COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO
Home to Air Force (ten miles north of downtown) and formerly a mining-milling site, Colorado Springs fronts altitudinous Pikes Peak an hour south of Independence Pass traveled August ‘07. Within one midtown block are two conservatively tantalizing brewery/ restaurants. On left side of colossal Antlers Hilton hotel, upscale sports bar JUDGE BALDWIN’S BREWING had beautiful mahogany bar and furnishings, several televisions, exposed rear kitchen (near brew tanks), and elegant Classical appeal inforced by Victorian ceiling.
Short Americana menu included delicious pita and vegetable dip (with hummus). Though light-bodied lemon-wedged raspberry-sweet clove-coriander-bubblegum-tinged Raspberry Wheat, tangy lemony grapefruit-fronted white-breaded Kolsch-styled Champion Wheat, and buttery Scotch-flecked lemon-limed grass-hopped #3 Lager only registered ethereally, the final three brews made a great impression.
Wellington Pale Ale had honey-sweetened caramel-marzipan fortitude increased by tart berry and dry-hopped grapefruit twist while dried orange tang soothed toasted caramel malting of Cascade Amber Lager. Perfecting bastardized Belgian styling, Flemish Oud Bruin brought spiced banana theme to candi-sugared cotton-candied rum, cocoa, vanilla, and marshmallow warmth.