A view of Pike’s Peak for Garden of the Gods
It is easy to get awestruck when being at Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, looking up at the mountains. Nature’s beauty up close and personal that takes your breath away! You quickly realize why so many people want to live here. Luckily, Mrs. Java-Stout and I have some great friends, Wendy and Mark, who kindly offered us to come out and visit. The best part is that they would show us some of the breweries around Colorado Springs!
Our drive down I-25 to Colorado Springs had us going by Wellington, Colorado. Wendy had told me that she enjoyed Soul Squared Brewing Co., so we took a break driving and stopped in. The atmosphere is inviting, with so many seating options. I always like to sit at the bar if there is space. Soul Squared Brewing Co. is known for being a farm-built brewery using ingredients they have produced and also using other local ingredients. A great example is the rose-colored beer in the flight, a beet Saison.
From the flight I had, my favorite was the hazy IPA called Rocky Mountain Haze. I liked the citrus and fruit notes that finished with the earthy hop notes. Great body to this one, and very refreshing at 6.5% ABV. As I enjoyed the flight, I wish we hadn’t had lunch as people were bringing in some delicious-looking food from the Leave it to Cleaver food truck in the back of the brewery.
I grabbed some crowlers, and it was back on the road to get to Colorado Springs.
Friday evening, we arrived at my first Colorado Springs brewery - FH Beerworks! As you walk up from the parking lot, there is the Neat Whiskey House on the left, then an awesome patio before arriving at the taproom.
FH Beerworks has a great craft beer selection, so I got a flight. This flight was all IPA styles, including a Cold IPA. All very different in flavor and dankness. I can’t remember the name of this IPA, but the notes were distinctly honeydew melon. An enjoyable spot to start the night!
Next, we were off to the Peaks N Pines Brewing Company taproom nearby. A friendly and cozy place to enjoy a couple of pints! I had the Need for Speed Red (Amber) Ale and the Blizzard Pilsner. Both were excellent, and the Pilsner stood out with its crispness and slightly dry finish. I had to get a crowler of this one! Mark enjoys beer that has some spicy heat and chose the Chili Blonde. A fantastic blonde ale with jalapeno, anaheim, and serrano peppers to spice up your night!
I got to talk with some people who worked at the brewery that night and learned more about it. As we were getting ready to leave, I met Teresa Vieira, one of the owners—a charming lady who had just returned from representing the brewery at an event that night.
It was time to call it a night. Tomorrow morning would be hiking at Garden of the Gods, then some more brewery exploration!
It had to be a sign that there was a brewery on Garden of the Gods Rd. The perfect stop after a morning hike. Red*Leg Brewing Company is an experience, not just a brewery. It was a Saturday around noon when we arrived, and the place was full of patrons enjoying the brewery, permanent food vendors with lots of choices, and an expansive green space with a stage for live music!
I know if I lived in Colorado Springs, I would frequent this brewery often! The beer I had was the Prospector's Pick Kolsch, perfect from the creamy foam head to the crisp, clean body. The breadiness and slight saltiness are what I love about a great Kolsch. I saw they had six packs to go, and I had to grab one.
On to the next stop after lunch …
You know that feeling as you walk through the door that a given brewery is a local favorite and a place to meet up with others that feel the same way. That is precisely what Red Swing Brewhouse is!
A very friendly beertender went over the current selections, and I wanted to try so many of them, but the Mexican Lager grabbed my attention. This style is one of my favorites, especially during the summer. I loved all of the flavor and how smooth this beer was. I was slightly surprised that it was 6.5% ABV because it was so crushable! We tried almost all of the menu at our table, and I was excited to bring back the Scottish Ale. I will enjoy sharing this with one of my closest friends in Omaha!
Our next destination would be Manitou Springs for some shopping and our last brewery of the day. The area was inviting, with many excellent shops and an arcade where we would spend a decent amount of time playing vintage video games and pinball!
We arrived at Manitou Brewing Company to a line out the door! I knew this place was going to be good. A table opened up, and I would have a fantastic beer flight within no time. I enjoyed each of the beers, but I have to say the Sun Mountain Belgian Single was the one that stood out to me. Citrus and especially grapefruit notes blended well with what I can imagine was a Saison yeast. This was the one I had to bring home! I am looking forward to what my friends think of it.
There are no words I can use to express my gratitude for Wendy and Mark's hospitality on this fantastic weekend. We only scratched the surface of the breweries in the Colorado Springs area. It was so much fun, and I will never forget that weekend.
Cheers!