Colorado is popular by many things, like Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods and food from this state is appreciated throughout the US, like Colorado lamb or Haystack Mountain cheese. Beside of all that, one thing is sure: Colorado takes beer seriously. It is no secret that some of the most essential beer brands in America are produced in Colorado. It is true that Denver is the capital of Colorado, but it could also be called the beer capital, because, after all, the world’s largest beer festival is Great American Beer Festival, takes place in Denver. In addition, Colorado has more microbreweries per captia than any other state. Here is the quick overview of the top 5 microbreweries in Colorado.

Dry Dock Brewing Co.

This is relatively new brewery. It was founded in 2005. It started as small, home-brew store, but now, it has expanded to one of the most popular brands in Colorado. In 2009, this brewery has won „Small Brewing Company of the Year“ award. Their most popular beers are Amber Ale, Apicot Blonde and Hefeweizen.

Strange Brewing Company

Maybe it is unnecessary to say, but this company has a little „strange“ story about its foundation. It was founded by two IT guys, who lost their jobs at Rocky Mountain News and decided to change their careers by starting a home brewery. They initially worked in the kitchen, but decided to expand the job in 2010, when one-barrel “Strange Brewing Company“ was founded. Their most popular beer is Strange Pale Ale, which is said to have a big, bold flavor.

Wynkoop Brewery

Founded by former Mayor of Denver, John Hickenlooper, in 1988, Wynkoop Brewery became a Denver institution. It is famous for its excellent small-batch beer selection. It is also placed in kind of a historic location (the 1899 JS Brown Mercantile Building) with beautiful landscape design. Decent prices and elaborate woodwork are among other things that customers of this brewery appreciate. The most famous Wynkoop Brewery’s beer is Rail Yard Ale.

Odell Brewing Company

This company was founded in 1989 by Dough Odell and his wife and sister. It is located in Fort Collins. The original brewery was located in 1915 grain elevator just a few blocks from the current brewery sits. Although, since then, company has expanded twice, ultimately increasing its capability to 45,000 barrels. Their first commercial release was Odell’s Golden Ale. The products of Odell Brewing Company found their way to 11 states across the country, as well as Great Britain and Scotland, although the amount that the company sends overseas is very small. Odell Brewing is now the 34th largest craft brewery in the country.

New Belgium Brewing Company

Maybe it sounds that the beer this company is making is from Belgium, but this company’s beer is actually brewed in north Colorado, more specifically, For Collins. New Belgium Brewing was founded by Jeff Lenbesch in 1991 after he gained inspiration on a bike tour through Belgium. Beside the wonderful flavor of the beer this company makes, NBB is also known for being 100% employee owned, and getting 90% of their power from the wind. Some of their most popular beers are Somersault, Abbey Belgian Ale and Fat Tire.

A good word of warning to anyone about to embark on a Thai food binge: keep a full glass ready. Thai food can get notoriously spicy, and trying to find a brew to extinguish the fire can sometimes be a hellish ordeal. Other than just calming down your palate, both beer and wine can be used to complement the multitude of tastes found in Thai cuisine (the latter much more so than the former). However, to truly have the drink agree with the food, you’ll have to make the right pick.

Good Types of Beer to Pair with Thai food

Beer isn’t the drink that first comes to mind when thinking Thai food, as we’re all accustomed to using it to wash down slices of pizza. Still, many food vendors in Thailand serve beer together with a variety of dishes. It’s cheap and goes along with the food well enough, although it probably won’t do much to calm things down after some of the spicier things on the menu.

When picking your Thai food beer, look for any brew with a lot of yeast in it. These beers’ heavy carbonation will make spices easier to wash off, and the high yeast concentration will bring out both the sweet and salty finishes in whatever Thai dish you’re enjoying.

Brown and pale ales are also a good choice as they won’t override the food’s various flavors. In particular, American pale ale will go along well with any spicy food and will also subdue the residual sweetness that can sometimes be unwelcome, as Thai chefs are known for mixing sour, sweet, bitter and salty. Nothing beats drinking an ice cold beer while staring out the door on a beautiful day and enjoying some Thai food.

Eating Thai Food with wine

There’s much to be said about wine when combining it with any type of food, and Thai dishes are no different. If you’re a lover of red wine, you’re probably going to be disappointed – red wines rarely go hand-in-hand with Thai food, as the strength of the wine usually pronounces the sourness of the food too much. If you’re looking to mix red wine with Thai food, the dishes should either involve fish or some type of heavier meat.

A white grape wine will work best at removing the negative effects of various spices, and can also introduce a welcome aroma of its own. Chilled Riesling is probably the most popular wine to have with Thai food, as it brings various specific ingredients to light with its high acidity, especially when served alongside salad. When picking a type of Riesling for your Thai food, make sure to go especially dry – Washington or New York State Riesling wines with a dry label are a safe choice.

Let’s not forget rosé, either – it’s the perfect blend of white(which is preferred in Thai cuisine) and red(which many people will pick over even the finest Riesling). As is the case with red wines, rosés with a pinot noir touch are the best option if you can get your hands on one. And just like Riesling and any other white wine, your Thai food-complementary rosé should be fully dried-out to avoid adding any sweetness to the meals.

Beer is one of the must drink things for most people. It has gained and sustained popularity because of its price and taste. Food has always been around the compliment the type of liquor you have and there are certain foods that are perfect for Beer by enhancing the whole beer drinking experience. Here in this article, we have looked at some of the best sides for all beer lovers out there.

1. Onion Rings

To kick things off we have onion rings. Onion rings are quintessentially American though, but that is irrelevant since the country is among the top consumers of beer. The batter can either be beer based to give that extra bit of kick or can be regular wings. But the key to having the perfect evening is to have chilled beer and perfectly crispy onion rings.

2. Kebabs

If you are one of those people who likes to munch some chicken or lamb while having beer, then kebabs are the perfect bet. They are yum and flavour filled that will surely go with the bitterness of beer. There is something magical about the food from the Middle East and how well it goes with different types of alcohol. It is also ironic since the countries themselves have bans on drinking.

3. Fish and Chips

The Brits are known for a lot of things, but when it comes to pairing food with alcohol they fall quite short. But that hasn’t been the case when it came to pairing fish and chips with beer. It is by far our most favourite pair up. Because of how amazing everything falls into place.

4. Pizza

If you are planning a night with your friends and you are wondering what food to order that the whole lot will enjoy?? Then trust us and get pizzas. Why? Well everybody loves pizza and secondly, it goes really well with beer. Think about it, Pizzas are cheesy, yummy and there for everyone to share. Basketball game on TV, a couple of six-packs and two massive pizzas; how can that evening even go wrong?

5. Chips and Dips

We have save the best for last. The reason why so many people enjoy chips and dips is because of how simple the whole thing is to put together. In addition to being simple, it is also extremely chip to use this as a side. But let’s for a second forget about how cheap or simple it is and focus on how amazingly well it compliments beer. Besides fish and chips, chips and dips is the closest dish that pairs really well with beer.