Brewery touring in Boulder isn’t just enjoyable, it’s eclectic. Boulder is home to many different walks of life, and for each, there is a beer. Don’t believe me? Give it a shot. See how many pints you can put down before you find your own special swill. And after you try everything in Boulder, head north. Upslope’s a-calling.
Founded in 2008, the Upslope Brewing Company sports the motto, “Après everything.” Or simply put, “After everything else.” A French motto that proudly proclaims that after you’re done working/hiking/skiing, have a drink. That kind of advice is hard to turn down. Especially when it involves a fresh pint of snowmelt, malt, hops and yeast.
Located between the roar of U.S. 36 and the brightly painted condominiums of NoBo, Upslope’s Lee Hill Road location is on the smaller side, but packs plenty of options. The tasting room features the usual décor of polished concrete, stainless steel tables and large interior windows for a panorama view of the brewing side of business. But that business is not our business. Our business is drinking the stuff and Upslope offers fifteen different options on tap, all of which are displayed on chalkboards with the usual tasting notes.
Fifteen options is a lot to cull through, so Upslope breaks things down into two tasting flights — the year-round standards for $10, or a pick-your-own six-pack for $15. Familiar with their Pale Ale, IPA and the like, I forged my own road and was pleased to discover a German Pilsner (4.4% ABV) with the right balance of earthy sweetness. Pilsners are easy drinking beers that work wonderfully with hot summer weather, as does the Apricot Pale Ale (5.8%) with its hints of rosemary on the nose and crisp, fresh, clean taste in the mouth. My bartender agreed that the Apricot is one of their best, and suggested the Citra Pale Ale (6.7%), which matches the Apricot blow for blow, save for an extra dose of tropical fruit and toasted grain.
While quaffing away, a group of thirtysomethings garbed in khaki and hiking boots fresh from the Flatirons — or the office, it’s hard to tell in Boulder — gathered around a high-top and civilly discussed the upcoming election over pints. In the unlikely event that they ran out of things to talk about, they could have grabbed one of the many board games off the shelf and indulged in some good old fashioned hipster nostalgia. Anyone for a round of Sorry?
The beer is cold and the board games are plentiful, but no trip to Upslope is complete without a visit to their second taproom and production brewery in Flatiron Park. The tasting room is a bit bigger, and sports a large patio and some comfy IKEA loungers. But the real gem is the Ozo Coffee Company located next door that has inspired Upslope to produce their best beer yet, the Ozo Coffee Brown Ale (6.7%). Dark and rich with plenty of flavor, the brown ale packs a lot of coffee on the nose with nary a hint of a burnt bitter bean. Just the sort of thing for a quiet sit on the porch, a hand-wringing argument over political candidates or a board game. Sorry, anyone?
