BJ's Brewhouse, visited on 5/27 (http://www.bjsrestaurants.com/bj-beers)
Let's be honest: many 'traditional' microbreweries might not consider a BJ's, or another 'chain' restaurant as a true craft brewer. But BJ's makes, at least in appearance, small batch beers, if only they're supplying regional other chains in doing so. It doesn't appear they bottle, and this little brewhouse on Pearl Street in Boulder as all the appearances (mash tons, tanks, etc.) of a 'normal' microbrewery.
The same party that visited Wild Mountain in Nederland stopped in at BJ's somewhat accidentally, essentially looking for a place to consume a drink or two while awaiting dinner. BJ's has an overly ridiculous food menu (think Cheesecake Factory) and a decent list of beers that look pretty tasty. I only managed to enjoy their HopStorm IPA, which at 6.5% ABV is completely sessionable if not overpoweringly hoppy.
I'm sure given all our recent jaunts to Boulder, we'll come back to BJ's for a few more pints and I'll update this post at that point. If you can get past that chain-feel of a microbrewery, which is pretty easy to do with the exposed tanks and comfy booths at this venue, you might find yourself enjoying one of their offerings without feeling like you've lost your 'beer edge'. The sip of Harvest Hefeweizen I tried was good, and I'd love to try their Pumpkin Ale in the fall. Perhaps we'll see you in November...
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Wild Mountain Brewery, Nederland, CO
Wild Mountain Brewery, visited on 5/26 (http://wildmountainsb.com/)
With Chris and Kate in town for a long Memorial Day weekend visit, we trekked up to Estes and elsewhere for some gorgeous mountain vistas and general exploration. After stopping at the Stanley Hotel and deferring our planned drive up to Rocky Mountain National Park, we took the Peak-to-Peak Highway to Nederland where we all decided we were in desperate need of some beer. A stop at Wild Mountain Brewery did the trick.
Nederland is a pretty rugged and crunchy town, first and foremost, but one with enough amenities and beauty to live in full-time. The town's seemingly sole brewery fit the description of the town itself, with a cozy atmosphere, full food menu, and a gorgeous back deck that while pretty windy on most days, serves as a great outpost for enjoying some afternoon brews. There's a front deck as seen below that's great for enjoying a couple pints and people watching, the latter activity seemingly well-fulfilled given the town's inhabitants.
Holly and I shared a sampler as I was driving and she's a lightweight...and yes, I realize samplers aren't really the ideal way to go when trying to enjoy a brewery's beers to the fullest. Sure you can try near everything made, but you can't really enjoy 3 ounce pours as well as you can a full pint. That said, here's an image of the sampler we enjoyed:
The Otis Pale Ale (middle, I believe) was a decent, sessionable pale with a solid balance and a generally clean mouthfeel. I favored the Hop Diggity IPA, Wild Mountain's "biggest ale", but it wasn't overly hoppy or boozy. I can't quite recall what the other beers were all about, which isn't necessarily a good sign, but a couple pints of Hop Diggity might justify a future visit. We'll think about a return in the fall when the gorgeous surrounding terrain changes and the brewery becomes that much more cozy.
With Chris and Kate in town for a long Memorial Day weekend visit, we trekked up to Estes and elsewhere for some gorgeous mountain vistas and general exploration. After stopping at the Stanley Hotel and deferring our planned drive up to Rocky Mountain National Park, we took the Peak-to-Peak Highway to Nederland where we all decided we were in desperate need of some beer. A stop at Wild Mountain Brewery did the trick.
Nederland is a pretty rugged and crunchy town, first and foremost, but one with enough amenities and beauty to live in full-time. The town's seemingly sole brewery fit the description of the town itself, with a cozy atmosphere, full food menu, and a gorgeous back deck that while pretty windy on most days, serves as a great outpost for enjoying some afternoon brews. There's a front deck as seen below that's great for enjoying a couple pints and people watching, the latter activity seemingly well-fulfilled given the town's inhabitants.
Holly and I shared a sampler as I was driving and she's a lightweight...and yes, I realize samplers aren't really the ideal way to go when trying to enjoy a brewery's beers to the fullest. Sure you can try near everything made, but you can't really enjoy 3 ounce pours as well as you can a full pint. That said, here's an image of the sampler we enjoyed:
The Otis Pale Ale (middle, I believe) was a decent, sessionable pale with a solid balance and a generally clean mouthfeel. I favored the Hop Diggity IPA, Wild Mountain's "biggest ale", but it wasn't overly hoppy or boozy. I can't quite recall what the other beers were all about, which isn't necessarily a good sign, but a couple pints of Hop Diggity might justify a future visit. We'll think about a return in the fall when the gorgeous surrounding terrain changes and the brewery becomes that much more cozy.
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