But I do appreciate it when an establishment that lures me in with the promise of free beer -- and plenty of it -- actually delivers the beer without a bad attitude.
Alas, during the thirty-minute free-pint giveaway it took me nearly fifteen minutes to even score a beer, and two of the Rock Bottom staffers involved in this transaction were as grumpy as the Grinch.
But I'm not complaining.The beer itself was quite good. Rock Bottom brewmaster John McClure changed things up a few years ago by turning what was formerly a Scotch ale into an old ale. Sweet and nutty, with very little aftertaste, Blitzen has a fizzy, easy drinking character without the syrupy malt flavor that some Winter Warmers fall victim too.
Since Rock Bottom was so slammed, I headed out to another beery establishment across town, the Bull & Bush Pub and Brewery, 4700 Cherry Creek South Drive, to try its holiday seasonal, Yule Fuel.
Loaded with nutmeg, all-spice and cinnamon, this unusual beer packed a eye-opening punch of flavor. Although it would go better with vanilla ice cream than with a burger, I liked it quite a bit. I'm not sure if it was supposed to be flat and warm -- and neither was the staff, who possessed a surprising lack of information about Yule Fuel -- but both attributes made it easier to drink!
