Castle Rock Has a New Brewery!!!!!

Why are we so excited? Because we live here!!!!! AND the beers are great - we loved every single one of them. Their brewing philosophy is to create "session" beers. Session beers are brews made for delightful, pleasant imbibing over a session of socializing and enjoyment with friends, much like the culture in the British Isles. Colorado has such a thriving microbrewery scene that many of the breweries are competing with each other to come up with the most outrageous styles or highest alcohol content. We love the English libations they make because they are SOOO drinkable and easy to love. No pyrotechnics, just some extremely well done beers like Bob's favorite, the Golden IPA, which had some hoppiness but very well balanced. I really loved the Scottish ale, and the Brown Porter - a perfect amount of smoke and roast, but not overpowering. This is the essence of their concept - nothing to extremes, just deftness and finesse. Each beer is a pleasure. And there will of course, be firkins with some creative ideas weekly just for variety.- Rose

Living the Dream!

Near Chatfield, a little ways off of Hwy. 85 behind Murdoch's is a fun little tasting room to duck into. We came upon Living the Dream on a rainy afternoon in April, and loved the scent of malt when we first walked in the door. The fun music made us feel right at home, and we enjoyed the down to earth, friendly staff - who create a fine product and care about what they do. First we tried the Arrogant Hipster wheat, which was a bright and lively brew with a hint of nectar on the tongue and a balanced bit of crispness - a cut above a regular wheat beer. Next, Bob the Hop Lovin' Guy tasted the TBD pale ale. He pronounced to be a mellow brew with a clarity of flavor - the hops don't linger at all. He ordered a pint to savor. Empty Trophy Case IPA ramps up the hops a bit - it has a great zing and a lemony essence, for those who don't shy away from bold hops. I chose the Belgian Brune - a dark colored brew that's a juicy, slightly spicy delight. The last beer we tried knocked us both out - the Helluva Caucasian - with special effects aplenty - a mouthful of espresso, chocolate, vanilla and a very subtle bit of peanut butter to tie it all together. The amazing thing is that it's not overdone. It's a refreshing, and amazingly drinkable brew. We'll be coming back with our dog to watch a Broncos game.

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

Trinity Brewing

Near the glory of Garden of the Gods, west of Colorado Springs,hidden in a nondescript strip mall, lies a real find.......Trinity Brewing... if you have seen the movie "Office Space",you'll love and appreciate all the references posted on the chalkboard. e.g. "Case of the Mondays","Oh Face","Red Swingline", etc., yeah, you get it. These guys specialize in Saisons and Farmhouse ales. Masterpieces. Farmhouse Soleil brings it home, must try.--Bob I LOVED the Chi Belgian Pilsner - it gets five stars from me - it has a taste of honey and a lightly crisp ending. Farmhouse Fantome has a summer harvest taste of subtle strawberry at the end. We also appreciated the cheese cubes that came with the sampler, (nice touch) and the friendly helpful waitstaff. They have 20 (!) guest beers on tap, so you're sure to find something you'll like. This visit to Trinity capped off a lovely drive through Garden of the Gods on a late summer day. Do visit them!--Rose

Grand Lake Brewing Co.

Last Friday found us in the mountain community of Grand Lake in the beautiful summer weather. Grand Lake Brewery is right next to Hwy 34, between Granby and the town of Grand Lake. It's a cozy, comfortable feeling place to duck in, where you're just as likely to see tourists from out of state as you are to see locals who come back again and again for the great choices from the tap. Our fellow tasters at the bar were from Westminster, and Albuquerque. Among the beers we found to love were the seasonal brew Passionfruit Wheat, which had a sweet and slightly salty taste and reminded me of a chardonnay. Lovely!!! Also worthy of mention was the Plaid Bastard Strong Scotch Ale which had a slight essence of prune I found interesting. Another favorite was the Amber Lager "Mud Season" beer. Clean and mellow, perfectly balanced, and a pleasure.-Rose I liked the Pumphouse Lager, a German style helles,a nice smooth blend of German hops and yeast and European malts. Another fine beer with a complex blend of American and European malt was the Stumpjumper IPA, stays with you without being too hoppy. We had a great time both in town (see pix!)and at the taphouse, friendly staff too. -Bob

Meetup at Wynkoop

This day found us taking light rail to downtown Denver to Wynkoop Brewery, Colorado's oldest brewpub, very near beautiful Coors Field (home to Colo. Rockies baseball). Wynkoop has an old-town feel, it's a perfect place to stop in for a cool one on a hot summer day. Monday afternoon I had the pleasure of meeting 3 cousins from far-off places - John from Northern British Columbia, Ginny from Tuscon AZ, and Cathy from Paulbo, MT. I already know my cousin Frank from Issaquah WA, who was also in attendance. And of course, my husband Bob was there! We started with the unfiltered Belgian style Weiss - did not disappoint - plenty of banana and clove essence. Patty's chili beer was a delight, with the green chili punch I love - not too much heat. And the Black Lager was different and wonderful - some real heft and character to go with the crisp lager base.-Rose For my taste the best sure bet here is the classic Railyard Ale, an amber that pleases the taste bud, nothing fancy, just right. --Bob

Dillon Dam Brewery

We were up in Summit County CO, enjoying some of the best ski towns in the country - during summer (!) The lovely scenery, the cooler temps, great breweries make for an excellent getaway. We'll get right to the punchline here - the best of five microbreweries is probably Dillon Dam Brewery; named for the dam right nearby. The standout to me was the exquisite Supermoon Saison. Like a heavenly wildflower meadow, it had a breath of honey at the front, and interesting herbals at the end. Another winner was the Zuma Zen lager, an amber lager actually. _Rose We have been to this place several times in past years when we lived in the central Colo. mountains, and I have to say the brown ale -Sweet George's Brown- is possibly one of the best anywhere-doesn't bite, lightly smoky,and a little caramel, a real favorite.-Bob

Family Trip to Dry Dock

It felt so nice, we had to do it twice! Dry Dock is a sure fire crowd pleaser. They've gotten it down pat in the fifteen years they have been open, and even if you've been there before, they're sure to have a seasonal beer (or three) you haven't tried. Among our favorites as a group: the Vanilla Porter (best I've had - with intense vanilla, subtler notes of cocoa - but not overly sweet), Breakwater Pale Ale (not bitter with only 40 IBU's). Maythen Voyage(which we nicknamed Mayhem Voyage) was rich and complex. It had me so intrigued, I had a hard time putting it down. Also worthy of mention was the U-Boat Hefe - banana-y and brisk, and Brad's favorite, the Imperial Stout.--Rose Got a kick out of trying Maythen Voyage, a seasonal traditional ale with a creative twist,then settled on a pint of Breakwater Pale Ale, very satisfying indeed. So much fun once your kids are grown adults and you can party with them! Doesn't happen very often anymore but we were glad to have son Darren and fiancee Andra, NC residents (see posting about Asheville), son Brad and girlfriend Shannon, visiting from Montana and sister Cathy, San Diego denizen.--Bob

Side Trip to North Carolina

Saint Paddy's Day in Asheville was rowdy, good fun! The band served up some enthusiastic sea chantys to the delight of the all-ages, crowded bar in this artsy Blue Ridge mountain town. We ordered a sampler of beers brewed at Green Man Ales, starting with a Pilsner. It was sweet, crisp, with a finish of butterscotch-lemon at the end. Another favorite was the ESB. Malty smooth, but caramelly; a light touch of roast-y flavor at the end. I LOVED the Belgian white - a perfect meld of sweet plus light hops, with a flower-y clove finish. None were a disappointment, but for the sheer number of microbrews and limitless choices from great to greater, Rocky Mountain beers still win!-Rose --NOTHING like a real Irish bar this day......my youngest son Darren and his Peace Corps buddy,Chris from Asheville, guided us across the state to our emerald destination, where St Patrick awaited us at Jack-in-the-Wood. Naturally we drank our fair share of honey ales--also don't want to leave out the Green Mtn. IPA, same moderate herb-y hops upfront without lingering bitterness. Simply a great time!--Bob

Sunday Afternoon at Lone Tree Brewing

A late winter day (sunshine on snow) brought us to Lone Tree near C-470 and Quebec. Note to reader: they're in a strip mall on Park Meadows Drive close to Furniture Row. Their sign is very small but don't give up - it's worth the trip. We walked in at mid afternoon, and it was crowded with families and bar patrons. The ambiance is no-frills and laid back, with the vats in view. After our sampler, I ended up with the Hoptree IPA. It penetrates the tongue, has a beautiful balance, lemon-y, industrial-strength but not at all bitter at the end. Although eleven different hops are used in this fine beer, they don't linger in the mouth.-Bob I started off with the Belgian Blonde - I gave it three stars (out of three)! It has a heavenly coriander essence good enough to defrock a Trappist monk. Next, go to Helles; refreshing, crisp, a hint of vanilla. The Trippel has a big charge of malt at the start, creamy texture, and a fizzy sparkle at the end. Jason, the head brewer came over to talk to us about Lone Tree's brewing philosophy. He told us they brew true to style, rather than go crazy with the special effects. If a person is looking for a characteristic brew such as a Belgian or a pale ale, they'll find great ones here. -Rose

Dry Dock Brewing Co., Great Find

Judging by the lively Sunday afternoon crowd, we found a place in Aurora that's well-established and known to locals. These guys obviously know what they are doing. They had a large selection including seasonals such as 3 Wee Heavy (sweet and with a barley wine flavor), Enterprise IPA, just plain delicious, and HMS Bounty, more of an English old style dark. Loved the Victory Amber as well. This place is really fun, a great place to hang out with friends.--Bob We had known about Dry Dock for awhile and had tried their very seductive Apricot Blonde, with it's lovely fruit aftertaste. They had so many great picks, it was hard to settle on just 6 beers for a sampler, so we focused on the sure winners. HMS Victory Amber, which was soft with a honey overtone, a slight crisp touch of hops, and an indefinable essence of something herbal at the end. A gold medal winner, and deservedly so. Their U-Boat hefenweisen has a bright, refreshing note of marshmallow that sets it apart from other wheat beers. It's a marvel. The Black Saison is a seamless, complex, melding of malts, caramel, and spice - and is my favorite among Dry Dock's great offerings. Our friends Maury and Mary who accompanied us are regulars, and big fans of the Breakwater Pale Ale.-Rose

Friday Night at Pikes Peak Brewing

Bob and I met with our friends Mike and Patricia to taste the offerings in Monument. We found one of their lighter colored offerings, Gold Rush (a Belgian gold) to have plenty of personality. I loved the honey finish. Also, their coffee porter was the best I've ever had. The process of brewing it was one without compromise, requiring 10 pounds of fresh coffee locally roasted by Switchback Coffee in a blend created just for PPB. Another favorite is Hot Shot, a green chili beer with lots of zing, but not heat. Our patient, cheerful waitress turned out to be Judy, the wife of owner Chris Wright, who took time out of a busy evening to talk to us about their brewing philosophy. "We're more stylistic than artistic" is his take, meaning that they strive to provide the brew styles people like, expect, and enjoy most. Bob and I and our friends would have to agree!-Rose We had a fine evening of tasting and conversing in the shadow of Pikes Peak looming nearby. I liked the clear, crisp taste of Elephant Rock IPA, just enough hops for slight but not lingering bitterness. Funny,but as recent as two years ago, I did not care for IPAs so much, but I have slowly acquired a real taste for them. But by far,the clear winner for me was the Gold Rush Belgian Ale, Mike liked it as much (maybe it's a guy thing).We greatly appreciated the hospitality and friendship from Chris and Judy, a real personal touch; We'll be back for a brewery tour--Bob

Tasting at the Eddyline

Our next stop on our never ending beer tour was the Eddyline. Last Tuesday in the peaceful little town of Buena Vista, we found some very fine, tasty brews. They're located right off of Hwy. 285, between Fairplay and Salida. Their woodfired pizza alone is worth the trip, and there's a fabulous walk along the Arkansas river where we love to take the dog and watch kayakers roll in the rapids in the summer. Lovers of pales and IPAs will swoon over their two stellar offerings. The River Runners pale is citrus-y and bright - NOT bitter - and won a gold medal (!) in the Great American Beerfest. I prefer the less hoppy beers, but was won over by this one. Crank Yanker IPA also earned our devotion. With a nice malt balance, it's hoppy in the middle but has no bitter aftertaste at all. My personal favorites were the Mountain Fairy Raspberry (I know, I know, it's a girl beer) which was not overly sweet with an authentic hint of berry. Also incredibly good was the Kickin' Back Amber Lager. Full of subtle nuances, it's a Vienna style lager with hints of chocolate, and lots of smokey and roast-y notes which put me in my happy place. In all they have nine or ten beers to pick from depending on the season, and none was a disappointment. Manager and head brewer Ryan McFadden was a fountain of information about the anaerobic roasting process, etc. and made the visit fun and interesting for us. Colorado microbrewery trail aficionados will want to bag the Eddyline. - Rose We really enjoyed our time in this small mountain town, stunning views of Collegiate Peaks, and a great place for outdoor adventurers. Ryan, Jeff and Maggie, our friendly hosts, kept us awash in suds and conversation. My favorite was the Crank Yanker IPA, had a real balance of malts and hops, went down real easy. River Runner pale was runner-up,also sublime and tasty. Two thumbs up for the Eddyline, don't pass it up if you're on that stretch of road. --Bob