June 29, 2012
So, you’re planning a road trip somewhere in our great state
and would like to partake of some tasty brews along the way. As a beer tourist,
there are a few things that you should never be without: a bottle opener,
preferably on your keychain so you always have it with you when you need it; a
Koozie, because you never know when someone’s going to offer you a cold one and
you don’t want your sweaty palms ruining it; and a map, specifically, the Beer
Drinker’s Guide to Colorado.
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| Never leave home without a Koozie, a bottle opener and the Beer Drinker's Guide to Colorado map. |
If you’ve never heard of this little gem, then allow me to
enlighten you. The crown jewel, and rightfully so, is the map itself, a
spill-proof, wingspan-sized topographical wonder that pinpoints every brewery
and brewpub in the state, along with 14ers, ski areas, parks, national forests
and more. With 168 established brew houses in Colorado and a dozen more about
to break the surface, you can always find a place to try a fresh, new beer
after summiting a mountain, soaking in a hot spring or skiing some of the
Rockies’ champagne powder. That lukewarm can in your backpack will look pretty
mediocre compared with that hand-poured foamy pint that’s just a few miles down
the road.
After you’ve planned your route from campsite to tap, flip
the map over to check the hours of operation of your chosen destination. The
backside of the map includes precise addresses to punch into your GPS or send
post-drink love letters to, phone numbers and a key that indicates whether the
place has tours, tastes, growlers or retail. Avoid the torture of craving that
first sip, only to find that the brewery is only open on weekends, or looking
forward to schwag to show off your trip and discovering the place doesn’t sell
T-shirts.
Your logistics are taken care of, but you still have a 10-minute
jaunt to your new tasty wonderland. Regale your buddy as he drives with beer
facts and trivia from your map’s posterior. Learn different terms for beer
aromas and flavors to impress your tour guide, visit the tree of beer life to
see which styles are related or memorize which glassware is appropriate for
that pilsnaweizendopple you’ve been experimenting with in your garage.
Now we come to the very best part of your investment: free
beer! Each map comes with a booklet of coupons for complimentary pints at
breweries around the state, discounts on merchandise and even savings on
home-brewing equipment. And once you arrive back home, do what I do: Hang your
beer map on the wall in your living room to remind you to get on the road and
seek a new beer adventure.
The Beer Drinker’s Guide to Colorado is in its sixth edition
and is available locally at Avon Liquor, Bonfire Brewing in Eagle, Crazy
Mountain Brewing Co. and Gore Range Brewery in Edwards and Grappa Fine Wine
& Spirits in Vail Village. Visit www.beerdrinkersguidetocolorado.com
for an interactive map, brewery buzz, information about new breweries opening
and more.
From the Fridge: Great Divide Hoss
Every once in a while, I still encounter a friend who swears
that the perfect beer-drinking experience involves a mass-produced variety
that’s mainly sold in 30 racks. Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely days
when only a domestic stalwart will do, and nine times out of 10, you can find one
in the back of my fridge. But I weep for those who cling to their ubiquitous
red and white cans, afraid to travel deeper into the magical beer forest and
discover an exotic species or two.
As a craft beer drinker, I delight in recruiting new
companions on my beer explorations. Most times, the easiest way to drag them
out of their comfort zone is with a slightly hoppy pilsner or an unfiltered
wheat, but there’s another route that works, too. Enter Great Divide’s Hoss.
This rye lager is a perfect stepping-stone. The red-orange
color is reminiscent of an IPA, but rather than blasting your taste buds with
bitterness, this brew’s opening line comes from the malt. If you prefer to go
in nose first, you’ll be rewarded with a delicate, earthy aroma imparted by the
rye.
This beer has a complexity that’s subtle and approachable. Great
Divide recommends pairing it with German fare, and I could definitely see
myself grabbing the Hoss to wash down a slice of Black Forest cake the size of
my head.
Krista Driscoll
Hophead
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