Photos: The bars of Larimer Street

Drunk of the Week columnist Drew Bixby just profiled Star Bar, and all the changes that have taken place since the old owner left and the new owners took over. Here’s a nightlife tour by photographer Eric Gruneisen not just of Star Bar, but the other bars along that strip…

Who won the Beer vs. Wine contest at TAG?

Does craft beer deserve a place at the dinner table next to — or instead of — wine? That’s a question that guests at TAG sought to answer last night during a fantastic Beer Vs. Wine dinner hosted by Troy Guard’s restaurant at 1441 Larimer Street, as well as master…

Avery Brewing gets the cans rolling this week

Avery Brewing began canning its first beer, Joe’s Premium American Pilsner, yesterday and plans to have four of its brews in cans and on liquor-store shelves by September 1. The Boulder company had planned to start canning on June 1, but was delayed by its supplier, Crown Cork & Seal,…

Beer and Wine go head to nose tonight at TAG

Ali vs. Frazer. Chocolate vs. Vanilla. Blue Ray vs. HD DVD. Jacob vs. Edward. They are the battles of our time. Now, add Beer vs. Wine. While wine has held the place of honor for hundreds of years next to fancy food and grub at well-set dinner tables around the…

Even more reasons to think pink: Five late summer rosés that rock

Just because summer’s winding down to its inevitable end doesn’t mean that your rosé-filled days (and evenings) have to. Even if you aced this year’s rosé-drinking challenge with flying colors and have flown through cases of the five best rosés of summer 2010, no need to remove those rosé-colored glasses…

Blue Moon: Colorado’s beer of presidents, flight attendants

Blue Moon, the Belgian-style wit beer that was created inside Coors Field in 1995, is apparently also highly valued for its calming qualities. First it was requested by James Crowley during President Obama’s August 2009 beer summit on racial relations on the White House lawn, and now it has turned…

Absinthe House will make Boulder even greener

Boulder is about to go even greener. At the end of this month, Absinthe House will open in the former Foundry space at 1109 Walnut Street. “We want it to look like an absinthe house that’s been around before the ban on absinthe ninety years ago, but with an updated…

Gin Lavender Collins at Salt

While I have my “go-to” cocktails, I often want to break out of my cocktail rut. And when I do, I have go-to bars where I know the mixologists can work magic. I’ll tell the bartender the spirit I want to imbibe, answer a few questions about the degree of…

Beat the heat with three thirst-quenching wine cocktails

It’s been a summer full of fantastic wines, but even a wine-drinking professional (or is it professional wine drinker?) can grow weary of the standard red, white or rosé decision. If you, too, are searching for a supremely drinkable, inexpensive and easy-to-assemble option to guzzle throughout the few remaining weeks…

The Streets of London Pub rings our bell

TINGK! The traditional metal bar bell’s sound is unmistakable. Even in a crowded spot with punk-rock jukebox blaring, the clang of the clapper, long rope tied beneath it, crashing a solo shot somewhere between the bell’s mouth and the sound ring — everyone hears it. But that’s the point. Most…

Swallows goes upscale, ditches brunch

There’s good news and bad news about Swallows Video Lounge & Bar, the pre-party/happy-hour gay bar now occupying the former Tosh’s Hacienda/Kiva space at 3090 Downing Street. The good news is that – six months after launching and three months after I expressed “high hopes” for its success in a…

Randall Layman’s Tales of the Cocktail, last call

Randall Layman, a bartender at Vesta Dipping Grill, is just back from New Orleans, where he attended his first Tales of the Cocktail. We’ll be printing his dispatches all week (read the first installment here). Day five: Our last morning in New Orleans is probably the hottest. After a quick…

Randall Layman’s Tales of the Cocktail, round four

Randall Layman, a bartender at Vesta Dipping Grill, is just back from New Orleans, where he attended his first Tales of the Cocktail. We’ll be printing his dispatches all week (read the first installment here). Day four: Sleeping in again (don’t close your curtains if you want to wake up…

Randall Layman’s Tales of the Cocktail, round three

Randall Layman, a bartender at Vesta Dipping Grill, is just back from New Orleans, where he attended his first Tales of the Cocktail. We’ll be printing his dispatches — here are the first and second installments — all week. Day Three: With the curtains closed tight over the window in…