Loving beer as we do, we were long overdue for a trip out west and last month we finally made it happen. We had an extensive list of stops mapped out before we even touched down in the Mile High City.
First on the agenda was getting a lay of the land, via scooter.
Three hours later and we were ready to taste our way through the city.
First stop was Wynkoop Brewing, Denver’s first brewpub, part-founded by the current governor of CO, John Hickenlooper.
Nug Life Dry-Hopped IPA, Bad Habit Blonde Stout on Nitro, Dank AF IPA, Cucular Proliferation Salted Cucumber Gose, Colorojo Imperial Red IPA
Next we checked out the food scene at Avanti, a food hall offering many tasty Denver treats. Hidden behind a shelf of books, we enjoyed post-dinner drinks at Williams & Graham before calling it a night.
Day 2, we tackled our first physical feat and were quick to note the altitude, yikes! Over the next 3 days we visited a variety of breweries, restaurants, coffee shops, museums and parks.
Highlights include
1. Sassafras, the only restaurant we visited twice. They offer a habanero and ghost chili bloody mary so hot it is served with a cool down shot:)
2. Sushi Den, freshest fish we’ve had outside of Koiso.
3. And so much amazing beer!
Warmoon Golden Sour Ale with Beets and Grapefruit
Worship the Void American Wild Ale
Shadows of Light IPA
Solid Hex Foeder Saison with Watermelon
Cursed Mixed Culture Pale Ale
Scorn Pale Ale
Totes redux IPA
C3ipa
Shadow Factory Blood Orange and Boysenberry Wild Ale
Super Constellation Spontaneous Blend with Peaches
Gemini: Boloya Golden Ale with Coffee
Drone Uprising IPA
Time Crystal Galaxy IPA
Robot Librarian Imperial IPA
Grapefruit Citra,
Crabby Neighbor
L’anier
New Wave Strawberry Berliner Weisse
Hold Steady Chocolate Rye Scotch Ale with coffee
Son of a Baptist Imperial Stout
Oak & Orchard Blueberry, Boysenberry and Black Currant Wild Ale
Strawberry Rhubarb Sour Ale
Barrel Aged Yeti Imperial Stout on Nitro
Pure Guava Mosiac IPA
T’Oats IPA
Single Hop ESP06297 IPA
Trellis Buster Imperial IPA
Nightmare on Brett Raspberry Wild Ale
Fun City Session IPA
Yafi IPA
B.B. Rodriguez Coffee Double Brown Ale
Finally, the reason we were in Denver in first place….drum roll….Amos Lee at Red Rocks!
The next morning we ventured North to Fort Collins. We had the cutest “nest” as our resting place conveniently located between New Belgium Brewing and Odell Brewing!
Before checking out the town we made our way up to Arthur’s Rock in Lory State Park.
Post-hike we made our way to a few of the smaller breweries.
Apricot Provincial Sour Ale
Pineapple Provincial Sour Ale
Raspberry Provincial Sour Ale
Blood Orange Train Delay Dry-Hopped Pale Ale
Coco-Barbarosa Rum Barrel-Aged Coconut Infused Red Ale
UB Forty Red Wine Barrel-Aged Red Ale
UB Funky Oak Barrel-Aged Red Ale with Brett
NSFW Nitro Whiskey-Barrel Aged Coffee Infused Red Ale
Old Fashioned Wheelhouse Bourbon Barrel-Aged Brown with Cherries & Orange Peel
WheelHouse Bourbon Barrel-Aged Brown Ale
A Chocwork Orange Whiskey Barrel-Aged Stout with orange peel & cocoa nibs
And yes, those beers were as delicious as they sound:)
Day 2 in FC started with a run over to and through Colorado State University. At this point in the vacation, I was no longer hungry. But there was still room for beer by the time we arrived to New Belgium Brewing for our tour. You may be asking why we would tour NBB when their east coast brewery is right around the corner from our house. Well, now I know you have not been on this tour. We had a delightful time before venturing less than a mile to Odell Brewing.
Up early the next morning we took on the last leg of our journey to Boulder. Dressed and ready for a hike we…..went to get massages instead. It was the perfect last day shortly followed by the best last night at Backcountry Taphouse.
This.Is.A.Beer.Bar. Russian River’s Pliny the Elder + a variety of cellared Firestone Walker selections. We toasted to a most excellent vacation and know this won’t be our last trip to Colorado. Cheers!
Eat.Drink.Run 
