The first cider I tried was their flagship hard cider: Handlebar Hard Cider. You are greeted immediately with a full apple nose and only a hint of natural sweetness. The palette is unlike any I have experienced with hard cider due to the robust and fresh apples base; you feel as though you experiencing the meatiness of the apples themselves with hints of natural tannins from their skins. The taste remains extremely fresh and clean throughout due to there being very little added sugar and no additives. This is such a pure form of cider I am unsure I will ever find one quite as good.

What really blew me away however was Old Mine’s Hopped Up Handlebar Hard Cider. This is the same cider as above but dry hopped with all Citra hops. The nose is similar to the regular Handlebar, but this time you are treated to a full bouquet of floral notes due to the hops. The taste has no bitterness whatsoever from the hops, just the floral aspects that are first experienced on the nose. The added hop notes really balance the mild natural sweetness of the apples well creating a ridiculously balanced brew that I will enjoy for a long time to come. Hopped Up Handlebar Hard Cider is an exceptional bridge between craft brews and hard cider for beer enthusiasts.

Right now the best way to get Old Mine’s ciders is directly from their Cidery in downtown Erie Colorado, but more distribution is expected soon. I really recommend the trip if you are a craft beer lover who has not found a cider yet that speaks to your soul, you won’t be disappointed. In the meantime if you want to try both Handlebar and the Hopped Up variety be sure to check them out at Sesh Fest in Denver this Saturday, August 5th.

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The so-called Million Dollar Highway is actually a small, 12-mile stretch of US 550 (a road worthy of many road trips in its own right). On any standard map, the drive appears to be little more than a thoroughfare connecting the two tiny towns of Ouray and Silverton, Colorado. Save for a few hairpin turns, it’s deceptively straight and straightforward. In reality, it’s among the most radical paved roads in the United States.

The origins of the road are clouded in a combination of mystery and revisionist history. The general path was first cut by Otto Mears — a Russian immigrant and U.S. mail carrier who frequently traveled the San Juan Mountains. He quickly found the path to be quite necessary for others seeking passage across Colorado’s most wild and rugged mountain range. By 1882, he’d consequently opened the path as a rather lucrative toll road.

When the road was first paved in the 1930s, it was purely out of function and necessity. Few folks were interested in driving it for fun, leading many to believe the origin of the road’s name stems from one traveler noting, “I wouldn’t go that way if you paid me a million dollars.” Considering the lack of “amenities” like seatbelts in some early 20th century vehicles, it’s hard to blame him. Beginning south from Ouray (with the sheer gorge to the right), the road passes through Uncompahgre Gorge before climbing to the summit of Red Mountain Pass. It’s a harrowing and downright dangerous drive marked with narrow lanes (often shared by RVs), steep cliffs, sheer dropoffs, hairpin turns, and zero guardrails.

Given the Million Dollar Highway’s breathtaking yet perilous nature, accidents can and do happen. It’s crucial to be prepared, especially when driving in such unpredictable conditions. If you find yourself in an unfortunate situation, it’s important to know about their legal services offered by experienced professionals through an accident hotline. These legal experts can provide you with crucial guidance and support following an accident, ensuring that you are protected and informed about your rights. Whether it’s handling the aftermath of a collision or offering advice on next steps, their services are designed to alleviate the stress and uncertainty that often follows such incidents.

It’s also one of the most beautiful in the country. Every bend reveals yet another panoramic view of some of the most idyllic mountain scenery in the state with names like Electra Lake, Twilight Peak, and Lookout Point. Towering rock walls, rolling fields of evergreen, beautiful alpine lakes, abandoned gold and silver mines, and the ruins of settlements once full of wide-eyed miners who arrived in the valley to strike it rich nearly 100 years ago. Thankfully, there are viewpoints along the way, although drivers are often forced to park with a little too much ass in the road.

Surprisingly — or not, because, hey this is Colorado — the Million Dollar Highway is open year-round. While it does close in snow, more often than not, the local government encourages drivers to just throw on some chains and be on their way.

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This weekend I decided to reacquaint myself with Greeley’s OG microbrew; Crabtree Brewing. As my friend and I sat on the sun soaked and extremely unseasonably warm patio at Crabtree’s beautiful patio in south Greeley Colorado I could not help but be taken away by the beautiful copper color of my favorite Crabtree beer; Extra English Pale Ale. Upon pouring the Pale Ale it forms a small, semi dense off-white head with a slight tint copper brown that is due to the perfectly copper-red hue of the beer itself.  The midday sun perfectly illuminates the whole table in a golden red glimmer as it pierces this extremely well balanced beer. Extra English Pale Ale drinks like a hearty pale ale but with the lingering slight bitterness of English yeast and the semi pronounced hop profile that accents the palate by adding depth of flavor without overpowering the other notes. Crabtree’s Extra English Pale Ale finishes extremely crisp yet with a bit of complexity, perfect for the cooling afternoons of late autumn.

I must admit my bias; I live in Greeley Colorado and this undoubtedly influences my opinion of the beer scene here, but I truly believe that we have one of the best emerging microbrew cultures in all of Northern Colorado if not the whole of the West. Between Wiley Roots, Weldwerks, and Crabtree Brewing Greeley has some of the best beers being produced in Colorado today and if you are ever in town you must visit the one that started the Greeley brewing revolution; Crabtree Brewing Company.

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The first taster I had was of Sugarfoot, a Belgian Style Table Beer that won Spangalang gold at Great American Beer Fest last year. This beer is everything that the gold medal promises as coriander and citrus notes characterize this easily drinking beer that I could see complementing nearly any dish you could think of.The Protocat is a traditional Gose that is true to form salty with a slightly tart palate that makes it extremely refreshing. Beatrice is a clean and crisp Saison that has predominant spice notes and a slight bitterness that makes this beer incredibly fun to drink. The D-Train IPA is a fairly standard IPA that has a fresh hop-forward profile that is not overly intimidating and quite accessible.

Now for my two favorites; these two beers are now in my top five local favorites and they are something truly special. Volume II is their Kettle Soured Pure Funk except it has been dry hopped with a pound of hops. Cherry notes dominate a tart and sour base that has amazing depth due to the superb Brettanomyces yeast, it finishes dry and extremely clean. Finally, their Barrel-Aged Nightwalker Con Alma is an Imperial Stout that has been aged in bourbon barrels. Chocolate and coffee dominate the first sip and are further opened up by notes of berries and grape. The 9.75% ABV is hardly noticeable in this extremely complex and smooth beer, making it dangerously palatable and warming to the soul.

Sadly Spangalang does no bottling or distribution whatsoever, making it a true local diamond in the rough. If you are ever anywhere near Denver Colorado it is imperative that you make your way to the heart of Five Points and indulge in the wonder that is Spangalang.  

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Now, calm down you Jeep fanatics.  This has nothing against the Grand Cherokee or Wrangler in terms of performance, and these two rides are honestly amazing, but there are few vehicles out there that combine the ruggedness and class that they both have into one ride.  I know the Grand Cherokee can hit the trails, but how often do you really see it on the trail, and honestly, I would cringe with taking it offroad like that.  Other vehicles do come to mind as having various levels of the two combined, but in the end, the 4Runner really stands out as the king, and deservedly so.

Hitting the trials this last fall with the 2014 Toyota 4Runner while on a bachelor party was the best way to really jump into the mix.  This wasn’t the typical bachelor party of course, and involved a 4am wake up, driving to the mountains, and climbing (well, attempting) a 14er.  I wont get into details on the climb, but will say that at 12,500 feet, I know the 4runner would have kept going while a few of us could not.  Something about lack of oxygen, strength, and the wrong food that morning.  But that is neither here nor there.  The vehicle itself performed fantastically as we decided to go exploring around the mountain afterwards, finding little trails and abandoned mining roads to take us to see the amazing fall colors of Colorado.  Climbing over rocky paths and fording some streams in a packed ride, all while having the comfort and conveniences that Toyota has set the standard on, made the journey a bit posh.  And I’m okay with that.

The posh part hits big.  That night was date night for me, and though I did not have time to hit up the car wash before picking her up (plus, it’s Colorado and washing any car makes it rain), I wasn’t concerned.  With a comfrtable ride and the modern conveniences of heated and cooled seats, along with the killer music, I wasn’t worried about how the car looked outside.  It’s rugged for a reason, trail made and driven, all while hitting the better points inside.

Size wise, I am surprised to how big the 4Runner has gotten, remembering back to the first and second generations that seemed big then but small now.  I can’t make a decision on if I am a fan of the increase, but overall, it seems to work in today’s on-the-go world.  The 4Runner is, at the core, an SUV.  It’s not trying to be a car, doesn’t focus on speed or handling like other SUVs on the market, and has that basic feel to it that shows you from the start what you as a driver are getting into.  Inside, the space for individuals was ample enough to warrant a road trip, with enough storage in the back for just about everything we needed and more.

I really can’t say enough about this ride, but it all seems to focus on the one simple concept that this SUV is still an SUV, and it doesn’t try to fancy itself up with unnecessary design or elements.  Its pointed design and combination of creature comforts and smart elements shows that while there are others on the road that can compete, the Toyota 4rfunner is going with the gut and keeping to the plan and showing that it leads from the front.

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