Rockyard Brewing Company, Castle Rock

Rockyard Brewing Company, visited on 2/24/12  (http://www.rockyard.com/)

I've been to Rockyard copious amounts of times given that it's the closest brewery to my homestead. They've also got pretty good beer, and every Friday tend to tap a firkin or small-batch keg that in my experience has usually been quite good. The brewery is really a huge restaurant too...very family-friendly and usually pretty busy. I've been here in the middle of the afternoon on a Tuesday and it was slow, but otherwise, it's usually hoppin...clear signs that a one-horse brewery in any town can do well.

While discussing plans for an upcoming BIG event, Holly and I enjoyed the following:

Jellyman's Deviation - 6.1abv; a 'Belgian Hopyard IPA', or so I'm told; Jellyman is Rockyard's head brewer I believe (Kjell Wygant); the beer has a light head; little lacing; almost a light ale in color; subtle Belgian style iteration IPA; light grapefruit and citrus flavor; hop on the front, Belgian bitter towards the end.

Nitro Strike Stout - 6.2abv; Holly ordered this as we've come to acknowledge that she's the dark beer drinker in the 'family'; good half-inch head; light lacing; good roasted chocolate nose; really creamy because of the nitro; good stout flavor; balanced.

Old BroAle - 8.5abv; English style old ale; from the Brew Bros of Pikes Peak (I believe a collaboration with Rockyard); almost no head; very minimal lacing; immediately taste some sugary sweetness; similarly lightly sweet on the nose; good balance; kind of raisin-y; lightly malty; very good beer I enjoyed above all others here.

Rockyard has a full menu, a huge restaurant space, and is one of the better places to grab a decent beer in all of Douglas County. The food is usually pretty good, but I've never had anything spectacular. You don't usually come to breweries for the food though, do you? Except you wouldn't know if they are trying to be a really good brewery or a really good restaurant. I'm just happy I can do some good drinking and good eating so close to home. The Rockyard Knots, two giant jalapeno-cheese stuffed pretzels, are fantastic and great companions to beer drinking.