It's American Craft Beer Week - seven days that even the United States Congress felt should be set aside for one purpose and one purpose only: drinking micro brews. (To find out about tappings, food pairings and other events, click here or here.) But Colorado's beer culture is worth a deeper look since 100 craft breweries operated here in 2008, producing 75,000 barrels of delicious beer.
Of particular note is the continued growth of canned micro brews, a trend that started in 2002 at Oscar Blu
Nation's Restaurant News, the bible of the food-industry world, has just named Smashburger, a homegrown burger joint that rated our Best Local Chain in the Best of Denver 2008, a 2009 Hot Concept.
"We are both honored and humbled to receive this prestigious award from Nation's Restaurant News," Tom Ryan, Smashburger's founder and managing partner of its parent, Consumer Capital Partners, told the mag. "The fact that we were recognized so early in our development tells us our pledge to
Mark Manger
I believe that a great cheeseburger can change your life. Depending on the circumstances, depending on the time, the place, the company or lack thereof, your age and, most important, depending on the cheeseburger itself, a truly great one can alter your fate, leave you feeling elated and in a rush of love, confident that, at least in one aspect of your life, you have found the best and will forever have a solid base against which to judge all others. Most of us will never
Drooling yet?Mr. Ryan, you have my gratitude.
Today in Cafe Society:
• Meet Mr. Burger: Tom Ryan of Smashburger.
• Fantasy football party deals abound in Denver.
• Stomp Them Grapes moving north.
• Otto's is outta Market Street.
• End of summer pinot party tonight at Lala's Wine Bar Pizzeria.
Today in Backbeat Online:
• What is the Twin Geminorum Complex?
• O.N.E. (of Infinite Mindz) is an Inglorious Basterd.
• Over the Weekend: Ratdog at Chautauqua.
• About Last Nig
The classic Smashburger and Smash fries waiting to win you over
Attention, Aurora residents: Your wait for the "better burger" is almost over! Smashburger will open its ninth metro location tomorrow at 2630 South Parker Road. Taking its name from the cooking method, a Smashburger is either a one-third or half-pound ball of 100 percent Angus Beef smashed on a flat grill to sear in the flavor.
"Smashburger is on its way to becoming Denver's favorite burger place," proclaims Tom Ryan, Smas
