Thinking about a weekend trip to CO - help me plan?

[John Beere]

Looks like Avery only does tours at 4 PM.. that's out. :-/

 

[John Beere]

The Colorado DOT just emailed me.. Highway 34 from Granby to Estes Park is definitely open this weekend. Woot!

 

[Buffman]

Mountain Sun has food, but I haven't eaten there in years- not sure how good it is.

The food is really average; nothing special. The beer and the Boulder atmosphere, however, are the reasons to go. Plus, its just off the end of the Pearl Street Mall - an outdoor mall, good for walking off the beer buzz before getting back in the car. We were there last fall. The strong smell of brewing beer had my four-year-old plugging her nose the whole time! (I don't think she's related to me.)

 

[jamesnsw]

It's hard to combine with all the other breweries, but if you can, make it to Dry Dock. They make some great beers. Fridays they tap a firkin of some variation of one of their beers, which range from strange to delicious.

Also, it may be worth checking out Strange Brewing- they just opened this week.

 

[jmkratt]

The Colorado DOT just emailed me.. Highway 34 from Granby to Estes Park is definitely open this weekend. Woot!

Sorry to get you concerned with my previous post, I am glad it's open! You should enjoy that drive, very pretty

 

[RDWHAHB]

Cheeky Monk in Denver for good food and truly great beers. Couple blocks East of the capital on Colfax.

 

[Marsdude]

OK.. This is coming together nicely!

We will be going to the Falling Rock Taphouse on Friday night for a late dinner and drinks.. Then we'll end up at Tommy Knockers in Idaho Springs by lunch on Saturday. We'll then mosey up to Granby, then over to Estes Park, and end up at Choice City Deli for dinner on Sunday. Monday we'll hit up a tour of O'Dells or New Belgium, then make our way back to Denver for a late lunch, then catch our flight.

Anyone know where to go up around Grandy on h-way 40/34?

I don't think that schedule will work for Fort Collins. Odell's opens at 11 AM. The first tour is at 1 PM. New Belgium is closed to the public on Monday.

+1 on Choice City Deli. Lots of great beers and the food is great. I love their burgers.

 

[ndsgr]

This thread is perfect timing. I'll be out in Broomfield next month for work and was just looking to see what beers I am going to drink. Thanks guys!

 

[John Beere]

OK, so Monday we'll have to switch it up. We can try to catch the first tour of O'Dells at 1, but we have to be at the Denver Airport at 3:30 latest..

So, all I need now is one more place to eat in Fort Collins? Should we do the Choice City Deli for dinner or lunch?

We are heading out now, but I'll check this thread sometime later today.

Thank you guys very much!

 

[uwjester]

So I think you are eating dinner Sunday and lunch Monday in Fort Collins, correct? If so, I'd go to Cafe Vino for dinner and Choice City for lunch.

I chose Cafe Vino over Coopersmiths because it has Pliny the Elder on tap and you might not get that in GA. Of course, you may have already had it at Falling Rock.

http://www.cafevino.com/beer.php

 

[EricCSU]

OK, so Monday we'll have to switch it up. We can try to catch the first tour of O'Dells at 1, but we have to be at the Denver Airport at 3:30 latest..

So, all I need now is one more place to eat in Fort Collins? Should we do the Choice City Deli for dinner or lunch?

We are heading out now, but I'll check this thread sometime later today.

Thank you guys very much!

I have to throw my vote in for Coopersmith's. I really enjoy their beer and the food is great.

Eric

 

[zman]

Roads like Trail Ridge are sketchy at best out here this time of year....they are surely still getting snow up there...No other good way to get to Granby/Winter Park from FoCo. i.e. it might be open now, but might not be open this weekend...

Lunch in Boulder - go mountain sun...kill two birds. Just don't get pissy...it is run by hippies, real hippies, food may take a while, they may forget stuff...just go into it all with a good attitude and enjoy the beer. As tempting as the Pollo Asada burrito (and all their burritos are) don't do it...one of those and a couple beers leads to gastric disasters. Stick to a burger (SOB and Basil Blue are my faves). Or, you could eat at Oskar Blues either in Lyons or Longmont...food is amazing, great bbq, and great beer...in fact, I'd go to Avery, then have lunch at Oskar Blues.

Oh, and if you are driving to Estes from Longmont/Lyons, take 52 west to Lyons, then go up St. Vrain canyon to peak-to-peak highway north to Estes (instead of 36), much nicer route.

The Mtn Sun has Live music every Sunday night and no cover. The kitchen closes @ 8 on Sundays

 

[Marsdude]

So I think you are eating dinner Sunday and lunch Monday in Fort Collins, correct? If so, I'd go to Cafe Vino for dinner and Choice City for lunch.

I chose Cafe Vino over Coopersmiths because it has Pliny the Elder on tap and you might not get that in GA. Of course, you may have already had it at Falling Rock.

http://www.cafevino.com/beer.php

+1 on Choice City for lunch. I have never been to Cafe Vino but the beer selection looks really good. If you want to taste beer that you can not get other places, however, I would go to Coopersmiths. I actually like the beer at C.B. Potts better. They have several breweries here in CO. I am not sure if they have other locations out of the State.

 

[John Beere]

Flipping flight delays in ATL.. we'll get into Denver around 9 now. Wont screw us up too bad. We have a table secured at Sweetwaters' brewhouse and they have their IPA on tap. I'm happy.

 

[Madman]

Boulder.

Boulder, Boulder, Boulder!

My wife went there a while back with a previous boyfriend and said it was the most laid-back and smart place ever!

 

[ColoradoXJ13]

Boulder.

Boulder, Boulder, Boulder!

My wife went there a while back with a previous boyfriend and said it was the most laid-back and smart place ever!

Thats cuz I'm here :rockin:

Seriously though, Avery is worth going to even if you don't take a tour...it is a brewery...they have a mash tun, a boil kettle, and huge fermenters. The Tap Room with 22 beers on tap and windows into the barrel aging room are worth it. And if you go and the place is deserted, I'll bet one of the people there will give you a quick look-around...it is a very low-key place.

 

[John Beere]

yeah.. I'm way more interested in *tasting* all the beers than seeing breweries.. I think, overall, I get how its made.

 

[John Beere]

at mountain sun in boulder.. their F.Y.I.P.A is total clone of Sweetwater's IPA! Which isn't necessarily a bad thing.. just surprising.

 

[John Beere]

At Oskar Blues now.. gotta get some food in me soon!

 

[John Beere]

Now we are are Oskar Blues brewery for a quick tour and more samples.. good times!

Hey, this is my thread! I'll fill up however I see fit! Heh

 

[John Beere]

Now we are are Oskar Blues brewery for a quick tour and more samples.. good times!

Hey, this is my thread! I'll fill up however I see fit! Heh

 

[John Beere]

Had a great weekend! Think we tried 26 beers from the area.. the craziest being 'Oakey' from Tommyknockers.. holy crazy that beer tastes like wood! Thanks everyone!

 

[John Beere]

I think my favorite was the chili beer from Coopersmith.. wouldn't drink a lot of it, but it was definitely distinct. I'm absolutely going to try and clone this one!

 

[Buffman]

I think my favorite was the chili beer from Coopersmith.. wouldn't drink a lot of it, but it was definitely distinct. I'm absolutely going to try and clone this one!

One of my favorites, too. Brewed this last year - really close to Coopersmith's, but I'd add more chiles:


7 lbs Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 73.68 %
1 lbs Vienna Malt (3.5 SRM) Grain 10.53 %
8.0 oz Cara-Pils/Dextrine (2.0 SRM) Grain 5.26 %
8.0 oz Caramel/Crystal Malt - 10L (10.0 SRM) Grain 5.26 %
8.0 oz Munich Malt (9.0 SRM) Grain 5.26 %
1.00 oz Sterling [5.30 %] (60 min) Hops 19.1 IBU
0.25 oz Hallertauer [5.70 %] (10 min) Hops 1.9 IBU
1.00 items Chile, Serrano (Roasted & chopped; secondary 3 weeks)
1.00 items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 min) Misc
3.00 items Chiles, Anaheim (Roasted & chopped; secondary 3 weeks)
California Ale (White Labs #WLP001) Yeast-Ale


Est Original Gravity: 12.655 Plato
Est Final Gravity: 2.974 Plato
Bitterness: 21.0 IBU
Est Color: 4.9 SRM Color


Mash at 152F for 60 minutes. Boil for 90 minutes.