April 2010

So I walk into Pueblo's newest tavern and order an IPA....

Lo and behold, instead of blank stares or surly apologies, I'm offered an annotated list of the beers they have on tap. Scanning the list that goes over twenty taps deep, I see a great selection of American craft & micro beers, many from Colorado. Of course, Pueblo's many local breweries are well-represented.

April's a great time for beer: many nights are still cold and a Stout or a Dubbel is a perfect warmer. Then there are the long sunny days that occasionally lead to balmy nights, meaning that it's just about Wheat beer season. And pretty much any season is good for a Pale Ale or an IPA. Speaking of which, between the two there are about a dozen on this list.

The bartender, who is clearly well-versed in the beers here, tells me the list rotates frequently.  I see Avery's regular IPA as well as their Imperial IPA - Maharaja, Gubna and Dale's Pale from Oskar Blues, selections from Dogfish head, Stone, Sierra Nevada, Russian River, Great Divide...the list goes on and on. And that's just the hoppy American side. There's an equally-impressive selection of Stouts, Goldens, Porters, Lagers, Wheats and special season offerings. I'm especially impressed by the Belgian list, which runs from Wits to Saisons to rich trappist Dubbles and Tripels. Wow.

I settle on Ska's Modus Hoperandi, out of Durango. Modus is just brilliant in its balance of serious hops and, well, the rest of the beer. It's an awesome beer and it's about time it was available on tap in Pueblo. This place rocks.

My guy likes a beer every now and again, but considering he's a whisk(e)y drinker, I wonder if he's just being nice by bringing me here. Then I turn the page in what I thought was the beer list to reveal dozens of great Scotches, Bourbons, Irish Whiskeys and Ryes. He smiles and orders a Rittenhouse Rye. The pour is a solid two fingers and the glass is sparkling clean and sturdy.

We take our drinks to the patio to wait for a few more people. The atmosphere inside is dark and warm. The lighting is low, set off by a fair number of candles. But the big windows, open to the balmy night, keep it fresh and airy. And the music is great: unobtrusive, yet interesting.

When my friend joins us, she asks for the wine list. Trepidation lurks as the same book that brought such pleasure to the beer and whiskey drinkers is handed to the one who wants wine. Good wine by the glass in a place that serves great beer is usually too much to ask for. She'll probably have to settle for some lower-tier Mondavi plonk.

But this place has another trick up its sleeve: attentive staff trained to know not only the food, but also the wine they are serving, with a manager keeping an eye on the whole operation and stepping in when she's needed. What a concept.

Our server explains a few of the different whites by the glass-a crisp Spanish Albariño, a clean, unoaked French Chardonnay, a lively, dry German Riesling and a richer Chardonnay from Argentina. And that's just the tip of the iceberg on this global, hand-selected and interesting list. Our waiter suggests a flight-in this case, two ounces of each, and also recommends a simple plate of cheeses and bread to accompany it.

The cheeses are excellent, pair as perfectly with my Modus as they do with the wines, and are just what I need to sate my appetite. Luckily, this place serves fresh, delicious food until 11pm, so we can take our time before dinner and enjoy the lovely patio.

What is this place!? I feel like I've found my way into the most incredible Pueblo tavern fantasy I could ever hope to conjure.  Oh, yeah, April Fools.

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