Local Music + Local Beer = Local Bliss
by Fred Winther and Sarah Borden
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Northern Colorado is known for two things: good beer and good music. So how is it that we end up overpaying for a limited selection of national brews whenever we want to enjoy some live tunes? If your beer palate is more extensive than regular and light, then you will enjoy the fact that three breweries in Fort Collins are combating that problem by providing live music on a weekly basis. Odell Brewing Co., Fort Collins Brewery, and Equinox Brewery regularly host local musicians in their tap rooms in addition to special events and parties. And no, it’s not all Bluegrass.
If sticky floors, plastic cups, and people packed in like cattle to see a show isn’t your scene, definitely try getting your fill of live music at the breweries, instead. Generally, the breweries provide a much more relaxed atmosphere, so there is no fighting through crowds to make it to the bar, no worrying about losing your spot at the stage, and absolutely no drinks that taste like beer-flavored soda water.
At the Odell Brewing Co. you can sip on some Easy Street or 90 Schilling while listening to all types of music. On Wednesdays from 4-6 pm the tap room plays stage to a variety of bands and artists, from Barley Davidson, a Jazz Funk trio that incorporates covers of songs from the Beatles and Nirvana, to HW287, a Country-Alternative band that features a stand-up bass, mandolin, guitar, and a Dobro (resonant guitar). Other musicians that have played at Odell’s include the Speed Whiskers, the Honey Gitters, and Gordon Green, who brings a Reggae influence to the table. What’s playing may indeed influence your decision on what to drink. Odell’s recommends trying the IPA when listening HW287. The brews currently offered include the Isolation Ale, the winter seasonal, and Saboteur, an old favorite that is a full-bodied brown ale that has been aged in oak barrels. For a bigger crowd, Odell’s also does special events that feature local music, like the Mountain Standard Bash, a celebration of the start of the ski and snowboard season.
Odell’s is located on Lincoln east of College Ave. The website at OdellBrewing.com offers a calendar of events that is updated frequently and shows that artists play on a weekly basis. To see upcoming events, check out the website, or find them on FaceBook.
The Fort Collins Brewery has recently brought back weekly live music every Thursday from 4-7 pm. Artists come from a wide range of genres, including Alternative, Funk, Folk, and Country. The brewery has a full restaurant called Gravity 1020 that relishes cooking with beer, so you can enjoy 1900 Amber Lager beer-battered fish and chips, or an authentic beer cheese soup with an Imperial Belgian Ale while rocking out. Don’t forget to try the Double Chocolate Stout over ice cream, a beer float for grown-ups. FCB also loves to throw any kind of parking lot party once a month, where they shut down half their lot and put up food and beer tents. The Halloween Party featured Edgewater Juke and Blue Gramma. Plans for the future include a patio with a stage area in hopes of hosting larger shows. One of the biggest parties is the anniversary of the opening of the new location. Within stumbling distance of Odell’s, Fort Collins Brewery is located at Lincoln and Lemay. The best bet for event updates is through FaceBook, and FortCollinsBrewery.com also posts a monthly calendar of events and beer releases.
A focal point for Equinox Brewing is their Beer Garden, which features live music from spring until fall. During the colder months, Equinox moves the party inside the tap room, and brings musicians in on Saturday starting at 5 pm. Recently Equinox has hosted Logikal Noncense, and Blue Gramma has recently played there as well. The tap room is an excellent place to chill and hang out for a while, offering board games and a beer library if you want to read up on the brewing process. Be sure to try the Eclipse Brown, this beer took a bronze medal at the 2010 Great American Beer Festival. Equinox brews a range of beer from Sunrise Golden Ale for lighter drinkers to the Sunset Stout on a regular basis. Right now their specialty beer is the Supergiant Imperial Hefeweizen, which has twice the alcohol content of a regular hefe, but still finishes crisp. Equinox is located on Remington, just south of Mountain. It’s the perfect location for an Old Town junkie. Go to EquinoxBrewing.com or (duh) find them on FaceBook.
Northern Colorado is the Napa Valley of beer, and one of the best local scenes. Breweries that host local music help to create and share a community that supports and helps spread the word about local artists. Drinking and music go together better than Donny and Marie, all smiles but without the sneaking suspicion of incest. What better way to enjoy life than to sit back, relax, drinking a beer, and listening to a favorite song being sung from just a few feet away. So if you don’t like the music, you’re just not drinking enough.
Category: Noco Music Scene
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