Rio Grande & Sierra Blanca Brewing Company

I know that the Rio Grande & Sierra Blanca Brewing Company is not a Colorado brewery, but we love and appreciate our neighbors, right? My mommy and I have a tradition of getting away for a mother daughter weekend to Taos, NM once a year. Before our last trip I had been talking to someone about my love of micro-brew beers and was told that if I ever get to New Mexico that I need to try Alien Amber Ale, that it was similar to Fat Tire, and if you read my post 'Beer, It's a Love Story', then you already know that Fat Tire was my first (beer) love!

So, one night when we found a cute little place for dinner, with patio dining - I'm a sucker for patio dining - and I saw Alien Amber Ale on the drink menu, well obviously I had to try it!

I will say that I was pretty impressed with this brew and it was definitely similar to Fat Tire. It was a little bitterer (is that a word?) that my beloved Fat Tire, but is definitely something I would drink again and I regret not picking up a 6 pack or two before leaving New Mexico... oh well, maybe next trip. But if you ever find yourself in New Mexico looking for a tasty cerveza to try I suggest some Alien Amber Ale!

San Luis Valley Brewing Company

My trip to San Luis Valley Brewing Company was an impromptu stop when I was passing through Alamosa on a trip to Taos, NM.

Me being the kind of girl who is always looking for a new cerveza and a new microbrewery/brew pub to try, I of course decided that this would be a great place to stop for lunch and a couple of drinks (and no, I wasn't driving).

So, after trying a few tasters, I settled on the Valle Especial, which is described as a 'Mexican-style Lager', which is somewhat like Corona (but better). And for anyone who doesn't know this about me, there is really not much that I enjoy more than an ice cold Corona with a fresh lime wedge on a hot summer day. So, finding a Colorado brew (since I always prefer to support local businesses) I like even more than my old summer standby, that is always a plus!

So, overall I suggest that if you find yourself passing through Alamosa that you stop here for a drink or two.

Meanwhile, In Small Town Colorado

I know that I have been behind on my posting, but as I mentioned on my Facebook Page, it's a New Year and I once again have a functioning computer at home, so I'm trying to get back to a regular posting schedule. And as the New Year starts I am going to try to expand this page a little bit. So, in the name of expanding I thought I would do a little booze related 'how to'.

Last weekend I found a dresser listed on Facebook (for FREE), on the High Rockies Yard Sale page (it's kinda like craigslist). It needed a little - or a lot of - help, but it had potential! A soon as I saw it the wannabe DYI Rockstar in me decided that it would make an awesome bar, and solve some of my kitchen storage issues.

Like I said, it needed a little TLC, but had potential! So after a long, very very long, night of painting and replacing hardware I ended up with what I like to think is a pretty awesome bar!

So, I used a little left over paint, obviously some of which was from my kitchen wall, and turned one (wo)man's trash into another (wo)man's treasure! And since this page has historically been mostly about booze, I will point out that no bar is complete without being stocked with booze, including some great Colorado wines from two of my favorite wineries Vino Salida and Canyon Wind Cellars!