Ladies night at the Speakeasy

 

Ladies night doesn't come around near often enough, but when it does, its best served with great friends, and delicious drinks. To get our fix we meandered to downtown Golden, Co to check out the Golden Moon Speakeasy. Delightfully hidden back from the street, we found our way following the sound of live jazz music. Inside, leather bound menus featuring drinks made from each of their signature spirits made it difficult to figure out what we wanted. We all chose something different, so we could get a taste of much as we could. The drinks were strong, so moderation was necessary. My choice was something like "grey lady", but I'm not quite sure. I wish i'd photographed the menu!

In the end, my drink, at least in my opinion, proved to be the tastiest, and we were all disappointed we hadn't saved room for charcuterie.

5/5 for flavor, high value, but on the expensive side with $10-12 cocktails. Happy hour might be a better bet, but the live jazz made it worthwhile.

Zwei Bruder Brewing

The brewery tour of the Fort Collins area continues! Te other night a group of us went out to Zwei Bruder Brewing, soon to be known by another name due to some odd infringement issues. They are known for their German style brews, and have a pretty funky taproom. It was a light evening for me; I had a pint of the Englisch, a brown ale, followed by their Dunkel. Pretty much everyone found something to their taste, from the Rot, a more bitter red, to the Helles. A few weren't as liked by the group including the Zwickle which a friend got in their awesome taster size.

Overall, I liked the Englisch the best. It was a bit sweet, and had really nice malt notes. It appealed to me even more than the Dunkel, which they claim has coco notes.
I'd give them a 4/5 for the beers I had, with a 4/5 for value. Check them out if you still have time on your way through Fort Collins, that is if you aren't already full of beer.

Why I love a good Distillery Tour

 

Some days are for going hard, others are for hitting the gym and working your muscles. This was one of the former, even though I was all decked out and ready to lift. My travels brought me over to one of our larger, local distilleries: Feisty Spirits. I had no idea what i was in for when i stumbled in from a snowy evening. I had been hoping for at least a hot toddy, since this distillery specializes in whiskey. 

Well, I didn't quite get a hot toddy, but I did get to sample their AMAZING selection of whiskeys, liqueurs and schnapps. Since it was fairly early in the night, I was lucky enough to meet one of the owners who also distills. Everyone I met there seemed super knowledgeable and eager to help me learn; if you stop by, you will also get to know all about what they are pouring that day and maybe even what might be in the works around back. 

Tours are given most days when the tasting room is open so you might get to meet their awesome equipment aphrodite and athena.

Back to the booze: I was able to try a flavored whiskey "non-conformist spirit" spiced up with maple, cinnamon and oats that went down way too easy for something that strong. I might have to go back and pick up a bottle. We also tried the Rye, sharp, distinct, and the best i have ever tasted (Maestro 100% rye whiskey to be specific), and a sip of the barreled red corn whiskey, a single grain whiskey that was a bit too, well, whiskey for me. Eric however had no problem taking care of the rest of that taster for me. Next we moved on to some a more adventurous taster: Bier Schnapps BBB sour beer. This spirit imparted the sour taste from the beer, but with a very different kick. 

The final sips were of the apple brandy with a comparison to their apple jack. Both very apple, with very different finishes.

Just as a note: i'm not a huge whiskey person. I don't have the vocabulary to describe in detail how great these whiskey's were, and therefore can't do them justice. You will simply have to try them yourself.

I was hoping for a taste of the Collabsky w/ Bottle Brewery, a malt whiskey, but i think Eric absconded with his bottle of that for the weekend. Hopefully there will be some left, or i may just have to go back for another flight or two. 

In terms of the ratings, i'll give an overall 5/5 for flavor since i liked everything so much, but be prepared to scrape together more than your usual spare change, as good whiskey will set you back. 

Santa Fe, for when you want out of state fun

Isn't she lovely? Went down to Santa Fe for the weekend with Eric a few weeks back and ran our very own, unofficial brewery tour. Of course we started out at Santa Fe brewco. Their beautiful beer display didn't take away from how awesome their selections were. I was partially to the sour and the white, if I can remember that correctly. The visit did a good job of removing the oddly bad taste of their octoberfest from my mouth that I had bought in cans on Friday. 

Our favorite brewery in town was Marble who had sprung up a tap room near our hotel. While not technically a Santa Fe beer I have to give them props on how drinkable and delicious all their beers were; even the wheat beer which I don't usually enjoy. 

Down by the train station more delicious options resided. We stopped at second street brewing for dinner and a pint and were pleasantly surprised by an awesome live, one man band up from Austin, Texas. 

Some notes on Santa Fe: if you are in town, there is almost no way to go wrong with food. Go try a frog at Tomasitas, the best Santa Fe style breakfast burrito of your life at Chris' cafe, and pretty much anything off the menu at Dr. Field Goods ( although some of their fare can run into the more odd but still awesomely tasty.) I had a blast, and enjoyed just about every flight of beer, burrito, and assorted snacks we tried. Just don't visit that city while in a diet, for your own good. 

Hooray Beer!

This is an old one, but I have quite the backlog of beer to catch up on! I picked up this delicious bomber ages and ages ago. Unfortunately, I brought it to sauna night planning to share it with people who turned out not to like IPAs all that much. Whoops. Learned my lesson on that one.

This beer is STRONG (although i can't say too much about my tolerance) but DELICIOUS! The beer weighs in at a hefty 9.4%. Its not made for little girls like me. Its a seasonal special so you probably wont find it anywhere right now. You will have to be a good little beer drinker and wait to see if it comes back out next year.

Now on the beer notes: This is not your average overhopped IPA. Enjoy by 4.20.14 IPA is citrusy and well balanced. Yes, its damn hoppy, but in the best way. I would have bought more than one, but half way through, on my butt in a sauna, i wasn't feeling too great.

Remember kids, hydrate before you Hydrate.

Cheers!

Steamworks, again

This past weekend was one of my lazy in town weekends, leading to a Saturday afternoon lunch at the local brewpub, steamworks which I have previously mentioned. In town they are one of the most consistently good, moderately priced pubs. They have plenty of vegetarian and otherwise Rachel friendly options. Plus lots and lots of really good beer to choose from. 

When I go I like to pick something new, well most of the time anyways. This week I gravitated towards the Lizard head red. This friendly and mildly hoppy brew went really well with my pub fare and conversation. It was a little on the alcoholic side at I believe 5.9 abv. I would rate it a solid 4. 

Can't wait to see their new spring seasonals! Happy daylight savings, everyone!

Telluride! Not just a ski town... well... mostly a ski town

I am actually really excited that i was too freaking lazy to post this image when i first had this beer, oh, maybe 6 months ago. In general, I'm a fan of Telluride brewing company. There stuff tastes pretty out of the two beers i've tried. Plus; its just really freaking cool that every interesting little town to visit in Colorado makes their own delicious local brew.
Above you will see the cans for the Tempter IPA. Mmmm... this highly rated brew is a little on the cloudy side, but comes chock full of aromatics that really scream Colorado IPA. I like it, wouldn't say its my favorite beer, but would definitely enjoy it again. I'd say 3.5/5 overall, since its tasty, but priced pretty much where all the Colorado local IPAs happen to be.
Best when consumed after coming down from Telluride's glorious slopes!

Not my best picture, but this town is so amazingly beautiful.

The best margarita I have ever had.

Have you ever met... the one...
That drink that you could never replicate in a million years, no matter how much you want to?
Well i have.

I am not a fancy person. I rarely go to fancy restaurants, eat fancy food, or drink fancy drinks. Some days, however, you do, really need to go off the deep end. In downtown Durango, there is a quaint little restaurant dominated by a wood fired stove in back, and a bar along the left side. A few weeks back (I know, i know, i'm wayyyy off my blogging game) I went out with a few coworkers. We initially sat up at the bar, until more people came.
If you haven't been. You should probably go. The bartender was a wealth of knowledge about all things prohibition, mixed drink, and beer. It was pretty much a free show to watch him mix his awesomely blended drinks.
My order, the Cucumber Jalapeno Margarita (and i apologize if i don't' have the name just right) took the cake. Our awesome bartender muddled together cucumber, fresh jalepeno, lemon juice and i think some fresh herbs, topping up the drink with really, really yummy tequila. The drink was fresh, refreshing, had a spicy kick, and was filled with little cooling surprise chunks of cucumber. While i'm not a fan of overpriced cocktails, this one was totally worth the 9 dollars. Especially if you are me sized, and that's pretty much all you need.
I've heard, at Chimayo, which is the home to this perfection, that the pizza is also pretty darn good.
I would say consider one, once you've gotten your drinks.
Cheers!

(No i don't have a picture.... low light and it was pretty much too delicious to put down)

Happy New Year! I do realize i'm running behind schedule...

While the name of this wine means "sea breeze" making it sound like a shitty cologne, it was actually pretty tasty. It was a dollar cheaper ( in colorado) than my absolute favorite Vinho Verde, Casal Garcia, so i decided it was worth a try. It was my substitute champagne for the New Years Celebrations.
Speaking of the champagne, what're your thoughts? I generally find it too dry, if its real imported champagne, or just bad, if its pretend American "bubbly white wine". Overall, its usually too fizzy for me. Vinho verde is as fizzy as i go and still enjoy.
Back to Brisa do Mar-
This tasty vinho verde (see previous post if you are confused about what that it.... its my alltime favorite!) is a great inexpensive choice that pairs well (so i've heard) with fish and other seafood. Its light... its bubbly... its tasty... drink more of it! 4.5/5 for yummy and for under 7 bucks a 4/5 for value.
Cheers!

Just a little whip on top

Sometimes you just need large quantities of whip cream on top of your beer.... Ok... That's probably just me. I worked hard for my whip cream, too. Up in Boulder on my recent adventure a pit stop post hiking took us to Twisted Pine Brewing co. Sadly, they were out of the Mr. Brown Pumkin ale I was looking for which normally comes topped with, you guessed it. Whipped cream. Our server suggested the Chocolate Peanut butter stout. At first i thought she was kidding, but then i decided to give it a try. Yeah... its not your every day beer, but she eventually conceded to giving me a pint topped (or halved as it looks in the picture) with yumyumyum. I just wish there were sprinkles. 

Overall, the stout was rich, chocolatey and had only a slim aftertaste of peanut butter. The whip cream made it feel like the desert it was, rather than a beer. Honestly, i don't think i'd sit down to a six pack of this, but it was awesome to try this topped. The real heavy weight of this brew house was the Pearl Strret Porter that came in Eric's flight. Definitely worth a try. 

This brew pub offered yummy food (we also destroyed a super cheap ($4!) plate of breadsticks), reeally well done beer, in a tidy little environment that looks like it turns into some sort of venue once in a while. If you happen to be up in Boulder, this would should make the list for a brewery to check out.

Also- for you kids out there that like swag... cool stickers!

Magic beer on arrival

What are good friends for?
My awesome friends had a mixed case of Left hand deliciousness ready when i arrived in Boulder last weekend. My favorite may have been the 400 Pound Monkey, a very delicious IPA. The Black Sack Porter could hold its own, though. Later on we used the classic and always delicious Stout to make beer floats. Yumyumyum. If you haven't tried these, do it! Left hand knows how to make an amazing beer. I'd say overall they are a 5/5.

Long nights in hotels ( Aka post nap time beer)

While I really just want a sammich, sometimes you me up with a beer instead. When my options are pretty much Guinness on draft which would lead to no room for sammiches or a local brew, I guess the local brew will win. This leads us to the amber colored brew you may see posted here. According to the website, victorybeer.com, I'm drinking a heavyweight 6.7with lots of flavor. I would give it a solid 3/5 since the hops are a bit bitter. I would prefer. Bit more citrus to balance the bitter, maybe American hops just aren't my thing. I wish I realized they had yingling. Anyways, hooray, beer. Cheers! 

So far from home, and in need of snacks!

Whats the best way to end a great day of skiing? Or as everyone else said " a really terrible day with awful conditions, too much ice, and a whole bunch of shitty snowboarders sitting on all the good slopes"? The answer of course, is to stop by a local micro-brewpub for some yummy food and delicious beer.
This is made even more awesome, of course, when you find out that the local brew pub, Riff Raff Brewing Company, that is conveniently located on the way home from the ski mountain, has happy hour starting at 4 with half priced appetizers and cheap pints. So much good!
The first time i went i go the Spruce Juice, a beer made using spruce instead of hops, that is sadly no longer on tap. If you ever make it there, i hope they have this awesome microbrew. I also tried their red, their awesome chili beer, and a few others. Check it out http://riffraffbrewing.com/ and go visit!

Toddies Anyone?

Exciting news! I learned how to make a hot toddy! The internet makes this drink look really complicated, but an easy way to do it (and the right way, of course) would be to squirt a bit of lemon juice into a mug. Add a teaspoon or so of honey, pour in some boiling water, and top with some super yummy whiskey or bourbon. I suggest Bulleit. This awesome, local to Colorado spirit is pretty much my favorite bourbon ,which is saying a lot from a person who is fairly indifferent to bourbon and whiskey. A friend of mine, and fellow blogger, has been known to crack open the cheap stuff when i visit, knowing that the good stuff would just be wasted.
Bulleit, however, gets 5 stars from me. Best when consumed around camp fires, in hot toddies, or surrounded by leather bound books.
At about 12 dollars for the 375 ml bottle, its not the cheapest stuff, but if you want quantity, you probably aren't drinking bourbon anyways. Try it, if you get the chance!

Making your own cider

The internet is a wealth of amazing knowledge! Especially when it comes to making alcohol at home.

A while back I stumbled on an awesome page describing exactly what i'd need: http://www.howtomakehardcider.com/making.html

This step by step tutorial was just what i needed to get me started.I picked up a gallon of Whole Foods Organic apple juice, borrowed a stopper from a friend and was ready to go. Well, ready to go after buying an airlock, some sanitizer and some amazing happy live English Cider Yeast from White Labs.

The first batch ended up being super tasty! Even though i brewed it with the ever classy balloon method, since i didn't have the right sized stopper for my first try. It didn't make it to bottling since i drank it all too fast out of the jug.

I'm a little spaced on nyquill right now, but the moral of the story is organic apple juice makes yummy cider. Other apple juice makes ok cider. More on this topic later.

I'm really tempted to throw some concentrates in with some water and yeast to see what happens..... Purple Jesus anyone?

Winter Brews

Winter Beer Season! So many awesome winter brews to check out. Unfortunately, Woodchuck pumpkin hasn't come to town, yet. The other night a friend picked up some beers i hadn't had a chance to try yet. The Ska Euphoria is highly rated pale ale with some funky can art. The beer is a little bit on the bitter side, but still pretty yummy. I'd give it a 3.5/5, although i'm sure most other beer snobs would rate it higher.

The Mole Stout wasn't quite my favorite either. I like how thick it is, and its slight, pleasant spicy flavor. Overall, i just thought they were trying too hard with it. Like many of the Ska specialty beers, it just seemed a little experimental and raw. Not quite a finished product. 2.5/5.

Cheers!

Back blogging white wine

Call me crazy; it might but true, but I actually bought this bottle of wine for the container it comes in. I needed a second gallon jug to re-rack my homemade cider into... but that's another story.
After a long conversation on the phone with a friend who knows something more about wine than i do, i selected the Carlo Rossi Rhine based on the idea that "hopefully its not as sweet as the zin". As it turns out, its pretty darn sweet and lightly fizzy. A hangover in a gallon sized jug.
I guess i'm not up for a proper review of this stuff. I bought i knowing that it was probably going to be meh, and honestly the 16 dollar price tag was about the same as ordering the jug off amazon, and at least i could get drunk and have a container. If you are ever in the market for something sweet, cheap, and housed in glass, go for it. Otherwise, have some self respect. Buy something in a box next time :).
Also- as a side note, i could have just bought more cider in a gallon jug for 9 dollars at the local Natural Grocers. Sad day. I shall console myself with a large glass of leftover Carlo Rossi.

Santa Fe Brewing Once Again

What to do when you need to bring beer to a BBQ? Pick something that looks tasty- and if you are me, grab something you haven't tried from a brewery that seems to do you right. The only problem, which I didn't realize until the aroma hit me, was that i purchased a Saison (Saison 88 to be exact) which is a type of beer I don't generally enjoy. For those of you that love a fruity, wheaty beer, you'll love Saisons. Unless of course you don't like higher alcohol beers. Then stay away.
For me, Saisons tend to be too fruity and too wheaty. When i popped the top of this Santa Fe Brewing Company beer I got a whiff of the fruity pale ale smell. A smell that made me reconsider my buying decision. However, after a few sips, I found that I wasn't completely wrong in choosing Saison 88. It still bears the hallmarks of a Saison, but it is much more drinkable, less cloying, and well balanced. Most saisons seem to slap you in the face with their fruitiness, while this one is pleasant. I may not buy it again, but i give it props. 3.5/5. Also, the can is damn pretty.

Would you blue moon if you had to?

Last night after a great hike up north of town, my party decided to stop down to the school house for some semi deserved (it was only a 4 mile hike) beer. For those of you who don't know (this group includes me) the Schoolhouse (AKA Olde Schoolhouse Cafe?) is a an awesome locals stopping point across from the epic Purgatory ski resort. In season its a post skiing it spot.
Anyways, on tap yesterday they had three options:
Ska Pinstripe
Mexican Logger
Blue Moon

Out of these three options, which would you pick? There are a lot of factors that could go into your choice making, price... i'm pretty sure the Blue Moon was a full dollar cheaper than the other two, but... is it worth it? You can support local brewers, have a solid beer, or you can have a blue moon. They might even put fruit in it if you ask nicely :).

As far as my ratings go

Ska Pinstrip- solid 4/5

Mexican Logger- 4/5, seasonally- this is not a winter beer. Also, i think at least one of those points is just bc its served everywhere over there (demoted 3/5- its beer, but its not bad)

Blue Moon- 1/5.

I do not particularly like this beer. I think its one of the beers i would frequently order at 21 when i wasn't sure what the difference between the on draft options was. If its your thing- a wheat, lightly citrusy, wide distribution, ok, i can dig that, but no. I will not be ordering this beer unless the only other option is bud lite.

Anyways- Go outside. Do something fun. Drink a beer. In whichever order you chose.

Some months I am a terrible blogger

I know its been a while since i last posed, you'll have to forgive me, its just pretty awesome here, and I've been able to keep drinking some of my favorites over and over.
If you'd like to know what they are I can make a little list :).

Carver's Brewing Company
Lightner Creek Lager: Smooth easy to drink american style lager. Good to ease off the hops sometimes. 3.5/5.
Old Oak Amber Ale: Maltier than I expected it to be, but with a hop-y kick. 4.5/5. Depending on the day. Sometimes its a bit too malty for me.
Nut brown: Nutty. Brown. Sometimes I have more beers than one at once. This is more of a fall beer for me 4/5.
Jack Rabbit Pale Ale: Proof that i've destroyed all of my taste buds and now like hoppy beer. Yum! 4.5/5.
Raspberry Wheat: A girly beer  that even I can enjoy... even if it comes with a lemon. Light, almost like a pop. I'd recommend it for any girl that says she doesn't like beer. Cider fans might not appreciate it, though.

I go there the most, probably, really good, great food, the only downside is that they aren't open late. Which isn't bad for my workday adventures. Ok, more later... hopefully...