Ever since we decided to visit Colorado, I had been intrigued with a pub I found on
Beermapping called
Cheshire Cat. I hadn't been able to find a website for them but I was drawn to it. This might have been our favorite pub of all!
We tried a sampler which contained Golden City Red (a decent red), Fat Cat Strong Ale (yum!), Black and Blue (the porter with currants - interesting), and the Tabby Porter (delicious!).
Tony ordered a pint of the Fat Cat Strong Ale and I had the Tabby Porter.
Lunch was also unforgettable. Tony ate a reuben frankfurter which actually was a hot dog with 1000 island dressing, sauerkraut and swiss cheese on it. He got a side of "mushy peas" and crisps (kettle chips.) I ate a White Rabbit made with chicken instead of a "slider." A chicken breast with bacon, blue cheese and grilled onions. I also had the crisps but I opted for baked beans instead of mushy peas.
The bar itself was charming and inviting. There were quite a few regulars at the bar so we grabbed the cozy corner booth.
The Cheshire Cat is an old house and the dining rooms are gorgeous. Check out their web site for more information on the history of the building.
As Tamara brought us beer and food, Tony explained our beer blog to her and told her why I was walking all over the place taking lots of pictures. She grabbed a couple of business cards and asked me to jot down our blog URL on one and she left me the other. The next thing we knew, Charlie - the brewer (and her dad!) came to our table. We talked beer for quite a while and he gave us advice for places to visit as we continued our travel later that day to Boulder. Then he told us to "bring our glasses" and follow him to the basement for a tour of the brewing facility. We saw the set up and tasted three different beers (the Pilsner, the Black Lager and the Arrogant Brit ESB).
Charlie rolled out the red carpet for us and treated us like VIPs! Even without the extra special treatment, this place is a keeper. I can't wait to visit again. Tony and I would feel right at home sitting in our corner booth sipping more Cheshire Cat beers.
Once in Boulder we found our way to
Mountain Sun. Once I got used the funky smell in the place (I wrote "smelled like sweaty college kids and unbathed hippies") the chips, salsa and beers were outstanding.
Tony tried the F.Y.I.P.A. and I had the Illusion Dweller IPA. Both were extremely good. The F.Y.I.P.A. was as close to Flossmoor as we've been able to find. Tony quipped that "This beer is wonderful. I could drink this all night." He was right. The beers were great. Maybe they were stronger than other beers we had - or perhaps it was all the tasting we did at Cheshire Cat (or the scent of the room) but I didn't want to stay "all night." We walked down Pearl street to BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse. We tried four different beers (Piranha Pale Ale, BJ's Jerimiah Red, BJ's P.M. Porter and Tatonka Stout. Tony thought they beers were fine ("they were decent") but I didn't care for them. They probably weren't as bad as I thought they were. I had tasted an awful lot of really great beers that day and these just didn't match up.
Last but certainly not least for the day we visited Bull and Bush on the south side of Denver. Our waiter, Patrick (pictured here with Jen) was great and once he found out what kind of beer we liked even suggested we try a beer that wasn't on the regular menu. I liked the Tower ESB and Tony enjoyed the Man's Beer - Colorado IPA. The special "Justice IPA" was also good (much like a Three Floyds Dreadnaught) and Tony loved it. Tony tried the Cobb salad with tuna and I had a Kobe burger with avocado and blue cheese. Both entrees were delicious. The beer and food were great.
