Beer floats, beer shakes and other beery desserts are gaining popularity as beer and food culture grows. And while Colorado doesn't yet boast a Beer Float Showdown like L.A., you can find plenty of places to cool off with a sweet mixture of ice cream and ale.
Twisted Pine Brewing in Boulder is close to getting a health department license that will allow its tasting room to serve grub like gourmet hot dogs, pretzels and, yes, a beer float made with Twisted's Big Shot Espresso Stout. In a meantime, here are five others:
Breck Brew Vanilla Porter Milkshake Breckenridge Brewery Denver Vanilla porter blended with several scoops of vanilla ice cream.
Planet Porter Shake The Pub at Boulder Beer Company Boulder Planet Porter beer blended with vanilla ice cream; topped with chocolate sauce and whipped cream.
Awaken Creamy Beer Float Trinity Brewing Company Colorado Springs Awaken Stout on nitro served with a few scoops of Josh and John's Ice Cream, locally made oatmeal cookie ice cream
Pint Glass Sundae Walnut Brewery Boulder Starbucks Mud Pie ice cream, crushed chocolate wafers and hot fudge sauce served in a pint glass with Devil's Thumb Stout and topped with chopped nuts and whipped cream.
Liquid Brain Float Bull & Bush Brewery Denver Although it's not on the menu, the Bull & Bush sometimes makes beer floats on special occasions with its seasonal Legend of the Liquid Brain Imperial Stout, and - if you ask nicely - the staff might make you one with the Bull's Stonehenge Stout.
