Maddie's Big Celebration!

When Maddie's Biergarten opened up a year ago on a quiet street in old town Castle Rock, we had an inkling this was a real find. We loved the little side garden and the picnic tables that reminded us of an authentic German Oktoberfest. And the concept was a solid winner - get taps from the best beers brewed by the best Colorado breweries, and rotate them periodically. And then throw in some live music on weekends, a trivia night mid-week, and make it family friendly for a sweet atmosphere. Everything about it reads, "Someone cares." Well, on their 1st anniversary it was obvious a LOT of people care, and big crowds turned out for the great music, the well-crafted microbrews, and the lovely late summer weather. Thank you for a great year, Maddie and company, and many, many more!

7 Hermits Brewery

7 Hermits brewery is in the town of Eagle,just west of Vail off of I-70, and surrounded by the beautiful mountain peaks for which it's named. We had a wonderful camping trip to Sylvan Lake state park, and happened upon this great stop on the Colorado Brewery Trail. 7 Hermits is light and bright with high ceilings and an open feel, and we were happy to take a break on a blustery afternoon and duck in to sample some stellar brews. We noticed right off how many choices there were in IPA's and pales to pick from. Bob was in beer heaven! I'm not so enamored of the hoppier brews, but loved the Paulette Grapefruit IPA. (And we don't just mean grapefruit-y flavor, we mean significant amounts of actual grapefruit in the brew recipe)! Very refreshing. I liked the smokey depth of the porter, but then was really knocked out by the milk stout - a batch tended over and tweaked by the head brewer until it's satisfying and right on a few different levels. Two thumbs up as well for the Bruiser IPA - malt forward and very balanced. If I like an IPA, it's a great one because I'm a harder sell. -Rose The staff was friendly, the brews eminently quaffable. I enjoyed Haystacker amber and their Pale Ale, found them to have a real selection of IPA's, my favorite was The Bruiser, just enough malt balance for me to complement the hops. Eagle is a very nice small mountain town and this brewery is well worth a stop if you're in the area. -Bob

Downtown Day/Jagged Mountain

After a trip on the light rail to watch the Broncos scrimmage at Sports Authority field on a warm summer day, we wound up at Jagged Mountain Brewery on 20th and Lawrence. We liked the no nonsense approach to their beers, and although they specialize in high alcohol standards like Belgians, they still have some lighter options for the easily drunk (like me). Try their Saisons - Zero Gravity is light but with a dry finish. Spearhead is everything I love about a Saison. For those who enjoy IPAs, Imlay has grapefruity hops that give it a grassy, herbal aroma. Dreamweaver, a double IPA, has a hoppy essense of pine. The Wolf Black Saison has extra color from deeply roasting the grains, and is beautifully malt forward and robust. I gave 3 out of 3 stars to the Belgian Strong Stout with its taffy aroma and candy-like flavor.-Rose I was pleasantly surprised by Valecito Belgian Dark,the malts seemed to bring out other flavors like caramel, really like it. Imlay American IPA stood out as well, New Zealand hops make it quite palatable. Gave Voodoo Goat barleywine a roll, didn't seem as sweet as lot of them, but refreshingly hoppy adds to it. Autumn, our server, not the season, was friendly and helpful. Also got lined up with some fine fish tacos from the food truck right outside (Cheyfus.com) to spend a fine summer afternoon downtown!-Bob

Revolution Brewing in Paonia

It only takes a couple hours to tap in (pun intended) to the magic of Paonia. They live gently on the earth, and leave it more beautiful. I've always loved the place, and it just keeps getting better and better. In addition to the local wineries, they now have a crackerjack microbrewery. The ambiance is like walking into Paonia's living room - one local after another stops by to check in. They're friendly townsfolk, and you can have a great conversation with either regulars or travelers who've found Revolution along the way. We talked to a nice family from Boulder, and a couple traveling the country for two years in a Winnebago. The couple who own Paonia's Wiseheart B&B were also great company. We love meeting such wonderful folks as we explore Colorado's byways. Revolution's beers were subtly crafted; nothing outlandish or extreme, and very likeable. The apricot blonde was a pleasant surprise with enough earthy hops to keep it interesting. The stout had lots of deep, rich coffee - just the way I like it. This one was my personal favorite.--Rose IPA is for real hop lovers,the red is a sweet Irish red, not too generic, has a hint of brown sugar, and I ordered an extra pint. The nut brown is also very likeable and mellow. Great to watch a mix of a few tourists and mostly locals dropping in. Beer is a club anybody can belong to.--Bob

Parry's Big Tap Takeover

When we heard Avery was coming to the Highlands Ranch Parry's Pizza, we hustled ourselves over there. And yes - they had the most complete selection of Avery brews you can get other than making the trip to Boulder. We were not disappointed. I had the Salvation and Bob had the Reverend - both were finely tuned, richly multi-layered delights. The event was a mob scene, and we talked with lots of friendly folks who recognise a great beer when they encounter one. One couple in particular were so enjoyable we plan to meet up with them again!

Hall Brewing on a Friday Afternoon

We wanted to enjoy the Rockies home opening day without the downtown Denver madness and logistics, so we chose to check out Hall Brewing (right nearby in Parker). And - YES! - they had the big screen TV in this tasting room featuring light recycled beetlekill wood and artsy chalkboards. We felt right at home as our Tapmeister Tony expertly served up beer and brewing lore. They know their stuff at Hall, we were delighted by the sheer numbers of beer to try (11 today) . If I have to sort out three favorites I'd have to say the nectar-y Peach Blonde Ale made with Colorado peaches, the Holiday which is made with orange peel and cocoa nibs - but with no one note overpowering the others; it's just complex and satisfying. The Bock/Lager is an award winner, and deservedly so. It was smokey at the start, zesty and bright - and what a kick at 9.9% alcohol content! Hall has only been open for 3 months, but the place filled up quickly with the FAC crowd, and then later the after dinner crowd. If you brew a great product, they will find you! --Rose ALL the beers here are great, no kidding.. I usually hate fruity beers, but had no problem with these. Harvest and Holiday Seasonals--outstanding-- esp. with an added infusion of dry hops, on request. Farmhouse IPA, with notes of subtle honey and light bits of grapefruit, like hitting a bases-clearing triple! Also thanks to Tony, crackerjack host, for his hospitality and clear knowledge of his craft.-- Bob

Elk Mountain Brewing

This great microbrew is right in our own backyard; Parker CO. Maybe it was the frigid weather, but when we walked in it reminded me of one of the wonderful breweries we've loved in Montana. The rough pine walls, the great country music, and everybody knows everybody. Warmth and friendliness on a cold day! Well, the first beer I tasted was a revelation - the Barrel Aged Kolsh - with a heavenly essence of chardonnay. The Wapati Wheat was a cut above, with the banana and clove taste. The brewing process for this wheat combines German and Belgian processes,winning it a Silver in the Craft Beer competition. I also found the Shayton Strong Ale a surprise with the sparkling essence of root beer and seductive honey. -Rose I liked the Rock Slide Amber, better than most, which are average around here. It had a slight taste of brown sugar upfront and an herbal note at the end. And I LOVED their Ute Bill Pale ! Just rolls across the tongue with some lemon/grapefruit hint. Also worth a mention is Elkhorn Stout. It was smoky, satisfying and full-bodied. We had fun talking to the staff; they were friendly and informative about the process. Great way to spend my 66th birthday. --Bob