Category: Craft Beer Folk Is Good Folk

Horse & Dragon Half Marathon & Pint Run (6/12/16)

6/16/2016

As you might guess if you've ever walked 1/8th of the way to Horsetooth Rock with us, TimCo & I don't run. To those of you who did -- of all ages -- in costume and not -- for 13.1 miles or for 1.6 last Sunday -- thanks for including us in your running culture for the morning. It was awesome and impressive.

8 million thanks to Betsy Fisher & Steve Cathcart for planning and executing the whole thing, to Book Trust for being a generally awesome and A-1 charity partner, to Patrick Bols & Jimmie Hinkle for letting me use some of your photos, and to the companies who sponsored it (see below) so that Book Trust kids can choose & own books next school year. And a shout-out to the FoCo Police Department for making it all work despite Ma Nature's best efforts during runoff season. (Possibly the first tag-in/tag-out 1/2 marathon in the US? Hang on. There's real terminology for this; let me look at Betsy's email. "Transition crossing" with "timing out" and "timing in".)

A few fun stats: 346 total participants signed up representing 4 countries (woohoo howdy, you folks from Colombia!) and 16 states. There were 221 finishers in the Half Marathon and 84 finishers in the Pint Run.

Here are some moments captured by Jimmie and Patrick. (And a couple by me. Yes, I took a picture of a purse.) There are more posted on the event page. With my amazing web skills, I cannot make the captions stay where they should be so please try to sort it out if you're reading them!

Cheers and congrats to all of you healthy and happy folk. Thanks for registering, running, and relaxing afterward, and for contributing to Book Trust. If you'd like to attend a Book Trust book delivery one day next school year in FoCo or Denver, give us a holler via email at info@hdbrew.com.

Did not know that if only I could run, I could cross this type of finish line.

Many thanks to Kristine McAuliff & Linda Mitchell of Book Trust, who came up from DEN to participate (Here's Kristine pacing behind the awesome Scholastic Books books table before all you runners got here.)

Some of the wonderful NoCO Book Trust board members -- Joanna, Michele, & MaryPat -- serving up #freshtastycraftbeer. Next year, a photo of Holly, who was carding y'all, too!

So here's the start of the 1/2. We missed this. Love our landscape, and all you runners.

Lean left!

HUGE SHOUTOUT TO CASA DEL MATADOR in the Foothills Mall. If you've not been there, go there. Great food. And they donated all your burritos, without any questions, to support Book Trust.

When I saw you could check a box to get a medal (mind you, as previously stated, I wasn't registering to RUN), I wondered which on earth adult would want such a thing. And then I saw these. Hello! Amy Hayman (local artist/potter) is amazeballs, clearly. And I need a link to her webpage, but I cannot find it.

Sustenance!

Some people seriously RAN the pint run. I mean. Timothy Cruz finished in 10:21, and Jennifer Lee finished in 11:43 PUSHING A STROLLER. [These, BTW, are course records. Heh heh heh.] Some guy (Paul Stein) finished the half in 1:19:46, and some gal (Susan Cundiff) finished it in 1:37:31. The mind spins.

Strolling is also good. Especially if you can pull off these guys' style while doing so.

These people. You would think they are plants by us. But they are just good people, supporting folks. Thanks to them for taking us along on the run!

Linda (left, of Book Trust) and Sister Amy (green tutu) workin' the Pint Run.

Some spectators dressed up, too. Would love to have posted the very overwhelmingly cute photos of 3 towheads & Dad cheering on Mom (complete with poster) but I figure not all parents want their offsprings' faces posted online....

Race organizer....

Ken wore a silk jacket (with dragon design) and ran fast enough to make it billow out like dragon's wings. Extra credit.

MIRAMONT!
Provided transport from here to there and everywhere. If you work out (and I know you do, because we saw y'all buffed out and whatnot), check out their climbing wall up here by H&D. As well as all their other facilities, o'course.

Karen & Sharon
& Claire & Abby & Chad.

Vicky Boyd (of our across-the-street-neighbor Jo Boyd Offspring fame) showing how it's done when you travel from sea level at the last minute.

MoTD, with her 2 granddaughters (sorta').

Not to out Heather as fashion-forward, but her fancy bag matches her running shoes.

I'm fairly certain this guy on the left won the half. Or at least, transformed himself from my size to his in the last 18 months and ran like crazy. Plus, has good friends.

Gotta' love a pink dragon!

Clearly, won a costume award...

...this one, too. Think this is the one pushed by the Pint Run winner, Jennifer Lee?

Dragon? He's got the right attitude!

Dragon & Horse -- ran 13.1 miles and looked glam the entire way.

My fav. Two fabulous women!
(There's an even better pic on the FB events page, but I didn't get permission to use it here...)

Hoping these guys sleep for a week now. Thanks, Betsy & Steve!

Last but not least, big gracias(es) to the folks who sponsored the run and made it possible for us to donate to Book Trust!
Ed Carroll Motor Company
Altitude Running
One Seven Advisors
Miramont Lifestyle Fitness
PFS Insurance Group
Scott Barber
Spruce Moose Foundation
Casa del Matador Mexican Restaurant
Heart and Hand Chiropractic

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Big Beers, Belgians, & Barleywines. And alsotoo, big mountains.

1/11/2015

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We snuck away to Vail’s Big Beers, Belgians, & Barleywines festival this weekend. It was a good time with a load of good beers. (And also, editorial aside here, some more reminders that we are spoiled in FoCo with freshtastycraft beer on at most bars and restaurants – not so in Vail. However, a couple of places we stumbled upon are making an effort. I’m not sure if that was just for this festival weekend, or if it’s a trend that’ll treat us all to a variety of great beers on there in the coming year or two, but I hope the latter!) We attended a couple of seminars, learned a few things, met a bunch of folks, and tried what were, for me, a lot of new malted beverages. If you’re a true beer geek and want to know more than my “I liked this one, that one isn’t my favorite, I’m trying to teach myself about XYZ style” sort of rating system would tell you, I encourage you to read the entries of one of the many beer bloggers and “real” writers who attended, like this guy:

The upshot is that this festival is a great way to sample small amounts of fantastic beers. Breweries really did bring things you don’t normally see at a big ol’ beer festival. I sampled some stuff I loved from breweries in Belgium, California, Massachusetts, and (of course) Colorado. I also missed a wad of them. There are just too many offerings and interesting people with whom to chatear.

If you're able to go a day early and stay a night or two, there are both spontaneous and planned gatherings that are delicious, fun, and maybe even slightly raucous. Of course, since I'm a deficient beer blogger, I didn’t take photos of the beer. Too busy sampling it, I guess. I did get a couple of photos of other aspects of the festival that struck me.

People. Always fascinating. And looky! One of them whom we didn't know before this day was even wearing an H&D shirt. Woot! Also massive bowls of bread available for between sips, and icy portapotties with a snowy backdrop. Advice (that was Tweeted, so if you follow us on Twitter sorry for the repeat): if you’re gonna’ need to go, go early. These babies were going to ice over by 5 pm and the only thing I can think of that’s worse than a portapotty steaming in summer is one with an ice skating rink for a floor in the winter. As well, it’s good to know that even in Vail, people sometimes use an outhouse.

Aside from the people and the beer, here’s a little look at Vail in January.

Many thoughts on the way up there about the engineering feat that is I-70 and its tunnels.

[Despite these signs, we saw neither.]

The mountains are spectacular, even when you can't see the high ranges.

In the event that the mountain scenery needed some augmenting, someone in Vail was on it for the holiday season:

Vail copes (as does, one hopes, any ski town) with a lot of snow. The shoveling and plowing has got to be constant.

These guys were shoveling off the roofs before the next anticipated snowfall. One guy was using (I think I'm not kidding here), a drill -- to drill through the ice but, presumably, not the roof. Dicey.

There are enormous plow-residue mountains of snow everywhere. I realize this is not an astute observation.

Despite all this shoveling and plowing, icy streets and walkways are omnipresent, even at the resorts. It’s kind of encouraging that there’s a place left in the US where they expect common sense, rather than your legal team, to prevail. “Hey, it’s 10 degrees out and you’re at a resort built here because of the snow. Watch your step. If you slip, we’ll maybe help you up and we'll try not to call you a knob.”

Despite this indication that perhaps in the U.S. mountains, at least, we're still supposed to take personal responsibility for our actions and accidents, there was this sign on the (free) bus. I blanked out the firm's name because I can't stand this message. People! You are deciding of your own free will to go 10,000 feet above sea level, strap one or two planks to your feet, and point yourself downhill. You are going to do this with hundreds of other people who may or may not have any experience. Gravity, in one way or another, will prevail. You are able to assess the risks and decide if you want to assume them...

Here was a guy making Tim jealous:

And there’s plenty of evidence of hearty winter sportspeople – check out these ski tracks coming down the slope, with nary a ski lift in sight.

Our sweet condo was flying a Colorado flag. That’s how we knew we were home. (It also had some amazing pines out front.)

We finished the weekend with a birthday dinner for Luke at Atwater on Gore Creek restaurant – one of the few places we found that pays homage to craft beer and great food.

These two FoCo-ites joined us and pitched in on singing to Luke. Thanks Matthew & Cy!

I loved this restaurant's beer menu. Particularly this section -- what it's all about. Though I realize now that we didn't share a large format craft in a bottle. Shame. We'll have to go back. Alas.

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Thanksgiving Thankful Notes

11/27/2014

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Happiest of Thanksgivings! We hope it involves a lot of relaxing, family, friends, and (of course) #freshtastycraftbeer. As per the notes they left in the cornucopia basket on the bar this month, here are some of the things for which people in the Horse & Dragon taproom are thankful.   [I must admit that we censored 2 of them, but I hope all of the rest of them are in here. Please forgive any misspelled names, etc. We started out keeping them in order by day, but in the end, we gave up and here they all are in a mishmash.]

Today I’m thankful for Colorado weather – sunny, cold, clear & gorgeous.

I am thankful for good beer and good friends!

I am thankful for new smiling faces.

I am thankful that I have not lost my iPhone. – Ryan Y. Fort Collins

Horse & Dragon! (This one was carefully folded into a tiny paper airplane.)

Friends & family & fur babies.

I am thankful for Denver Broncos’ and Clemson Tigers’ victories this weekend. -- Nate

I am thankful for the opportunity to see my family on a frequent basis this year. It had been many years since I have enjoyed this privilege & I am very thankful this year.

I am thankful for long, pointless stories. It makes me appreciate my nearly vapid life. {Ouch!}

People I work with and the support they give. – Tyler K.

I am grateful for the amazing women I have met through craft beer! I love my Bettys!

I am thankful for: living in a city where beer is a food group.

I’m thankful for pretzels and my new kitty.

I am thankful for the delightful service provided by Abby!

I’m thankful for the Gnar.

I am thankful for great beer, friends, & family! But especially great beer.

I’m thankful that my parents (mom & stepdad) got married 30 years ago today! I wouldn’t be who I am without it.

I’m thankful for Chad. He helped me choose the best beer. Perambulation!!

I am thankful 4 my papa and Gabby.

Gabby
1.     Thankful for my fam.

Jade
1.     Love

I am thankful for: my family. Nick, Scott, Amber, Lauren, Jade, Jeremy, Stacey, Azaria, & Tyler.   *Happy birthday, Nick

Thanksgiving break, family, friends, & projects.

I’m thankful for friends, craft beer, and puppy breath.

Fort Collins’s fresh air – lots of outside amazingness.

I’m thankful for the best year ever! Got engaged, married, went to Utila Honduras, & drank a LOT of SAD PANDA!!

SAD PANDA.
    and…
other beers.
But mostly Sad Panda.

I’m thankful for beautiful best friends who come to surprise their bestie for their 30th birthday! Mallory

I’m thankful for being able to visit Ft. Collins again to see my Mallory and that she took me to your amazing brewery. Thank you for the great beer, great tour, and I wish you the best of luck in brewing! -- Ashley (from South Dakota)

I appreciate you accepting us forcing our party bus to come to your place.

The 2015 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS – the COLORADO ROCKIES!

Tim & Carol’s life counseling sessions.

Amelia, age 8

I am thankful for the pilgrims! Without the pilgrims we wouldn’t be here, or might not have Horse & Dragon!

Hazel, age 6

I’m thankful for food because it is yumy.

iPhones & birth control. Just being honest.

I’m thankful for my dog for making me smile every day!

I’m thankful for good friends and good beer!

My lovely wife Lori and my mostly decent children, Cassidy & Dylan.

Thankful for knowing all of you and becoming friends/family – love you guys!

I’m thankful for H&D! Really.

1.     Family and new ownership of the house we have lived in for 9 years.
2.     Craft beer!
--Micah

I am thankful for fungus.

Thankful for Becca’s laughter – a genuine joy.

I am thankful for the strong women in my life! -- Walker Girl

I am thankful for 30 days w/out beer. I am also thankful for the Vanilla Double Cream!!!!

I am thankful for the friends we have and the air we breathe and laughter.

I am thankful for the science in my mouth! -- Becca

I am thankful for amazing friends in this wonderful community.
--Jessica

My parents.

I’m thankful for Sad Panda! I’d be even more thankful for the recipe!! -- Dennis

I’m beyond thankful to be adopted 27 years ago. I’m now here in the USA drinking wonderful beer! -- Tianna H.

I’m thankful for friends and family.

I’m thankful for my “friend” Andrew even though I only hang out with him for community service! -- Evan

Healthy family & friends.

I’m thankful for Horse & Dragon & the Cochrans.

I am thankful for my son Payton Angelo Gonzales. – Maria

Mindfulness.

I’m thankful for the sunshine & the beauty of Colorado! Yay Fort Collins!

I’m thankful for my super awesome roommate, Alyssa! And also food, especially rice.

I’m thankful for my family.

I’m thankful for all of the wonderful things I’ve experienced this year.

I’m thankful for breweries like this one!

I’m thankful for my friend Avery & how encouraging & great she is.

I’m thankful for Tim & Carol! You two are amazing! Thank you for creating my favorite place in the world! -- Mars Chocolate

I’m thankful for beer. – Andy

I am thankful for Sad Panda – on nitro?? Maybe?? Wonderful people & a great place to spend time with my beautiful girl! Thank you Tim & Carol. – Scotty

Trina, because Abby is mean, but you are awesome. – Liz

Thankful for Trina, Abby, Chad, Benjamin & Tatum.

The love of my wonderful best friend – my husband Chad.

Trina & Abby were INCREDIBLE. We had a great time. We will be back.

Thankful for Sad Panda and a place that we always feel @ home. Love you Tim & Carol and H&D crew. -- Liz & Scott

I’m thankful for Fort Collins. – HB

Thankful for the ability to return to CO for a visit to my friends/favorite breweries!

Thankful for my parents for watching my kids so we can be here!

Friends.

Happy people enjoying happy places! --AJW

H&D & other awesome breweries in my home town! -- Lacie

Blooming peace plants & Christmas cacti.

Beer & music.

Today, especially, I am thankful to sit in this warm place with my friends because of the service of brave men and women. Thank you!

We are thankful to live in a town that allows events like this!! H&D you’re the best! L& L [During Bach & Beers.]

I am thankful for being able to move my body.

Family, friends, and IPA, stout, nitro, sour beer. Thanks, Ross.

Thankful for the privileged life I have & the people who make it that way. Thank you.

We are thankful for… the genius of John Hughes, the wit of Monty Python, craft beer & its culture, good friends & amazing families. J + S.

…a national tradition of peaceful elections.

Sunshine

I am thankful for the people that love me unconditionally, and the possibility that Horse & Dragon may be included in that company.

I am thankful for friendship that last for years & years across miles and miles.

Thanks to:
-       bike lanes
-       beer specials
-       ibuprofen
-       Judas Priest

I am thankful for my wonderful and devoted co-workers, and my partner who is my friend.

Going hard in the paint.

Big, giant, oversized, fluffy, soft blankets. Cozy.

Friends, family, beer

I am thankful for good beer, clean air and fun people! -- Matt conger

Thankful that my Mexico vacation is about to begin.

We are thankful for celebrating our 7 year anniversary drinking beer & having fun @ Horse & Dragon. Derek + Shelby

Fresh & tasty beer, Colorado hops, and small brewery luv.

I’m thankful for family living close, so we can enjoy each other! Kathrine

I am thankful to be on this side of the dirt. – John G.

Snowe. [Illustrated.] By: Nona

I am grateful for this dank ass Sad Panda, all the rocks to climb in Co, camping, the sun, OHHHH, and my wife & dog. Cheers!

By: Grace

Hot dogs [Illustrated.]

How can one not be thankful for everything – life in general? The ups + downs, the secure, friends, family, good beer, Colorado…. It’s important to experience everything and appreciate being able to continue. Thank you! -- Lea

·      My new job.
·      The chance to watch my students grow and improve each day.
·      Having a place to get away from the above.

I’m grateful for my Broncos, win or lose….I love my Broncos! -- Chris A.

The seasons that keep life from ever getting monotonous!

The wonderful people of this community. So friendly and helpful. We love you.

Best crafted beer in town and camaraderie.

Last minute visits to new breweries.

For the tears of Sad Pandas, that make up my delicious coffee stout.

Thankful for the sun that helps the hops grow high.

I am thankful for beer and friends to drink it with.

I’m thankful for the friends I have. – Marc (?)

Bicycles & ??? and like 3 friends. IPA’s.

Beer is good!

I am thankful for the right to live as free and spontaneous as I care to be, on any sunny day in Colorado.

Thankful for my clothes that fit too tight because I have enough to eat. – Jessi Fivelash, Pensacola, FL

I’m thankful for: living in a city where beer is a food group.

I am grateful that my hubby loves beer as much as I do. And H&D…

I am so thankful for Tatum and all of her awesome! -- Elyssa

I am thankful that ALL of the papers are graded!!!

I’m thankful for my friends, family, and beer!! -- Drew

I am thankful for sharing good beer with great friends who have shi**y personalities. – Tolby B.

I am thankful for my wonderful friends that seem like family. I’m thankful for clean water. I’m also thankful for laughter & enjoyment and beer of course & the creativity of brewers.

I love technology. But not as much as you you see.

I love to be thankful for D&D tournaments.

I am thankful for my way too cute husband and his stinky beard. My amazing drunk friends, my smelly puppy Riggins! And beer!! -- Maddie

Thankful for my wonderful friends and gf.

For great beer w/ even better people. – Savannah H.

I’m thankful for friends, family, an amazing hubby, 2 rescue dogs & good beer 10 mins from my house!!

Lions
Tigers
and Beers!
OH MY
-- Dylan

Thankful for microbrews.

I am thankful to wake up every day & breathe this great Colorado air, drink this great Colorado beer, & spend time w/ great Colorado people.

My new warm coat!

Thankful for our wonderful town and its compassionate, beer loving population!

I am thankful for beard season!

I am thankful for my healthy children.

I am thankful for babysitters so we can come have a pint kid free.

I am thankful for my husband’s delicious beer. He makes great beer.

I am thankful to not have a hernia. That and beer. I do enjoy beer.

Family
Friends
Beer

And an amazing brewer that makes Horse and Dragon possible. Never settle always reach for the bars.

Dear Horse & Dragon,
I wish to share with you the following things for which I am thankful:
·      Cats (some dogs)
·      Fort Collins Brewing Culture
·      Snow
·      Football (soccer)
·      Mexican food
·      Sport
·      Family
·      The fact that we are all different.

I’m thankful for warmth, firewood, a loving heart & beer on this wintery day! -- Amy

I’m thankful for good friends, great beer.

I’m thankful for good friends, great beer, and sad pandas!

I’m thankful for… kids & smiles!

I’m thankful for the opportunities I’ve had to travel the world. [Illustrated.]

I’m thankful for breweries like this!!

I’m thankful that we get to relax on the weekend.

Large poops in the morning.

I’m thankful for health, family, and friends.

I’m thankful to spend a week w/ Brenden & Katie. (Dougie too!) -- Christine

I’m thankful for sisters who are best friends!

I’m thankful for my wonderful boyfriend and his amazing parents.

We love you too!

I’m thankful for good company & spiced chai lattes.

Sand art.

Lastly, from the two of us and I think everyone at Horse & Dragon:
Thankful for a great year (so far!) and so many wonderful customers who have added to our experience. -- Carol & TimCo

CHEERS!

**Note: I found 3 more of these notes on my (clearly not spotless) desk today -- 12/9/14. Here they are:

I'm thankful to be with my 2 best friends in CO MARY & KATIE

Thankful for good neighbors, especially the ones that make beer for us. Joe & Ashley

Thankful for beautiful COLORADO SUNSHINE even when it's quite cold & moderately snowy outside. :-)

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Craft Beer Folk Is Good Folk

7/15/2014

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In the Google page for "bad blogging technique" I am surely currently featured. The last time we posted was just after Earth Day in April. Since then a lot has happened, including, but not limited to: we opened. May 1 was the day; since then it's been a tad tornadoish in our lives. As an example of where we are in the tornado, I keep finding notes on my desk saying things like (these are real-live examples): “Sean, ½ bbl, phone #XXX-XXXX,” and, “SAM! First hop t-shirt!” No idea. I hope I haven’t left Sean in the lurch and Sam surely deserved a Facebook posting with that tshirt on. There are also disturbing letters from the CO Dep’t of Labor saying we owe them $1.07. How they know that our latest payment of unemployment insurance is $1.07 off is beyond me, but I guess I'm getting the checkbook out.

Before we get into random ramblings about life at Horse & Dragon, let's talk beer. We're playing some with it, which is, as you might imagine, fun. Linsey brewed up a Dusseldorf altbier with Ryan Kopp of Pueblo's Steel City Brewers club for a pro-am entry at GABF this year.

Ryan brewed a batch that Linsey thought was terrific for a homebrewing competition and the two of them have worked their magic to replicate this delicious German amber. It's bubbling away happily in a fermenter right now (making a noise which I still avow is one of the best in the world):

We'll be serving that in the taproom come mid-August and it'll be served at GABF, too, so stay tuned. [On the topic of GABF -- if you want tickets this year, be on-line to to try to buy them at 9:59 am on July 30 -- July 29 if you are an AHA or BA member!]

There're a couple of new brews in process and a pin and firkin in the big 'fridge with interesting ingredients that should provide a flavor sensation or two. We'll be announcing on our FB page when we're tapping those, but for sure mark your calendars for July 23, 12-6, when one will be making an appearance on the dragon bar in the taproom for our First Annual Habitation Day Celebration.

Now to the rambling.

Meeting people in the taproom and around town at the great craft beer bars & restaurants of FoCo has been terrific. The number of people beercationing through Fort Collins who manage to find us tucked away back here on the airpark is a bit astounding. Although most afternoons 12-4 looks like this:

In the taproom, we've had fascinating conversations with a high school social studies teacher who is clearly inspiring but seemingly unimpressed by that and with technicians who do all manner of things I could never even begin to master. A couple who just moved to Fort Collins delivered crab and ¼” thick bacon the day after we met them, and a family shared their craft beer treasures from a roadtrip with us just because they borrowed a growler from TimCo’s office one night. Two people pointed out to us that our quote attributed to Plato (a Greek) is in Latin. [We were aware of this and still attributed the phrase to Plato, but one of these folks has convinced us to take down the attribution and allow Anonymous the credit.] We've talked with folks who are getting married and folks who are on their first date. (Our daughters can tell you how fun it would be to have us in on the convo on your first date.) A couple left $100 toward the next many pints in the taproom, and one day the "pay it forward" tip went on back through about 30 customers. All of this adds up to the same thing:

CRAFT BEER FOLK IS GOOD FOLK.

As well, craft beer taprooms can be pretty magical places.

We've had some brewers and brewing teams stop in, which we love. e.g.: a couple of Left Hand Brewing Co. sets (missed a photo of the brew team -- sorry!):

They have -- how cool is this? -- a stretch limo with a major bike rack on the back.

The brewing team from Odell (to which we are forever indebted, as you probably know) also came by. It's awesome to see brewers relax over a beer.

The Liquid Poets Society had a meeting, which was pretty inspiring, in the taproom.

And some long-time friends from previous lives (Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, Colombia, Colorado, Canada -- good, beer-drinking folk all) have stopped in.

Around town we've gotten the chance to check out some pretty darned amazing FoCo restaurants and bars. In so doing I managed to kick our own keg -- twice -- at The Colorado Room.

Hopefully if you're a photo-type you took a look at the opening weekend and first couple of weeks of albums on FB. Since those, we've gotten some new fermenters in -- woot,

Those are still being piped, but soon we'll be able to experiment with a few more brews. So the tank forest is looking a bit more populated these days, though there's still plenty of empty space left to fill:

[Foresting the brewery.]

We co-hosted a breakfast stop for FoCo's Bike to Work Day. Seeing all those bikers was muy fun, and we hope to be in the same spot next time.

We also had good times at the Colorado Brewers' Festival (or at least: those of us who weren't in the ICU that weekend -- ahem, TimCo -- had good times), where we loved seeing some people sporting H&D gear:

We might have watched some World Cup games in the brewery.

Jim Hogan, the fellow from Knotty Ginger who made our taproom furniture, and his wife welcomed a baby girl into their family. We expect to see a lot of her on the throne chair at the big table in the coming years.

Linsey did this:

...but that's a whole 'nother story.

We sold out of growlers for a minute there -- big no-no for those of us who love the growler culture -- and got some more in; we received some other fun merchandise that included Silipints -- awesome silicone pint "glasses" that travel anywhere, are almost indestructible, will hold your coffee in the morning and your #freshtastycraft beer in the afternoon (keeping it shaded so as not to let it skunk), and that really do keep your beer colder – but only if it takes you an hour to drink a beer (?!).

We tested two pints for temperature at 1 minute, 15 minutes, and an hour. At one minute they were the same temp, at 15 minutes the Silipint's beer was a degree colder, and at an hour the Silipint's beer was 8 degrees colder. So if you're a slow sipper, run on out here and get you some. But wait a couple of weeks, because we're temporarily sold out of those, too. Whoever is doing our supply chain management for merch is clearly weak.

Next up: commissioning those 30 bbl fermenters, heading to Beer Camp Across America (Rocky Mountain Region) on July 25, a beer dinner or two, celebrating Habitation Day, and trying to keep our feet under us.

We'll do laundry next year.

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The Best Time to Plant a Tree

4/22/2014

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My grandfather always said that the best time to plant a tree is today and twenty years ago. Here's how H&D started the week.

Gitte showed up on Saturday to do some heavy lifting in the side yard. (She also delivered us life-saving curry yesterday.)

And then, here was Earth Day 2014 at the Horse & Dragon:

Trees! Hooray! 3 ginko bilobas to one day shade the Horse & Dragon Brewing Company's parking lot!

We had the perfect crew here working on this:

Before we even got to the digging, we borrowed Kim's truck. A word to the wise: beware of telling people starting a business that you own a truck...

Shannon provided some landscaping expertise:

Best sunhats ever?

They function pretty well as a beer shade, too -- "Use the cone, avoid the skunk!" might be our beer festival mantra.

TimCo channeling agricultural practices seen in Vietnam 15 years ago.

Shannon giving thirsty spring pansies a drink, too.

Be happy here, gingko trees!

Kyle and John at work on their brainchild.

Bike Tree -- just too awesome.

Bike on out here and have a great, tasty, fresh craft beer with us! Make every day Earth Day.

Twenty years from now let's reconvene in the shade here and be grateful that we chose the best time to plant a tree.

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BEER!

4/1/2014

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BEER!

If it were up to me, I would promise all y’all a grand opening on May 1. Of course, it’s not up to me, since APPARENTLY I am not very discerning [read: I like all beer] and the beer professors I work with get veto power if there’s anything off about what we’re hoping to offer you all for opening. But so far, so good.

Since I can’t promise an opening date (quite) yet, I’ll just report that “we” just kegged Horse & Dragon’s first beer.

It received the highest accolade I’ve ever heard Linsey give of one of her brews: “It’s a good beer.” For those of you who think this sounds like faint praise, let me tell you that this is a woman who was disappointed with a test IPA she made (“I don’t really get the strength of the aroma I was going for.”) that I’m still craving months later.

And just when you think yesterday couldn’t get any better, you run home at lunch to tear down the Christmas lights and find this, which really is a miracle:

Nice job, Ma Nature. (Dead leaves I didn’t rake up last fall, I see you. I’m choosing to term you “protective mulch”.)

Elsewhere around the Horse & Dragon, here’s the start to our barrel aging program, conveyed home this week from our friends at Rocky Mountain Spirits in Denver in the trusty Co van. (This is glam transport, we know – but that thing has carted everything from 8-year-olds’ soccer teams to dorm room contents to table saws. And now whiskey barrels. I love it.)

Sage has a healthy suspicion of all processes brewing and is often throwing one or the other of us this look.

There are a couple more beers to keg (and then a couple more to brew) before Linsey & Tim head off to the Craft Brewers’ Conference in Denver next week.

On another (related) topic, may we just note again how craft beer brings people together? I realize this is not news to anyone who frequents taprooms and craft bars, but it’s so apparent and great that I have to comment on it. I love the craft beer community. Monday night we met these two at Equinox’s taproom (we might have been the people who gabbed until Justin & Tyler gently kicked us out) and then saw them again last night at The Mayor of Old Town during Funkwerks’s tap takeover.

They are on a beercation from Minnesota and are the nicest folks – and they love craft beer. They are on the crest of the wave in the Twin Cities in terms of asking for and expecting great tasting, well-cared for beer in their local haunts. I believe today they are headed Verboten’s & Grimm’s way, and then on down to Longmont & Boulder (heads up, 300 Suns and Left Hand). Avery is on their list, too, so Kelley, if by some chance you’re reading this, give them a big welcome.) At any rate, a shout out to Karen & Dan, and happy Colorado beer pilgrimage to you! I hope it rejuvenates you to conquer the rest of the school year with your 8th- and 9th-graders, Dan.

If you weren’t convinced about the power of craft beer to unite and make good times happen, here’s one last shot from Tap and Handle of Samantha & Reena.

The latter is just here from Japan for 2 weeks on a veterinary medicine rotation and Sam – with some help from FoCo’s awesome local craft breweries and bars – is convincing her of the beauty and deliciousness of craft beer. Good work.

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Horse & Dragon Half Marathon & Pint Run (6/12/16)

Big Beers, Belgians, & Barleywines. And alsotoo, big mountains.

Thanksgiving Thankful Notes

Craft Beer Folk Is Good Folk

The Best Time to Plant a Tree

BEER!

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Horse & Dragon Half Marathon & Pint Run (6/12/16)﻿

Big Beers, Belgians, & Barleywines. And alsotoo,﻿ big mountains.

Thanksgiving Thankful Notes

Craft Beer Folk Is Good Folk

The Best Time to Plant a Tree

BEER!

Archives

Categories

This blog

Categories

Horse & Dragon Half Marathon & Pint Run (6/12/16)

Big Beers, Belgians, & Barleywines. And alsotoo, big mountains.