

CAPITOL HILL/E COLFAX/PARK HILL

Breckenridge on Blake ● breckonblake.com

Alpine Dog Brewery alpinedogbrewery.com Banded Oak Brewing Co bandedoakbrewing.com Cerebral Brewing cerebralbrewing.com CO-Brew cobrewdenver.com

Denver Chophouse ● chophouse.com Jagged Mountain Craft Brewery ● jaggedmountainbrewery.com Rock Bottom Denver ● rockbottom.com Sandlot Brewery bluemoonbrewingcompany.com

Strange Craft Beer Co. strangecraftbeer.com 720.985.2337

1330 Zuni Street, Unit M, Denver

Factotum Brewhouse factotumbrewhouse.com Goldspot Brewing Co ● ● goldspotbrewing.com

Wynkoop Brewing Co ● wynkoop.com

Grateful Gnome Sandwich Shoppe + Brewery thegratefulgnome.com

NORTHEAST DENVER

Hogshead Brewery ● hogsheadbrewery.com

Brewability Lab brewabilitylab.com

Little Machine Brew House ● littlemachinebeer.com

Bruz Beers bruzbeers.com

Prost Brewing Co ● prostbrewing.com

Creede Brewing Co ● creedebeer.com

Seedstock Brewery seedstockbrewery.com

River North Brewery rivernorthbrewery.com

Tivoli Brewing Co tivolibrewingco.com

NORTHWEST DENVER

Zuni St. Brewing Co ● zunistreetbrewing.com

Briar Common Brewery & Eatery briarcommon.com Call to Arms Brewing Co ● calltoarmsbrewing.com De Steeg Brewing desteegbrewing.com Denver Beer Co ● ● denverbeerco.com Diebolt Brewing Co ● ● dieboltbrewing.com

RINO 10 Barrel Brewing Co. 10barrel.com/pub/denver 720.573.8992 2620 Walnut St., Denver

Beryl’s Beer Co. ● ● berylsbeerco.com 720.420.0826 3120 Blake St Ste C, Denver

Climb on Board the Longmont Beverage Tour

Ticket info @ brewhoptrolley.com January-February 2017

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45

COLORADO BR Bierstadt Lagerhaus● bierstadtlager.com

Green Mountain Beer Co greenmountainbeercompany.com

Black Shirt Brewing Co ● ● blackshirtbrewingco.com

Ironworks Brewery & Pub ● ironworkspub.com

Blue Moon Brewing Co. ● ● bluemoonbrewingcompany.com 303.728.2337 3750 Chestnut Place, Denver

Joyride Brewing Co ● joyridebrewing.com Landlocked Ales landlockedales.com

Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project crookedstave.com

Westfax Brewing Company westfaxbrewingcompany.com

Epic Brewing Co ● epicbrewing.com

DURANGO AREA

Great Divide Brewing Co ● ● greatdivide.com Mockery Brewing ● mockerybrewing.com

Animas Brewing Co ● animasbrewing.com Bottom Shelf Brewery ● bottomshelfbrewery.com BREW Pub & Kitchen ● brewpubkitchen.com

Our Mutual Friend omfbeer.com

Carver Brewing Co ● carverbrewing.com

Ratio Beerworks ● ● ratiobeerworks.com

Dolores River Brewery ● ● doloresriverbrewery.com

Zephyr Brewing Co ● zephyrbrewingco.com

Durango Brewing Co ● durangobrewing.com

SOUTHEAST DENVER

Comrade Brewing ● comradebrewing.com Copper Kettle Brewing Co ● copperkettledenver.com Fermaentra ● fermaentra.com

SOUTHWEST DENVER Black Sky Brewery ● ● blackskybrewing.com Chain Reaction Brewing Co ● chainreactionbrewingco.com Crazy Mountain Brewing Co ● crazymountainbrewery.com Declaration Brewing Co ● ● declarationbrewing.com

Equinox Brewing ● equinoxbrewing.com Fort Collins Brewery ● ● fortcollinsbrewery.com Funkwerks funkwerks.com Gilded Goat Brewing Co gildedgoatbrewing.com

Cannonball Creek Brewing Co cannonballcreekbrewing.com Coors Brewing Company Holidaily Brewing Co. millercoors.com Holidailybrewing.com Golden City Brewery ● 303.278.BEER gcbrewery.com 801 Brickyard Cir., Golden

Mountain Toad Brewing Co. ● mountaintoadbrewing.com 720.638.3244 900 Washington Ave., Golden

Mancos Brewing Co ● mancosbrewingcompany.com

Jessup Farm Barrel House ● jessupfarmbarrelhouse.com

The Ale House alehousegj.com

Ska Brewing ● ● skabrewing.com

Maxline Brewing maxlinebrewing.com

Copper Club Brewing Co ● copperclubbrew.com

Steamworks Brewing Co ● steamworksbrewing.com

New Belgium ● ● newbelgium.com

EAGLE COUNTY

Odell Brewing Co ● ● odellbrewing.com

Edgewater Brewery ● kannahcreekbrewingco.com/ edgewater-brewery

7 Hermits Brewing Company ● 7hermitsbrewing.com Bonfire Brewing ● bonfirebrewing.com

ENGLEWOOD AREA

C.B. & Potts Denver Tech ● cbpotts.com

WHEAT RIDGE/EDGEWATER/ LAKEWOOD

Dead Hippie Brewing deadhippiebrewing.com

Brewery Rickoli ● breweryrickoli.com

ESTES PARK

46 ThirstColorado.com

Coopersmith’s Pub & Brewing ● coopersmithspub.com

Barrels and Bottles Brewery ● barrelsbottles.com

4 B’s Brewery ● ● 4bsbrewery.com

Wit’s End Brewing Co witsendbrewing.com

Great Frontier Brewing Co greatfrontierbeer.com

C.B. & Potts ● cbpotts.com

AC Golden Brewing Company acgolden.com

GRAND JUNCTION AREA

The Brew on Broadway ● ● thebrewonbroadway.com

Colorado Plus Brewpub ● ● coloradoplus.net

Black Bottle Brewery ● blackbottlebrewery.com

GOLDEN

Intersect Brewing intersectbrewing.com

Strange Craft Beer Co ● ● strangecraft.com

CAUTION: Brewing Co cautionbrewingco.com

BJ’s ● bjsrestaurants.com

Roaring Fork Beer Co ● roaringforkbeerco.com

Main Street Brewery & Restaurant ● mainstreetbrewerycortez.com

Vail Brewing Company ● ● vailbrewingco.com

Sleeping Giant Brewing sleepinggiantbrewing.com

1933 Brewing Co ● 1933brewing.com

Horse & Dragon Brewing Co horseanddragonbrewing.com

Gore Range Brewery ● gorerangebrewery.com

Renegade Brewing renegadebrewing.com

FORT COLLINS AREA

Glenwood Canyon Brew Pub ● glenwoodcanyonbrewpub.com

New Terrain Brewing newterrainbrewing.com

Crazy Mountain Brewing Company crazymountainbrewery.com

Platt Park Brewing Co ● plattparkbrewing.com

South Park Brewing Co ● southparkbrewingcolorado.com

Casey Brewing and Blending caseybrewing.com

High Hops Brewery ● ● highhopsbrewery.com

J. Fargo’s Family Dining & Micro Brewery ● jfargos.com

Bull and Bush Brewery ● ● bullandbush.com

FAIRPLAY

Estes Park Brewery ● epbrewery.com Lumpy Ridge Brewing Co lumpyridgebrewing.com Rock Cut Brewing Co rockcutbrewing.com January-February 2017

Old Colorado Brewing Co oldcoloradobrewing.com Pateros Creek Brewing Co ● ● pateroscreekbrewing.com Pitchers Brewery ● pitchersbrewery.com Rally King Brewing rallykingbrewing.com Snowbank Brewing snowbank.beer

Kannah Creek Brewing Co ● kannahcreekbrewingco.com Palisade Brewing Co ● ● palisadebrewingcompany.com Revolution Brewing ● ● revolution-brewing.com The Rockslide Restaurant and Brewery ● rockslidebrewpub.com Suds Brothers Brewery ● ● sudsbrothers2fruita.com

GREELEY AREA

Soul Squared Brewing Co soulsquaredbrewing.com

Brix Taphouse and Brewery ● ● brixtaphouseandbrewery.com

Three Four Beer Co ● threefourbeerco.com

Broken Plow Brewery ● brokenplowbrewery.com

Zwei Brewing Co ● ● zweibrewing.com

Crabtree Brewing ● ● crabtreebrewing.com

GLENWOOD SPRINGS/ CARBONDALE/ASPEN

Grand Lake’s 16th Street Tavern ● ● grandlakebrewing.com

Aspen Brewing Co ● aspenbrewingcompany.com

WeldWerks Brewing Co weldwerksbrewing.com

Capitol Creek Brewery ● capitolcreekbrewery.com

Wiley Roots Brewing Co ● wileyrootsbrewing.com

Carbondale Beer Works ● carbondalebeerworks.com

EWERY LINEUP IDAHO SPRINGS/EVERGREEN/ CENTRAL CITY

LONGMONT

Big Thompson Brewery lovelandbrewery.com

Riff Raff Brewing ● ● riffraffbrewing.com

Buckhorn Brewers facebook.com/buckhornbrewers

San Luis Valley Brewing ● slvbrewco.com

City Star Brewing ● citystarbrewing.com

Square Peg Brewerks squarepegbrewerks.com

Amalgam Brewing amalgambrewing.com

Crow Hop Brewing crowhopbrewing.com

Three Barrel Brewing Co ● threebarrelbrew.com

Grossen Bart Brewery ● ● grossenbart.com

Grimm Brothers grimmbrosbrewhouse.com

Wolfe Brewing Co ● ● wolfebrewingco.com

Left Hand Brewing Co ● lefthandbrewing.com

Loveland Aleworks lovelandaleworks.com

PARKER

Oskar Blues ● Shoes and Brews oskarblues.com shoesbrews.com Pumphouse Brewery ● 720.340.4290 pumphousebrewery.com

Rock Bottom ● rockbottom.com

300 Suns ● 300sunsbrewing.com 720.442.8292

Dostal Alley Saloon & Gambling Emporium ● dostalalley.com

335 1st Ave., Unit C, Longmont

El Rancho Brewing Company ● elranchobrewing.com Lariat Lodge Brewing Co ● ● lariatlodgebrewing.com Tommyknocker Brewery & Pub ● tommyknocker.com Westbound & Down Brewing Company ● westboundanddown.com

LITTLETON AREA 38 State Brewing ● ● 38statebrew.com

Veteran Brothers Brewing Company veteranbrosbrewing.com

Skeye Brewing ● skeyebrewing.com 303.774.7698

Breckenridge Brewery ● breckbrew.com

Brues Alehouse Brewing Co ● ● bruesalehouse.com

Beer by Design Brewery ● beerbydesign.com

Shamrock Brewing ● shamrockbrewing.com

Black Sheep Brewery facebook.com/BlackSheepBrew

Living the Dream Brewing Co livingthedreambrewing.com

Wibby Brewing wibbybrewing.com

Locavore Beer Works locavorebeerworks.com

LOVELAND/BERTHOUD

Mother Tucker Brewery mothertuckerbrewery.com

Berthoud Brewing Co berthoudbrewing.com

PAGOSA SPRINGS/DEL NORTE/ ALAMOSA

Big Beaver Brewing Co ● bigbeaverbrew.com

Pagosa Brewing Co ● pagosabrewing.com

Saint Patricks Brewing Co saintpatricksbrewing.com

Hall Brewing ● ● ● hallbrewingco.com

PUEBLO AREA

NORTHGLENN/HENDERSON

900 S Hover St, Unit D, Longmont

Coal Mine Ave. Brewing Co. coalmineavebrewing.com

Elk Mountain Brewing Inc ● elkmountainbrewing.com

Verboten Brewing Co. verbotenbrewing.com

63 S Pratt Pkwy, Longmont

Boggy Draw Brewery boggydrawbrewing.com

Barnett and Son Brewing Co ● ● barnettandsonbrewing.com

Walter’s Brewery & Taproom waltersbeer.com

SALIDA/BUENA VISTA/CRESTONE/ LEADVILLE Amica’s ● amicassalida.com Crestone Brewing Company crestonebrewingco.com

GOLDEN TOUR

Hogback Dr. Brickyard Cr.

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303.278.BEER www.Holidailybrewing.com 801 Brickyard Cir., Golden

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303.895.1485 www.state-38.com 400 Corporate Cr. Ste. B, Golden

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COLORADO BREWERY LINEUP Eddyline Restaurant and Brewing Co ● eddylinebrewing.com

Smuggler’s Brewpub ● smugglersbrewpub.com

Dillon Dam Brewery ● ● dambrewery.com

Elevation Beer Co ● elevationbeerco.com

Telluride Brewing Co telluridebrewingco.com

Pug Ryan’s ● pugryans.com

Hubbub Brewing hubbubbrewing.com

Two Rascals Brewing Co tworascalsbrewing.com

TRINIDAD

Moonlight Pizza and Brewpub● moonlightpizza.biz

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS

Periodic Brewing periodicbrewing.com

Colorado Cider Co. www.coloradocider.com 303.759.3560 2650 W. 2nd Ave. #10, Denver

Compass Cider, Fort Collins compasscider.com

Dodgeton Creek Brewing Co dodgetoncreek.com

Butcherknife Brewing Co butcherknifebrewing.com

GUNNISON/CRESTED BUTTE

Mahogany Ridge Brewery & Grill ● mahoganyridgesteamboat.com

The Eldo Brewery and Taproom ● ● eldobrewpub.com

Mountain Tap Brewery mountaintapbrewery.com

High Alpine Brewing Co ● highalpinebrewingcompany.com

Storm Peak Brewing Co. stormpeakbrewing.com

SOUTHWEST COLORADO Avalanche Brewing Company ● avalanchebrewing.com

WINTER PARK AREA

Old Mine Cidery & Brewpub, Erie theoldmine.com

Hideaway Park Brewery hideawayparkbrewery.com

Scrumpy’s Hard Cider, Fort Collins scrumpys.net

Moffat Station ● winterparkhotel.com/moffat-station-microbrew-restaurant

St. Vrain Cidery, Longmont stvraincidery.com

DISTRIBUTION ONLY

Stem Ciders, Denver ● ● stemciders.com

Yampa Valley Brewing Co ● yampavalleybrew.com

14er Brewing 14erbrewing.com

Talisman Farm Cidery, Hygiene talisman.com

STERLING

Gemini Beer Co geminibeer.com

Wild Cider, Firestone wildcider.com

Colorado Boy Pizzeria & Brewery● coloradoboy.com/montrose

Parts & Labor Brewing Co facebook.com/partsandlaborbrewingco

Good River Beer grbeerco.com

Colorado Boy Pub & Brewery ● coloradoboy.com/ridgeway

SUMMIT COUNTY

CIDERIES

Golden Block Brewery ● goldenblockbrewery.com

Backcountry Brewery ● backcountrybrewery.com

Big B’s Juices and Hard Cider, Hotchkiss bigbjuices.com

The Baker’s Brewery ● thebakersbrewery.com

Horsefly Brewing Co ● ● horseflybrewing.com

Branch Out Cider, Fort Collins branchoutcider.com

Breckenridge Brewery & Pub ● breckbrew.com

Ouray Brewery ● ouraybrewery.com

C Squared Ciders ● csquaredciders.com

Broken Compass Brewing brokencompassbrewing.com

Ourayle House Brewery ouraylehouse.com

Climb Hard Cider Company, Loveland climbhardcider.com

RINO TOUR N

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303.728.2337 bluemoonbrewingcompany.com 3750 Chestnut Place, Denver

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720.420.0826 www.berylsbeerco.com 3120 Blake St Ste C, Denver

720.573.8992 www.10barrel.com/pub/denver 2620 Walnut St., Denver

New Year, New You! New Bike, New Rides!

From Our Family To Yours, Cheers to 2017!

Rocky Mountain Harley-DavidsonÂŽ (303)703-2885 2885 W. County Line Road, Littleton, CO 80129

COLORADO DISTILLERY LINEUP DENVER/BOULDER

Stranahan’s - South Denver stranahans.com

Distillery 291 - Colo. Springs distillery291.com

Mancos Valley Distillery - Mancos mancosvalleydistillery.com

Anders’ Vodka - Parker andersvodka.com

StrongWater Spirits & Botanicals - Denver sipstrongwater.com

The Ice Cave Cider House - Monument facebook.com/theicecaveciderhouse

Marble Distilling Co - Carbondale marbledistilling.com

Arta Tequila - Englewood artatequila.com

Vapor Distillery - Boulder vapordistillery.com

KJ Wood Distillers - Ouray kjwooddistillers.com

Montanya Distillers - Crested Butte montanyarum.com

Bear Creek Distillery - Denver bearcreekdistillery.com

Whistling Hare - Westminster whistlinghare.com

Lee Spirits - Colo. Springs leespirits.com

Peach Street Distillers - Palisade peachstreetdistillers.com

Blank & Booth Distilling - Central Denver blankandbooth.com

NORTHERN COLORADO

Mystic Mountain Distillery - Larkspur mmdistillery.com

Peak Spirits - Hotchkiss peakspirits.com

Anvil Distillery - Longmont anvildistillery.com

Sangre Distilleries - Westcliffe sangredistilleries.com

Stoneyard Distillery - Dotsero stoneyarddistillery.com

Black Canyon Distillery - Longmont blackcanyondistillery.com

Wood’s High Mountain Distillery - Salida woodsdistillery.com

Snow Capped Cider - Cedaredge snowcappedcider.com

Coppermuse Distillery - Fort Collins coppermuse.com

WESTERN SLOPE

Talbott’s Cider Company - Palisade talbottsciderco.com

Altitude Spirits, Inc. - Boulder altitudespirits.com

Boulder Distillery and Clear Spirit Company, Inc. - Boulder 303vodka.com/boulderdistillery Colorado Sun ‘Shine - Englewood cosunshine.com Devil’s Head Distillery - Englewood devilsheaddistillery.com Downslope Distilling - Englewood downslopedistilling.com Geek Spirits - Boulder geekspiritsdistillery.com Golden Moon Distillery - Golden goldenmoondistillery.com J & L Distilling Co - Boulder jldistilling.com Laws Whiskey House - Denver lawswhiskeyhouse.com Leopold Bros - Northeast Denver leopoldbros.com Mad Rabbit Distillery - Westminster madrabbitdistillery.com Mile High Spirits - Lodo milehighspiritsllc.com

Dancing Pines Distillery - Loveland dancingpinesdistillery.com

10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit CO - Vail 10thwhiskey.com

Elevation 5003 Distillery - Fort Collins elevation5003.com

808 Distillery - Eagle 808distill.com

Woodshed Distilling - Pagosa Springs facebook.com/Woodshed-Distilling

Feisty Spirits - Fort Collins feistyspirits.com

Breckenridge Distillery - Breckenridge breckenridgedistillery.com

Woody Creek Distillers - Basalt woodycreekdistillers.com

Old Town Distilling - Fort Collins oldtowndistilling.com

Colorado Gold - Cedaredge coloradogolddistillers.com

Still Cellars - Longmont stillcellars.com

Durango Craft Spirits - Durango durangospirits.com

Spring 44 Distilling - Loveland spring44.com

Honey House Distillery - Durango honeyhousedistillery.com

Syntax Spirits - Greeley syntaxspirits.com Tesouro Distillery - Longmont tesourodistillery.com

Telluride Distilling Co - Mountain Village telluridedistilling.com

If your favorite distillery is not listed, please let us know. joe@thirstcolorado.com

SPORTS AUTHORITY FIELD AREA

SOUTHERN COLORADO

Rado Distilling - Arvada radodistilling.com

3 Hundred Days of Shine - Monument 3hundreddays.com

Rising Sun Distillery - Southwest Denver risingsundistillery.com

Axe and the Oak Distillery - Colo. Springs axeandtheoak.com

Rocker Spirits - Littleton rockerspirits.com

Black Bear Distillery - Green Mountain Falls blackbeardistillery.com

Spirit Hound Distillers - Lyons spirithounds.com

Boathouse Distillery - Salida boathousedistillery.com

Squeal Rum - Aurora squealrum.com

Cockpit Craft Distillery - Colo. Springs cockpitdistillery.com Colorado Common Cider - Colo. Springs coloradocommon.com

State 38 Distilling state-38.com 303.895.1485

720.985.2337 www.strangecraft.com 1330 Zuni Street, Unit M, Denver

Deerhammer Distilling Co - Buena Vista deerhammer.com

400 Corporate Cr. Ste. B, Golden

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January-February 2017

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