Wynkoop-Breckenridge joint venture experiences a beery hiccup

It’s been five months since the Wynkoop and Breckenridge breweries revealed that they were merging their finances and operations, but it’s going to be a while longer before the Wynkoop can start producing its beer at Breckenridge as it had planned. The federal Alcohol Tobacco Trade and Tax Bureau (TTB),…

Ask the Bartender: Meet Joshua Smith, Colorado Cocktail contestant

Sean Kenyon knows how to pour out both drinks and advice. A third-generation bar man with almost 25 years behind the bar, he is a student of cocktail history, a United States Bartenders Guild-certified Spirits Professional and a BAR Ready graduate of the prestigious Beverage Alcohol Resource Program. You can…

Four perfect-for-summer Italian wines

Italian wines can be hard to love. They’re unabashedly old world, full of mouthwatering acidity, brazenly tannic, and as terroir-driven as they come. They’re also endlessly intriguing. Each of Italy’s winemaking regions tells the unique, richly historic tale of its evolution from independent city-state right up to its unification with…

Del Norte Brewing quadruples production, adds a new beer

Denver’s Del Norte Brewing Company, which specializes in Mexican-style craft lagers, is working on a new beer that could be in bottles by the end of June. The as-yet-unnamed beer is an amber lager, similar to Bohemia, but more hop-forward, says brewery co-owner Joe Fox. A test batch is on…

Guinness and grub at The Irish Rover’s happy hour

Happy Place: The Irish Rover, 54 South Broadway, 303-282-4643 The Hours: Daily from 3 to 7 p.m. The Deals: Two-for-one well cocktails, wines by the glass, and draft beer; $1 off select appetizers. Were we happy? Flip the page to find out…

Ask the Bartender: Meet Justin Lavenue, Colorado Cocktail contestant

Sean Kenyon knows how to pour out both drinks and advice. A third-generation bar man with almost 25 years behind the bar, he is a student of cocktail history, a United States Bartenders Guild-certified Spirits Professional and a BAR Ready graduate of the prestigious Beverage Alcohol Resource Program. You can…

Pristine Bar & Grill set to open in June

Pristine Hookah Lounge opened near Evans Avenue and South Sheridan Boulevard last year, and it’s about to get a concept overhaul: Owner Iran Faamausili has shut down the smoking operation and will reopen it as Pristine Bar & Grill, a Hawaiian restaurant. Though details are still scarce on exactly what…

Ask the bartender: Meet Adam Dunbar, Colorado Cocktail contestant

Sean Kenyon knows how to pour out both drinks and advice. A third-generation bar man with almost 25 years behind the bar, he is a student of cocktail history, a United States Bartenders Guild-certified Spirits Professional and a BAR Ready graduate of the prestigious Beverage Alcohol Resource Program. You can…

Oskar Blues can-cels Burning Can 2011

Cantastrophe! Oskar Blues, the Longmont brewery that inspired the canned craft beer craze, has canceled its 2011 version of Burning Can, a festival it kicked off last summer. The fest, which debuted in Lyons in 2010, was going to be held in Longmont on June 18 and feature around 100…

Three major sommelier service don’ts

A few months ago, we ranted about four all-too-common restaurant wine service mistakes that drive us absolutely mad. And while it’s one thing to have a less-than-transcendental wine experience when there’s no trained sommelier on staff, it’s quite another to have one when there is. After a few recent wine-and-dine…

Ask the bartender: Meet Raffi Jergerian, Colorado Cocktail contestant

Sean Kenyon knows how to pour out both drinks and advice. A third-generation bar man with almost 25 years behind the bar, he is a student of cocktail history, a United States Bartenders Guild-certified Spirits Professional and a BAR Ready graduate of the prestigious Beverage Alcohol Resource Program. You can…

American Craft Beer Week: Special brews news

American Craft Beer Week is in full force, and it seems all of Denver is flowing with beer — which makes sense, seeing that we’re right in the middle of the Napa Valley of it. With all the specialty tappings going on around town, it’s difficult to to taste everything,…

Ask the Bartender: Meet Kevin Burke, Colorado Cocktail contestant

Sean Kenyon knows how to pour out both drinks and advice. A third-generation bar man with almost 25 years behind the bar, he is a student of cocktail history, a United States Bartenders Guild-certified Spirits Professional and a BAR Ready graduate of the prestigious Beverage Alcohol Resource Program. You can…

Bernie Madoff’s cellar nets $41,530 in auction

Remember Bernie Madoff? The most notorious of the white-collar criminals nailed when the economy was going to hell for using the biggest Ponzi scheme in American history to swindle investors — including several Coloradans — out of a cool $65 billion? Well, he’s now serving 150 years in the pokey,…