Denver has never been shy about being a lush–but with great power comes great responsibility, as they say, and I am proud that the beer community in Denver often uses its brimming love for the craft to do as much good in as possible. There is a special interest beer on several taproom menus that gears profits toward a special cause, as well as benefit events, concerts, and fundraisers. This week, I want to write and share my experience at the 2nd Annual Craft Beer and Wine Festival in Broomfield, benefiting the Marc Jr Foundation. The Marc Jr Foundation was founded in 2008, and aims to financially... Read More

Happy Fall everyone! It’s official, that low autumnal glow has lit up our mile high skies and a cool breeze has shifted us into the September equinox. Which means, over the next few weeks, we will all be taking short drives through our beloved mountains to watch the aspens change their colors and the rockies catch fire in orange and yellow hues. It’s the best time of year, and one of the many reasons I love to call Denver home. There are several favorite scenic drives to catch all the color action this season, but one of my favorites is through Rocky Mountain National Park by way of... Read More

Autumn is very, very slowly beginning to creep into the far corners of our still very hot September days here in Denver and I don’t think I have been more ready for it than I am this year. Although I think I say that every year. With not only the beautiful cooler weather, the transformation of the colors of the aspens, and of course, Halloween, there is something magical about Fall time; in the land of craft beer, Denver has a few extra magical moments that make this time of year simply the best. Last week I compiled a short list of must-go events in September, leading up to our very own... Read More

The annual Great American Beer Festival isn’t for a full month (do you have your tickets yet?! I sure do!), but there are a lot of beer events happening in the next few weeks through the month of September to prepare you for the legendary festivities. 9/9 Docktoberfest at Dry Dock Brewing (South Dock): to kick off the season appropriately, Dry Dock is releasing their German-style Märzen Lager, Docktoberfest, along side a tap full of past German style beers. Dress-up is encouraged! 9/14 – 9/16 New Terrain is celebrating its 1st anniversary with WanderFest. For $15 you can enjoy the... Read More

Denver Beer Company is a staple, and their original Platte Street location was one I frequented often when I still lived downtown. Right by Commons park, with beautiful views of the city and Platte River, I enjoyed quite a few beers on their giant, open patio, sneaking off to Monkey Barrel between beers to take cheap shots of whiskey, and scarfing down a few slices of Basic Kneads pizza before the day was over.   My downtown days have since passed, and so has that beautiful view with the high-rise condo construction—the ever-changing addition to our skyline that seems to enclose all my favorite... Read More

  This past week I enjoyed my last week of summer traveling 800 miles to Branson, Missouri and back for our annual midwestern road trip and we made sure to stop at several hot spots along the way there and back. My husband and I braced ourselves for our first week long trip with long driving hours with our 8 month old daughter, and spacing out having a beer every few hours seemed to be the key to preventing all of us from losing our minds (pro-road trip with kids tip, btw). We were pretty darn close to hitting every brewery on our route, with the exception of a few Kansas City breweries... Read More

Coming from Southern California, my daily commute was an hour twenty minutes. Even a short drive to the beach or at the wrong time of day or on a weekend could take over an hour. And let’s not even get into traffic in the major cities. In other words, in California, you get used to being in your car. A lot. It still amazes me that in the few years I’ve lived in Denver, that idea that an hour or two (or even four- Vegas, anyone?) drive is really nothing, has totally faded and I’m now a spoiled girl in a little-big city and joined everyone in bitching if I had to drive more than... Read More

It’s that time again: the Makin’ Noise summer tap over is here! This time, the Pussy Riot beers are all kveik style farmhouse ales, all using the same strain of Norwegian Farmhouse yeast, but with different outcomes for each beer brewed. Collaborating for this series are Factotum, Goldspot, Grandma’s House, Black Sky, Bare, and Colorado Plus, which all tapped between this past Wednesday the 19th and tomorrow, Saturday the 22nd and are pouring as long as they last. As usual, each of the six participating breweries has selected a charity of choice with $1 of each full pour donated to their... Read More

It’s that midpoint in summer where you halfway crave the crisp scent of Autumn in the Rockies, and halfway begin to mourn the ending of the season. The 2nd annual Brew-N-Que BBQ and Beer festival is tomorrow in Centennial Center Park in Centennial, Colorado and it couldn’t come sooner this year, alleviating those mid-summer, post 4th of July blues. From 3pm-7pm, you can gorge on an abundance of delicious BBQ from various area food trucks, and sample a number of local craft breweries while listening to live music. It is free to roam around, though all food is available for separate purchase.... Read More

Is fresh Rocky Mountain air and water really the key to a perfectly brewed craft beer? Many think it definitely helps. At Westbound and Down Brewing Company in Idaho Springs, even the wind of the Rockies helps brew what they call “sophisticated” beers: distinct, crisp, and delicious. Whether you are headed back home to Denver from a mountain adventure, or are you are actually headed out west to fuel the natural escapism Colorado harbors in our souls just by living near the Rockies, Westbound and Down should always be a pit stop. Cuddled up on Main street in Idaho Springs, this cute little... Read More