Roscoe likes me. I can tell by the way he stands dutifully next to my bar stool and follows me into the men’s room, where he attempts to lap up my piss before it splashes against the back of the urinal (despite my best attempts to balance on one leg…
Falling Rock Taphouse has an interesting beer on tap tonight: Palo Santo Marron, from Delaware’s famous and always experimenting Dogfish Head Brewery. Palo Santo Marron, a brown ale with a hefty 12 percent alcohol content, was aged in barrels made from Paraguayan Palo Santo (or “holy”) wood. The trees are…
One of the very few New Year’s resolutions I may manage to keep is my vow to lessen my carbon footprint in 2009 by supporting independent restaurants and bars. The rest of this year’s resolutions (to stop swearing, speeding and eating simple carbohydrates) have already gone out the window. Yes,…
What is the carbon footprint of a six-pack of Fat Tire amber ale? Do you even care after drinking all six bottles yourself? Two good questions, only one of which is answered in a report issued by the Fort Collins-based New Belgium Brewery, which makes Fat Tire. To find out,…
Looking to increase your brain size while killing a few brain cells? Dave Elger, founder and co-owner of Muchote Tequila, is holding classes offering “an interactive and education twist on tasting and mixing classic cocktails” on Mondays at Bar Luxe (231 Milwaukee Street). For the next eleven weeks, Dave will…
I’m locking my scooter to a street sign outside Rosa Mia Inn (4395 Yates Street) when the tiny tavern’s only patron pops out for a smoke. “You don’t need to do that,” she informs me. “Everyone in this neighborhood knows each other; no one’s going to take it.” She proceeds…
Winter break is over, and it’s time to get back to school: beer school. Bristol Brewing Company’s 2009 course catalogue is out, and although the first class — Beer 101, taught by company founder Mike Bristol – already took place, there’s still time to catch up and make the grade…
Wow. I can only hope that every bar I go to in 2009 will be half as well-designed as Root Down, a pure-genius revival of a ’50s service station. Though I’d originally heard that the restaurant was named after the Beastie Boys song, bartender Chine set me straight: It’s actually…
Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukah! Feel like drinkin’? Why not try any number of awesome craft beers that are released only around the holidays. Try the one below, or read about many others in our Booze News blog archive. Cocoa Porter Winter Warmer Tommyknocker Brewery Idaho Springs A rich, dark porter…
Yes, Denver, there is a Santa Claus. And if you still need to get in the holiday spirit, this cocktail will take you there — fast. Osteria Marco’s Alps in Rosso ($9), made with Hangar One Spiced Pear Vodka, house-infused rosemary gin, Leopold Brothers’ Three Pins Alpine Herbal Liqueur, Strega…
Bar time at the Park Tavern (931 East 11th Avenue) is roughly fifteen minutes fast, which means, of course, that last-call and you-can’t-stay-here cries leave the mouths of bar staff between 1:30 and 1:45 (real time) each morning, sometimes earlier. Boo, hiss and other profanities. It also means that when…
Winter White Ale Bell’s Brewery Comstock, Michigan Warning: This beer isn’t available in Colorado as far as a know, but a friend who lives in Indiana brought it to me as a gift, so what the hell. Also, when I blogged about the superiority of Colorado and California beers during…
Bowing to pressure from attorneys general and advocacy groups, MillerCoors announced it is removing the caffeinated magic from its alcho-energy drink Sparks. It’s a sad, sad day for amateur drinkers looking for that perfect mix between booze, a double-espresso and Sweet Tarts. Luckily, I was able to spot a dusty…
The trick to making any mechanical bull your bitch is to choke up on the saddle with your knees and thighs tight against the frame, lean loosely over the rope so that your center of gravity points toward the sky when it bucks, and hold on with one hand while…
For devotees of yoga, the practice is all about cleansing and strengthening the body, searching for a higher purpose by standing on your head, and twisting your ankles behind your ears. Hardcore yogis don’t smoke, or eat burgers after class, or pour too much Splenda in their organic, free-trade tea.But…
Santa’s Private Reserve Rogue Ales Newport, Oregon If you’ve been bad this year, Santa will bring you a six-pack of Miller Chill. If you’ve been good, he’ll put a bomber bottle of Santa’s Private Reserve in your stocking. The perfect present for any hop-head, this dark red beer from Rogue…
2 Below New Belgium Brewery Fort Collins Argh, no matter how hard I try, I just can’t get into the beers from New Belgium Brewery. Fat Tire, Mothership Wit, 1554, 2 Below Ale: I’ve tried them — repeatedly — in an effort to figure out what I’m missing, and what…
Money’s tight, times are hard, here’s your fucking Christmas card. Given all the bad news, I’m having trouble getting in the holiday spirit this year — so I’m making an effort to get out of the house and spend time with friends rather than stay at home fretting. Still, even…
The Cherry Cricket (2641 East Second Avenue) — formerly Duffy’s Cherry Cricket and, before that, Mary Zimmerman’s Bar — didn’t always have a door guy checking IDs and stamping hands at 5:30 p.m., or a forty-minute wait for a table on a Tuesday night, or a national reputation for serving…
We’ve known about the delights of Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey for a couple of years now, awarding it Best Colorado Distillery in 2007 and enjoying its warming company on other occasions. But now Men’s Journal has named Stranahan’s one of its favorites as well, including it on the magazine’s list of…
Ten FIDY Imperial Stout Oskar Blues Lyons Ten FIDY is a big, bad mutha. Almost completely black, it looks like motor oil when poured out of one of Oskar Blues’s unusual black-and-silver cans. But it tastes fantastic – rich, complex and brimming with roasty, toasty chocolate, nut and coffee flavors…
This beer was a welcome change of pace from a multitude of sweet, dark, heavy beers. But it wasn’t exactly light – more like a brown than an English strong ale, with thick head and a lighter, red hue. The nutty, roasted flavor reminded me of a holiday-season toffee –…
