Friday 24th of September 2010 04:28:21 PM

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HIgh up in the Rocky Mountains, 9500 feet to be exact, sits Pug Ryan's. On a trip to deposit #2 son in Medical School, we stopped here because -- well, with a name like that, how can you not stop?

It had already been a long day in the saddle and we (wife, me & #2 son) were all ready for lunch and a brew.

The brewpub is a bit hard to find -- it's located in a mini-mall of sorts off the beaten path. If we would have just followed the hundreds of tourists roaming the yard, we certainly could have found it easier.

The atmosphere is Rocky Mountain log cabin with lots of wood paneling and animal heads on the wall. The view, as you might expect, spectacular although the outside is a patio rather than a beer garden and overlooks a parking lot. Beyond that, the mountains - the low clouds - the soft summer rain - the green inhales and fills you up.

Those are the good points.

Unfortunately, the bad points include the beer and the abominable service. A 5-beer sampler included a Cream Ale and Heilsbock but no wheat, no Scottish Ale and therefore not much variety. Pale Ale, Cream, Dark Lager, IPA & Pilsner. Can you say, "same beer, different color"?

Then there was the service. We all ordered simple sandwiches although their menu was wide and varied. But a sandwich? Shouldn't take long, even as crowded as Pug's was on this Sunday afternoon. Apparently though, our sandwich meat had to be slaughtered and cured; our vegetables planted and harvested; our condiments made from scratch because after placing the order it took almost an hour to reach the table. We found out later that there was only 1 cook on duty.

Now I understand the economy is in the toilet, that businesses have to cut back on expenses and the first place that always gets brokered is staff. Labor is expensive, I get it. What I don't get, and never will, is; doesn't management ever consider their customer service factor? How does that old saying go? Please 1 person, he will tell 1 person; dis-please 1 person, he's going to tell 10 people.

So this is my little missive to my 10 people: I would like to recommend that you visit Pug Ryan's because it has great beer and WONderful customer service...

But I can't.

Stop if you must but I wouldn't stay. You're in Colorado for God's sake! There are way too many brewpubs that will treat you better a little further down the road.

Thursday 20th of November 2008 10:16:42 PM

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Kind of an off the beaten path place in a resort area. We always visit in the non ski season and crowd seems to be regular locals. Bar staff is great at not letting you get lost in the shuffle of regulars.

Good beers and pretty good eats. Anything from burgers to prime rib.

They can their wheat beer which is very cool. We always pick up a case or two for river trips.

Pale ale is my fav and wheat is also good.