One could say that my craft beer journey truly began when I bought a pony keg of Buffalo Gold from the Boulder Beer Company for my college graduation in 1993 from CU Boulder. I returned for a check-in to the state in June 2018 with a fresh appreciation for both the history and the explosion of craft beer in Colorado.
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- The heart of Golden features Clear Creek, Coors, and a great little taqueria on Washington St
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- The reward for our 10K hike out and back in Wild Basin
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- A Protos Low Rider pizza and a saison brew from Aspen Brewing Co
Though the busy trip filled up quickly with have-tos, we had time for happy hour at 12 Degree Brewing in Louisville, as well as stops into the Oskar Blues outpost in Lyons, and the version of Rock Bottom Brewery near Loveland. Along the way, we had a few more favorites to share with old friends and toast the gorgeous summer weather and the days of Green Colorado (before the summer heat turns all the grass into straw). We also sampled a couple of Mexican beers to go with the Colorado Mex and Mexican fusion food we enjoyed nearly every day.
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- A Popeye Lucky Pie and salad plus an 8 Second Elevation IPA with the lunch special
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- An interesting wheat beer from Mexico to go with our chorizo tacos
Here’s hoping another trip soon will take us more deeply into some new territory. There is sure plenty to find. Arguably the best meal (outside of our wondrous experience at Frasca Food & Wine in Boulder) was the little taqueria in Golden. Til then, there’s still no place like the Rocky Mountain High.
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- The classic Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale still satisfies
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- A bowl of sublime green chili with porky bits at Oskar Blues in Lyons
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- Sometimes you need one of Mama’s Little Yella Pils (at Oskar Blues in Lyons)