Governor Hickenlooper mounts up, rides the beer wagon to his inauguration party

While the party was just getting started at the Fillmore Auditorium, Governor John Hickenlooper arrived in the gritty parking lot of a Blockbuster store about a block away to begin the ride of a lifetime. Or at least the ride of the night. The Wynkoop Brewing Company, which Hickenlooper co-founded...

By Jonathan Shikes

January 12, 2011

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

While the party was just getting started at the Fillmore Auditorium, Governor John Hickenlooper arrived in the gritty parking lot of a Blockbuster store about a block away to begin the ride of a lifetime.

Or at least the ride of the night.

The Wynkoop Brewing Company, which Hickenlooper co-founded in 1988, has been delivering beer to a handful of clients around town via horse and carriage since April. And the brewery offered to give the old boss a lift to his inauguration party as it delivered kegs of a special beer, Hickenlooper's Inaugurale, for the festivities.

Under the cover of dusk, Hickenlooper climbed aboard, and the wagon driver turned his team down Emerson Street, west on Colfax Avenue and north on Clarkson Street.

Short and sweet, yes, but with a smooth, malty finish.

Follow Westword's Beer Man on Twitter at @ColoBeerMan.

KEEP WESTWORD FREE... Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.