Avery Brewing Company | Boulder, CO

During my Colorado visit, I managed to squeeze in a brewery visit and tour. It pays to know people in the brewing business. My friend Laura's brother just so happens to work for Avery Brewing Company in Boulder. He was kind enough to give us a private tour of the brewing facilities after work. Beer tasting was involved as well.

Avery brews some really great tasting beers. I wish I would have written down the names of all the ones we tasted. Every single one of them was great! I especially enjoyed a beer named Trogdor : The Burninator. It's described as a "gently-smoked German-style Doppelbock, and it was tasty.

The beer name "Trogdor : The Burninator" had me laughing though, because in college I remember watching an animated Homestar Runner video about Trogdor the dragon. You can watch it here if you're interested in knowing why I was laughing over this beer name. I couldn't help but sing a little Trogdor tune in my head while drinking that beer.

After tasting some of the delicious Avery brews, we got our private tour of the brewery. The whole brewing process always amazes me. I guess that's the love of chemistry that comes out in me every time I get around a brewery. The fact that raw ingredients, like hops, grain, and barley, go through a process that ends in beer is incredible to me. One of these days I swear we'll start home-brewing.

My friend Laura's brother didn't let us leave empty handed. He sent us off with some bombers of Avery beer. Spending time with my friend at a great Colorado brewery, getting a private tour, and leaving with free beer didn't make me miss Colorado any less. I guess it's a good thing we can get our hands on some Avery beer in Florida, but we'll have to make special trips to the Avery Brewing tasting room to try special beers like Trogdor or Eremita.

If you live in Colorado, or the Boulder area, be sure to stop by Avery Brewing Company's tasting room for some great beer you won't find anywhere else. Or just pick some up at the store on your way home. Either way, don't miss out on their tasty beer!

Belated Birthday Gifts

Last week we celebrated my husband's birthday, but the presents just keep coming. When a delivery man dropped off a package with his name on it yesterday, my husband actually told me how he loves that his birthday has been stretched out for almost a week now. He was like a kid opening gifts on Christmas morning with this one. I think I may have gave one too many hints.

... digging in without hesitation ...

His other gifts consisted mostly of cards and money gifts, but this package was the only other present, besides the ones I gave him, that required unwrapping. There was a little bit of built up anticipation, and he wasn't disappointed by what was found inside.

... I think he had an idea of what it was at this point ...

... a happy birthday boy ...

My husband was thrilled with the delicious New Belgium craft beers he received. Not only are these some of his favorite beers out there, but they're good in my book too. We're both winners with this one. They're like a little slice of Colorado packaged up by someone who loves us and shipped right to our front door. Literally.

Not only was the gift nice, but I had a good laugh at the card my dad sent too.

You've got to love a good sense of humor. Beer and a birthday card with a play on the word ass. Ha! It can't get much sillier, or better, than that. Now we have some work to do, so we'll catch you later. (:

A More Simple Time {New World Brewery}

It was a couple weeks ago that we finally visited New World Brewery located in the Ybor City area of Tampa, Florida. The name is a bit deceiving since they do not currently brew beer at New World Brewery, but you can find great beer there nonetheless. The bar features over 20 draft beers and numerous bottled beers too. There is a style of beer for almost every beer drinker. Aside from the drinks, the atmosphere is incredibly laid back and relaxing. The only thing we regretted about our visit was not eating some of the delicious looking, and smelling, food that was offered on the menu. There will be a next time.

We visited New World Brewery on a very lovely spring day in Florida. The sun was shining, but it wasn't too hot. That may be something of a rarity in Florida, so we took full advantage of the balmy weather by sitting at a table in the courtyard area. Basil plants, old brick walls,  and gurgling fountains surrounded us on all sides. It was an inviting and homegrown sort of environment, almost like we were drinking beer in some one's backyard. We felt right at home.

There's something nourishing about enjoying a cold beer outside in the sun while streetcars zoom by on the cobblestone road outside. It almost takes you back to a simpler time. One where people actually sit down and take time out of their busy day to converse, leave their social media behind, and maybe even tend to their homegrown basil plants. New World Brewery offers an escape from the busyness of everyday life.

Like I mentioned in my blog post from yesterday, New World Brewery offers one of the best beer selections that we have found in the Tampa Bay area. Not only is the beer great, but the environment allows you to slow down for a minute. Our life has been so busy that we rarely feel like there's time to sit down, relax, and have a nice conversation. We did just that while spending a relaxing afternoon enjoying a few brews at New World Brewery in Tampa.

Operation Find A Good Beer Spot in Tampa : Mission Accomplished

My Top 10 Denver

Over Valentine's Day my husband and I spent some time downtown, and it inspired me to create a list of my favorite places and things to do in Denver. I wanted to share it with you all. Keep in mind these are just some of my favorite places and things to do, and your choices may vary... but I really think these are some things you should not miss while in Denver! (listed in no particular order)

1. Peaks Lounge

Hyatt Regency @ Convention Center

27th floor

info here and here

The views of Denver and the mountains are to die for. You can have a drink here for a reasonable price. Beer starts at about $5/drink and a glass of wine might start at about $7/glass. Not too shabby of a fee for the view and relaxing environment at the Peaks Lounge! Get here before sunset if you can and watch the sun set over the Rockies. This lounge is the ultimate in relaxation while enjoying the views of Denver and the mountains.

2. Museum of Contemporary Art

visit the website here

this was a past exhibit by David Altmejd

Denver is also home to the Denver Art Museum (DAM), but I prefer the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) for regular visits. The MOCA is typically much less crowded than the DAM, and there is a really great cafe on the rooftop that serves up some good coffee and delicious foods too. I love spending time enjoying the exhibits, soaking up sun on the rooftop, and appreciating the architecture of the museum. Hope you will love it too!

3. Concert at Red Rocks

see a list of concerts (updated frequently)

Red Rocks is one of my favorite concert venues. The amphitheater is like no other place when it comes to attending a concert. From your seat, you have a view of downtown Denver and it is incredible to see all of the twinkling lights when the sun goes down. You can also watch the sun rise from Red Rocks while attending the Easter Sunrise Service. If you get the chance to attend a concert at Red Rocks, consider giving this magical place a try.

4. Vesta Dipping Grill

Vesta's website

This is hands down my favorite restaurant in all of Denver. Have I visited every restaurant in Denver? No, but this would probably still be my favorite even if I had eaten at them all. Seriously. The food is incredible, the service is superb, and the atmosphere is dreamy. I am not going to lie, the prices are a bit expensive, but the experience is worth every penny. Vesta is a treat, and if you have a special occasion this is the place to enjoy it. If you are going to eat at one restaurant in Denver... please eat here.

5. Rockies Game @ Coors Field
visit the website

Even though I don't really follow baseball, I still love to attend at least one Rockies' game at Coors Field each year. The stadium is beautiful, and again you have that view of the mountains from inside of the stadium. If you're seated in the right spot, you can have a view of the skyline downtown and the mountains. How is that for a Denver experience?

6. Denver Zoo
visit the website

I love the Denver zoo! You can visit for a really affordable price at $10-13 depending on the month. The animal habitats are fairly realistic, and the Denver zoo is currently undergoing a really large expansion called 'Asian Tropics'. The elephants will have a much different habitat once it is complete. Visiting the Denver zoo is a really great way to spend a warm and sunny day in Denver.

7. 16th Street Mall

info about 16th Street

Even though the 16th Street mall is a little bit touristy (although they have made many changes to it recently), I still love spending some time there! The mall is for pedestrians only, with the exception of the free shuttle buses which run the length of the mall. If you don't feel like walking, you can hop on a shuttle and ride the whole length of the 16th Street mall. There are lots of options for shopping and eating all along the mall. Not only is the mall great, but LoDo (that's short for Lower Downtown) is just a short walk off of the mall too. Go exploring around 16th Street mall and you're pretty much guaranteed to find something that you will enjoy.

8. Falling Rock Taphouse
"No Crap On Tap"

visit their website

If you venture a few blocks off of the 16th Street mall onto Blake Street, you will find the Falling Rock Taphouse. This is the ultimate Denver bar for beer lovers. If you want a Coors Light, then you will probably want to go somewhere else. The Taphouse has a constantly changing line up of beers, and you can always find something that you will like there. If you're not sure if you want a pint of something, just ask them for a little taste of a beer and they are usually glad to offer it. This is seriously one of the few places where I like to drink beer, because they almost always have something that I have yet to try.

9. Denver Parks
park information

Confluence Park

There are many parks, fountains, and trails scattered around Denver. My favorite parks right downtown are Skyline, Commons, and Confluence parks. Spend a little time walking around Denver, and chances are you will probably come across one of the above mentioned parks. They are great places to socialize, soak up sun, and maybe even play a little frisbee. Denver has a lot to offer when it comes to parks and recreation, so take advantage of all the opportunities.

10. Denver Broncos Game
visit the website

My list would not be complete without mentioning Denver Broncos' football. I love football, so naturally watching the Broncos play at Invesco Field had to be on the list. Even though last season was tough for fans, I still love to watch them play! Many seats at the stadium offer mountain views, but most important are the views of the field. I was not fortunate enough to have experienced old Mile High Stadium, but I still enjoy watching the Broncos play. Go Broncos!

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That is my list of Top 10 Denver list. I hope you get a chance to visit Denver.


If you live here or visit frequently, what are some of your favorite things to see and do in Denver??

Happiest Place on Earth

You thought I was going to say 'Disney World' didn't you?

Well... I'm. Although I won't argue with the fact that Disney is probably 'the happiest place on earth' when it comes to theme parks for families. However, the happiest place that I'm talking about this time is New Belgium Brewery (NBB) in Ft. Collins, Colorado. It's become a tradition for me to visit there around the holidays... and I have been quite a few times now. Every time I go it's always exciting and new.

How is NBB the happiest place on earth you might ask? I just have to answer that question with an upbeat, "How is it not?" The pictures and descriptions below help answer that question as well.

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The exterior is rather inviting if you ask me...

"The Beer Inside is Delightful"

Inspired Decorations

... made from beer labels and 6 pack boxes.

Fun for all

 ... be careful how many beers you drink

How many work places do you know of...

 ... that have a slide just for fun?!

And of course I can't forget the beer.

 It's the reason for all of this...

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The story of New Belgium is great. Their Fat Tire beer is sort of what started it all. It was the first beer brewed by NBB, and it most definitely put them on the map. Check out the story of NBB here

I challenge you to find a happier place... sort of. No seriously... just go and try it for yourself. Ft. Collins, Colorado! You'll see all of the smiling faces and never want to leave. (At least that's how I felt...) Happy happy joy joy!

For the Love of Beer!

The brew kettle boiled over while he was pouring us a beer not available in their bar at the time. He stopped what he was doing, while running to the hose to spray down the kettle... telling us that a boil over is not really a big deal to the outcome of the beer, but a boil over does create a big mess. "No harm, no foul" he says. I wasn't too worried. I was in awe of this man, Eric, who is the main brewer at Oskar Blues Brewery's Lyons, Colorado location. His business card actually reads "Eric, The Lyons Liquid Lord". He was clearly passionate about brewing, and he said that people often mistakenly think it a glamorous job. I told him that's quite like architecture... people often have the wrong idea about it. That can really be said about many jobs, and brewing is no exception. But I could not stop staring at all of the shiny equipment; the mash tun, the whirlpool, the kettle, the fermenters.... we were in the middle of Oskar Blue's original brew facility, surrounded by the "magic" of where beer comes from. I loved every second of it. Nothing could stop the questions from coming out of my mouth. What does that whirlpool do? How did you get into brewing? How far do you distribute? Which beer is your favorite? To which Eric answered "just regular Dale's". (The pale ale that is. There's also a Deviant Dale's which is a hopped up version of the former.) I wanted to know everything there is to know about beer at that moment.

Before exploring the Oskar Blues brew facility, we visited the bar in their restaurant. I had the sampler, and Nate drank a pint... since he was driving. The sampler really isn't a ton of beer, but it looks like it with all of those glasses of colorful beer sitting in front of you. The Deviant Dale's was probably my favorite of those I sampled.

I swear we're not alcoholics. We just really like beer. To me, beer is art in liquid form. Brewers create these concoctions for others enjoyment, all the while attempting to create the next big thing. Not everyone has to like the same beer, like a piece of art, either. There's something fun about trying new beer while trying to find your favorite beer of all time. I'm still not sure what my favorite is... that's like asking a parent which child is their favorite. Although I would not know since we have no children. Each beer seems so unique and different depending on the day or batch it came from. Keep in mind, while enjoying a glass of your favorite brew, that there was someone running around while the brew kettle boiled over at one point in time! Some one's blood, sweat, and tears goes into each beer we drink. Never forget that.

G... A... B... F!

No... that B and F don't stand for best friend. Although, I guess if you wanted, you could think of beer and best friend as being one in the same. But no my friends... GABF = Great American Beer Festival, and great it is. This splendor takes place in Denver, CO each fall.

I copied this straight from the FAQs on the GABF website:

According to the Guinness Book of World Records®, there is no other place on earth where a beer aficionado can find more beers on tap. The Great American Beer Festival is the American brewing industry’s top public tasting opportunity and competition. Tasting sessions will offer attendees the opportunity to tour America’s brewing landscape, one ounce at a time, with access to more than 2,000 different beers from more than 450 of the nation’s finest breweries. The GABF gathers practically every type of beer from all of the regions of the country, and are arranged geographically on the festival floor. The festival allows visitors to taste the largest number and the widest variety of hand-crafted products in the American beer industry.

This was mine and Nate's 3rd year attending the beer festival, and I'm pretty sure we won't get sick of it... ever. Not only did we manage to grab some fun beer "swag" while there, but we also obviously drank a bunch of great beer... and....

* We came prepared with pretzel necklaces that included some Nutter Butter cookies *

* We cheered for beer... Yay Beer! (is that Bob Ross's head?) *

* I burned some calories while pedaling my way to some pours of Sierra Nevada beer... I tried convincing the "train conductor" that we should kick that train out of neutral and pedal it around the Convention Center... they didn't go for it. Oh well, maybe next year *

* We danced at the "Silent Disco"... I don't remember what song was playing, but notice that everyone was doing the finger point in the air *

* We successfully ate away our necklaces... and did I mention drank lots of good beer *

All in all... we had a good time and can't wait for another year at the GABF!