For people who love good drinks, the Denver scene is popping out a profusion of places to visit and events to check out. There’s even a niche for people who are passionate about both homebrewing and barbecuing.
Brew-n-Q just opened in the artsy RiNo neighborhood, offering one-stop shopping that includes a hearty supply of hops and grains, brew supplies, smokers, barbecue rubs, and sauces.
Founder Craig Singleton, who lives in Curtis Park, got the idea for the store from his own skills at both homebrewing and using his backyard smoker. While he was developing his business plan for the homebrew shop, neighbors dropped by to eat.
“I was just smoking meat and they said, ‘You need to sell all the fixings for barbecue, too, rubs and sauces and stuff,’ ” he said.
His 3,000-square-foot space includes a “Shrine Shelf” dedicated to rubs and sauces from notable barbecue joints across the country, including from Alabama, from Illinois, and from Tennessee.
There are also tasty treats from local pickle purveyors like The Real Dill and Busy D’s, along with materials like chips, chunk and splits, including a big selection of locally sourced fruitwoods — apple, cherry, plum and peach — and pit barrel smokers.
Singleton plans to offer lots of home- brew educational resources, on-site brewing equipment and storage, plus beginner classes and one-on-one tutorials.
Brew-n-Q is located at 2801 Walnut St., Unit C.
For class schedules and more go to brewnq.com; call 303-292-2739.
Molly’s Spirits in Lakeside
Even the tiny municipality of Lakeside, the one with the amusement park of the same name, is getting into the act. It will soon be home to which opens Nov. 21, and plans to focus on state-of-the-art technology. It features interactive experiences for customers, including 65-inch television screens — 11 scattered through the 30,000-square-foot store — that will have live feeds of in-store tastings, local brewery events, and information on international wineries.
Molly’s Spirits will also have a tasting room, a fireplace lounge and wine library. They’ll carry wine, beer, and spirits, plus a rotating array of limited-production and special release products.
The staff plans to personalize customer experience with customized flavor profiles and suggestions based on buying behaviors and taste notes.
The grand opening is Nov. 21, from 10 a.m. to midnight, at Molly’s Spirits, 5809 W. 44th Ave., Lakeside. 303-955-5174 or go to mollysspirits.com.
For sake’s sake
For sake fans, there’s the Autumn Grand Sake Tasting to celebrate Sushi Den’s 30th anniversary.
Master Chef Toshi Kizaki will host award-winning Japanese sake brewers Chiyokotobuki Toraya Shuzo and Rokkasen Shuzo from Yamagata, Japan. Both men hold more than 35 gold medals won at international sake competitions.
Tickets to the VIP section of the evening are sold out, but there are still tickets available for the Grand Tasting, which will showcase the Japanese sake brewers and domestic sake. The sake will be paired with such selections as Chicken Tatsuta-age, Miso Cod, Sriracha garlic shrimp plus an assortment of Izakaya Den and Sushi Den’s aburi sushi and signature rolls.
The grand tasting is Nov. 17 from 7- 9:30 p.m.
The tickets, which cost $75, can be purchased in advance at sushiden.net/tickets or on location at the restaurants.
Izakaya Den is located at 1487-A S. Pearl St., and Sushi Den is right next door. 303-777-0691 or go to
Whiskey from Big Head Todd
Now you can also drink like a Colorado rock star.
The Colorado band is launching a new Colorado-made whiskey to the market in a joint-venture agreement with , a Denver-based branding, development and marketing company.
Playing off the term “moonshine,” the new whiskey is called Colorado Sun ‘Shine. It’s a higher-proof unaged white whiskey with unique branding: “Official Whiskey of Big Head Todd and the Monsters.”
Colorado Sun ‘Shine should be available in the Denver area by Nov. 1 and in most parts of Colorado by the end of the year.
Go to getCOshine.com.
Colleen O’Connor: 303-954-1083, coconnor@denverpost.com or twitter.com/coconnordp
