Denver/Ft. Collins 3/25-3/30 - Advice?

While in Fort Collins, hit Choice City and The Mayor of Old Town for bars (your best bets for Pliny in town), and Wilburs, Supermarket Liquors and 287 for bottles. While you are at Odell, consider going a half mile further down the road and hitting Funkwerks. Their beers are great, especially the barreled stuff they have right now.

For outdoor stuff, take a hike up Horsetooth or rent bikes from the bike library and cruise around. Tons of paved trails. If you're willing to drive an hour from Fort Collins, consider visiting Estes Park. Kind of a no man's land for beer, but it's a gorgeous place.

If you are going to Avery (do it), consider visiting Backcountry Pizza and Tap House in Boulder as well.

Maybe try to check out Comrade in Denver, too. Their Hop Chops IIPA is on par with Pliny in my opinion and one of the best IPAs in the state. Last keg was just tapped at the brewery though ...

Saturday is also Left Hand Hops and Handrails. Tickets are like $30 or something reasonable for a five hour session.

 

Fuck Pliny. That is all.

 

Definitely go to Avery - their new brewery is awesome! Also tons of tap room only beers.

Also, I strongly encourage you to go to Comrade in Denver. They are putting out some of the best IPAs in the country.

In FC, visit New Belgium too - it is very close to Odell and Funkwerks. On certain days, they have rare sours on in the taproom. In Old Town, Equinox is worth a stop as well - great taproom and beer. If you go to Choice City, stop into Tap and Handle across the street. Not as many taps as The Mayor, but a better selection - and a better vibe.

Get to Hops & Pie early - that place fills up VERY fast.

Falling Rock almost always has Pliny on tap. Not so much with other bars.

 

Second Choice City in FoCo (great beer and great affordable food). They frequently have Pliny. I'd also recommend Tand and Handle, Forge and Equinox. If you want Pliny, Cafe Vino frequently has it on tap (decent beer selection and good but overpriced food).

As a heads up, Avery's new location is likely to be packed most of the time.

 

Small Batch and Mile High Wine & Spirits both have had Casey East Bank and Casey Saison in the last week. Not sure about now. Small Batch is more likely to have it.

FW Parabola hit town this week, if that interests you. Both Small Batch & Mr. B's expect to release it Friday.

The wife and I will be at Crooked Stave tomorrow night for the Serenata Notturna release. Would be happy to buy you a beer if you're there...

 

If you're into biking. I'd def suggest biking Cherryvail RD in Boulder, drops off right at Avery. In Denver from the platte river/cherry creek trails you can easily hit (depending on how long you're willing to ride) Comrade, Copper Kettle, Bull & Bush, Renegade, Strange, Wit's End, Prost, Diebolt, Denver Beer CO, Crooked Stave, Mockery, Wynkoop, & the RiNo breweries are not too far off. Biking FC is also the way to go IMO.

 

It was tapped on the 20th and blew on the 21st.

 

Sad Trombone sound effect.

 

Eat at Acorn or Comida, which is in the same building as Crooked Stave, then you can just walk over after dinner.

 

It's technically not allowed in CO, but talk to the bartender and see what they say. People definitely crack some oddball stuff (especially at breweries) but you definitely can't do it at normal restaurants and bars unless the staff is cool with it.

 

Was at Mile High Wine & Spirits today and the still have Casey Saison. Also stopped by Grapevine and they have Casey Eastbank.

 

You've probably already seen the events page on the colorado craft beer week site... Looks like one or two events were added since the last time I looked.

Check out the Brewtally Insane! weekend beer buzz story for other activities. That should come out tomorrow.

 

Definitely stop at Funkwerks while in FoCo. Great brewery! I always stop in when I am in Colorado. Recently they had Peach Whiskey Tropic King on tap (fantastic!) and Bourbon-barrel Quad in bottles (also fantastic, so much bourbon!). Cool little spot and the bartenders always treat me well.

 

Hops and Handrails in Longmont Saturday! Snowboarding, live music and 50 breweries.

 

Hazel's is the best. Liquor Mart is solid as is almost every small liquor store in the town.

I'll be at Hops and Handrails; it's one of my favorite fests of the year. The first year of it was AWESOME (if you like snow, cold temps, huge bonfires, and no people at all).

 

This year, even better; more breweries and at Roosevelt Park! Was there checking out the set up today, it's going to be fun!! Warm too, maybe they should do skateboards instead?!