Brewpub entertainment in North America
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Trinity Brewing Co
Inspired by Belgium's beer cafes, the ecofriendly Trinity Brewing Co is an extremely cool addition to the Colorado Springs pub scene. Owned by two self-admitted beer geeks, it serves 'artisanal beers' (made from rare ingredients and potent amounts of alcohol) and has a menu focused on creating a 'Slow Food dining experience based on…environmental sustainability.'
The vegan BBQ sandwiches, spicy Thai curry soup, vegetarian 'chicken wings' and other healthy, organic choices are definitely a departure from usual pub fare (mains $5-8). But don't fret, carnivores: there is some meat on offer. If you're still hungry after dinner, wash your tofu down with a beer float. A 10%…
reviewed
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Jolly Roger Taproom
A secret treasure tucked away off busy Leary Way, Maritime Pacific Brewing’s Jolly Roger Taproom is a tiny, pirate-themed bar with a nautical chart painted onto the floor. Though lately it’s gone less scurvy-barnacle and more placid-yachtsman, the beer’s still tops – and served in 20oz pints. The food’s not bad either; try a chef’s special ($4 to $8.50) or a mess of clams and mussels ($8.95). There are about 15 taps, all serving Maritime Pacific brews. The strong winter ale, Jolly Roger, is highly recommended.
reviewed
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Wynkoop Brewing Co
Wynkoop's Rail Yard Ale is the city's most celebrated red ale, and beer fans file into to this spacious brewpub to knock them back while tossing darts, shooting pool or taking in the breeze on the wide porch. The taps change with the season and the menu offers passable pub standards. Call ahead for Saturday brewery tours.
The basement of the brewery hosts a long-running sketch comedy shows on the weekends, and the jokes are appropriate for all ages.
reviewed
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Ska Brewing Company
Big on flavor and variety, these are the best beers in town. Although the small, friendly tasting-room bar was once mainly a production facility, over the years it's steadily climbed in the popularity charts. Today it is usually jam-packed with friends meeting for an after-work beer.
Despite the hype, the place remains surprisingly laid-back and relaxed. Ska does weekly BBQs with live music and free food. Call for dates - they are never fixed.
reviewed
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Draft House
Another of boulder's popular microbreweries. This one brews six handcrafted beers, including an IPA and a Big Bella Brown, which owes it's deep tones from honey and Blackstrap molasses. Food here is pedestrian pub grub, but the open interior, with glassed-in brew tanks, exposed rafters and three gleaming HD flat-screens, offers a touch of class.
There's live music most nights: salsa night is Tuesday; Reggae rocks Wednesdays.
reviewed
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Pyramid Ale House
South of Pioneer Square by Safeco Field, this brewpub has the cleaned-up-industrial feel – all bricks and brass and designer lighting – that defines the Pacific Northwest brewpub. It’s a nice and mainstream (but still appreciably Seattle-ish) place to take your parents or tenderfoot visitors. But don’t even try on a game day, unless you want to squeeze into the standing-room-only beer tent outdoors.
reviewed
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Breckenridge Brewery
With seven malty aromatic brews being cooked up in the kettles directly behind the bar, you know what this is all about. When we visited the flavors included an agave wheat, a vanilla porter and an IPA. Pub grub is served all day and late into the night, but you're here for beer, no?
They have four other Colorado locations, including three in Denver, but this is where their heart is.
reviewed
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Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery
Drinkers are met with the gleaming stainless sheen of brew kettles as they enter this chain brewpub, perched on the prime real estate of the 16th St Mall. It’s outgrown 'micro' status and is not so hot compared to smaller craft brewers in the region, but the award-winning Red Rock Red and people-watching from the patio make for a pleasant afternoon.
reviewed
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Hale’s Brewery & Pub
Nestled between Fremont and Ballard, Hale’s makes some fantastic beer, most notably its ambrosial Cream Ale. But its flagship brewpub feels a bit like a corporate hotel lobby. It’s worth a quick stop, though; ask the friendly staff about the personalized mugs hanging above the bar. There’s a miniature self-guided tour in the entryway.
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Great Divide Brewing Company
This excellent local brewery does well to skip the same-old burger menu and the fancy digs to keep their focus on what they do best: crafting exquisite beer. Bellying up to the bar, looking onto the copper kettles and sipping Great Divide’s spectrum of seasonal brews is an experience that will make a beer drinker's eyes alight.
reviewed
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Dad Watson’s Restaurant & Brewery
Fremont’s representative of the McMenamins brewpub chain, headquartered in Portland, has worn wooden booths and a big open dining room with a long, crescent-shaped bar; despite its spaciousness, the place feels warm and cozy. Signature burgers like the Captain Neon ($8.95) complement McMenamins microbrews – try the Hammerhead.
reviewed
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Elliott Bay Brewery & Pub
Long and narrow, with a loft at the back of the room and a beer garden outdoors, this comfortable brewpub makes a nice retreat after a day at Alki Beach. Pub food emphasizes organic, locally sourced ingredients and includes monthly specials. There are always two cask-conditioned beers available.
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Uptown Brothers Brewery
When we checked in, the Brothers were just getting their brewing operation off the ground, but looking at their selection of taps and bottles gives us high hopes. The menu? More of the typical bar food standards. Come here to drink and wander around Colfax to work up an appetite.
reviewed
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Iron Horse Brewpub
Rather swanky for a brewpub, the Iron Horse includes a plush upstairs bar complete with a saltwater aquarium. It's popular with students for its microbrews and traditional American pub grub.
reviewed
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Breckenridge Blake St Pub
Blake St is home to the, ah, Breckenridge Blake St Pub, also known as the Breckenridge Ball Park Brewpub. Breckenridge's portfolio of beers is long and includes an unusual vanilla porter. The Trademark American pale ale is the signature brew and probably a good place to start.
reviewed
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BridgePort Brewpub
Almost too-fancy brewery with bakery, espresso bar, atrium and rooftop bar. Also at 3632 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
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Walnut Brewery
A hangar-sized sports bar and brewery that crafts and serves seven varieties of microbrew, ranging from golden pilsners to midnight stouts. It also serves liquor, has all the ball games on flat screens, and serves decent pub grub.
reviewed
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Steelhead Brewing Co
Classic, award-winning brewpub with all the usual suspects on the menu, plus around a dozen homemade brews including seasonal and dark beers, plus a raspberry ale. Bottoms up.
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Big Time Microbrew & Music
A fun hangout in the U District, this expansive brewpub is quiet and casual in the daytime, but gets hopping at night. During the school year, it can be crowded with students still testing out their alcohol limits.
reviewed
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Gritty McDuff's
This Old Port brewpub has it all: harbor views, high energy, good pub grub and award-winning ales. Order up a robust pint of Black Fly stout and join the crowd.
reviewed
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Denver Chophouse & Brewery
Chophouse brews are mostly European in style – pilsner, ales and lagers – and there's a good American pale ale. The Chophouse Brewery has sites in Boulder, Cleveland and Washington DC.
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Widmer Gasthaus
In a trendy industrial area in the north, this yuppified brewery-restaurant offers very tasty beers – some available only here. Their Hefeweizen (unfiltered wheat beer) is a good choice, and goes well with the schnitzel. Widmer Gasthaus has weekend tours, and sports on TV, and it's close to live music at the White Eagle.
reviewed
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Northampton Brewery
On a sunny day you'll find half of Northampton chugging ales on the rooftop beer garden at New England's oldest microbrewery.
reviewed
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Upright Brewing
Basement brewery with intimate tasting room for sampling farmhouse-inspired ales. Only open Friday to Sunday.
reviewed
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Green Dragon
Owned by Rogue Breweries, but serves 49 guest taps in an echoey east-side warehouse.
reviewed