A trip to Colorado, and Denver in particular, is always a treat for me. I grew up in Colorado, went to school in Denver, and my family is still here as well. Many great places to eat and many great places to enjoy a great craft beer exist in this beautiful state. One of those great craft beer places that I must hit each and every time I arrive home is the Wynkoop Brewing Company is in order. Opened in 1988, it’s Colorado’s first brewpub and was recently named the 38th best place in the United States to have a beer.
The brewpub is located in Denver’s LoDo, Lower Downtown, area in the historic J. S. Brown Mercantile Building, a 111 year old mercantile building. As you can well imagine the interior is phenomenal. The building still boasts much of its Classic early 20th Century architecture with many of the original pillars and hardwood floors firmly intact. This great frontier decor sets the tone each time I walk in to enjoy one of their many tasty brews.
Looking for a spot to relax, enjoy a good brew and some grub, and enjoy a good view? Check out these three great spots:
The Offshore Ale Co. on Martha's Vineyard
The Offshore Ale Company on Martha’s Vineyard is located on Kennebeck Avenue, right next to Ocean Park. The scratch-made brews are on tap, with seasonal brews as well as year-round offerings. Food is pub-style, with local seafood thrown into the mix (one word: OYSTERS). Live entertainment is provided on most nights by local and regional talent. The atmosphere is casual and kid friendly. Try to score a seat on the patio to enjoy the people watching and refreshing sea breezes.
San Antonio is known for the Riverwalk, the Alamo and the San Antonio Spurs basketball team. What is lesser known, but becoming the stuff of legend is San Antonio’s own Freetail Brewing Co. I recently had the opportunity to stop by San Antonio’s latest brewpub and craft-brewery, located somewhat hidden at 4035 N Loop 1604 W. Suite 105. San Antonio, TX 78257
They opened a little more than a year ago and were really ‘hopping’ when I stopped by. Located near a small shopping complex, the sports bar/steel mill décor can take you by surprise.
The brewery boasts nine HDTV’s with sports on every one of them. They have large patio seating, but if you’d rather stay indoors, they have a large open seating area. I was immediately greeted by one of the wait staff and asked what I’d like to try. The fair is light and appropriate for South Texas. In addition to the many sandwiches and appetizers, such as their Chips and Roasted Salsa, they have a large selection of stone hearth specialty pizzas.
San Antonio and the surrounding area have an interesting history of craft brews over the years, with the likes of the Pearl Brewery, Shiner, Real Ale, The Covey Restaurant Brewery, The Laboratory Brewing Co. and Blue Star Brewing Co. With Freetail’s opening, they become only the second brewpub currently open in San Antonio.
I love the rich history of my home called San Francisco. That history brings lots of tourists every year to walk and eat their way through historic Chinatown, see the Golden Gate Bridge and have a drink at the top of the Mark Hopkins Hotel. But what I really love about my home is its underbelly, its darker side.
Besides an infamous earthquake in 1906, San Francisco’s history includes men being shanghaied, a wild Barbary Coast and Alcatraz Island. It shouldn’t surprise you then that one of my favorite things to recommend for visitors is the Anchor Steam Brewery Tour.
Anchor is the last operating brewery in San Francisco. Andrew, a guide who gives the morning tour explains to about thirty people daily, that in 1896 dozens of breweries were in the city. I imagine this contributed to the creation of the Barbary Coast District don’t you?
Proud to be still standing...
After Prohibition ended in 1933 only Anchor Steam returned to San Francisco.
Andrew our guide
During the 1960′s Fritz Maytag, heir to the appliance company (the one with the Maytag Repairman commercials), took sole ownership of Anchor Steam. Soon after an unknown Janis Joplin flew into town to join her new band, and came on the tour. It was at the start of her career in 1966 and you’d hardly recognize her. I’m only showing this sign rather than her image they have up because of copyright laws.
Young Janis Joplin liked the tour too!
Today Anchor Brewing has 50 employees. They produce 100,000 bottles of beer a day. You are not allowed to take photographs inside but they have a bottling area that is straight out of Laverne and Shirley, and Shotz Brewery. The tour is great for kids to learn about old school American industry. You need to call a month ahead for a reservation but the tour is free of charge. Your guide will walk you over three floors before you return to the tasting room for about 30 minutes of sampling, which is also free.
Fun facts: In case you ever wondered, the recipe for their Christmas ale is their only secret, and they change it slightly every year. “Steam” beer is an old nickname for beer brewed along the West Coast under primitive conditions and without ice.
