Stubbies in Basalt keeps trivia tradition alive

As summer comes to an end, many local bars and restaurants are preparing to close their doors for the off-season. But, one Basalt bar is only gearing up for the coming months with weekly games of trivia.

Stubbies Sports Bar and Eatery keeps locals coming back every Wednesday evening for these fun-spirited games, attracting residents from all over the Roaring Fork Valley.

The weekly game, hosted by two local ski instructors, Erik Clark and Kevin Jacobs, is played in teams of six sporting creative names of their choosing. The two write five rounds of trivia, comprised of eight to 10 questions each. Categories span from song names to current events, and everything in between. 

The game originated after the two co-hosts could no longer play their own game of trivia at the Hotel Jerome in Aspen after the COVID-19 lockdown. They started their own game on Zoom weekly with friends and asked Stubbies owner Trent Castleberry to host it in person once lockdowns were lifted in late 2021. 

“The first few months we were here, we were lucky to get six to ten people,” said Clark, taking a sip of his beer. “It really took off during winter of 2022 — during the winter months, we’re getting close to 100 people and hitting max capacity.” 

As the game grew, so did its reach around the valley. Groups formed all the way from Aspen to Willits and El Jebel. The bar is filled every Wednesday with a mix of players from all different jobs, age groups, and locations.

“We have niche groups that come,” said Clark. “I know that there will be a Forest Service group that comes today. We tend to get a Buttermilk group, there’ll be a Basalt locals group. It’s kind of fun to get to meet people that were not necessarily part of our friend group before.”

The Stubbies staff puts a strong emphasis on the bar’s affordability for locals, preserving a space where Roaring Fork Valley residents can afford to have a drink.

“With the Stubbies culture here, we’re keeping things cost-effective for people that live and work in this valley,” said bartender Jean F., also a Basalt local. “Everybody knows each other, and everyone comes here to talk and blow off steam and just kind of have that community here.” 

Local institutions like Stubbies are what keep local spirits high. The weekly trivia games may have started as a way to return to normal after lockdows but have morphed into meaningful gatherings to connect locals from all sides of the valley. Regulars and staff encourage anyone interested to come in and join a game, enjoy a $3 beer, and tell their friends.