BOULDER WEEKLY STAFF
TRY THIS WEEK: The Lombardy @ Cured
CURED. 1825 Pearl St., Boulder, 720-389-8096, curedboulder. com
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Old whiskey on a cool night
Drink this: Green Mountain Beer Company’s Whiskey Barrel-Aged Rauch Bock THE 2020 VERSION of the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) is underway, which means if you haven’t picked up your GABF passport yet, you still can (greatamericanbeerfestival.com/passport/) and partake in a week’s worth of free and discounted beer from participating breweries. There are plenty to choose from in Boulder County, but if you’ve frequented GABF in the past, then you know the festival is not about the familiar; it’s about the discoveries. So, in that spirit, head down to Lakewood’s Green Mountain Beer Company and give the Whiskey BarrelAged Rauch Bock a quaff. It’s a strong lager — made stronger from time in the barrel — brewed with smoked Munich malts. The char is present, but not overpowering, and the smoke exhibits notes of sweet tobacco and barbecue. The flavor is even better: Smooth caramel, candied almonds and a little bite of oaky vanillin. That might give the impression of a dessert beer, but Green Mountain’s Rauch Bock is light in the mouth and finishes as clean as a good lager should. It’s a beaut, but it’s available only to passport holders. And while you’re at it, pick up the official GABF 2020 Brewnited glass (this will certainly be a GABF to remember).
BOULDER WEEKLY
OH CAN CURED make a sandwich. It helps when you have access to top meat, cheese, olive oil and bread, as the artisanal food shop does. Walk up to its storefront, outdoor, makeshift kiosk (where ordering is pandemic-proof), and select from a roster of rotating sandwiches. We opted for the Lombardy on a recent visit — prosciutto, bufala mozzarella, olive oil, arugula and a romescolike sauce, all on a crusty, glorious baguette. Each ingredient shines — the salty, umami prosciutto, the creamy mozzarella, the bright, herbal olive oil and tangy, peppery greens.
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OCTOBER 8, 2020
IF YOU’RE A whiskey fan, or just interested in culinary history, you might think about reserving a spot at West End Tavern’s “very old whiskey” dinner on Oct. 21. There, you’ll get to dive into a tasting flight of 21-, 22-, 23-, 24- and 25-year-old Rhetoric whiskey. West End Chef Jeff Whitney will also be serving a five-course tasting menu designed to complement the whiskeys — dishes include a chicory salad with smoked quail, pumpkin and blue crab risotto, and a sticky date cake. All that for $100 a person — if you’ve been around old whiskey, you know that’s worth it for the whiskey alone. Go to thewestendtavern.com and reserve your spot on the pop-up menu.
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