Tuesday 16th of February 2010 12:15:10 PM

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If you ever find yourself in Ouray....iceclimbing, backcountry skiing....and want to know where "the locals" hang out? This IS the place, the definition of mountain funky/chic! A one man/two dog operation with 6 beers on tap (plus an occasional secret tap for those in the know!) that change weekly, depending on how fast the kegs are emptied- usually pretty darn fast, especially when there's stout. The beers are brewed in the back garage, kept nice and chilly by Mother Nature. The tasting room is "manly"..no need to dress up, full of fun and games, funny sayings, sports equipment, no TV, no telephone, wifi via the house of the guy next door (thanks Steve!), almost always a lively dart game, a warm woodstove with rocking chairs. Smoking is encouraged(on the patio). A surpising clientelle of "hot chicks" tend to hang out there, might be why most of the beers are named after girls?
The proprieter..."Hutch" has a swing on a slider that services the bar and there is a "beer emergency bell" that hangs right over your head in case no one is paying attention to you. There are "usually" two darks (last week - The "better not pout Stout" and "3 nurses" Nut brown ale...a "munich" was on tap #1 with a whopping alcohol content) two reds (or a Bok) and something lighter, an ale or a blonde (the "Mountain Kat" is the local's favorite...made with local hops- when available). You have to check the chaulkboard...they change alot, don't expect the same beer you had last time - each batch is unique, but are consistently uber-yummy.
Most nights people "eat in"...2 BBQ's on the porch, pots and pans to heat stuff up on the cranking woodstove and a binder of "take out" menus...encourage people to "bring their own" and you often find yourself sharing with famous yet unpretentious mountain guides and climbers. Be forewarned...don't show up and ask for water (you'll get a Dora the explora sippy cup) or tell Hutch how to make beer or you'll be "beer Madonna'd". Tasting room opens after 4:30....TOTALLY worth the drive as a destination if you don't happen to be "passing thru" Ouray (and you can spend the day at several amazing and inexpensive hotsprings while you wait for the tasting room to open). You won't find this beer ANYWHERE else -bring your growler (or get one there), your friends will be mad and you'll kick yourself later if you don't.

Monday 31st of August 2009 01:53:24 PM

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This is a tiny bar that serves the beer brewed in the back. Ramshackle chic. I wanted to get a growler to go but he was out. Too bad, the smell of hops and malt in there was driving me mad.

There was a sign on the door prohibiting children which was funny ("we don't show up at your kid's school to drink") but a little mean-spirited for a town that is mainly visited (in summer, at least) by weekending families. Would love to go back someday to sample, but since I have a kid, i guess I can't.