AURORA – Congratulations go to Aurora’s Dry Dock brewers who won a gold medal for their marvelous Apricot Blonde at the recent Great American Beer Festival as well as a bronze for S.S. Minnow Mild Ale. Hopheads should add these gold-medal winning brews from our hoppy state to your beer bucket list: West Bound Braggot (Twisted Pine, Boulder), Got Beer (BJ’s, Boulder), Bambastic (Fort Collins Brewery), 6X Helles (CB & Potts, Fort Collins), Move Back (Sandlot, Denver), Knight Ryder Munich Dunkel (Equinox, Fort Collins) and Butt Head Bock (Tommyknocker, Idaho Springs). Funkwerks in Fort Collins was named Small Brewing Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year. More winners at greatamericanbeerfestival.com.
I’ve been a fan of brewers who push the flavor envelope ever since an early Great American Beer Festival when I first encountered a smoked beer from Alaska. However, there are two locals that recently jumped the shark. First and foremost would be the folks at Denver’s venerable Wynkoop Brewing Company who produced a bull testicle-flavored ale. From what I’ve heard, it does not taste like chicken.
Meanwhile, it’s lovely that the Pagosa Brewing Company has released Ancestral Ale in honor of the designation of the Chimney Rock Archaeological Area as a national monument. Nonetheless, the ale’s Pueblo-inspired ingredients – Indians squash, Anasazi beans, corn and prickly pear cactus – are meant for a soup or casserole, not a beer.
FOOD NEWS UPDATE
As the holidays approach, locavores may wonder where to get that special Colorado yak roast for the big family gathering. Luckily, Green Eggs and Yak in Castle Rock has everything you need … and then some. The company offers ground yak, jalapeno summer yak sausage, yak sticks, yak bratwurst and wild rice and asiago yak sausage. Check out greeneggsandyak.com. Note: Yak tastes sort of beefy with a subtle hint of game. … According to fastcasual.com, Chipotle Mexican Grill ranked first on a Market Force survey of consumers’ favorite fast-casual Mexican chains, followed by Baja Fresh and Moe’s Southwest Grill. Colorado’s Smashburger ranked fifth in Market Force’s burger chain survey which was topped by Five Guys. … Local Good Times Restaurants have added a limited time menu featuring Hatch New Mexico green chiles. … Great news for us pie lovers: The Humble Pie Store has opened at 300 Elati St. in Denver offering sweet and savory classics including chocolate chess, blackberry apple, and beef shortrib pies as well as rhubarb ginger galettes and quiche.
READER MAIL
A reader noticed that a step involving bacon was left out in our recent recipe for The Broadmoor’s Roasted Potato, Beer and Cheese Soup. Our apologies for that. Basically, in the recipe after you heat the olive oil in a heavy bottom pot, add the bacon and sauté for a few minutes. See the complete recipe at: aurorasentinel.com/guide/colorado-table/the-broadmoors-potato-cheese-beer-soup-a-comforter-for-your-taste-buds
TALK TO MR. NIBBLES
Do you have a pressing cooking or dining question? Call me Oct. 18 when my weekly Radio Nibbles radio show expands during KGNU’s fall pledge drive. (Yes, you’ll hear me beg for donations and offer premiums such as restaurant gift cards.) Radio Nibbles airs live this week 8:35 to 9 a.m. Thursday on KGNU (88.5 FM, 1390 AM, and kgnu.org). Call 303-449-4885.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
“Both candidates have diligently availed themselves of greasy diners, hamburger joints and bakeries, each stop a set in the meticulously scripted theater of a modern presidential campaign. … Food can help candidates emphasize talking points, appeal to specific groups of voters or simply appear human.” – Alice Hines, Huffington Post
Read more Colorado Table stories and recipes at aurorasentinel.com/colorado-table. Send comments to: jlehndorff@aurorasentinel.com. Be sure to visit the Nibbles Facebook page.