Hops and Pie

It’s still rare these days to find a craft beer restaurant that takes the right approach with the beer they serve and the food they create. Often times the food is okay and the beer selection not much better than the typical bar around the corner. One establishment that has successfully combined a good beer selection with great food is Hops and Pie in North Denver, Colorado.

Owners Drew and Leah Watson opened Hops and Pie just over a year ago with a goal of having not just a great craft beer selection, but also creating artisan pizzas that paired specifically with the beers they served.

They bring a combined 23 years experience in the fine dining industry and were looking to take their destiny into their own hands when they chose to re-locate to Denver from the San Diego area.

In fact, it was while they were in San Diego close by to beer giant Stone Brewing Co, as well as Green Flash, Ballast Point, Lost Abbey and Alesmith, that their appreciate of what beer could be was born. Denver was a logical choice for opening up their own place.

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‘Tis the season!

No, I’m not talking about turkey – or even tinsel or mistletoe. It’s the season for embracing the cold and strapping on your skis (or snowboard, if you prefer) to hit the slopes. Grab the kids and head to one of these winter wonderlands.

Keystone, Colorado

Known as a slightly less glamorous (but just as powdery) version of Aspen, Keystone might provide a better bargain for family travelers.

Where to Ski: Keystone Ski Resort

Located within the White River National Forest, this ski haven has 3 peaks, 135 trails, and 20 lifts to transport snow bunnies of every age and ability.

Where to Stay: Inn at Keystone

This hotel provides a great value for families and easy access to the slopes for skiiers.

Stowe, Vermont

Get the views and the weather synonymous with New England winters in this idyllic Vermont town.

Where to Ski: Stowe Mountain Resort

There’s nearly 40 miles of snow-covered trails to be conquered between Spruce Peak and Mount Mansfield, including the 3.7 mile long Toll Road.

Where to Stay: Stowe Mountain Lodge

When you’re not becoming master of the elements, relax at the spa or warm up in a Jacuzzi tub. This is the perfect place for those who like a little luxury with their adrenaline.

Park City, Utah

Where to Ski: Deer Valley Resort

This resort limits the number of lift tickets sold daily and provides ski classes for kids and adults, making it ideal for families still building their confidence on the slopes.

Where to Stay: Arrowleaf at Empire Pass

Reserve two or three bedroom suites with ski-in/ski-out access to the mountains. You won’t find a full-service spa on site, but you can have a raging fire in your own condo.

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Home brewing — the fine art of making your own beer in your garage or basement — has been gaining in popularity in suburbs across America over the last several years. Also gaining ground? Family vacations focused on finding the best beer, or at least the best brewery. Make the rounds of the samplers at local breweries in these three destinations.

Portland, Maine – your grandparents might have come for the leaf-peeping, but today Portland is making a name for itself as a hotbed of fermentation. Half a dozen craft breweries are found in this New England town, including the Peak Organic Brewing Company. Book your visit for February and you can catch the Bartenders Bash.

Portland, Oregon – same name, different coast, an equally impressive collection of microbreweries to tour. The beer scene is hopping in the Pacific Northwest and wannabe brew masters can often find local events centered around tastings and competitions. Check out PortladBeer.org before your trip to get current updates.

Denver, Colorado - home of the Great American Beer Festival each fall, Denver is the domestic holy land for beer lovers. Take the Denver Microbrew Tour to take in all the sights with a designated driver. Reward the kids for good behavior (and patience) by taking them on an epic bike ride along Denver’s miles of gorgeous trails before heading home.

Photo Credit

It’s always good to try something new, especially when it comes to a new ale house. While in town for the 30th annual Great American Beer festival in Denver, Colorado, I had the opportunity to stop by a place that was new to me: The Ale House at Amato’s.

Located in the Lower Highlands area of Denver’s downtown, Amato’s is a part of the Breckenridge Brewing Co’s family of brewpubs and alehouses and is easily accessible to many of Denver’s downtown hotels and attractions such as Brown Palace Hotel and 16th Street Mall. Breckenridge Brewing has had a wide variety of beers since 1990 when they opened their original brewpub in Breckenridge, Colorado. In 1992, they branched out and opened another brewpub in Denver.

Photo Courtesy of Bloomspot

My stop at Amato’s was a part of an arranged brewery tour that afternoon, with the second stop at the newly opened Denver Beer Co. Although just a 30 minute stop, there was a lot to see and taste.

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