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Gunner’s Libation: Blue-Ribbon Brews

by Jeanne McGovern

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Curious what craft brewery topped the list in your home state or the town you’re visting next? Check out the full list of winners at https://www.craftbeer.com/breweries/great-american-beer-bars-2017

Coloradans love their craft beer; Aspenites are especially fond of our hometown boys and brews at Aspen Brewing Co. But with more than 5,000 small and independent craft breweries operating in the U.S., the options for tasting great beer stretch far and wide. As a beer drinker, I am pretty good at distinguishing an average bar from a great craft beer bar ­— as are the readers of CraftBeer.com. In a survey released this week, CraftBeer.com named the best beer bar in each state. In all, more than 7,000 people responded to the survey, which asked readers to nominate their favorite craft beer bar in their state and fill out a short survey about what makes it so great including atmosphere, staff, beer selection and special events. In Colorado, the winner was Samples World Bistro in Longmont (we voted for Aspen Brewing Co., of course.). If you’re on the Front Range and find yourself near Longmont, check out the Bistro’s selection of 40 can beers and 28 on tap. Plus, the owners of Samples World Bistro aim to elevate the beer bar experience with great pairings, too. “A classic altbier paired with our house-made bacon and goat cheese flatbread is fantastic,” explains owner and beer industry veteran Mark Sample. “We have 28 awesome pairings, and those are just the ones we like. The possibilities are endless.”

Aspen Times Weekly

Bar Talk: sway Thai

sway opened its Aspen doors at the beginning of February with nine cocktails on the menu including some options not offered in Austin, such as a Thai coffee martini, fitting in with this mountain town’s espresso martini infatuation.



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