Drinks and Eats

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2021 Craft drinks and good eats

By Tim Mosier Trail-Gazette

Estes Park is known for its scenicviews, amazing landscapes, avibrant downtown and memorable lodging. In the last fiveyears,visitors and residents havealsocome to knowEstesfor something else, andthat’sits craft breweryand distillery scene.

The first businessesto stake their beverage claim in Estes Park occurredlong beforethe Estes Valley DevelopmentCodeallowed suchthings.

Estes ParkBrewery opened in 1994,byGordon Knight, who owned High Country Brewery in Boulder.Today it is ownedby Tyler Lemirande.

SnowyPeaks Winerywas alsoone of thefirstintown. Founded in 2005 Candice Mohrgrewa fine vinification facility.The majorityofher grapesare grown on the westernslope in Palisade, Colo. anda few come from Burlington, Colo.with25 different wines and blends available including Merlot, Syrah, Viognierand Riesling. Stop by to sample their award-winning, handcrafted wines along with charcuterie andsometimes evenlive music.

In July 2014, theEstes ParkTown Boardapproved an ordinancetoallow breweries, distilleries and wineries to operatelegally under the Estes Valley DevelopmentCode.

Today,along with Estes Park Breweryand Snowy Peaks, thereisalso Lumpy Ridge Brewery, RockCut Brewery, Elkins Distillery

In the last five years, visitorsand residents have come to know Estes for its craft brewery and distilleryscene.

and AvantGarde Aleworks.

“Welove that there is a strong collaborative spirit among the Estes Park craft beveragesproducers,”said Candice Mohr, ownerof SnowyPeaks. “Everyone is so supportiveofeachother and arewilling to share information andideas.”

Thebreweries, distillery and winery in town arenot justpopular with residents and visitors; theyare alsoa great year-round economic driver forEstes Park.

This Rocky Mountain atmosphereisagreat spot to brew or distill, but crafting beverages and sellingat 7,255 doeshave its advantages. That is one reason why Joe Elkins startedhis whiskey distillery in Estes Park.

“Firstand foremostwas the confluence of thethings that you need formaking whiskey,” Elkinssaid to the Trail-Gazette in 2014 when the developmentcode changed.“Youneed world class grains like barley and corn. Colorado has both of those. And, youneedwater and we have Rocky Mountain water. Denverand Fort Collinshave access to these, too. But,the difference is elevation.The higher elevaSee DRINKS,pg. 21

Improving lives with better hearing!

Your journey to better hearing starts today! Custom solutions for everybudget with caring and compassionate care. It’stime to call Dr.Cory! Our Comprehensive Hearing CareServices:

•Diagnostic Hearing Evaluations •Tinnitus Evaluation and Management •Hearing Aid Selection and Fitting •Wax Removal •Hearing Aid Repairs •Custom Earmolds and Ear Plugs

Cory Workman, Au.D.

BoardCertified Doctor of Audiology Exceptional CareClose to Home! 1186 Graves Avenue -Suite B•Estes Park, Colorado 80517