Colorado.com Staff Writer

<p>Colorado winters may be icy, but we have the spicy heat of <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/pueblo">Pueblo</a>’s green chiles and peppers, like cayenne and habenero, to warm us up deep inside.</p>
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Colorado’s Best Spicy Food

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Chili Chile Margarita at Breckenridge Distillery Restaurant

Ancho-Dusted Pork Rinds at El Moro Spirits & Tavern in Durango

My Brother's Bar in Denver

Coco Caliente Cocktail at Bird & Jim in Fort Collins

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<p>Enjoy the state’s penchant for hot flavors with locally made sauces, salsas, cocktails and so much more.</p>
<h2>Meals</h2>
<h3>My Brother’s Bar, Denver</h3>
<p>The oldest bar in <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/denver">Denver</a> has shucked ice-cold beers continuously since 1873. But one of the <a href="https://www.colorado.com/family-restaurant/my-brothers-bar">My Brother’s Bar</a>’s best-kept spicy secrets is their Jalapeño Cream Cheese Burger, piled (almost) mile high with jalapeño cream cheese. </p>
<h3>Jim’s Wings, Fort Collins</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.colorado.com/family-restaurant/jims-wings">Jim’s Wings</a> is hole-in-the-wall <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/fort-collins">Fort Collins</a> joint that dishes up some of the spiciest wings in the state, doused in their secret sauce, of course. </p>
<h3>Annapurna, Vail</h3>
<p>With views of <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/vail">Vail</a>'s snow-covered trees, <a href="https://annapurnavail.com/">Annapurna</a> will make you sweat through your ski jumper while eating the spicy vindaloo, an Indian curry best served with lamb. Order fluffy naan to soak up every last bit.</p>
<h3>Gray’s Coors Tavern, Pueblo</h3>
<p>Bask in the glow of neon bar signs as you sink your teeth into the famed local delicacy from <a href="https://www.colorado.com/family-restaurant/grays-coors-tavern">Gray’s Coors Tavern</a> — the Slopper cheeseburger bathed in Pueblo green chile.</p>
<h3>Sports Station American Grill, Loveland</h3>
<p>Located in <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/loveland">Loveland</a>’s 1902 train depot, <a href="https://sportsstationamericangrill.com/">Sports Station</a> boasts jalapeño-popper egg rolls — mini bites filled to the brim with jalapeño-bacon cream cheese, served with make-your-mouth-tingle pepper jelly.</p>
<h3>Hacienda Real, Frisco</h3>
<p>Sit under the pumpkin-colored arches drinking a humongous frozen margarita and destroy <a href="/frisco/hacienda-real">Hacienda Real</a>’s carne asada. It’s a filet of skirt steak with a heap of guac and a deep-fried hot pepper, perfect for warming up after a day of snowy adventure in <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/frisco">Frisco</a>. </p>
<h3>Siam, Telluride</h3>
<p>Don't let this adorable yellow house in <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/telluride">Telluride</a> disarm you. <a href="https://www.colorado.com/family-restaurant/siam-telluride">Siam</a>'s drunken noodles — pan-fried rice noodles with eggs, vegetables and a spicy chili sauce that will leave you needing approximately 10 glasses of water.</p>
<h2>Adult Beverages</h2>
<h3>High Hops Brewery, Windsor</h3>
<p>A red ale brewed with habanero peppers, Habanero Hunny from <a href="https://www.colorado.com/breweries/high-hops-brewery">High Hops</a> in <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/windsor">Windsor</a> might be just what you need on a chilly afternoon. </p>
<h3>Breckenridge Distillery Restaurant</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.colorado.com/distilleries/breckenridge-distillery-restaurant">Breckenridge Distillery Restaurant</a> is a cavernous tasting room and eatery that makes the perfect stop after you’ve skied the day away. Warm up with the Health-Ade, which includes the distillery’s Chili Chile Vodka and pepper syrup.</p>
<h3>Horsetooth Hot Sauce, Fort Collins</h3>
<p>Nothing says frosty Sunday brunch like Dog that Bit You Bloody Mary Mix. Pour <a href="http://www.horsetoothhotsauce.com/">Horsetooth Hot Sauces</a>' mixture of salty tomato juice and a blend of secret spices over ice. You can buy it online and in select Colorado stores! </p>
<h3>The Wobbly Olive, Colorado Springs</h3>
<p>At <a href="https://www.wobblyolive.com/">The Wobbly Olive</a> in <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/colorado-springs">Colorado Springs</a>, don't miss the The Weepy Grin cocktail. This heat-filled concoction delights with vodka, ginger liqueur, honey, absinthe, lemon juice a habanero shrub and — for a little extra kick — a fresh jalapeño. </p>
<h3>Bird &amp; Jim, Estes Park</h3>
<p>Sporting a cool-kid vibe, <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/estes-park">Estes Park</a>'s <a href="https://www.colorado.com/locally-sourced/bird-jim">Bird &amp; Jim</a> slings the Chupacabra cocktail for a year-round clientele. The beverage features Bozal Mezcal, OJ, pineapple, lemon and jalapeño.</p>
<h2>Snacks </h2>
<h3>El Moro Spirits &amp; Tavern, Durango</h3>
<p><a href="https://www.colorado.com/locally-sourced/el-moro-spirits-tavern">El Moro</a> is a beacon of New American bites with a totally steampunk attitude. Pop in to this <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/durango">Durango</a> eatery for KFC (Korean fried cauliflower), which is tempura battered and doused in a spicy ssamjang glaze, pickled carrot slaw and Korean chili flakes.</p>
<h3>Climax Jerky, Denver &amp; Breckenridge</h3>
<p>When you need a bit of protein on a glacial hike, reach for <a href="https://www.climaxjerky.com/">Climax</a>'s red-hot beef jerky, which "starts off sweet then ends with a little kick."</p>
<h3>Backstreet Bagel Company, Montrose</h3>
<p>Start your morning right with a thick layer of jalapeño cream cheese sandwiched between a green-chili bagel at <a href="https://www.colorado.com/bakery/backstreet-bagel-company">Backstreet Bagel Company</a> in <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/montrose">Montrose</a>.</p>
<h3>The Argentos Empanadas &amp; More, Silverthorne</h3>
<p>While not over-the-top hot, the Spanish chorizo empanada at <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/silverthorne">Silverthorne</a>'s <a href="https://theargentosempanadas.com/">Argentos</a> is the perfect balance of spices and buttery, flaky pastry to make it incredibly flavorful.</p>
<h2>Hot Sauces &amp; Salsas</h2>
<p><em>Find these Colorado brands in grocery stores, specialty shops and online.</em> </p>
<h3>Tlaquesalsa, Westminster</h3>
<p><a href="http://tlaquesalsa.com/">Tlaquesalsa</a>’s árbol salsa uses the freshest ingredients to set your mouth on fire (in the good way). Pick up a jar and some of the <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/westminster">Westminster</a> company’s homemade tamales for a delightful meal. </p>
<h3>Alida’s Fruits, Palisade</h3>
<p>Using Colorado-grown fixins straight from <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/palisade">Palisade</a>, <a href="https://www.colorado.com/grocery-specialty-market/alidas-fruits">Alida’s Fruits</a> Habanero Peach Salsa will make you want to dump the whole jar on your breakfast tacos. </p>
<h3>K-Sauce, Centennial</h3>
<p>K-3 Be Afraid!! Hot Sauce is studded with Bhut Jolokia, aka ghost chili, one of the hottest peppers in the world. <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/centennial">Centennial</a>'s <a href="https://k-sauce.com/">K-Sauce</a> also has a sweet little mango-habanero number that's sure to please.</p>
<h3>Yin Yang Hot Sauce, Boulder</h3>
<p>Small-batch hot-sauce maker <a href="http://www.yinyanghotsauce.com/">Yin Yang</a> captures the feeling of tomatoes being grown under <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/boulder">Boulder</a>’s bright sunlight in a bottle. </p>
<h3>Chiporro Sauce Co., Longmon<a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/longmont">t</a></h3>
<p>Ghost peppers are the base of <a href="https://chiporro.com/">Chiporro</a>'s Ghost Hot Sauce, so the heat from this <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/longmont">Longmont</a> locally loved condiment haunt you in the most delightful way.</p>
<h3>Musso Farms, Pueblo</h3>
<p>This all-natural, no-preservatives Pueblo Chile X-Tra Hot Salsa is straight from the farm; <a href="https://www.mussofarmschileroom.com/salsa-dips">Musso Farms</a>, in fact. Eat it with some fresh blue-corn chips while watching the snow fall. </p>
<h3>Decadence Gourmet, Grand Junction</h3>
<p>Colorado-Style Southern Chow Chow from <a href="https://www.colorado.com/dessert/decadence-gourmet">Decadence Gourmet</a> in <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/grand-junction">Grand Junction</a> is based on a traditional relish that’s been around for two centuries, but with a Centennial State twist — tomatillos and ghost peppers. </p>
<h3>High Plains Spice Company, Sterling</h3>
<p>With nearly twice the spice of a ghost pepper, <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/sterling">Sterling</a>-based <a href="https://www.colorado.com/grocery-specialty-market/high-plains-spice-company">High Plains</a>’ Scorpion Pepper &amp; Lemon Balsamic BBQ Sauce will add incredible heat to your shrimp.</p>
<h3>Rose’s Creamery, Elizabeth</h3>
<p>Made in the quaint town of <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/elizabeth">Elizabeth</a>, <a href="http://rosescreamery.com/index.html">Rose</a>’s Hot and Spicy creamy peanut butter is gastronomic genius when put atop a PB&amp;J sammy. </p>
<h3>Jojo’s Sriracha, Denver &amp; Pueblo</h3>
<p><a href="https://jojossriracha.com/">Jojo's</a> handcrafted, wild-fermented sriracha with chili peppers, organic vinegar, garlic, sea salt and coconut palm sugar can go on any meal.</p>
<h2>Want More?</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.colorado.com/articles/fun-colorado-apres-ski-spots">Fun Colorado Après Ski Spots</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.colorado.com/articles/colorado-culinary-trends-5-ways-feed-current-cravings">Colorado Culinary Trends: 5 Ways to Feed Current Cravings</a></p>
