Touchdown Brewery Tours

This is the Touchdown Brewery Tour Blog. As I visit breweries, I will post comments and photos detailing my experience. I lean towards Hoppy beers, but love all beer (American Premium Lagers are not beer) and will try to give actual comments rather then just a numeric scale. An ideal brewery is one where I feel comforatble in a jersey and jeans, from this sweet spot all establishments will be reviewed. I hope you enjoy - Jeff

Monday, September 25, 2006


With the seasonals, 10 beers make up our sampler. The O'Fest was our favorite.
Boulder 9-20-2006


Walnut has an established mug club, the members' mugs hang from the rafters above the bar.
Boulder 9-20-2006


Aging tanks on the lower level.
Boulder 9-20-2006


Multi level brewery, typical of this Rock Bottom sister.
Boulder 9-20-2006


Typcial pub fare, posters, welcome you to this old staple of Boulder. One block of of the infamous Pearl St.
Boulder 9-20-2006


Next stop Walnut Brewery.
Boulder 9-20-2006


Huge sampler of beers. Nitro Porters, Oak Aged brew, seasonals and even the GABF 25th Anniv. Ale.
Boulder 9-20-2006


Posters of old favorites, Wrigley Red was available at Old Chicago.
Boulder 9-20-2006


The oldest craft brewery in Colorado, Boulder (originally Rockies) brewing has traditional equipment. Now 26 years young. Boulder brewery is owned by Rock Bottom Restaurants, whose portfolio includes Rock Bottom Brewery, Walnut, Chop House, and Old Chicago.
Boulder 9-20-2006


Beer to go, but the prices are a little steep compared to local liquor stores.
Boulder 9-20-2006


NIce pub, easy and comfortable.
Boulder 9-20-2006


Look at all of the taps. Eleven in all.
Boulder 9-20-2006


Boulder Beer - Lots of choices, but here are two of my favorites. Mojo and Hazed and Infused
Boulder 9-20-2006

Monday, September 18, 2006


Each adult can have up to 4 tasters (for FREE). They offer several to choose from. This month they offered Fat Tire, Sunshine, Mothership Wit, Saison, Trippel, 1554, Abbey, Lips of Faith (a changing pilot brew, this time a belgian stout) Blue Paddle and La Folie. All are great, we skipped the big two (Fat Tire and Sunshine) and stuck to the fun seasonals and difficult to get on tap brews. All were great, we even purchased a case of the fall seasonal Saison.
Ft. Collins Pub Swing


This fun house mirror give everyone a 'beer belly'
Ft. Collins Pub Swing


They even have a quality control lab.
Ft. Collins Pub Swing


Huge by comparison, New Belgium is one of the largest craft bewers in the country.
Ft. Collins Pub Swing


Packed as usual - something about 4 free tasters keeps bringin people in.
Ft. Collins Pub Swing


The big brother of Ft Collins breweries - New Belgium. This wind powered brewery makes the omni-present Fat Tire red.
Ft. Collins Pub Swing


Brews: Major Tom Pomegranate Wheat. Good brew not a typlical fruit wheat, pomegranate is present but not the dominate character of the brew. Edgar - American Amber nice but not outstanding, would not pour it out. The Kidd Schwartz Lager - Awesome chocolate flavor and aroma, very drinkable, a little sweet for style but my favorite of the Ft Collins brews. Z Lager Rauchbier, but not in an ashtray kind of way. Understated smoke makes this a quaffable brew for all beer lovers. Retro Red ale - Sweet smooth Irish style red ale. Chocolate Stout, lots of complex flavors in this tasty sweet stout.
Ft. Collins Pub Swing


Fort Collins Brewery offered 6 'regular brews' and two seasonals.
Ft. Collins Pub Swing


Old tap faucet on wall.
Ft. Collins Pub Swing


Nice tasting room, pints $2 7 beer sampler for $3.
Ft. Collins Pub Swing


Fort Collins Brewery - A jewel among giants. Don't miss this one if you make the trip to Ft. Collins, well worth the side trip.
Ft. Collins Pub Swing


Odell's has 3 keg sizes 1/2 barrel, 1/6 barrel and 5 gallon.
Ft. Collins Pub Swing


Brewhouse Tour - Free and they give out prizes. I did not win any.
Ft. Collins Pub Swing


Nice size samples, and you could also try some of the pilot brews for free!
Ft. Collins Pub Swing


7 beers in the $3 sampler Easy Street Wheat Levity Amber 5 Barrel Pale Ale 90 Shilling (the beer that put Odell on the map) Cut throat Porter CO2 and Nitro Double Pils (seasonal).
Ft. Collins Pub Swing


Nice tap area includes the 6 regulars and some test lab brews.
Ft. Collins Pub Swing


Patio seating by the tasting room. Very nice area for sampling some very fresh beers.
Ft. Collins Pub Swing


Odell's Brewing Company - Colorado's Second Oldest Micro (craft brewery)
Ft. Collins Pub Swing


Aging Tanks - Beers are sweet accross the board. My favorite is the Punjabi Pale Ale, but the new Rye PA has some great spicy notes and piny flavors.
Ft. Collins Pub Swing


Cask Conditioning Kreik
Ft. Collins Pub Swing


Beers Available Columbine Kolsch : Nice Light Ale - Training Wheel Beer Mountian Ave. Wheat - American Style Wheat Poudre Pale Ale - American Amber Not Brown Ale - Sweet Brittish Brown Ale with Hops Sigda's Green Chili - Not your just heat chili beer very flavorful Punjabi Pale Ale - Awesome Brittish Style IPA Burbon Barrel Existential Porter - Sweet Porter Horsetooth Stout - Sweet Stout Rye Pale Ale Albert Damn Bitter Biere Blanche du Fort - Belgian Wheat
Ft. Collins Pub Swing


Nice Healthy Sized Sampler - 11 Beers
Ft. Collins Pub Swing


Cask Punjabi and Nitro Horsetooth
Ft. Collins Pub Swing


Coopersmith's Brewery - Resturant - Billiards Hall
Ft. Collins Pub Swing

Friday, September 15, 2006


Sand lot has three 'stock' beers. Blue Moon, Right Field Red and Slugger Stout. They always have a brewemaster's special. This month they had a Peanut Ale and a English Brown. The regluar brews are ok, but the specials are well 'special'. Sand Lot wins tons of medals at GABF, 7 last year.
Sand Lot at Coors Field


In the winter they contract brew for the local Ski Resorts.
Sand Lot at Coors Field


Brewed right here. Sexy copper jacketed system, looks great from the bar.
Sand Lot at Coors Field


The perfect (maybe only) Ballpark Brewery. Great fresh beer, awesome park, minor league team (just kidding)
Sand Lot at Coors Field

Friday, September 08, 2006


Iron Horse Stout
Red Brick (American amber, seasonal)
Toll Tender IPA (harsh finish, nice aroma)
Southern Flyer Light (Chick Beer)
Southside Pilsner (Nice body, good balance of sweetness and hops)
Magnolia American Brown.
The Orange Blossom Honey Seasonal
Very friendly staff; attentive, attractive, welcoming.
Sampler well portioned, with paper guide. Excellent spectrum of beers. Most lean to the sweet side that is typical for beers made south of the Mason-Dixon line. All pleasant and clean.
Jacksonville: Seven Bridges


Has free wireless in bar (could not get past gateway), and 7 brews available.
Jacksonville: Seven Bridges


Very friendly, great brewpub atmosphere (very much like Rock Bottom), dark woods, TVs with sports, billiards tables, long welcoming bar. Smoke Free Location. Good music (pop, retro, 80�s)
Jacksonville: Seven Bridges


Very friendly, great brewpub atmosphere (very much like Rock Bottom), dark woods, TVs with sports, billiards tables, long welcoming bar. Smoke Free Location. Good music (pop, retro, 80�s)
Jacksonville: Seven Bridges


Puesdo-chain (Gordon Biersch).
Jacksonville: Seven Bridges


Brewhouse, nice copper kettles, not a lot of room to move for brewer.
Jacksonville: River City Brewing CO


There is a pub attached to restaurant, much more to this reviewer�s liking. However, pub does not open until 3:00 PM.

Jacksonville: River City Brewing CO


Pub, closed until 3:00pm,
Jacksonville: River City Brewing CO


Mainly high class restaurant, reminds of McCormick and Schmidts chain. A little on the stuff side, but appropriate for the target client.

Jacksonville: River City Brewing CO