Beer | Respect The Monkeys

13 February 2022

Yeti Appreciation

Chocolate Raspberry Yeti at Great Divide Barrel Bar

25 November 201728 November 2017

I stopped in on Wednesday afternoon to check out their beers and was pleasantly surprised. I was also hopeful for their success as at 3:30 PM they were nearly full of patrons. Yes, I understand the brewery had only been open a couple weeks at this point so there was the “new factor” in play, but still optimistic for their long-term success. Their smoked stout was good and the specialty holiday beer, a cranberry gose, was also quite tasty. In fact, I took home a growler to share with the family.

We returned on Saturday night to another packed house and a sure sign of potential success for a new brewery: running out of beer. Several of the varieties were gone by Saturday evening, including the wheat beer that I assumed my father would be able to drink… he thinks most craft beers are “too wangy”.

I don’t envy the owners in gauging the ongoing demand for their product in an area where people will drive 20+ miles to shop at WalMart because they have green beans for a nickel per can cheaper. I also don’t envy their having to navigate Oklahoma’s strange and obscure liquor laws. Nobody under 21 years of age can enter the premises, even just to deliver food; apparently they cannot open on Sunday; closing time is 9 PM; growlers must be sealed with tape (???). I suppose the people of Oklahoma should be happy they can actually consume the product on the premises, something that wasn’t allowed before this year. I also understand there are more taproom-friendly law changes coming in 2018.

Opening over a holiday weekend ensures good crowds but puts the pressure on to keep plenty of beer on-hand. They have also already learned that food trucks often cancel at the last minute, and my question about bringing my dogs in the taproom had not yet been anticipated. Judging from photos online they did allow a small dog inside later. One of my favorite aspects of Colorado breweries is an outdoor patio area but I don’t know where they would put a patio in their limited space.

I wish them nothing but continued success and pan to return over the Christmas holidays.

16 October 2017

Resolute Brewing Company

I took my dogs to a new-to-me brewery in Centennial on Sunday, Resolute Brewing Company. They have been open almost exactly a year so far and feature a medium-size tap room with both a patio and extra tables in the grassy area next to the patio. It’s a nice setup and very dog friendly. There were already three other dogs when we arrived.

The beers were solid and the bartender was friendly enough, in fact he forgot to ring in my purchases initially so I had to inform his replacement what I consumed when I tabbed out!

Resolute is a bit of drive through busy areas of Denver and the DTC so I don’t know how often I will visit (have to navigate back home afterwards) but I will keep it in mind when looking for a change of pace.

The girls on the patio at Resolute Brewing

27 August 201728 August 2017

Butters and Lindsay

At the Humane Society fundraiser dog wash.

22 July 201724 July 2017

Very Nice Brewing Company

We attempted to hike up near Eldora on Saturday morning where I thought that the forecast was not calling for rain. We hiked for about an hour through some light rain until the floodgates opened wide. Luckily there is a brewery in Nederland (seriously, in most places in Colorado there is likely to be at least one brewery nearby). I’ve always wanted to stop at Very Nice Brewing Company but rarely found myself in the area. With the rainy day we had the perfect opportunity to try out this extremely dog friendly spot. The taproom is certainly no-frills but is backed by very good beers. My favorite of the day was the Logical Fallacy, a black IPA that was served with a shot of espresso.

I also had a nice conversation about rugby with one of the patrons who noticed my Canada Sevens hat, and said hello to numerous pups.

25 June 201726 June 2017

Humane Society Of The South Platte Valley Fundraiser Dog Wash

The Brew On Broadway (The BoB) hosts a fundraiser dog wash on the last Sunday each month to benefit the Humane Society of The South Platte Valley. This is the first time this year we have been in town for the event so I took the girls down to the brewery and had baths. Neither of my dogs were happy about actually getting bathed but tolerated the experience. The weather was fantastic and the beer (as always) was great. What a great way to spend the first Sunday afternoon of the summer!

Bath time for Fabi — doesn’t she look thrilled?

12 June 201713 June 2017

Guanella Pass Brewing

The dogs and I went hiking in Guanella Pass again Sunday afternoon. This time we stopped at a new Brewery in Georgetown, Guanella Pass Brewing, first so Lucy did not have a chance to roll in crap like she did last weekend.

I overheard the owner telling some guests they had only been open two weeks. I was impressed with the beers and the facility at such an early stage.

The taproom itself is clean and modern with stainless steel counters. There are televisions if you must watch them but the window seats with great views of the street and mountains are a better pairing with the beer. Summers in Georgetown provide excellent people watching (well, they’re actually tourists… are they really people?).

The patio is currently uncovered (no umbrellas or shade) as they are assessing the “wind situation” in Georgetown. There is an Italian restaurant a couple doors down that delivers and I can attest the meatball sub was very good.

I look forward to many summer visits to this brewery.

11 August 201527 September 2023

My Dogs Have Been To More Breweries Than You (archive)

This will be a continuously updated post that includes the breweries and taprooms to which I have taken my dogs. I try to tag all of these posts with the Twitter hashtag #drinkingWithMyDogs which you can view via their search tool.

Last update: 07 March 2021