In September 2009, Denver’s convention and visitors bureau decided to piggyback on the success of the Great American Beer Festival and this city’s reputation as a beer Mecca by throwing Denver Beer Fest, a hastily organized but all-encompassing ten-day extravaganza featuring beer-related events of all kinds. This year, Visit Denver…
I am a creature of habit. In the past, when I found myself at the bar at Capital Grille — which was quite often, since this steakhouse in Larimer Square is both an easy spot to start an evening and a handy place to end one — I always ordered…
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 — starting with this one — all week. Day Two: When I first visit a city, I always find my mind focused…
The Place: Elway’s Downtown, 1881 Curtis Street, 303-312-3107 The Hours: Daily from 2 to 7 p.m. The Deals: $3 draft beers; $5 select wines by the glass; $7 select martinis; select appetizers are half price. The Digs: The Ritz-Carlton is gorgeous — and so is Elway’s, the ritzy hotel’s in-house…
“No such thing as too many liquor licenses.” That was the word from Steve Whited, owner of Black Pearl, who stopped me on my way to Den Deli last night for some sushi and a bowl of ramen. Whited was just as excited as I was that the Japanese seafood…
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. Day one: Passing the Superdome and several cemeteries before landing in the epicenter of Bourbon Street at my hotel on…
Porch pound-er (n): A highly technical, wine industry term referring to a wine which, after as little as one sip, uncontrollable guzzling of said wine occurs almost immediately. Exaggerated licking of lips and eye-rolling ensue as accompaniments.Typically, the wine is extremely affordable and has a tendency to be a crowd-pleaser…
Do you feel a chill in the air? Jack Frost nipping at your nose? Hard to imagine on 90-plus degree days in the middle of summer, but the Bull & Bush Pub and Brewery will be celebrating the holiday season all this week by pouring a new specialty beer each…
Dive Bar has already taken a dive — and owner Paul Piciocchi is bringing back Tryst Lounge tonight. “Oops, my bad,” he said in announcing the switch. “To everyone who told us that we were crazy to change the beloved Tryst name after six successful years…Yeah, you were probably right…
Local food has crept onto just about every menu on the Front Range. And if Jacob Harkins has his way, local wine will follow. Last fall, Harkins started an online magazine called ColoradoWino.com that focuses on the Colorado wine industry, aiming to expose consumers and chefs to Colorado wines that…
When Grimm Brothers Brewhouse opens tomorrow in Loveland, it will be the town’s only independently-owned brewery. But it will also be one of several craft beer makers around the state that focus on a specific style of suds. “There are breweries in Fort Collins, Greeley, Longmont, Boulder, Estes Park, Lyons,…
Some hotels provide guests with a bottle of wine; some with a little champagne. But at Hotel Monaco, beer has entered the pantheon of beverages brought to your room. And it’s about time. The luxury boutique hotel, at 1717 Champa Street, rolled out its Denver Brew and You promotion this…
Tequila makes my clothes come off.” “Drink more whiskey, fix my swamp cooler.” “Los Angeles, we can smell you.” These and a hundred other six-word memoirs, all scribbled on neon-colored note cards by patrons of the White Owl, fill a small box resting on the southern edge of the bar…
The Place: The 9th Door, 1808 Blake Street, 303-292-2229 The Hours: Monday through Friday from 4:30 until 6:30 p.m. The Deals: $3-5 house cocktails and sangria; $12 sangria carafes; $2-4 tapas The Digs: Walking into The 9th Door is like walking into the movie Aladdin, and happy hour there is…
The forthcoming August 31 issue of Wine Spectator includes the publication’s annual roundup of the world’s best restaurants for wine. More than 3,700 eateries, chosen for their commitment to excellence in their wine programs and large lists, were deemed worthy of the coveted mention…
The only thing better than drinking your favorite beer: wearing it. At least that’s what the founder of the Beer Buckle is hoping as he searches in Denver and Boulder for a place to open a new store dedicated to branded beer fashion. Jay Kriner founded the Beer Clothing Company…
A toast is in order. Randy Lastar, you’re the winner of our little beer limerick contest and your prize is a pair of tickets to Summer Brew Fest, which goes down this Friday, July 23 at Mile High Station, 2027 West Lower Colfax Avenue. Thanks to all who played!…
As part of Denver’s Taste of the Nation/Share Our Strength benefit last night at Mile High Station, eight generous drink slingers from some of the city’s hottest bars participated in a spirited cocktail competition to raise money for the non-profit organization, whose mission it is to make sure that no…
“Oh My God! Oh My God!” What’s more amazing than a double rainbow? How about a double rainbow beer. “What does it mean??!!” Trinity Brewing in Colorado Springs has decided to brew Double Rainbow Saison, a Belgian-style beer based on the double rainbow YouTube video that went viral last week…
Tickets for the Great American Beer Festival, at the Colorado Convention Center September 16-18, are selling fast, but so are passes to two of most popular events that take place in conjunction with the fest. Tickets for the Boulder County Brews Cruise — which is sponsored by Draft magazine –…
Lola has been pouring “copious amounts of Mexican lagers” for years, says Bryce Clark, a spokeswoman for the Highland hot spot’s parent company, Big Red F. So have Lola’s Mexican-influenced sister restaurants, Zolo and Centro Latin Kitchen. “But we’ve never been truly happy with their taste,” Clark says of imported…
The Place: Colt & Gray, 1553 Platte Street, 303-477-1447 The Hours: Monday through Friday from 4:30 until 6:30 p.m. The Deals: $5 draft beer and specialty cocktails; $6 select wines by the glass; food specials range from $3 to $7. The Digs: The aura of Colt & Gray dances a…
