The fizzy tide is rolling in: Denver Beer Fest is upon us.
The 10-day celebration of all things hoppy also includes the run-up to the giant Great American Beer Festival and that festival itself, Sept. 10-19. Loads of breweries and pubs are getting in on the action, offering special deals for beer-loving locals and visiting adventurers. From Highland to the Denver Tech Center, the metro area is going to be happily afloat in suds.
The swanky downtown Elway’s (1881 Curtis St.), for example, is hosting a “Tour de Colorado,” starting today.
All the taps at Elway’s bar will be pouring Colorado brews throughout the two festivals, with flights of beers available for $12. During happy hour, 2-7 p.m. daily, draft beers will be $3. Specially created beer-and- small-plate combos will be on offer during happy hour, too.
Perhaps best of all, Elway’s is adding a special late-night happy hour just for the Beer Fest. Pop in starting at 10:30 for the same deals as the evening happy hour.
One of Denver’s most venerable brewpubs, Wynkoop Brewing Co. (1634 18th St.), is hosting a pep rally for local GABF contenders. Saturday’s “Great COntenders” event brings together more than 50 beers for a gigantic beer tasting free-for-all.
Beer lovers can sip tasting portions of each brew and work their way around, trying past GABF medal winners and beers in contention at this year’s event. Rare and not-yet-released beers will be available, too.
There are a limited number of tickets for this event, Wynkoop’s way of kicking off the Denver Beer Fest. Buy tickets online at for $25, or pay $30 at the door.
Happy sipping!
The Beauvallon building on Lincoln Street has had its share of troubles. From a high turnover of first-floor retailers to major repairs, it’s been a tough few years.
There’s a glimmer of light on the north end of the building, though: Japoix (975 Lincoln St.), a recently opened restaurant and lounge.
Occupying the space of the former 975 restaurant, Japoix builds on 975’s ideas with a mix of French-inflected Japanese chow and cool-hangout ambience.
The front room is all restaurant, with an open kitchen window and plenty of tables and banquettes. A long hallway lined with intimate booths leads to the lounge area, with a central bar and huge windows overlooking the mountains.
Flat-screen TVs — showing sports, naturally — add a relaxed vibe, making the lounge feel like a place to chill with friends and have some tasty, upscale snacks.
There’s a short list of signature drinks on the menu, but the one that stands out is the “Electric French Kiss.” The star of the drink is a weird little berry dubbed “the electric button.” Swimming in a martini glass filled with TY-KU liqueur and lemonade, it looks harmless, like a tree bud. Take a bite, however, and life gets much more interesting.
The electric button starts out tasting strangely spicy and mouthwateringly salty at the same time. It’s borderline unpleasant, but take a sip of the drink and the weirdness abates a tad.
Keep sipping, and the salty/spicy flavor fades, replaced by a truly odd feeling of, well, electricity in the mouth. It feels like your lips are vibrating, like after playing a trumpet. It’s a truly unique drink in Denver, one worth trying at least once.
Stop in at Japoix for happy hour, from 3 to 6:30 p.m. daily, for $3 glasses of wine, $4 well drinks and $3 large Sapporos. Bottles of wine are half-price, too.
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