Colorado.com Staff Writer

<p>Colorado’s reputation as a top producer of stellar craft brews goes hand in hand with our growing status as a culinary trendsetter.</p>


12 Colorado Beer & Food Pairings

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The Container Restaurant at Ska Brewing Company in Durango

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<p>From the annual sell-out at <a href="https://www.colorado.com/articles/toast-worthy-fall-winter-brew-fests-colorado">Denver’s Great American Beer Festival</a> — the largest domestic beer festival in the United States — to popular restaurant pairing events, Colorado has a knack for marrying small-batch suds with delicious dishes for an unforgettable gourmet experience.</p>
<p>Here are our favorite places around the state to drink local beer and savor delicious beyond-pub grub. </p>
<h2>Pueblo</h2>
<p><strong>Beer:</strong> In <a href="http://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/pueblo">Pueblo</a>, <a href="http://www.colorado.com/brew-pub/shamrock-brewing-company">Shamrock Brewing Company</a>’s Irish Red Ale is easy drinking, which means you should probably save room for more than one.<br /><strong>Food:</strong> Can’t leave Colorado without gobblin’ up a buffalo burger. They’re lean (but not mean), so you’ll feel zero guilt afterward.</p>
<h2>Buena Vista</h2>
<p><strong>Beer:</strong> <a href="https://www.colorado.com/bar-grill/eddyline-restaurant-brewery-taphouse">EddyLine Brewing</a> in <a href="http://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/buena-vista">Buena Vista</a><strong> </strong>has concocted a Grapefruit Yanker IPA with crisp, citrusy notes of mango and grapefruit that will brighten up any day; try it on draft and then take it along on your winter adventure in 16-ounce to-go cans.<br /><strong>Food:</strong> Step out of the ordinary with the salmon BLT, made with wild-caught sockeye, crispy bacon <em>and</em> microgreens on a perfectly chewy pretzel bun.</p>
<h2>Denver</h2>
<p><strong>Beer:</strong> In <a href="http://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/denver">Denver</a>, the <a href="/denver/odell-brewing-sloan's-lake-brewhouse-pizzeria">Sloan's Lake Brewhouse</a>'s Lagerado (yes, this is an Odell Brewing Co. taproom) is touted for its light, crisp finish and for being oh-so-very drinkable.<br /><strong>Food:</strong> We can’t shut up about the handmade pizzas made with farm-to-table ingredients like fresh micro-cilantro and Rock River Ranches' speciality bison meatballs.</p>
<h2>Idaho Springs</h2>
<p><strong>Beer:</strong> In <a href="http://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/idaho-springs">Idaho Springs</a>, <a href="http://www.colorado.com/family-restaurant/tommyknocker-brewery-and-pub">Tommyknocker Brewery</a>’s Maple Nut Brown Ale is, well, nutty and sweet — just like the name implies.<br /><strong>Food:</strong> The Gold Rush Pork Green Chile favors Colorado’s Southwestern flavors and is served with a warm tortilla.</p>
<h2>Durango</h2>
<p><strong>Beer:</strong> Push the citrusy envelope in <a href="http://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/durango">Durango</a> with <a href="http://www.colorado.com/family-restaurant/ska-brewing-company">Ska Brewing Company</a>’s IPA With a Twist.<br /><strong>Food:</strong> Pop out to <a href="https://www.colorado.com/casual-dining/the-container-of-food-at-ska-brewing">The Container</a>, a culinary-repurposed shipping unit, for the piled-high burger or a mushroom goat-cheese pizza.</p>
<h2>Palisade</h2>
<p><strong>Beer:</strong> <a href="http://www.colorado.com/breweries/palisade-brewing-co">Palisade Brewing Company</a>’s chocolatey, toffee-y, hoppy Porter of Love is the perfect winter warmer.<br /><strong>Food:</strong> The sandwiches here rival those of any five-star deli — whether you're into tender brisket or the bright pesto vibes of a caprese — and we wholeheartedly recommend the potato salad. </p>
<h2>Montrose, Ridgway &amp; Ouray</h2>
<p><strong>Beer:</strong> Watch the bubbles rise in a <a href="https://www.colorado.com/breweries/colorado-boy-pizzeria">Colorado Boy Brewing Company</a> chilled-cask English Pub Ale.<br /><strong>Food:</strong> Choose from a dozen artisan pizzas to further warm your belly, including delish ingredients like capicola ham, gorgonzola, and local sausage. </p>
<h2>Grand Junction</h2>
<p><strong>Beer:</strong> Go decadent in <a href="http://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/grand-junction">Grand Junction</a> from start to finish at <a href="/breweries/rockslide-brew-pub">Rockslide Brew Pub</a> with the Big Bear Stout.<br /><strong>Food:</strong> The pecan-crusted chicken salad is topped with pecan chicken, bacon and … who cares? Chicken and bacon is all you need! </p>
<h2>Fort Collins</h2>
<p><strong>Beer:</strong> Sip <a href="http://www.colorado.com/brewery/coopersmiths-pub-and-brewing-and-billiards">Coopersmith Pub &amp; Brewing</a>’s generously spiced Sigda's Green Chili in <a href="http://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/fort-collins">Fort Collins</a>, which'll light you up with delight on so many levels. <br /><strong>Food:</strong> Eat your beer with stout-simmered bangers and mash, served with a side of applesauce.  </p>
<h2>Pagosa Springs</h2>
<p><strong>Beer:</strong> Sit on a patio overlooking the San Juan River in <a href="http://www.colorado.com/pagosa-springs-channel">Pagosa Springs</a> and inhale flavors of the Southwest with <a href="https://www.colorado.com/pagosa-springs/dining-restaurants/casual-dining/riff-raff-on-the-rio">Riff Raff on the Rio</a>'s El Duende Green Chile ale. <br /><strong>Food:</strong> Try something new — a burger made of locally sourced ground goat meat, onions caramelized with beer and cotija cheese.</p>
<h2>Salida</h2>
<p><strong>Beer:</strong> Start the night off in <a href="http://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/salida">Salida</a> with a bang and a pint of <a href="/family-restaurant/amicas">Amica’s Pizza &amp; Microbrewery</a>’s Big S Brown Ale, tinged with caramel and chocolate malt.<br /><strong>Food:</strong> Those who’ve hopped off the gluten train will be happy to find many gluten-free options, including crowd-pleasing, wood-fired pizzas. </p>
<h2>Alamosa</h2>
<p><strong>Beer:</strong> <a href="http://www.colorado.com/brewery/san-luis-valley-brewing">San Luis Valley Brewing</a>’s bold Valle Caliente Lager is infused with Hatch green chiles in <a href="http://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/alamosa">Alamosa</a>.<br /><strong>Food:</strong> Made by hand for six generations, <a href="http://www.colorado.com/culinary-farm-ranch-activities/gosar-ranch-natural-foods">Gosar’s</a> European-style sausages come in flavors like chicken, chile and chive; pork, cheddar and chipotle; and turkey cranberry chipotle. (Extra credit: Step around the corner to the brewery’s sister operation, <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cafes-coffee-shops/roast">Roast ~ Craft Coffee &amp; Libations</a>). </p>
<h2>Want More?</h2>
<p><a href="http://www.colorado.com/articles/top-winter-beers-colorados-craft-breweries">Read about top winter beers at Colorado’s craft breweries</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.colorado.com/activities/breweries">View complete listings for Colorado breweries</a></p>
