Date Night: Colorado Mountain Brewery Partner Perspective

Colorado Mountain Brewery, Colorado Springs CO

Handcrafted Beer and Mountain Grill

Menu boats a unique "Colorado" taste inspired by traditional western and southwestern foods.

We are going to take a dip into Food Critique, but I will suggest that everyone is mindful that as far as critics go, you could do much better.  If we don't like our food then there is something very wrong!!

Colorado Mountain Brewery is a place best suited for those who like the a louder atmosphere, lean towards eating for pleasure rather than worrying about healthy options, and enjoy a beer.  It can be likened to mainstream steak houses in many ways as far as the type of family atmosphere.  The menu provides many options from bison, steak, and burgers to salads, and flat-breads.

Appetizer:  Venison Egg Rolls

Jess' Dinner:

Bison Chili: ground bison with green chilies, chorizo sausage, secret chili seasoning,

Jumbo Soft Pretzels: Two fresh baked soft pretzels, one made with Monumental Stout and the other blended with jalapenos and white cheddar.

Oktoberfest, Brown Ale

Jess' Take:
Do you ever look at a menu and think "Jackpot, this is exactly what I wanted!"  That's basically what happened here.  It was a chilly night (no pun intended) and some spicy Bison Chili sounded perfect.  Add in some savory soft pretzels and a couple craft beers and voila - you've got yourself a very happy girl.  Compared to the regular beef or vegetarian Chili that we normally make, the Bison tasted more "rustic" to me with just a little more sweetness and richness than ground beef or turkey; it was just the authentic Colorado-style food I was in the mood for.  On a side note, I also felt pretty darn good on the 13 mile run I did the following morning (even after 1 too many beers, haha).  I can't say whether the Bison can get all the credit, but it is one of the leanest and most protein-packed meats you can buy...good to know for us athletes and those of you doing the paleo diet.  I'm sure the extra iron helps too, especially when your're at altitude.  Combine that with some fiber-rich kidney beans and vitamin loaded veggies and you've got yourself a pretty delicious and nutrient dense meal.  In fact, I ended up looking into some Bison Chili recipes and found this yummy one from Trey Hardee, the 2012 Olympic Sliver medalist decathlete:  http://www.outsideonline.com/fitness/nutrition/Chili-Power-20120701.html  Just keep in mind that because the Bison is so lean, it will cook faster than beef so it's important to cook it low and slow to keep it nice and tender.  

Nick's Dinner:  House Smoked Texas Brisket Sandwich:  Shaved thin, piled high and topped with Ole '59er BBQ sauce.  Monumental Stout, Ole 59er Amber Ale

Nick's Take:  

I was in the mood for a bit of western food the night we went.  Usually in Colorado that means I order up bison, elk, or another piece of iron rich meat.  Tonight, we ordered the venison egg rolls, and I ordered the brisket due to the recommendations of the joint itself.  The egg rolls came with some delicious, and I'm sure healthy, dipping sauces.  They were deliciously palatable and hit the spot as a mix of spicy and sweet. The brisket was juicy and cooked well.  Sandwich-wise it was delicious with a deluge of BBQ sauce and went well with stealing some of Jess' soft pretzels.  I found the monumental stout to be my type of beer, malty, complex, and full bodied.  The amber ale was a bit more standard and reminded me of mainstream ambers.  I will testify against eating the brisket the night before a half marathon in this case, however.  The results on my stomach the next morning were not ideal prior to a race, but still better than overeating simple carbs like spaghetti and the payment you make for that mistake.  

Final Verdict:  Great place for beer, red meat, and "Colorado" options.  You'll enjoy the options of bison, elk, and their seasonal beers.  There can be a good long wait around dinner time so be willing to head to the bar for a while.  I'd also probably look for a different type of restaurant if you want vegetarian options.  This is a place we will reserve for the bison and microbrews.