Thirst Colorado July-August 2021

SERVING UP THE COLORADO EXPERIENCE

Vol. 6, No. 5 July-August 2021

PEAK OF RECREATION SUMMER FUN IS SIZZLING IN SUMMIT COUNTY

SWEET NECTAR PALISADE PACKS MORE THAN PEACHES

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LIBATIONS BEYOND

Join us for a Tour de Colorado With a nod to the Tour de France, we’re inviting readers to join Thirst Colorado for a more leisurely tour of the Centennial State in this issue. You don’t have to ride your bike for this tour, but if you do, please share some pictures on our social media channels. We would love to hear from you, no matter how you might get around or where you might drink a round.

Start in central Denver and check out some music that spans the ages. Ron Miles is passing on rich jazz traditions to a new generation of players. Meanwhile, The Grand Alliance is dancing and grooving into a hopeful new Afrofuturist world.

Then head up the I-70 corridor into the central Colorado playground of Summit County.

Sure, you’ve been up there for skiing and mountain biking, but we’re sharing some lesserknown summer activities and sights to see.

Keep heading west to learn about the history and future of the Talbott family, which harvests Palisade’s largest orchards, but also does so much more. We recommend maybe letting that story ripen for a couple of weeks so you can read it while you eat a case of Palisade peaches (yeah, we said case — you can’t stop at one).

There’s some deeper history to be explored further south in Montrose, which has an impressive museum dedicated solely to the Ute Indians of both ancient and modern times.

To the duffers out there, don’t forget to take your clubs on your tour of the state. We’ve highlighted 18 of the most stunning holes in Colorado. But be warned: distracting views aren’t the only challenges at these courses.

As usual, we also have a few libations to recommend around the state. And for a more comprehensive guide to adult beverages in Colorado, we are bringing back our brewery, distillery, winery, cidery and meadery guide.

For even more content, check out our social media channels and sign up for our weekly newsletter at ThirstColorado.com.

Publisher Paul Johnson paul@thirstcolorado.com Associate Publisher & Editor Joe Ross joe@thirstcolorado.com Sales Tod Cavey Rebel Hunter Design & Layout Sandy Birkey President & Founder Emeritus Wilbur E. Flachman Marketing & Distribution Steve Graham Contributors Kyle Kirves, Dennis Mangers, Jay McKinney, Kristin Owens For advertising and editorial information, please contact Joe Ross at 303.428.9529 Ext. 227 or email joe@thirstcolorado.com Proud member of the Colorado Brewers Guild Thirst Colorado is produced by The Publishing House, a division of Colorado Word Works, Inc. The Publishing House also produces Colorado’s Performing Arts Publications, serving arts venues along the Front Range.

7380 Lowell Blvd., Westminster, Colorado 80030 303.428.9529

Joe Ross Associate Publisher and Editor Drink up life in large amounts, but restrict your alcohol consumption. We do not endorse or support excessive drinking.

Thirst Colorado is published six times a year by The Publishing House, 7380 Lowell Blvd., Westminster, CO 80030. © The Publishing House, 2021. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

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July-August 2021

Except where noted, the content of Thirst Colorado is the property of the magazine and should only be reprinted with permission. Thirst Colorado is not responsible for false or misleading claims made in advertising or editorial materials published herein. Thirst Colorado Magazine is distributed in part by DJM Distribution, Inc., and Community Racks Distribution, LLC.

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14

INTERSECTIONS

20 Grand Alliance

Local super group explores funk, past, present and future

24 Untapped

Check out this summer’s hottest Colorado entertainment

28

8

Peachy

The Talbott’s Farm produces great crops and beverages

38

36 Wine Time

John Elway’s Denver-based wine company calls an audible to meet market demand

On the cover: Stand up paddleboarding on Dillon Reservoir.

Photo by Todd Powell, Courtesy Town of Frisco

36

32

42 Brewery, Distillery, Winery, Cidery and Meadery Guide Find great craft beverages wherever you end up in Colorado

ADVENTURES

8 To the Summit

Explore Colorado’s playground for a day, a few days or a week

14 Bucket List

We’ve highlighted 18 memorable holes at Colorado’s most beautiful golf courses

26 Exploring the Ute

Montrose museum offers visitors a look at the state’s early inhabitants

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July-August 2021

32 Deeply Ingrained

At Dry Storage in Boulder, healthy, sustainable offerings are all the rage

38 Educated in Jazz

The education of Ron Miles – and his students – just keeps growing

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WHAT’S YOUR PLEASURE? One, Three or Five Days in Summit County

By Kyle Kirves

Photo Courtesy GoBreck.com

M

ention Colorado to out-of-staters and they almost invariably visualize the kind of landscape you’d find in Summit County. It’s an instinctual response, and certainly not a wrong one. High snow-capped peaks, dense pine and aspen forests, whitewater creeks and rivers flowing cold and clear through the valleys. So it’s not surprising that when people plan their vacations to Colorado, Summit County tops their list of destinations (in fact, judging by the traffic on Interstate 70, it ain’t just the flatlanders flying in who look to Frisco, Breckenridge, Dillon, and Keystone as getaways). Whether you’re in from out of state, newly transplanted or a native looking for friendly reminders of

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great places to go in Summit County, Thirst Colorado has you covered with suggestions for an enjoyable vacation in the high country.

Read on to discover (or rediscover) some favorites.

If you only have one day in Summit County….

DRIVE THE DAM ROAD – DILLON No trip, however big or small, would be complete without a drive across the Dillion

Reservoir Dam. Even if you’re just passing through on I-70, driving over the dam is a thrilling diversion, offering scenic views of the surrounding mountains and Dillon Reservoir.

Closed seasonally. From I-70, take Exit 205 and follow the signage to the Dam Road.

HAVE LUNCH AT PUG RYAN’S – DILLON He may not have the name recognition of Butch Cassidy or Billy the Kid, but outlaw Pug Ryan is a local legend in his own right after robbing the Denver Hotel in Breckenridge in 1898. It’s his name (or rather the pseudonym of Arthur L. Scott) that lends itself to this

Summit County brewery. Pug Ryan’s Brewery has two locations in Dillon: the main restaurant at 104 Village Place, and the seasonally open tiki bar (you read that correctly -- tiki bar) on the marina at 150 Marina Drive.

It’s a great venue for craft beer and pub fare.

HIKE THE IOWA HILL MINE TRAIL – BRECKENRIDGE Sometimes, a hike is about the scenery, sometimes about the exercise, and sometimes it’s about the history. The Iowa Hill Mine Trail has all three! This quick 1.2-mile loop meanders through the mine site for which it is named – still replete with historical artifacts in various states of decay, and signage that tells the story of the mine. It’s a fun hike for family, all downhill on the way back, and not to be missed even on the quickest of trips through Summit County. Access the trail from Airport Road near the public works building.

But if you have three days in Summit County…

Well, let’s face it: if you have three days in Summit County in the winter, you should be skiing at Breckenridge, Keystone, Arapahoe Basin, or Copper Mountain. But let’s stick wich summer. What about golf, or an alpine nautical adventure on Dillon Reservoir? But hey, that’s probably already occurred to you.

Here are a few favorites that maybe haven’t.

EAT BREAKFAST AT SUNSHINE CAFÉ – SILVERTHORNE Man, what’s more synonymous with Colorado than sunshine? At the Sunshine Café, you’ll find all manner of Summit County takes on classic breakfast fare, as well as some things that are high country. Call me an (Eggs) Benedict Arnold, but I go for the salmon benny over the classic every time. Open until 2:30 p.m., the cafe also serves lunch.

RIDE SUMMIT COUNTY - FRISCO) If summertime bikes and boards are your (or junior’s) jam, head out to the Frisco Adventure Park. It features a bike park with four courses that will challenge every skill level. The expanded skate park boasts 28,000 square feet of bowls, jumps and transition lanes to keep everyone rolling. Tired of wheeled action? Head over to the disc golf course for a relaxing round on the 18-hole course or the newer 9-hole. With benches throughout to checkout the surrounding peaks, it’s one of the most scenic disc golf courses in the state.

TRY STAND UP PADDLEBOARDING (LAKE DILLON, BRECKENRIDGE AND MORE) What’s SUP? It’s Stand Up Paddleboarding: half surfing, half kayaking, and all fun.

Rental places such as Stand Up Paddle Colorado, are plentiful in Summit County at Dillon Reservoir – even offering multi-person “Monster Boards” big enough for the whole family. Even if you’ve never boarded before, you can learn SUPing in no time. Or, if you want to show off master technique, consider the one-hour course on Maggie Pond from local outfitters Colorado Adventure Guides.

July-August 2021

ThirstColorado.com 9

Photo Courtesy GoBreck.com

EAT LUNCH OR DINNER – DILLON DAM BREWERY – DILLON A brewpub as big as the mountains, Dillon Dam Brewery (DDB) is officially the largest of its kind in the Colorado Rockies. The diverse menu caters to all tastes (including even the pickiest members of the kid crowd). Unique mountain-style and southwestern takes on pub favorites abound, including a pretty DAM good Philly cheesesteak. Everyone will feel right at home at DDB, including the family pooch on the pet-friendly patio.

PLAY MINI-GOLF AT EPIC DISCOVERY – BRECKENRIDGE Sure, Summit County offers some of the best high-altitude golf courses in the world. But if playing a round for your family means never having to choose between clubs, consider 18 holes of mini golf at Epic Discovery.

Photo: Todd Powell

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ENJOY DESSERT AT HIGGLES ICE CREAM – BRECKENRIDGE Considered a “can’t miss” by fans of frozen confections, Higgles on Main Street in Breck is a distinctive high-country take on the old-school ice cream store. Exotic flavors (lemon crème freche? Malted milk ball?

Coconut macadamia?) and traditional old-school flavors share space in the freezer. And they also offer vegan flavors! Made-fresh waffle cones (none more than 30 minutes old) top off -- or rather, bottom in -- the best ice cream in Summit County.

Got five days in Summit County?

VISIT THE SUMMER FUN PARK AND ALPINE SLIDE – BRECKENRIDGE Who says all the fun has to happen in the wintertime? There’s more to coming down the mountain than skiing or snowboarding. Take the gondola ride to the top of Peak

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8 for magnificent views and to access Breckenridge’s Summer Fun Park. Bring your bike for a memorable ride down. Or consider the 2,500-foot Alpine slide or Gold Runner coasters to get your downhill kicks. Open from early June to mid-September. Head out to Watson Road and North Park Avenue and look for the gondola North or South lots to get to Peak 8.

GO HORSEBACK RIDING – VARIOUS Giddyup for a great time with horseback riding departing from several towns in Summit.

Breckenridge Stables (Breckenridge), Gore Range Outfitters (Silverthorne), or Keystone Stables (Dillon) make great choices for the equine inclined, offering rides as short as an hour up to half-day picnic rides (varies by provider). Never ridden before? No problem.

All riding outfits offer shorter rides for the newto-the-saddle and city-slicker types, and pony

rides for the youngest riders. You may not go from green horn to top hand in one ride, but that’s the great thing about horseback riding, it gets better every time you do it.

Kyle Kirves drinks beer, plays guitar, runs trails, and manages projects – all with varying degrees of success. While not a craftsman himself, he is quite content writing about the Colorado artisans who create such wonderful things and memorable experiences.

Thirsty? Frisco has you covered with this six-pack of winners Everyone demands choices when searching for great beverages.

Morning, noon or night, the tiny town of Frisco has two breweries, two distilleries and two coffee shops that are as satisfying as a cooling afternoon rain in the high country.

Outer Range Brewing Co. landed a steady following of IPA and Belgian Ale lovers before it expanded with a restaurant and more space. Guests would be hard-pressed to leave without finding a beer that fits their profile.

Highside Brewing has made its mark on the corner of Main Street and Highway 9 since opening in 2018. Formerly Backcountry Brewery, owner Dave Axelrod took over the space and launched Highside with a wide range of styles. Throw in the Coloradoque menu (a variety of barbecued meats), and the evening is set.

Rising Sun Distillery has been open nearly a year on Dillon Dam Road, and the prospects are looking up. A hy challenging pandemic urp lM e a h launch has given way to Photo: Mic great craft cocktails featuring whiskey, vodka, gin and liqueurs. Rising Sun’s first location was in Denver before owners Dawn and Sol Richardson launched in Frisco.

Pullman Distilling Co. opened this summer with whiskey and vodka featuring local ingredients, including spring water from nearby Loveland Pass. A train car from the late 1800s is the prominent feature in the tasting room, which is adjacent to the Ein Prosit beer hall on Main Street.

Rocky Mountain Coffee Roasters is a locally owned shop that was purchased by former customers Tim Adrian and Nate Post, who used to hang out there when they weren’t in the backcountry. The Main Street location features every spin on the world’s favorite go-to beverage and many of the beans are available in bags.

Mountain Dweller Coffee Roasters is family owned and features a full espresso bar, juices and teas. With pastries, breakfast burritos and other snacks, Mountain Dweller provides the fuel for many high-country adventurers. And it doesn’t hurt that it shares space with Outer Range Brewing.

orn Photo: Emily Clegh

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E

veryone has a different idea of how best to explore the state. Grab

your clubs and get ready to experience some of the state’s most memorable public holes.

Omni Interlocken Golf Club, Hole 4.

Photo: Wheeler Golfscapes

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BUCKET LIST Tee up these Colorado beauties

By Jay McKinney

1

FOSSIL TRACE GOLF CLUB, HOLE 1

2

DOS RIOS GOLF CLUB, HOLE 13

Golden – Designed by the renowned golf course architect Jim Engh, Golden’s premier public course is full of the characteristic undulations and deep bunkers that his designs are known for. Since it first opened in 2003, the 575-yard par 5 has been voted as the best starting hole in Colorado numerous times. One of the most interesting features of any golf course is the chimney incinerator from the 1940s that is placed in the center of the fairway. Regardless of the obstacle, a good tee shot will leave golfers with a choice of laying up or playing more aggressively in an attempt to reach the green in two shots.

Gunnison – If your ball has a tendency of finding water hazards, then prepare for a bumpy ride at Dos Rios Golf Club. The course takes its name from the Gunnison River that forks into two separate streams for 1,500 yards as it meanders through the golf course. The par-5 13th hole is especially memorable, with the river and a pond splitting it into two fairways and the green. Accuracy rewards distance as golfers make their way to the picturesque green with a backdrop of Hartman Rocks.

3

MNI INTERLOCKEN GOLF CLUB,HOLE 4 O (VISTA COURSE)

4

THE BROADMOOR GOLF CLUB, HOLE 10 (EAST COURSE)

Broomfield – With a renowned resort and three separate ninehole courses, the Omni Interlocken Golf Club in Broomfield is a short drive from Denver that offers tourists and locals an amazing golf experience. Hole 4 on the Vista Course is an uphill par 5 that slowly climbs to the top of the property. Once on the green, the view of the Front Range is incredible at an elevation of nearly 5,900 feet. Consider a twilight round to make the view even more memorable with a breathtaking sunset.

Colorado Springs – Aside from being one of the nicest resorts in the country, The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs is known for its spectacular golfing, with two separate 18-hole courses. Hole 10 on the East Course is a par 4 and a challenge for even the longest hitters, with a distance reaching 504 yards. Ironically, it is 20 yards longer than the seventh hole, which is a par 5. Golfers who wish to get a par or better should do their best to hit a draw off the tee that can play into the downhill slope of the fairway.

The shot to the green gives golfers a great view of downtown Colorado Springs and can hinder concentration, so beware.

July-August 2021

ThirstColorado.com 15

Fossil Trace, Hole 1.

Photo: Noy Sparks

5

OLF CLUB AT BEAR DANCE, G HOLE 16

Larkspur – Located between Denver and Colorado Springs off Interstate 25, Bear Dance has the feel of a course deep within the mountains with its secluded holes in a forest of pine trees. As the end of the round nears, make sure to take a moment and relish the panoramic view from the tee box on hole 16 before bombing a drive down into the fairway. From there, be careful to avoid the small water hazard that lies in front of the green.

6

ELICAN LAKES RESORT & P GOLF, HOLE 6

Windsor – Despite being a landlocked state, Colorado is home to the golf course that has laid claim to having the most shoreline in the entire country. Pelican Lakes Resort & Golf and Pelican Falls offers 27 holes of challenging golf in Windsor, with its expansive lakes and the Cache La Poudre River winding through the entire property.

Hole 6 is one of the more scenic holes that gives golfers a terrific view of Longs Peak from the elevated tee box. A fairway wood or hybrid is recommended off the tee on

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this par 4 but hitting a straight shot is most important. The entire left side of the hole is bordered by a lake that should not come as a surprise, and the fairway bunkers are equally important to avoid.

7

T HE HOMESTEAD GOLF COURSE, HOLE 1

Lakewood – While Homestead is an executive golf course at par 65, there’s no shortage of fun and challenging holes. One of the most exciting holes is 17, a par 3 with an elevated tee box that overlooks the south Denver metro area. The steep ravine that golfers must hit over to the narrow green atop a hill requires full concentration and there’s little room for error. For those who go long, good luck finding the ball on the bushy backside of the hill that drops off quickly.

8

RROWHEAD GOLF A CLUB, HOLE 13

Littleton – If Red Rocks Amphitheatre is the premier venue for concerts in Colorado, then hole 13 at Arrowhead should be awarded the premier par 3 with its strikingly similar view from the tee box. Perched among the towering red rock formations of

Roxborough State Park, which is adjacent to the golf course, this hole stands out even at a course with incredible scenery like Arrowhead. “Keep your eye on the ball” may be the most uttered phrase of advice at a golf course, but on this hole, it is especially difficult to not get distracted.

9

AVEN GOLF CLUB AT THREE R PEAKS, HOLE 14

Silverthorne – A downhill tee shot with spectacular views of the Gore Mountain Range makes the par-3 14th hole at Raven Golf Club a memorable one at this renowned mountain course in Silverthorne. A pond that hugs the front left side of the green will have golfers praying for a pin placement on the right. However, if they go too far right the large bunker won’t do them any favors if they plan on walking away with par.

10

AGOSA SPRINGS GOLF CLUB, P HOLE 3 (PINON COURSE)

Pagosa Springs – Precision is key on this short par 3 that is surrounded with hazardous terrain. Go short and the ball will find the large ditch directly in front of the green, leaving golfers with a steep uphill shot to get back into

play. Go left, right or long, and the trees and native grass can swallow up the ball and leave one with an equally challenging shot. The green on this hole slopes from back to front, so golfers should analyze their putt carefully if they are looking to save par. After the round, head down to the Pagosa Hot Springs and relax those muscles in the steamy pools alongside the San Juan River.

11

EDLANDS MESA GOLF R COURSE, HOLE 17

Grand Junction – The Golf Club at Redlands Mesa occupies 500 acres of land in the Grand Valley and is packed with extraordinary views of the Colorado National Monument and Grand Mesa. Hole 17 is a 218-yard par 3 that is awarded the signature hole with its vertigo-inducing elevation change from the tee box to the green. The panoramic view is second to none as golfers watch their ball sail through the air to the green nestled among the rocks.

12

EVIL’S THUMB GOLF D COURSE, HOLE 3

Delta – Devil’s Thumb Golf Course in Delta is a prairie-style links course located at the base of the Grand Mesa. The barren Adobe Hills contrasted with the green grass creates a unique landscape on many of the holes and has led some golfers to describe it as if you’re playing on the moon. Hole 3 is a par 4 that is reachable for long hitters, with the furthest tees being 342 yards from the green. Regardless of whether golfers try to go for the green in one shot or layup, they should do their best to avoid the bunkers on the right side.

13

T HE RIDGE AT CASTLE PINES NORTH, HOLE 18

Castle Pines – The par-4 18th hole at The Ridge has to be one of the most memorable finishing holes. Playing through the pine forest on the westside of the course, the back nine at The Ridge is distinctly different

from the front and is full of challenging holes with rewarding views. From the tee box on hole 18, take in the stunning view of Pikes Peak before hitting over the native area and into the fairway. Once on the green, the view of Devils Head and the Front Range framed between the tall pine trees is a reminder of why golf in Colorado is amazing.

14

E VERGREEN GOLF COURSE, HOLE 3

Evergreen – Evergreen Golf Course is an affordable course owned by the City of Denver that offers locals a fun mountain getaway with its tree-lined holes and abundance of wildlife. One of the most interesting holes on the course is number 3, a short par 3 that clocks in at barely 100 yards but entails a true blind shot. Directly in front of the tee box lies a large cluster of boulders with a spray-painted arrow directing golfers to the green on the other side. Those with their wedge distances dialed in will be rewarded on this hole

Arrowhead Golf Club, Hole 13.

Photo: Jay McKinney

July-August 2021

ThirstColorado.com 17

that favors accuracy over distance. After finishing, make sure to ring the bell to let the group behind know the green is clear.

15

I RONBRIDGE GOLF CLUB, HOLE 12

Glenwood Springs – Located in the Roaring Fork Valley just outside Glenwood Springs, Ironbridge Golf Club is a must-play for Colorado golf addicts. While the front nine is more modest with its flatter terrain and water hazards aplenty, the back nine is truly special.

Starting with hole 10, the course climbs dramatically in elevation and challenges golfers with a series of memorable holes that play through the canyon and along the mountainside. Holes 10 to 13 are all exceptional, but hole 12 really stands out.

The 435-yard par 4 drops nearly 100 feet from tee box to green, with an approach shot that needs to carry a deep ravine to reach the green.

Raven Golf Club at Three Peaks, Hole 14.

Photo: Premier Aerials

16

L AKOTA CANYON RANCH GOLF CLUB, HOLE 18

17

NTLER CREEK GOLF COURSE, A HOLE 15

New Castle – Hole 18 at Lakota Canyon Ranch Golf Club is a par 5 that will leave golfers with decisions to make on this closing hole. This par 5 covers more than 550 yards but it’s the shot to the green that can be a make-or-break moment with the required carry. Deciding whether to play this hole more aggressively and go for the green in two, versus a more conservative approach may hinge on the confidence gained or lost on the previous 17 holes.

Falcon – Measuring more than 8,000 yards from the tips, it’s only fitting that Colorado’s longest golf course would have a hole that is almost 700 yards. Hole 15 at Antler Creek is a knee-shaking par 5 with the furthest tees reaching over 690 yards. Even with a long shot off the tee box, golfers will have to grapple with a blind second shot that can carry the bunkers but remain short of the hazard separating the green from the fairway.

There’s no doubt that walking away with par will feel like a birdie on this monstrous hole.

18

ED SKY RANCH AND GOLF R CLUB–HOLE 16

Wolcott – Red Sky Ranch and Golf Club is a semi-private golf resort with two courses, one being designed by Tom Fazio and the other designed by legendary golfer Greg Norman.

On odd days this year, guests can play the Fazio course. On even days they can enjoy the Norman design. Hole 16 on the Fazio course is a lengthy par 4 reaching just over 500 yards and giving golfers amazing views of nearby Castle Peak and the Flattops. While two solid shots will be needed to reach the green in regulation, this hole has a dramatic change in elevation with the best drives hugging the left side and catching a favorable bounce to land in the center of the fairway.

Keep in mind, the altitude will also give the ball a little extra boost.

The Ridge at Castle Pines North, Hole 18.

Photo: Premier Aerials

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Jay McKinney is a Colorado native who recently graduated from Metro State University of Denver with a bachelor’s degree in communications. He loves spending time outdoors, playing golf and hiking.

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July-August 2021

The Grand Alliance unites three powerful forces in Denver soul, hip-hop

By Steve Graham

T

he Grand Alliance is like an Afrofuturist version of the Avengers, killing injustice and bad vibes with future funk jams.

The supergroup combines the talents of soul singer-songwriter Kayla Marque, rapper Sur Ellz and producer Crl Crrll. Before forming the Alliance and releasing a debut album this year, the three Denver musicians had worked together on a few projects, and partied together at weekly Meadowlark block parties and dance events including the Goodness and the Solution.

It took social media to bring them together, though. Crrll invited collaborators in a Facebook post. Marque and Ellz responded. Crrll was already working on the instrumental for “Chakra Khan,” and the trio finished the song that became the first Grand Alliance single.

“The lyrics came to me right away,” Ellz said. “Kayla and I write together and bounce ideas off each other. … It was just magical.

We did that song in less than a couple of hours.”

Only hours later, they were back at the Solution party, where they gave the track to a DJ. “We just recorded some heat today,” Ellz told the DJ. “Please trust us and throw this on. People are going to love it. Sure enough, they threw it on. We were just riding on such a high all day.”

He said the crowd loved the track.

THE HISTORY AND THE FUTURE

Marque has an uncle in Earth, Wind and Fire, and deep roots in soul music. She was previously in the Straight Nerdy Like Cool Kid, a Denver indie rock group. Her last solo project was the ambitious “Brain Chemistry” double album. She split the work into “left brain” and “right brain” releases to represent the light and dark sides of her personality.

Sur Ellz, aka Khalil Arcady, is a genrebending rapper and singer who created a variety of projects at the Denver School of the Arts, and isn’t afraid to write about his own struggles.

Crl Crll, aka Carl Carrell, is an in-demand content creator who has produced music for Marque, and crafted soundtracks, instrumental backdrops and explicitly political solo tracks.

The Grand Alliance is influenced by funk acts from Parliament and Earth, Wind and Fire to Prince and Anderson .Paak.

“You have elements of what’s kind of birthed in the 70s up through even early 2000s style of funk,” Ellz said.

SCI-FI SOUNDS

The lyrics also are wide-ranging and diverse, drawing on inclusive science fiction visions they call Afrofuturist.

“We all are fans of different realms of scifi,” Ellz said, citing Star Trek, Star Wars and Stargate-1. “So it’s the idea of immersing ourselves in this science fiction scenario that relates to the times we are in now, and using

the music as the super-thing that’s being sought after to help bring a change.”

Crll created a soundtrack for a science fiction graphic novel, but he said none of the members had worked on an explicitly Afrofuturist project before their self-titled debut.

“Grand Rising” is the centerpiece of the album, and something of a mission statement. Tribal beats give way to electronica over lyrics about ancestors, magic and “oneness.”

The band also addresses current events, though less explicitly. “‘United Funk’ has a political message, and a message to stand up for what’s right.”

Ellz said.

The album was a project of and a response to both the pandemic and the social justice protests of 2020.

“Every song that we made was in some form or fashion to empower the people of right now, going through all these things,” Crll said. “We started this project before coronavirus hit, and we finished it in the middle of the pandemic, where we were also experiencing the real pandemic of racism.”

The Grand Alliance will keep sharing that message, and hopes to perform more live shows, if possible, and even create a graphic novel or comic book to accompany the album.

Steve Graham is a freelance writer and former newspaper editor who takes his two boys biking, hiking and brewery-hopping in northern Colorado.

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VAIL DANCE FESTIVAL JULY 30 - AUGUST 9 Vail

Plan for a lively festival of performances, free events for the community, and educational activities. vaildance.org

HERITAGE FIRE BY COCHON 555 JULY 31 Snowmass Village

Light up your taste buds with a culinary experience featuring an all-star cast of Colorado’s greatest chefs who specialize in whole animal cookery. cochon555.com

AUGUST Photo Courtesy Leftover Salmon

LEFTOVER SALMON JULY 2-4 BUENA VISTA

One of Colorado’s favorite bands returns to the mountains for three days of jams in the South Editor’s Note: Please check websites and social media to make sure all events are going to be held under possible COVID-19 restrictions.

JULY

COLORADO MUSIC FESTIVAL JULY 1 – AUGUST 7 Boulder

Music Director Peter Oundjian leads the festival, which will include world-class talents such as Conrad Tao, Olga Kern and Augustin Hadelich. coloradomusicfestival.org

EL PASO COUNTY FAIR JULY 10-17 Calhan

Expect more than livestock during the fair, which includes a carnival, a car show, a smash-up derby and so much more. elpasocountyfair.com

ARAPAHOE COUNTY FAIR JULY 22-25 Aurora

Check out the carnival, the livestock, and of course the muttin’ bustin’ fun that is always entertaining. Follow that up with a craft beverage at the Pours on the Plains beer fest on Friday night. arapahoecountyfair.com

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Main neighborhood. Expect to hear some of the band’s latest offerings from the “Brand New Good Old Days” album.

southmainco.com/los

KEYSTONE BLUEGRASS AND BEER FESTIVAL AUGUST 7-8 Keystone

The 24th annual festival will celebrate the return of Appalachian bluegrass, string bands, craft beer, mountain merch and great food. keystonefestivals.com

CRESTED BUTTE MUSIC FESTIVAL JULY 23 – OCTOBER 1 Crested Butte

The Festival’s 25th season is guaranteed to bring back the crowds to hear music throughout the town and beyond. crestedbuttemusicfestival.org

THE MAN WHO MISTOOK HIS WIFE FOR A HAT JULY 24 Steamboat Springs

Look for Opera Steamboat’s world-class take on the opera, which was written by English musicologist Michael Laurence Nyman. operasteamboat.org

GUSTER WITH THE COLORADO SYMPHONY JULY 25 Morrison

Fans of Guster will love this collaboration with the Symphony when the lights go down at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. coloradosymphony.org

SNOWYGRASS MUSIC FESTIVAL JULY 30-31 Estes Park

Estes hosts the 6th annual festival with wideopen arms as people return to the beautiful town on the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park. snowygrass.com

OVERLAND EXPO MOUNTAIN WEST AUGUST 27-29 LOVELAND

Join the do-it-yourself adventure crowd for the three days of outdoor gear, 4-wheelers, motorcycles,

CANDLELIGHT OPEN AIR: FROM BACH TO THE BEATLES AUGUST 11 Lakewood

A talented string quartet performs classical and contemporary music from Bach to the Beatles in Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park. lakewood.org/government

VAIL WINE CLASSIC AUGUST 12-15 Vail

Attendees can expect four days of wine dinners, paired lunches, seminars and winemakers from around the globe in the Vail Valley. vailwineclassic.com

WU-TANG CLAN WITH THE COLORADO SYMPHONY AUGUST 13 Morrison

The Symphony will prove its dexterity once again as it gets together with Wu Tang Clan, in addition to OutKast’s Big Boi and DJ Chris Karns, for a night of fun at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. coloradosymphony.org

classes, demonstrations and more. More than 250 vendors will offer information on camping gear, bikes and other services. overlandexpo.com/mtnwest

Photo Courtesy Blues and BBQ for Better Housing

BLUES & BBQ FOR BETTER HOUSING JULY 17 EDGEWATER

The 24th annual festival returns to Citizens Park in Edgewater with an incredible lineup of nine

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TELLURIDE JAZZ FESTIVAL AUGUST 13-15 Telluride

STONEWALL CENTURY RIDE AUGUST 14 La Veta

BLUES FROM THE TOP AUGUST 14

HOT ROD ROCK & RUMBLE AUGUST 27-29 Fountain

The 44th annual festival in the San Juan Mountains will feature Galactic, Robert Glasper, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and many more. telluridejazz.org

The 18th annual weekend of blues in Winter Park will feature Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Eric Gales, Sugaray Rayford and others. grandblues.org

THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO AUGUST 14 Steamboat Springs

W.A. Mozart’s classic tale is performed by Opera Steamboat at the Steamboat Christian Center. operasteamboat.org

FEAST OF SAINT ARNOLD’S AUGUST 14 Colorado Springs

The family friendly beer festival returns with great music, including The Mitguards, Cari Dell, and Wirewood Station. feastofsaintarnold.com

Photo: Courtesy Overland Expo Mountain West

bands, as well as food, beer and booths for all ages. The proceeds benefit Denver’s Habitat for Humanity.

As in-person events return to Colorado, please let us know about your favorites.

Drop a line to joe@thirstcolorado.com

The 18th annual ride covers 102 miles and 7,500 feet of elevation gain. Bring your cycling A-game for this adventure. spanishpeakscountry.com

Check out the hot rods on and off the track while jamming to several bands. Food, drink and all things motorsports are on tap. hotrodrock.com

TACO FEST AUGUST 28 Boulder

Lucha libre wrestling, live music, craft beer and tons of tacos make this event a hoot for all ages. bouldertacofest.com

SEPTEMBER

SKA ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION SEP 4 Durango

Ska celebrates its 25th and 26th anniversaries with more than 20 of its brewing friends from around Colorado. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones will provide the jams. skabrewing.com July-August 2021

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HONORING THE PAST AT THE UTE INDIAN MUSEUM IN MONTROSE Explore the traditions of Colorado’s early inhabitants

By Jay McKinney

F

or more than 60 years, Colorado’s first inhabitants have been honored through the renowned Ute Indian Museum located in Montrose. Originally built in 1956 near the ranch of Chief Ouray’s original 8.65-acre homestead site, it is a unique Native American museum because it is dedicated specifically to the Utes. The museum and its grounds are listed in the National Register of Historic Places and are linked to a citywide trail system that includes picnic areas and

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walking paths. Also located on the grounds is a native plants garden, Chief Ouray memorial park and the gravesite of Ouray’s wife, Chipeta.

The museum connects the past with contemporary Ute life, and the exhibits emphasize their history of adaptation and persistence, with a central theme of geography as significant locations in Ute history are highlighted. One Ute tradition that is examined through the museum is the celebration of the Bear Dance.

“It’s every spring that they celebrate the bear coming out of hibernation, and this is something that was given to them long ago,” says museum director CJ Brafford. “It brings the three Ute tribes together and so it’s about coming together, telling the stories of the past year, how everything went, how the winter went, it’s just a great time for storytelling.”

Brafford compares the Bear Dance to Christmas or Easter in the non-Ute world: an annual event that has a storied history. While

all three Ute tribes recognize the Bear Dance as a time of renewal, seeing relatives and celebrating new births and marriages, each tribe has its own particular Bear Dance.

If you’re interested in seeing some prehistoric Ute art, make sure to check out the Shavano Valley Rock Art Site that is regarded as one of the most amazing prehistoric art sites in the world. Located on the cliff face and surrounding boulders of the southwest end of the Shavano Valley, hundreds of years of petroglyphs can be seen if you book a docent-led tour with the Ute Indian Museum. The rock art of the Shavano Valley is roughly 5 miles from Montrose and the museum suggests booking tours in advance, as availability is limited.

The museum also offers a Hands-On History Summer Camp for children ages 6 and up.

“Every week is a different theme, so just for the first few weeks we’ve got an archeology camp, the second week is a rocks and fossils camp, followed by an explore mother earth camp and then week four is going to be everything artsy,” says museum education director Carly Jones.

With award-winning exhibits and multiple educational opportunities, the Ute Indian Museum is a gem in the Montrose community and is well worth the visit when in the area. Given their status as the first inhabitants of Colorado, residents and visitors could benefit by learning about the Ute Indians and their connection to this beautiful state.

Jay McKinney is a Colorado native who recently graduated from Metro State University of Denver with a bachelor’s degree in communications. He loves spending time outdoors, playing golf and hiking.

UTE INDIAN HISTORY IN COLORADO Dating back to at least the 1300s, The Ute Indians were the earliest people to reside in Colorado, with their ancestral land covering vast portions of Colorado and Utah. In fact, Utah is actually named after the Ute Indians. Given their nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle, some Ute bands would frequently venture into surrounding areas that now encompass Wyoming, New Mexico, and Arizona as they searched for reliable food sources. Their reputation as resilient Rocky Mountain travelers is evidenced by the fact that many of the modern highway systems follow ancient Ute trails.

The Ute Indians had a deep connection to the land they inhabited, and they idolized some of the state’s natural wonders that people still flock to today. For instance, Pikes Peak was a sacred ceremonial site, with the Tabeguache Ute’s calling it Tavakiev, which means sun mountain. While the Utes occupied a large area of land throughout Colorado and Utah, the Colorado Springs region was known as their domain. Artifacts have been found in nearby Garden of the Gods, and Manitou Springs was also regarded as a sacred place, where the Utes and other tribes would spend winters and share the mineral springs in peace.

Known for scenic views that are reminiscent of the Swiss Alps, the mountain town of Ouray is actually named after the legendary Ute Chief Ouray, who was appointed as the spokesman for the tribe during the 1800s. While the Utes did not have one designated chief for the entire tribe, Ouray’s ability to speak multiple languages allowed him to negotiate with the European settlers who were infringing upon their territory in an effort to mine the land for gold and silver.

Today there are only three remaining Ute tribes: the Southern Utes reside in southern Colorado along with the Ute Mountain Utes, who also inhabit portions of New Mexico and Utah. The largest population of Utes reside in northeastern Utah on the Uintah-Ouray Reservation.

Photos Courtesy Ute Indian Museum

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PEACHY IN PALISADE After five generations, Talbott’s Farm is more than just an orchard

By Steve Graham

I

t all started with a letter to an Iowa farmer. Talbott’s Farm grows some of Colorado’s most coveted fruit, and crafts plenty of hard cider and wine. And the whole operation began 114 years ago with a letter.

Before TV advertising and Facebook campaigns, land developers on the Western Slope tried to attract buyers by sending letters directly to Iowa farmers.

Joseph Evan Yeager was one of those grain farmers, attracted by the promise of better weather and rich alluvial soils.

He was among a wave of rural Iowans who settled in the Grand Valley.

Yeager’s 5th generation descendent Bruce Talbott said at least half of the Palisade population was originally from Iowa, inspiring an Iowa Street in town, and Iowa Day celebrations in Grand Junction in the early 1900s.

Yeager moved to Palisade and started growing peaches and other fruit in 1907.

The Talbott family married into the Yeager family and more than a century later, the family now oversees a 550-acre operation that includes the Talbott’s Mountain Gold orchards and wine vineyards, as well as Talbott’s Cider Company, Centennial Cellars wines, and a popular line of sweet ciders and juices.

Talbott’s has the largest orchards in the area, and is known for supporting and helping other Mesa County businesses.

“The Talbott family are icons in the Palisade area,” said Julia Durmaj, acting director of the Palisade Chamber of Commerce. “Not only have they been farming here for over 100 years but they have been a predominant influence to so many other farmers in the area, always willing to give a ‘hand up’ to those who need advice about their crops.”

Yeager’s great great grandson Harry Talbott is credited with building both the family business and the larger Palisade peach industry. He died earlier this year, and his sons and grandsons now help run the business.

The Grand Valley is known for an ideal combination of climate and soil conditions, resulting in large, sweet and flavorful fruit. Talbott’s Mountain Gold was once primarily an apple farm, but it is now best known for piles of peaches every August.

“The peach industry is our sweetheart,” Bruce said. “It’s what allows us to do the other things we do.”

In the mid-20th Century, Colorado peach farmers were mostly supplying a large population of home canners.

“People back then had big gardens,” Bruce said. “They were already canning tomatoes and sweet corn and pickles and whatever else. Peaches were just one more thing that they canned.”

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Photos Courtesy Talbott’s Farms

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He said home canning started to phase out in the 1970s, when Del Monte and other large companies started selling really cheap canned fruit. The Talbotts’ business took a hit, but by the 1980s, they started selling fresh peaches directly to supermarkets in the region.

Now, Talbott’s grows enough peaches to drive them over the Continental Divide every day and stock pop-up peach stands along the Front Range and in neighboring states.

“We try to keep an endless parade of peaches headed into the system,” Bruce said.

Talbott’s now grows 35 varieties, and sells ripe peaches from July 1 to Oct. 1. Last year, only 15 percent of the peach harvest survived a cold and late spring. Bruce expects about 80 percent of the peach harvest to make it to stores and farm stands this year.

Talbott’s orchards used to be 90-percent apples, but consolidation and industry changes have moved nearly all domestic apple production to the Pacific Northwest.

In 1983, Bruce started pressing apples and making sweet cider.

“We were trying to find something to do with our off-grade (apples),” Bruce said.

Now Talbott’s grows no apples, but still makes plenty of cider — both sweet and hard.

Harry’s grandson Charles Talbott turned his interest in home brewing into a new

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Talbott’s venture in 2015. He is the director of operations for Talbott’s Cider Company. It is one of the state’s most recognizable hard cider brands, even though Washington and Oregon apples comprise most of the cider.

In 2019, the family launched the Centennial Cellars wine brand. Charles said it has been hard to compete on crowded bottled wine shelves, but he jumped on the canned wine bandwagon in May. Following in the footsteps of Denver trailblazer Infinite Monkey Theorem, the company is now focusing on a variety of 375 ml wine cans, and only bottling special reserve wines. He said he is hoping to help boost the reputation of Colorado wines.

“I’m starting to have a little more confidence that in the next 20 years, the

Colorado wine industry is going to be pretty big. I think we are putting ourselves on the map,” Charles said.

The wine and cider is available in the Talbott’s taproom on a hill overlooking Palisade. The taproom also hosts guest wines and ciders, and has a small market that sells a wide variety of local produce and other Colorado products.

“We really focus on collaboration,” Charles said. “We want the entire industry working together, and that will raise everyone’s boat.”

Steve Graham is a freelance writer and former newspaper editor who takes his two boys biking, hiking and brewery-hopping in northern Colorado.

PEACH FESTIVAL IS COMING BACK A great time to enjoy Talbott’s peaches is on Aug. 19 to 21 at the 52nd annual Palisade Peach Festival, which returns this year after a pandemic-related cancellation last summer.

The event opens with a Thursday afternoon ice cream social and street dance in the downtown plaza. The rest of the weekend includes a parade, orchard tours, food demos, live music, a car show and more.

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DRY STORAGE – MORE THAN JUST A BAKERY Great taste is deeply ingrained Story and Photos By Kristin Owens

D

ry Storage isn’t just a bakery. It’s a mill. And a laboratory. Basically, it’s a complete concept that champions a new food ecosystem. A tall order, but one the health-conscious and environmentally friendly Boulder community has embraced.

James Beard-nominated chef Kelly Whitaker is the force behind Dry Storage. After years of culinary experience around the world, he moved back to Colorado in 2010. Whitaker understood the farm-to-table movement, but wanted to embrace Colorado cuisine.

He asked, what makes it unique? How does the soil, water and altitude affect baking? It turns out, it’s all about the grains.

Dry Storage uses five varieties of heirloom grains that have more robust roots and regenerative factors than large industrial crops. They are more sustainable and reduce climate change impacts – a better farming solution for everyone. By using locally grown grains, carbon footprints are reduced during transportation. They’re also, “culturally relevant,” Whitaker says. And in Colorado, there’s no shortage of them. As a trained chef, he recognized the grains are a “beautiful medium for year-round menus.”

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“It’s a pivotal moment for Colorado … the grain business fuels so many people.”

– Chef Kelly Whitaker

Photo: Jeff Fierberg

Co-owners Kelly Whitaker (above) and Erika Whitaker.

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With that in mind, Whitaker built a mill: a 3,000-square-foot facility that grinds 200 acres of Colorado grains into flour using traditional granite stone. The bakery uses the flour in-house, sells bags to retail customers and offers it wholesale to chefs and restaurants. The result? “A regional grain opportunity at the highest level,” Whitaker says. In a year nearly wrecked by a pandemic, Dry Storage sold nearly 1 million pounds of its milled flours.

Inside the bakery, it’s a state-of-the-art operation. Clean lines, black and white simplicity, and a bespoke selection of gourmet breads resting under a cube of plexiglass. They bake sourdough, French baguettes, English muffins and seeded loaves. Co-owner Erika Whitaker says customers call it “the Apple store for bread.”

She says their goal is to, “change the white-bread sandwich mentality.” There are many delicious options that they provide to customers.

But as with any successful business, it’s a learning process. The research and development room offers opportunities to continually tweak recipes and evolve.

Recently, staff was researching laminations, a program used in producing croissants.

And when you think it couldn’t be more scientific, they even use the metric system.

Kelly Whitaker says, “it’s a pivotal moment for Colorado … the grain business fuels so many people.” Distillers, maltsters, brewers, bakers and others are all tied to the farmland.

A select menu offers delicious quiche, miso soup, and Smorrebrod with a daily rotating topping on rye. Is it breakfast or lunch? Who cares? With a natural wine, beer and Devocion coffee, Dry Storage also has all the drink options covered. Between buying local, supporting locally produced organic grains, and positively impacting the local food climate, customers deserve that extra croissant. Just make sure to show up Tuesday through Sunday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Contributor Kristin Owens passed the Court of Master Sommeliers’ Introductory Examination and travels the world looking for a good $10 bottle of wine. She’s a full-time writer based in Fort Collins.

THE LINE UP

11 AM Nick of Time 12 PM Teledonna 1 PM Mojo Mama 2 PM Eef & The Blues Express 3 PM The Cass Clayton Band

4 PM Zeppll 5 PM Cast Iron Queens 6 PM Wild Love Tigress 7 PM The Duke Street Kings

For more information or to purchase tickets online visit

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July-August 2021

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FROM GRIDIRON TO GRAPES, JOHN ELWAY’S JOURNEY CONTINUES 7CELLARS PIVOTS AND CONTINUES TO GROW WINE BRAND

By Joe Ross

J

ohn Elway learned to think on the fly as an NFL quarterback. When things looked insurmountable, he’d call an audible to help move his team down the field.

Jump forward to 2020 and Elway and his team at 7Cellars figured out a way to outsmart the defense – in this case COVID-19.

The Denver-based wine company shifted marketing efforts and began pushing its lineup of moderately priced products online, oftentimes with free shipping. Up to 50 percent of the brand was moving online, and more people were putting 7Cellars in their glasses.

“It’s all about our team and how they work together,” Elway says. “We want to build the (brand) for the long term, like every team I’ve been a part of.”

To launch 7Cellars, Elway’s executives included Robert Mondavi Jr., as well as 30-year business partner Jeff Sperbeck.

Dan Foster serves as president.

A fourth-generation wine maker, Mondavi Jr.’s family has produced awardwinning wines in the Napa Valley since the 1960s.

Working with Mondavi Jr. to create a wine brand seemed to be a perfect fit after the success Elway had with Elway’s restaurants, located in Cherry Creek, downtown Denver, Denver International Airport and Vail.

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Last year, when restaurants were closed and unable to sell wine, Sperbeck said the online push began. That was accompanied by adding more liquor stores and outlets such as Costco to the distribution list.

“COVID definitely slowed the process,” Sperbeck says. “But when one door closes, another one opens.”

Although up to 80 percent of the wine was sold in Colorado just two years ago, nationwide shipping also has increased outof-state sales tremendously, Sperbeck adds.

7Cellars offers the Elway Reserve, which hit the market in 2015 with a cabernet sauvignon and a chardonnay. That was followed up with a lower price point: The Farm Collection, which includes a cab, a chardonnay and a pinot noir. The Farm Collection references Elway’s playing days at Stanford University, which has carried the nickname The Farm since the school’s inception. “We have the right price and a great product,” Elway says, which has resulted in a winning combination.

Elway says Broncos head coach Vic Fangio was one of the first from the Broncos to give the thumbs up to 7Cellars cabernet sauvignon. “Vic’s a wine drinker,” he says, “He likes to eat meatballs and he says they go great with the cab.”

Additionally, “every one of the varietals gives to a cause,” he points out. Elway and

Photos Courtesy 7Cellars

7Cellars recently donated funds to Team Rubicon, which trains and deploys veterans to help out in areas where disasters such as hurricanes have taken place.

7Cellars also has teamed up with OneHope, which provides charitable funds to organizations around the world.

We want to build them for the long term. Like any team I’ve been a part of.

– John Elway

As for the future, 7Cellars plans to open a tasting room this summer in Rutherford, California, in the Napa Valley. In addition, Elway says 7Cellars is exploring the spirits scene and could produce a whiskey soon.

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DENVER JAZZ ICON

Ron Miles Continues to Compose Music While Inspiring the Next Generation

By Jay McKinney

I

f you’re not well versed in contemporary jazz, it may come as a surprise to find out that Denver is home to one of the genre’s heavy hitters. Ron Miles is a cornetist, trumpeter and composer who is as modest as the day is long, despite his career achievements. He’s quick to give credit to his fellow bandmates and his kind, soft-spoken demeanor makes him seem like a character out of “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.” Miles has lived in Denver since he moved from Indiana with his family when he was 11. Since then, he has established himself as a prominent figure in jazz, as well as the Denver community.

Miles developed an interest in jazz when he was in middle school and instrumental music was still a major part of the culture. In his youth, musicians like Maynard Ferguson and Chuck Mangione could be heard on the radio and helped foster his love of the genre. His parents also spoke of the monumental impact that legends such as Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Wes Montgomery, Thelonious Monk and Ella Fitzgerald had on the culture and this laid the groundwork for him to become a jazz master.

His preferred instrument is the often-overlooked cornet, which is related to the trumpet but provides a mellower tone. “The cornet lets me sit in the texture of the band,” Miles says. “The cornet originally was the jazz instrument. But when Louis (Armstrong) switched to trumpet, basically everyone switched as he is the most important figure in the music.”

Miles says there have been some notable cornetists since Armstrong’s decision to switch, with some of his personal influences being Don Cherry, Olu Dara, Ruby Braff and Thad Jones.

Listen to Miles’ latest album, “Rainbow Sign,” released in October 2020, and get a true sense of what the cornet can bring to a jazz ensemble. Recorded with fellow musicians Bill Frisell (guitar), Jason Moran (piano), Thomas Morgan (bass) and Brian Blade (drums), the album has been critically successful and contains elements of pop and blues in addition to jazz.

Miles admits he was an unabashed jazz and classical snob, but the influence of pop music found in Rainbow Sign has been profound. “In my heart there was always a love for pop music, and once I let that influence resonate, my music started to sing,” Miles says. Some of his pop music influences include artists such as Prince, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, The Bee Gees and Public Enemy.

When Miles isn’t composing and performing his own music, he shares his love of jazz with younger generations as a teacher at the Metropolitan State University of Denver where he has taught for nearly 30 years.

One of his colleagues at Metro, fellow jazz trumpet player Shane Endsley, describes Miles as an incredibly important inspiration and mentor.

Endsley has been at Metro for just five years but he has known Miles his entire life. Endsley’s father was a professional trumpet player, music publisher and instrument maker who would collaborate with Miles frequently.

When Endsley started falling in love with jazz in high school, he took advantage of the family connection and started informally studying under Miles by going over to his house whenever he could. In addition, Endsley would often

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Photo : Rafael Barker Photography

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check out his gigs, noting that he was more active playing live music in those days.

Now that Endsley teaches jazz at the same university with Miles, one might say their relationship has come full circle.

“I think a really thoughtful teacher is someone who is always looking to develop the personal voice of their student,” Endsley says.

“I just always get the sense with him that he’s just really trying to open up creativity and inspiration for the person he’s working with, and also of course, imparting the important technical and fundamental information.”

As expected, Endsley is encouraged by Miles’ teaching style and implements that same approach in his own career as a teacher. And while his inspiration among Metro students is undeniable, Endsley says Miles is also an inspiration to Denver musicians in general.

“It’s lucky for us to have someone who’s such a world-class, innovative musician like that here in Denver,” Endsley says.

“Just the fact that he’s been able to build this international career from this home base in Denver has always been something really kind of unique and cool about Ron’s career.”

When asked about his own mentors as a young musician, Miles mentioned Jerry Noonan, Neil Bridge, Dave Caffey, Ron Jolly, Fred Hess, Bruno Carr, Bruce Odland and many others as people he met in Denver before turning 20 who helped shape his career.

“The biggest common denominator is they all saw potential in me and gave me a chance without expecting anything in return,” Miles says. “Beyond that I love and respect this art form and try my darnedest to get as good as I could. Outside of my biological family, the Lord has made music, musicians and music lovers the shepherds for my life.”

That potential guided him to the Duke Performance Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, and the Village Vanguard in New York City, two of his favorite venues. Closer to home, he cites Old Main on the CU Boulder campus as his favorite venue in Colorado.

40 ThirstColorado.com

July-August 2021

“In my heart there was always a love for pop music, and once I let that influence resonate, my music started to sing.”

— Ron Miles

In a city like Denver, with no particular musical identity, it can be difficult for upand-coming musicians to attain success.

Miles has established himself as a prominent figure in jazz, but he acknowledges the challenges the city can pose. He says, “It’s really hard to make music in a vacuum here.

You are going to be exposed to different styles and traditions and if you welcome and respect that variety, you can be happy. Fight it and you will be frustrated.”

He says the greatest musicians from here embody that respect of musical variety with Bill Frisell and Rudy Royston immediately coming to mind.

Given Miles’ prestigious career, one could envision him living somewhere

like New Orleans, playing in esteemed nightclubs late into the night. But there’s no place like home, and Denver is home to Miles. “My family is here,” he says. “This is the community that has supported and guided me.”

Unfortunately, the restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic kept Miles from playing his latest music live, but as things return to normal, be on the lookout for one of his performances.

Jay McKinney is a Colorado native who recently graduated from Metro State University of Denver with a bachelor’s degree in communications. He loves spending time outdoors, playing golf and hiking.

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COLORADO BREWERY, DIS ● – Serves Food ● – Food Truck ● – Live Music

BREWERIES ARVADA Denver Beer Co

Unnamed Beer Co

Colorado Mountain Brewery ●

LODO

Ratio Beerworks ● ●

Uhl’s Brewing Co

Dueces Wild Brewery ●

Denver Chophouse ●

River North Brewery

Upslope Brewing Co ● ●

FH Beerworks ●

Great Divide Brewing Co ● ●

Very Nice Brewing ●

Fossil Craft Beer Co ●

Jagged Mountain Craft Brewery ●

Vision Quest Brewing Co

Funky Town Brewing

Rock Bottom Denver ●

West Flanders Brewing Co ● ●

Goat Patch Brewing Co ●

Sandlot Brewery

Wild Provisions Beer Project

JAKs Brewing Co ●

Wynkoop Brewing Co ●

Local Relic ●

Elevated Seltzer ● ●

BRIGHTON/FREDERICK/ERIE

LUKI Brewery

Big Choice Brewing

New Image Brewing ●

Flood Stage Ale Works ●

Odyssey Beerwerks ● ●

Mirror Image Brewing Co

Resolute Brewing Tap & Cellar ●

Mountain Cowboy Brewing Co

Someplace Else Brewery

Something Brewery

AURORA

BROOMFIELD/WESTMINSTER

Phantom Canyon ● ●

Bent Barley Brewing Co

4 Noses Brewing Co ●

Red Leg Brewing ●

BJ’s ●

BJ’s ●

Red Swing Brewhouse

Cheluna Brewing Co

Frolic Brewing Co ●

Rock Bottom Colorado Springs ●

Dry Dock Brewing Co North Dock ●

Gordon Biersch ●

Dry Dock Brewing Co South Dock ●

Kokopelli Beer Co ● ●

Launch Pad Brewery

Rails End Beer Co ● ●

Peak to Peak Tap & Brew ●

Westminster Brewing Co

Two22 Brew ●

Wonderland Brewing Co ● ●

Ursula Brewing Co

CAÑON CITY AREA

BAILEY

Florence Brewing

DENVER

Mad Jack’s Mountain Brewery ● ● ●

World’s End Brewing Co

BOULDER AREA

CASTLE ROCK AREA

12Degree Brewing ●

105 West Brewing Co ●

Asher Brewing Co

Burly Brewing ● ●

Avery Brewing ●

The Elizabeth Brewing Co

Beyond the Mountain Brewing Co

Great Divide Brewing & Roadhouse

BJ’s ●

Iron Mule Brewery

Busey Brews

Rockyard Brewing Co ●

Cellar West Artisan Ales ●

Wild Blue Yonder Brewing Co ●

Crystal Springs Brewing Co

Lost Friend Brewing ● Manitou Brewing Co ● Metric Brewing ● Nano 108 ● Paradox Beer Co ● Peaks N Pines Brewing Co ●

Rocky Mountain Brewery ●

Burns Family Artisan Ales Cervecería Colorado ● ● Denver Beer Co ● ● Little Machine Beer ● Raices Brewing Co Seedstock Brewery ● ● Strange Craft Beer Co ● ● Tivoli Brewing ● Zuni St. Brewing Co ●

Comrade Brewing ● comradebrewing.com 720.748.0700 7677 E Iliff Ave Denver

Copper Kettle Brewing Co ●

SOUTHWEST DENVER Chain Reaction Brewing Co ● Crazy Mountain Brewing Co ● ● Renegade Brewing Co

WHEAT RIDGE/EDGEWATER/ LAKEWOOD 6 and 40 Brewery Barquentine Brewing Co Brewery Rickoli ● Colorado Plus Brew Pub ● ●

Storybook Brewing ●

Blue Tile Brewing

Great Frontier Brewing Co

Trinity Brewing ●

J. Moe’s Brew Pub ●

Green Mountain Beer Co

Whistle Pig Brewing Co ● ●

NORTHWEST DENVER

Joyride Brewing Co ●

Amalgam Brewing

Landlocked Ales

Bruz Beers ●

Old 121 Brewhouse

BAKER/SOUTH BROADWAY

Call to Arms Brewing Co ●

Westfax Brewing Co

Baere Brewing Co

De Steeg Brewing

DURANGO AREA

Banded Oak Brewing Co

Diebolt Brewing Co ● ●

Animas Brewing Co ●

Black Project Spontaneous & Wild Ales

The Empourium Brewing Co

Bottom Shelf Brewery ●

Factotum Brewhouse

Carver Brewing Co ●

Dos Luces

FlyteCo Brewing

Dolores River Brewery ● ●

Grandma’s House

Goldspot Brewing Co ● ●

Durango Beer and Ice Co

Lowdown Brewery + Kitchen ● Novel Strand Brewing Co

Grateful Gnome Sandwich Shoppe + Brewery ●

J. Fargo’s Family Dining & Micro Brewery ●

Platt Park Brewing Co ●

Hogshead Brewery ●

Main Street Brewery & Restaurant ●

Oasis Brewing Co ● ●

Mancos Brewing Co ●

Prost Brewing Co ●

Ska Brewing Co ● ●

TRVE Brewing Co

Finkel & Garf Brewing Co

3 Freaks Brewery ●

Front Range Brewing Co ● ●

Blue Spruce Brewing Co ● ●

CAPITOL HILL/E COLFAX/ PARK HILL

Gravity Brewing ● ●

C.B. & Potts Highlands Ranch ●

Gunbarrel Brewing Co

Grist Brewing Co ●

Industrial Revolution Brewing Co

Halfpenny Brewing Co ● ●

Kettle and Spoke Brewery

Lone Tree Brewing Co

Knotted Root Brewing Co

Resolute Brewing Co

Liquid Mechanics Brewing Co ● ●

Rock Bottom Centennial ●

Mossdeep Brewing Co

Rock Bottom Highlands Ranch ●

Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery ●

Spice Trade Brewing Co

Alpine Dog Brewing Co Bruz Off Fax Cerebral Brewing ● ● Counter Culture Brewery & Grille ● Fiction Beer Co ● Lady Justice Brewing Long Table Brewhouse ● Pints Pub ● Station 26 Brewing Co ● Vine Street Pub & Brewery ●

RINO

10 Barrel Brewing Co ● ● 10barrel.com 720.573.8992 2620 Walnut St Denver

14er Brewing Altitude Brewing & Supply

Steamworks Brewing Co ● WildEdge Brewing Collective

EAGLE COUNTY 7 Hermits Brewing Co ● Bonfire Brewing ● Gore Range Brewery ● Vail Brewing Co ● ●

Bierstadt Lagerhaus ●

ENGLEWOOD AREA

Black Shirt Brewing Co ● ●

Brewability Lab ● ●

Blue Moon Brewing Co ● ●

Peak View Brewing Co

Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project

Oskar Blues Brewery ● ●

Atrevida Beer Co ●

The Post Brewing Co ● ●

Battle Mountain Brewing ●

DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Redgarden Restaurant & Brewery ●

BierWerks Brewery ● ●

Sanitas Brewing Co ● ●

Black Forest Brewing Co ●

Tom’s Urban Diner and Tivoli Brewing ●

Ska Street Brewstillery

Brass Brewing Co ●

FIVE POINTS

New Belgium - The Woods at the Source

Southern Sun ●

Bristol Brewing ●

Spangalang Brewery

Odell Brewing Co

Stein Brewing Co

Cerberus Brewing Co ●

Woods Boss Brewing

FAIRPLAY

Our Mutual Friend

Twisted Pine Brewing ● ●

Cogstone Brewing Co ● ●

South Park Brewing Co ●

42 ThirstColorado.com

July-August 2021

®

Smiling Toad Brewery ●

CENTENNIAL/LONE TREE/ HIGHLANDS RANCH

COLORADO SPRINGS AREA

Briar Common Brewery + Eatery ●

Bull and Bush Brewery ● ●

NORTHEAST DENVER

Echo Brewing Co ●

Odd 13 Brewing Inc ● ●

MILE HI/AURARIA

SOUTHEAST DENVER

Epic Brewing Co ● Great Divide Brewing Co ● ● Mockery Brewing ●

ESTES PARK Avant Garde Aleworks Estes Park Brewery ● Lumpy Ridge Brewing Co Rock Cut Brewing Co

TILLERY & CIDERY LINEUP FORT COLLINS AREA

New Terrain Brewing ● ●

LONGMONT

Reservoir Brewing Co

Amalgam Brewing

Anheuser-Busch

Ohm Brewing

300 Suns Brewing ●

Shamrock Brewing ●

Beer by Design

BJ’s ●

Over Yonder Brewing

Bootstrap Brewing ● ●

Walter Brewery & Taproom

Black Sheep Brewery

Black Bottle Brewery ● Coopersmith’s Pub & Brewing ● Crooked Stave Brewing DC Oakes Brewhouse & Eatery ● Envy Brewing Equinox Brewing ● Funkwerks Gilded Goat Brewing Co Horse & Dragon Brewing Co Intersect Brewing Jessup Farm Barrel House ●

GRAND JUNCTION AREA Dented Face Brewing Co Edgewater Brewery ● Kannah Creek Brewing Co ● Mad Russian Brewing Co Monumental Beer Works Palisade Brewing Co ● ● Ramblebine Brewing Co ● The Rockslide Restaurant and Brewery ●

Collision Brewing Co ●

Centennial Beer Co

Grossen Bart Brewery ● ●

SALIDA/BUENA VISTA/ CRESTONE/LEADVILLE

Left Hand Brewing Co ●

Crestone Brewing Co ●

Dive Bar Brewing Co

Oskar Blues Brewing ●

Eddyline Restaurant and Brewing Co ●

Donovan Brewing Co

Outworld Brewing Primitive Beer Pumphouse Brewery ● Shoes and Brews Wibby Brewing ● ●

LOVELAND/BERTHOUD

Ceria Brewing

Durango Brewing Co

Elevation Beer Co ● Moonlight Pizza and Brewpub ● Soulcraft Brewing

Gemini Beer Co Idylwilde Brewing The Larimer Beer Co

Tres Litros Beer Co

New Planet Beer

Two Mile Brewing Co ●

Open Door Brewing Co

SOUTHWEST COLORADO

Rustica

Avalanche Brewing Co ●

Sleeping Giant Brewing Social Order Brewing

GREELEY AREA

5030 Local ●

Brix Taphouse and Brewery ● ●

Mash Lab Brewing

Berthoud Brewing Co

Broken Plow Brewery

Maxline Brewing

Big Beaver Brewing Co ●

Colorado Boy Brewery - Montrose, Ouray, Ridgeway ●

Crabtree Brewing ● ●

Golden Block Brewery ●

McClellan’s Brewing Co ● ●

Big Thompson Brewery

G5 Brew Pub ●

Horsefly Brewing Co ● ●

New Belgium Brewing Co ● ●

City Star Brewing ●

Green Earth Brewing

Crow Hop Brewing

Ouray Brewery ●

Odell Brewing Co ● ●

High Hops Brewery ● ●

Drätz Brewing Co

Ourayle House Brewery

Old Colorado Brewing Co

Lonesome Buck Brewing Co ●

Red Mountain Brewing ●

Pitchers Brewery ●

Grimm Brothers Brewhouse

Mighty River Brewing Co

Smuggler’s Brewpub ●

Prost Brewing Co

Loveland Aleworks

Sheaf & Kettle Brewery

Stoik Beer Co

Purpose Brewing

Rock Bottom ●

WeldWerks Brewing Co

Rock Coast Brewery

Telluride Brewing Co

DENVER/BOULDER

Rally King Brewing

Wiley Roots Brewing Co ●

Verboten Brewing Co

Two Rascals Brewing Co

52Eighty Distilling - Littleton

GUNNISON/CRESTED BUTTE

MONUMENT

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS AREA

The Eldo Brewpub & Venue ● ●

Pikes Peak Brewing Co ● ●

Butcherknife Brewing Co

The Marmot Fort Collins

Ramskeller Brewery ● Red Truck Beer ● Snowbank Brewing Soul Squared Brewing Co ● Sparge Brewing Timnath Beerwerks Zwei Brewing Co ● ●

FRUITA Copper Club Brewing Co ● Suds Brothers Brewery ● ●

GLENWOOD SPRINGS/ CARBONDALE/ASPEN

High Alpine Brewing Co ● Irwin Brewing Co

Tumbleweed Brewing & Wine Co

Cabin Creek Brewing ●

NORTHGLENN/THORNTON

Dostal Alley Saloon & Gambling Emporium ●

Mother Tucker Brewery ● ●

El Rancho Brewing Co ● Evergreen Taphouse ● Guanella Pass Brewing Co Lariat Lodge Brewing Co ● ●

Capitol Creek Brewery ●

Tommyknocker Brewery & Pub ●

Carbondale Beer Works ●

Westbound & Down Brewing Co ●

Casey Brewing and Blending Roaring Fork Beer Co ●

GOLDEN Barrels and Bottles Brewery ●

KREMMLING Grand Adventure Brewing Co

LAKE CITY Lake City Brewing

Cannonball Creek Brewing Co ●

LITTLETON AREA

Coda Brewing

Blue Spruce Brewing Co

Coors Brewing Co

Breckenridge Brewery ●

Golden City Brewery ●

Coal Mine Ave. Brewing Co

Holidaily Brewing Co Holidailybrewing.com 303.278.BEER 801 Brickyard Cir., Golden

Mountain Toad Brewing ●

Parts & Labor Brewing Co

IDAHO SPRINGS/EVERGREEN/ CENTRAL CITY/GEORGETOWN

Aspen Brewing Co ●

Glenwood Canyon Brew Pub ●

NORTHEAST COLORADO

Jackass Hill Brewery ●

Satire Brewing Co ● ●

PAGOSA SPRINGS/ DEL NORTE/ALAMOSA The Break Room Brewing Co The Colorado Farm Brewery Pagosa Brewing Co ● Riff Raff Brewing ● ● San Luis Valley Brewing ●

Syndicate Brewing Co Uhl’s Brewing Co

DISTILLERIES

Mahogany Ridge Brewery & Grill ●

Anders’ Vodka - Parker Archetype Distillery - Denver Arta Tequila - Englewood

Mountain Tap Brewery ●

Art of the Spirits Colorado Whiskey - Denver

Storm Peak Brewing Co

Ballmer Peak Distillery - Lakewood

Yampa Valley Brewing Co

Bear Creek Distillery - Denver The Block Distilling Co - Denver

SUMMIT COUNTY Angry James Brewing Co

Boulder Spirits by Vapor Distillery - Boulder

The Baker’s Brewery ●

Broken Arrow Spirits - Centennial

Breckenridge Brewery & Pub ●

Denver Distillery - Denver

Broken Compass Brewing

Deviant Spirits - Boulder

Dillon Dam Brewery ● ●

Deviation Distilling - Denver

HighSide Brewing ● ●

Downslope Distilling - Englewood

Outer Range Brewing Co ●

The Family Jones Spirit House Denver ●

Pug Ryan’s Brewery ●

Golden Moon Distillery - Golden

Square Peg Brewerks

WALSENBURG

Three Barrel Brewing Co ●

Crafty Canary Brewery

PAONIA

WINTER PARK AREA

Ironton Distillery - Denver

Chrysalis Barrel Aged Beer

Big Trout Brewing Co

Laws Whiskey House - Denver

Paonia United Brewing Co

Camber Brewing Co

Leopold Bros - Northeast Denver

Fraser River Beer Co

Local Distilling - Golden

Hideaway Park Brewery

Mad Rabbit Distillery - Westminster

Never Summer Brewing Co

Mile High Spirits - Lodo

The Peak Bistro & Brewery ●

Mythology Distillery - Denver ●

PARKER Barnett and Son Brewing Co ● ● Downhill Brewing Co ●

Lariat Lodge Brewing

Los Dos Potrillos Mexican Restaurant y Cerveceria ●

Living the Dream Brewing Co

Welcome Home Brewery

Locavore Beer Works

Swole Beer

DISTRIBUTION ONLY 1623 Brewing

PUEBLO AREA

AC Golden Brewing Co

Brues Alehouse Brewing Co ● ●

Acidulous Brewing Co

Hogback Distillery - Wheat Ridge J & L Distilling Co - Boulder

On Point Distillery - Lafayette Rising Sun Distillery - Denver Rocker Spirits - Littleton Santa Fe Spirits - Littleton Spirit Hound Distillers - Lyons

July-August 2021

ThirstColorado.com 43

CIDERIES

State 38 Distilling - Golden

WESTERN SLOPE

Summit Cellars - Palisade

Golden City Winery - Golden

Stranahan’s - South Denver

10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Co - Vail

Talon Winery - Palisade

Golden Valley Winery - Denver

Two Rivers Winery - Grand Junction

The Infinite Monkey Theorem Denver

Artisan Craft Cellars - Westminster

InVINtions, A Creative Winery Greenwood Village

Big B’s Juices and Hard Cider Hotchkiss

Kingman Estates Winery - Denver

Boco Cider - Boulder

Ladrón Cellars - Englewood

Boxing Brothers Cider - Colorado Springs

Strongwater Spirits & Botanicals - Denver

39 North Spirits - Eagle

Talnua Distillery - Arvada

808 Distillery - Eagle

Tighe Brothers Distillery - Denver Tingala - Denver Weaver’s Spirits - Parker

Breckenridge Distillery ● breckenridgedistillery.com 970.547.9759 1925 Airport Rd Breckenridge

Whistling Hare DistilleryWestminster ●

Coal Creek Distillery - Crested Butte

NORTHERN COLORADO

Durango Craft Spirits - Durango

Big Fat Pastor - Loveland Bouck Brothers Whiskey - Idaho Springs Coyote Gold Margaritas - Fort Collins Coppermuse Distillery - Fort Collins

Fraser Valley Distilling fraservalleydistilling.com 970.363.7792 410 Zerex St Fraser

Two Swedes Glögg - Grand Junction Varaison Vineyards and Winery Palisade Whitewater Hill Vineyards - Grand Junction

CENTRAL WEST AREA 5680' Vineyard - Paonia Alfred Eames Cellars at Puesta del Sol Vineyards - Paonia

Leap of Faith Winery - Wheat Ridge Point Blank Winery - Centennial Purgatory Cellars Winery - Parker Silver Vines Winery - Arvada

Azura Cellars - Paonia

Spero Winery - Denver

Black Bridge Winery - Paonia

Vino Passarelli - Lakewood

Endless Endeavor Winery - Paonia

Water 2 Wine - Centennial

Evening Grace Vineyards - Hotchkiss

Waters Edge Winery - Centennial

Apple Valley Cider Co

Branch Out Cider - Fort Collins C Squared Ciders - Penrose ● Clear Fork Cider - Denver Climb Hard Cider Co - Loveland Colorado Cider Co - Denver Colorado +49 Cidery & Pub- Golden Fenceline Cider - Mancos Golden City Winery - Golden

Dry Land Distillers - Longmont

Highlands Distillery - Grand Junction

Jack Rabbit Hill - Hotchkiss

Wild Women Winery - Denver

Elevation 5003 Distillery - Fort Collins

Honey House Distillery - Durango

Leroux Creek Vineyards - Hotchkiss

The Wine Barrel - Parker

Idlewild Spirits Distillery- Winter Park

Mesa Winds Farm and Winery Hotchkiss

NORTHERN FRONT RANGE

Qutori Wines - Paonia

Augustina’s Winery - Nederland

Stone Cottage Cellars - Paonia

Bad Bitch Cellars - Eaton

Peach Street Distillers - Palisade

DELTA & MONTROSE COUNTIES

Blendings at the Preserve - Fort Collins Blue Mountain Vineyards - Berthoud

St. Vrain Cidery - Longmont

BookCliff Vineyards - Boulder

Stem Ciders - Denver ● ●

Decadent Saint - Boulder

Stem Ciders Acreage- Lafayette ● ●

River Garden Winery - Fort Lupton

Summit Hard Cider - Fort Collins

Settembre Cellars - Boulder

Talbott’s Cider Co - Palisade

Snowy Peaks Winery - Estes Park

Teal Cider - Dolores

Stonebridge Farm Winery - Longmont

Waldschänke Ciders - Denver

SOUTH FRONT RANGE

Sweet Heart Winery - Loveland

Wild Cider - Firestone

Byers Cellars - Cripple Creek

Ten Bears Winery - Laporte

Zanamiel - Centennial

D’Vine Wine - Manitou Springs

Turquoise Mesa Winery - Broomfield

Evergood Elixirs - Palmer Lake

Viewpoint Wines - Boulder

Legatum Cellars - Canon City

Vinnie Fera - Boulder

Elkins Distilling Co - Estes Park

KJ Wood Distillers - Ouray

Feisty Spirits - Fort Collins

Marble Distilling Co - Carbondale ●

The Heart Distillery - Windsor

Montanya Distillers - Crested Butte

Longtucky Spirits - Longmont Mobb Mountain Distillers - Fort Collins

Peak Spirits - Hotchkiss

Chill Switch Wines - Cedaredge

NOCO Distillery - Fort Collins

Stoneyard Distillery - Dotsero

Old Elk Distillery - Fort Collins

Storm King Distilling - Montrose

Cottonwood Cellars/The Olathe Winery - Olathe

Old Town Distilling - Fort Collins

Telluride Distilling Co - Telluride

Still Cellars - Longmont

Woody Creek Distillers - Basalt

Spring 44 Distilling - Loveland Steamboat Whiskey Co - Steamboat Spring ● Syntax Spirits - Greeley

WINERIES Avant Vineyards - Palisade

SOUTHERN COLORADO 3 Hundred Days of Shine - Monument 1350 Distilling - Colo. Springs

Carlson Vineyards - Palisade Colorado Cellars Winery - Palisade Colterris Winery - Palisade

Axe and the Oak - Colo. Springs Black Bear Distillery - Green Mountain Falls Blackhat Distillery - Colo. Springs Cockpit Craft Distillery - Colo.

Springs Colorado Gold Distillery - Colorado Springs Deerhammer Distilling Co - Buena Vista

Mountain View Winery - Olathe Stoney Mesa Winery - Cedaredge Winery at Cedars Farm - Cedaredge

GRAND JUNCTION AREA

Tower 56 Distilling - Greeley

Garrett Estates Cellars - Olathe

DeBeque Canyon Winery - Palisade Desert Sun Vineyards - Grand Junction Garfield Estates Vineyard & Winery - Palisade Grande River Vineyards - Palisade Graystone Winery - Clifton Gubbini Winery - Palisade

Mountain Spirit Winery, Ltd. - Salida Sette Dolori - Black Forest

CENTRAL MOUNTAIN

Monkshood Cellars - Minturn

Dragon Meadery - Aurora

Vines at Vail Winery - Wolcott

Golden City Winery - Golden

Winter Park Winery - Fraser

Honnibrook Meadery Castle Rock ● ●

Vino Salida Wine Cellars - Poncha Springs

Steamboat Winery - Steamboat Springs

Mesa Park Vineyards - Palisade

Mystic Mountain Distillery - Larkspur

Peachfork Orchards and Vineyards - Palisade

Bigsby’s Folly - Denver

Plum Creek Cellars - Palisade

Black Arts Cellars - Littleton

FOUR CORNERS

Ptarmigan Vineyards - Grand Junction

Blanchard Family Wines - Denver

Flying T Wine - Cortez

Ram’s Point Winery - Grand Junction

Bonacquisti Wine Company - Denver

Four Leaves Winery - Durango

Red Fox Cellars - Palisade

Carboy Winery - Littleton

Fox Fire Farms - Ignacio

Restoration Vineyards - Palisade

Colorado Sake Co. - Denver

Guy Drew Vineyards - Cortez

Shiras Winery - Grand Junction

Creekside Cellars - Evergreen

Pleasant View Vineyards - Pleasant View

St. Kathryn Cellars Winery & Gift Shop - Palisade

Deep Roots Winery & Bistro - Denver

44 ThirstColorado.com

July-August 2021

MEADERIES Annapurna Mead - Colorado Springs

Vino Colorado Winery - Colorado Springs

Meridiem Spirits - Elizabeth

144 W 1st Salida

Snow Capped Cider - Cedaredge

The Winery at Pikes Peak - Cascade

Lee Spirits - Colo. Springs

Woods High Mountain Distillery woodsdistillery.com 719.207.4315

Scrumpy’s Hard Cider - Fort Collins

Colorado Honey Wine - Distribution Only

Allis Ranch Winery - Sedalia

Spirits of the Rockies - Pueblo

Old Mine Cidery & Brewpub - Erie

Continental Divide Winery Breckenridge

Maison la Belle Vie Winery & Amy’s Courtyard - Palisade

Sangre Distilleries - Westcliffe

Locust Cider & Brewing Co- Boulder

Black Forest Meadery - Colorado Springs

CENTRAL FRONT RANGE

Sand Creek Distillery - Hugo

The Ice Cave Cider House Monument

Buckel Family Wine - Crested Butte

Songbird Cellars - Beulah The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey Canon City

Hermosa Vineyards - Palisade

Distillery 291 - Colo. Springs

Haykin Family Cider - Aurora

Aspen Peak Cellars - Bailey Balistreri Vineyards - Denver

Gaijin 24886 Sake - Denver

Hunters Moon Meadery - Severance

PLAINS

Meadery of the Rockies - Palisade

Claremont Inn & Winery - Stratton

Mechalore Meadworks - Loveland

Mummy Hill Winery - Holyoke

Medovina - Niwot

Reds Wine Boutique - Sterling

Miracle Stag Meadery - Loveland

Sutcliffe Vineyards - Cortez Yellow Car Country Wines - Cortez

Queen Bee Brews - Denver Waddle Buzz Meadery - Golden Redstone Meadery - Boulder

801 Brickyard Circle, Golden, CO

Argonau

Argonaut Has It!

holidailybrewing.com

We are all in We are all in this together.

Stay healthy and Stay healthy and support local!

Winners of 2020 Best of Denver Readers’ Choice Award for:

Winners of 2020 Best of Denver Readers’ Choice Award for:

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We are all in this together.

Stay healthy and support local!

Argonaut Has It! It! Argonaut Has

Best Store On Colfax Avenue Best Liquor Store - Selection Best Liquor Store - Price

WE DELIVER! Support local.

We are all in this together.

Stay healthy and support local!

Winners of 2020 Best of Denver Readers’ Choice Award for:

Best Store On Colfax Avenue Best Liquor Store - Selection Best Liquor Store - Price

Winner Of Best Of Denver 2021 Readers Choice Award

f 2020 Best of Denver Choice Award for:

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CHILL SWITCH WINES

NATURAL WINE ~ GROWN, PRODUCED AND BOTTLED IN COLORADO

COME SEE US AT THESE WINE FESTIVALS THIS SUMMER!” July 17 July 21-24 August 7 August 14-15 August 21 August 28-29 September 11 September 18-19 September 24-25 October 2-3

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chillswitchwines.com

Guess what our favorite tree is? Yours.

Contact us to have an arborist come out to give you a consultation on your trees (and other plant life).

• Pest/disease diagnosis and treatment • Organic treatment for emerald ash borer (EAB) • Tree and shrub pruning • Tree removal • Stump grinding

taddikentree.com • hello@taddikentree.com • 303.554.7035 We’re hiring climbers!

46 ThirstColorado.com

July-August 2021

MORE EXPLORATION MORE ADVENTURE

Celebrate summer with the vacation you’ve dreamed of, where adults and kids alike have endless opportunities for fun, adventure, and relaxation. With extraordinary pirate and princess-themed special events, our beautiful Arapahoe Springs Water Park, and our stunning Grand Lodge, you will find what you’re looking for at Gaylord Rockies Resort – and more.

EXPERIENCE MORE AT GaylordRockies.com

MORE CONNECTION

By a lake. With a charming Main Street.

And its own marina with rentals and waterside dining.

TownofFrisco.com

Main Street Of The Rockies