16 Breweries, 3 Days

Not sure if I'm crazy, half crazy or just a little crazy but I'm doing it. Friday morning, I leave Cohen in the care of grandparents who adore him and off we go. Zac and have always believed that alone time is crucial for our family. A nourished marriage is a joyful family. We decided that for the next year or so we would travel all of Colorado. Enjoying the state we live! Next stop? Durango, Colorado!

So our itinerary is as follows:

We are going the LONG way on the way there. I have this "thing" about beauty and surrounding myself with it all the time if I can. I love the way the mountains smell this time of year. I'm probably the only one that can smell it... but I do. The crisp air and sweatshirts are calling my time! Hands blowing out the windows...

Beer tour. Zac and I love beer. We love everything about beer. What I love the most about beer is the aroma. The way it hits my mouth. I swoosh it side to side and gulp it down. It's like a big piece of pie. Zac and I have tried every microbrew we can think of... (or afford, let's get serious)

Never brings Coors... Keystone or whatever into our house. We don't like drinking pee.

While we head on 24 we stop in Gunnison for the first leg of our brew tour.

Gunnison Brewery is our first stop.

Quaint and cowboy like it will be our first stop. At this point, I'll probably be over eager and order something ridiculous and wish I didn't. Then, we'll be on our way.

By the time we hit Montrose it will be lunch time. If you know anything about Zac and I, we are food fiends. The thought of pub food elates me. Something about the "I want to be good food but I'm really pubby greasy food" entices me. Smugglers is the name.

After Smugglers, we'll make our way a few blocks away to Horse Fly Brewing Company. 

I freaking hate horse flies. Brews, eh, I can do.

Leaving Montrose, I will drive the car most likely. Don't get the wrong idea... we are just splitting a sampler at each Brewery. We are responsible.

Hope back in the car and I'm sure at this time I am slightly bloated... does beer do that for anyone else??

We then make a quick pit stop in Ridgeway to check out Colorado Boy Pub and Brewery. This building reminds me of good Mexican food. Not sure why. I must be hungry right now.

I hear their IPA is amazing. So excited. I love as many hops as you can put into a bottle. Delish. We hope to be sitting outside on the table to the far left... perhaps take a quick bike ride around since we'll be so carbohydrated up. A pork chop in every bottle... right?

Ok, ok. Then we're off to Ouray. One of Zac's most favorite places. I have never been but I hear it is fantastic. At this point I'll probably be starving, again. But telling myself I have to save the calories. Do they make fat free, calorie free beef jerky? No?

Ouray Brewery. 

Majestic. Delicious. I am loving the font on the side. Fantastic.

Then, still in Ouray we will bike a few blocks to the Ourayle House.

MMMM. This place looks fun. It's tiny. Super intimate. I'm sure Zac and I will hang out here awhile. People watching in a corner. It's what we do best.

Then our last stop before Durango is in Silverton! Silverton Brewery is the name. 

Looks fun. I'll probably try to get out of this one as quick as possible. I'll be tired and my legs will be crampy but Zac will cheer me up. We'll force our way into Silverton (perhaps get lost) and I'm sure (of course) I'll have the greatest beer ever. I'll laugh and tell Zac he was right for making me go.

Are we in Durango yet?

Friday night. We will get into Durango. Staying in a cheap motel like a couple of teenagers. Go on a bike ride and laugh too hard. I've been told I don't have fun enough. That of course, is for a different more serious blog post. I will, however, drink too much, laugh too hard and explore the unknown with my best friend. Unapologetically so.

Saturday night we are going to a big Ska Brewing festival celebrating their 16th anniversary as a brewery. There will be over 15 other different breweries from around Colorado for us to try.... Some good music and a beautiful big sky. My happiness. 

While in Durano we'll be hitting up a few more breweries. Durango Brewing Company, Carver Brewing Company and Steamworks Brewing Company. 

Did I mention there was a whole ride home? Going a different direction??

Next blog...

Crappy Blogger

I always hate starting out a blog with "I've been a crappy blogger..."

But the truth is, I have. I have been without a computer for nearly a month and frankly, I haven't been in the mood to write. That's the funny thing about writing, I find myself "waiting" for that perfect evening. You know, when the moon sits just right in the sky and all those feelings of angst and anxiety come surfacing to the pores and god knows,

It HAS to come out.

So here I am, on my brand new mac, staring blankly at my screen hoping for some sort of epiphany. A homage to something, someone... someplace.

So instead of searching deep into the depths of who I am (I guess the wine isn't working?), I find it best to simply state the things I am grateful for.

I am grateful for travel. For the incredible ability to go. To move. To enjoy.

We are headed to Durango.

There it is. In all its glory. Zac and I believe that time together away from Cohen is crucial for our marriage. Especially as we have had no time alone together. We were married as a family which means time just the two of us is precious.... and desperately needed. We are taking our bikes. Traveling to 15 different breweries... making an adventure out of it.

Get ready, from Friday-Sunday you will be hearing a lot from me as we comment on all our different brew spots. I am super excited. We are headed to brew fest at Ska Brewery.

If Zac and I do anything well together it is eat and drink. We could sit and laugh hysterically for hours drinking a good brew and laughing. People watching, silly observations and dirty inside jokes. It's what I love about us. It's what I have always loved. We are staying in a little motel on Main. Like, who knows who has stayed there and the last time our comforter was cleaned... but it's us.

Full of drunk tourists but hey, sounds good to us. We brought our bikes to cruise around town. Be eclectic out-of-towners.

I'm loving all these moments.

So look for a video journal of our adventures... there is always some sort of drama on our trips. Um hi, anyone remember Mt. Princeton and the hospital??! Hopefully, my hydration is normal this trip. :)