Durango, Colorado:
BREW Pub & Kitchen
Visited on: Wednesday 6th June 2018
Bob Thompson
This pub-restaurant and brewery has certainly got itself a good location. It’s within sight of the terminus station of the Durango & Silverton Railway and almost opposite the classic General Palmer Hotel. And I’d love to stay there one day, it looks really good.
Brew Pub & Kitchen is owned and operated by Erik and Lainie Maxson. They opened the pub-brewery on 7th March 2013. This was after Erik had worked for the Carver Brewery in Durango (see separate article) for sixteen years, mostly as a brewer. He decided that he wanted to start his own business and this was the result. It lies on East College Drive with fine views across the railroad tracks to Smelter Mountain.
I was with John and Linda when we called in. The sunlight was streaming in through the windows on two sides of its corner location.
The long L-shaped bar is along the left side wall. It has a varnished top and is made of wood fashioned in a parquet style. The walls are painted red or yellow and display some framed posters. The brewery is to be found behind glass at the far end of the room on the left.
There were seven beers offered and they were: Darlene (6.1%), a Belgian blonde ale; Lenny (5.1%), an English bitter; Jesus (7.1%), a double IPA; Yasmine (6.1%), a single hop and single malt American pale ale.
To continue, Zen (4.8%), a session IPA with basil, lemon and cucumber; Keller Pilsner (5.2%), an unfiltered version and finally: Queen of the Wood (14%), a barley wine matured in Wood Reserve bourbon barrels.
As can be seen several of the beers have person’s names; I wonder if they are named after customers? Keller Pilsner and Queen of the Wood are seasonal beers. The remainder are from the regular list although I think this varies a bit. We tasted four of them, as follows: Lenny was quite well balanced and had a taste that was more bitter than expected. Yasmine was very bitter with a slight wheat malt taste. Jesus was not so bitter as its 79 IBU indicates. However it might even have been much stronger at 9.2%, it was listed as 7.1%, quite a difference! Keller Pilsner was refreshing but needed a bit more bitterness to give the right Bohemian flavour.
The food here seems to be very good so that’s another good reason to visit.
Important Information:
BREW Pub & Kitchen, 117 West College Drive, Durango, Colorado 81301. Tel: 970 259 5959
Web: brewpubkitchen.com
Hours: Monday-Sunday 11.00-23.00. Closed some holidays.
Happy Hours: Tuesday-Friday 16.00-18.00; Sunday All day.
The pub is in a central position in the town centre. The Transit Center is two blocks north on 8th Street.
Durango can be reached by Greyhound Bus and by air to its Regional Airport.
