Dont really post often, but taking trip to Colorado...

Discussion in 'Mountain' started by smoked, Jul 28, 2012.

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  1. smoked

    smoked Aspirant (220) Sep 29, 2007 Colorado

    Going to be stopping through Ft Collins, Estes Park area (Rocky Mt Natl Park), Denver, Grand Junction and Aspen.

    Wanted to know any "must see" places in those area's or along Route 70/76

    Thanks!
     
    #1 smoked, Jul 28, 2012
  2. Domingo

    Domingo Grand Pooh-Bah (4,252) Apr 23, 2005 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah

    Well, Ft. Collins is a pretty easy one. There are now a TON of breweries in that town and they're close enough where you can even walk between them. Here they are in the order I'd prioritize them: Odell, Funkwerks, New Belgium, FCB, Coopersmith's (they also have great food), Equinox, and Pateros Creek.

    Denver is a whole thread unto itself...maybe check here: http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/where-to-go-in-colorado.28740/

    Estes Park usually involves a trek to or through Longmont and Lyons. Oskar Blues is a no brainer since they're in both. Left Hand is in Longmont, too. There's also a brewery in Estes Park, but I don't have any experience with it.

    On the other side of the park is Grand Lake, which is home to Grand Lake Brewing. They're a bit of a hidden gem and their Wee Heavy (Plaid Bastard) is scary good. They're off of HW34 and their new tasting room is tough to miss.

    Backcountry, Breckenridge, Pug Ryan's, and Dillon Dam are in the valley once you get out of the Eisenhower Tunnel.

    Crazy Mountain is near Vail, on your way toward Aspen.

    Palisade Brewery (and a TON of vineyards + a distillery) are in Palisade, a suburb of Grand Junction. In Junction itself, Kannah Creek is excellent. Rockslide is okay. If you have a chance to head outside of Junction and go SE, you'll find gems in Montrose, Paonia, Ridgway, and Ouray...but they be a bit of a trek.
     
    #2 Domingo, Jul 28, 2012
  3. FishPondManager

    FishPondManager Initiate (0) Feb 28, 2012 Colorado

    I was at Odell last night filling a growler of IPA. Had a pint of Chocolate Oar stout off the pilot menu. It was awesome. I went back out to my car and grabbed my second growler. Now I have a gallon of beer to drink this weekend...
     
    #3 FishPondManager, Jul 28, 2012
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  4. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,348) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Less typing, more drinking...
     
    #4 SFACRKnight, Jul 28, 2012
  5. carteravebrew

    carteravebrew Initiate (0) Jan 21, 2010 Colorado

    Estes Park Brewery is okay, but I wouldn't say it's a must-see. I've been there two or three times for samples just because we were in town. The staff is cool and they'll give a tour of the brewing room if you ask. There's a restaurant upstairs, but I haven't eaten there. Estes isn't really much of a "beer town"...that said, it's a beautiful area and a quaint place to hang out for an afternoon.
     
    #5 carteravebrew, Jul 30, 2012
  6. hiphopj5

    hiphopj5 Initiate (0) Jan 29, 2010 Colorado

    In Estes check out Rambo's Longhorn Liquor Mart. Pretty decent selection with a couple nice rarities.
     
    #6 hiphopj5, Jul 30, 2012
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  7. DaveLikesAle

    DaveLikesAle Initiate (0) Jan 24, 2006 Ohio

    Go to New Belgium in Ft. Collins and see those giant barrels carteravebrew has in his avatar. (must take the tour though)
     
    #7 DaveLikesAle, Jul 30, 2012
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  8. Prospero

    Prospero Pooh-Bah (2,680) Jul 27, 2010 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    You can skip Estes Park Brewery, Grand Lake a mayyybe. Really nothing that great aside from Oskar Blues in Lyons.

    If I had to prioritize:

    Fort Collins
    1. Odell
    2. New Belgium (take the tour as mentioned already)
    3. Funkwerks
    4. Equinox (it's really good)

    Denver
    1. Great Divide
    2. Renegade
    3. Pick one (Bull & Bush, Vine Street Pub, Wynkoop, Breckenridge BBQ all have food -- Prost (opens in 3-weeks), Hogshead, Denver Beer Co. (great place to hang out), River North, Wit's End, Strange, TRVE)
    4. Dry Dock (I'd place this 2nd, but it's out in Aurora suburb, Copper Kettle out that way too)
    *excellent bars here for samplings --- Falling Rock Taphouse, Freshcraft, Euclid Hall, Ale's at Amato's
    *good stores near downtown --- Mr.B's & Argonauts

    Aspen
    1. Aspen Brewing Co.

    Along the way:
    - Tommyknocker (Idaho Springs)
    - Dillon Dam Brewery (Dillon)
    - Breckenridge (Breckenridge, can also hit the Breckenridge BBQ in Denver)
    - Crazy Mountain (Edwards)

    And if you have time:
    Boulder
    1. Avery
    2. Upslope
    3. Twisted Pine

    If I didn't mention it, it didn't make my top 3, and I figure you probably don't have time for more than 3 each location unless you're spending a month out here. Yes, I know I put 4 for some locations :stuck_out_tongue:
     
    #8 Prospero, Jul 31, 2012
  9. DenverBeerDrinker

    DenverBeerDrinker Initiate (0) Apr 5, 2012 Colorado

    It's only Tuesday. How's that going to last until the weekend?
     
    #9 DenverBeerDrinker, Jul 31, 2012
  10. dauss

    dauss Pooh-Bah (1,954) Aug 9, 2003 Colorado
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I'm going to throw Backcountry Brewery in Frisco on there.
     
    #10 dauss, Jul 31, 2012
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  11. smoked

    smoked Aspirant (220) Sep 29, 2007 Colorado





    Stopped by Odells yesterday for 45minutes since I got in late (2 straight days driving woo hoo sun poisoning) And very nice. Tried to hit up Ft Collins but there is some kind of Monday thing they all close at 6pm? I will be heading back through Ft Collins on the way back up later this week, and try to get to Funkwerks and Equinox since I have been to New Belgium once before. Ended up at Coopersmith's due to your and a locals reccomendation...had their "bourbon barrell stout" which tasted like thick water with no bourbon...And the other beers really didnt taste that good. And the food wasnt much better, maybe i had bad luck with that...


    Currently in Grand Junction and going to be going to a Kanauh Canyon (spelling) and Ale house since the hotel is driving for free...

    I want to hit up Oskar Blues, and think that I saw signs for Vail while on RT 70 driving today, near the Hanging Lake trail? Is the brewery in town or somewhere close by?


    I plan on driving out to Aspen after the real reason I am out here tomorrow, and if there is only one place out there should be quite easy. When you say along the way, to Aspen? Are those places in like Carbondale or El Jebel?(sp)


    I hope to hit up Denver on the way back and maybe spend 1 day in that area...I def want Great Divide, and sounds like Breckenridge BBQ is at least he 2nd must go.

    And Avery is a definite stop on the way since i was there last year, and they have the bes jalapeno poppers I have ever had anywhere...where else hollows out and then deep fry's the entire jalapeno...just was awesome...

    Thanks for the replies guys, its making me wish I had more time to be out here...perhaps if I get the job this will be a much better place than NEPA, but then I would lose stakem homebrew :slight_frown:
    I shall make sure to stop there when heading out of the Rocky Mt Natl Park, Thanks!
     
    #11 smoked, Jul 31, 2012
  12. Prospero

    Prospero Pooh-Bah (2,680) Jul 27, 2010 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    No Oskar Blues is closer to Boulder, CO, there is a brewery in Glenwood Springs, but it's not one of the best, pretty light-bodied beers if you know what I mean, their IPA tastes more like a Pale.

    By "on the way" I assumed you were driving across the state on I-70, so:

    - Tommyknocker (Idaho Springs) ~30 min from Denver, right off highway
    - Dillon Dam Brewery (Dillon) ~80 min from Denver, right off highway
    - Breckenridge (Breckenridge) ~90 min from Denver, 15-20 min. off highway
    - Crazy Mountain (Edwards), ~110 min. from Denver, right off highway
     
    #12 Prospero, Jul 31, 2012
  13. smoked

    smoked Aspirant (220) Sep 29, 2007 Colorado

    Realized that was confusing after posting it...I want to get to Oskar, but then went right into the thought of I drove on 70 and saw Vail and he had mentioned a brewery around there too. I think crazy Mountain, I am in grand junction and going to be heading down to Aspen tomorrow afternoon, and need to look and see which are on the way between here and there, and then when heading to denver. and my shift key seems to be broken now, god i love borrowing old laptops.
     
    #13 smoked, Jul 31, 2012
  14. SalukiAlum

    SalukiAlum Initiate (0) Dec 19, 2010 Colorado

    In Ft. Collins, check out Mayor of Old Town and Choice City, both amazing tap selections and very good food!
     
    #14 SalukiAlum, Aug 1, 2012
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  15. SalukiAlum

    SalukiAlum Initiate (0) Dec 19, 2010 Colorado

    Denver, my favorite places are Great Divide and Freshcraft; also in Boulder/Longmont area have to visit Avery and Oskar Blues!
     
    #15 SalukiAlum, Aug 1, 2012
  16. tacosandbeer

    tacosandbeer Pooh-Bah (1,760) Sep 24, 2010 British Indian Ocean Territory
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    You just listed off some of my fav places - Choice City, Avery, OB in Longmont, and Freshcraft.
     
    #16 tacosandbeer, Aug 1, 2012
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