We began planning our trip to Pagosa Springs around Thanksgiving. This would be our 4th Annual New Years Family Ski Trip and our 3rd year in Pagosa Springs (we went to Telluride in 2009 and were left nearly bankrupt and disappointed by the crappy snow). One of the things I was looking forward to most, other than the quality family time and snow, was the local beer. Colorado has some truly wonderful breweries and delicious beers that are available at your fingertips. Specifically, I always look forward to the Pagosa Springs Brewing Company because the brewery is in the neighborhood where we typically stay and has a fun vibe and great beer. This year, I was truly disappointed.
Our first evening in town, we arrived late and went to the house to unpack and get the kids to sleep. My sister and I left the Husband with the sleeping kids and went out to fill our growlers that we brought from home. These were Pagosa Brewing Company growlers that we purchased the previous year. We sit down at the bar inside. It is 9:10 pm. We are excited to sit and catch-up on the past few months over a beer while they fill our growler. The place is not very busy but there are plenty of employees there milling around. I ask the guy who appears to be the manager if they are closing soon and he says no. OK, so we'll stay then.
As we set our empty growlers on the bar and begin to pull out our chairs, the 15-year old punk girl working at the bar says "Sorry, we're all sold out of growlers!" I am confused. I tell her that it's ok because we brought our own and were hoping to have them filled. She informs me that they only sell pre-filled growlers and that they are all sold out. She tells me that I could exchange mine for $10 but that they are all sold out. Yes, I heard you on the sold out part. Still confused I ask her why they cannot just put their beer into my growler in exchange for money. She informs me that it is "illegal" for them to fill an unsanitized growler. I tell her that they are clean because I washed them 6 times in my dishwasher (true) last week. She still says no. Ummmmmmm, ok. I ask her where I can get beer at this time of night because the liquor store next to the City Market was already closed. She directs me to the liquor store next to the Shell and then says to us (exact quote) "They sell a really good hard cider there. I think it's called Woodchuck." At this point, I look at my sister and we both pick up the growlers. We leave. What the hell just happened?
I go home and tell the Husband the story. He is just as irritated as we were. We are convinced that the girl was off her rocker. He looks into the "unsanitized growler" theory on-line and comes up with nothing. He says he'd like to try again the next day.
He stops by the brewery and gets THE SAME 2 GROWLERS filled by some dude working at the bar. Was it me or was it the employee? Not sure.
The next day,
while the boys and the big kids were out on the slopes, I decided to take a trip and went to the bar with the baby. Baby had a wonderful time getting out of the house and looking at all sorts of new and different stuff. She enjoyed her time by either sitting in her car seat reading the specials menu (I'm not lying) or standing on my lap waving at everyone who entered the bar. She was even looking out the window next to us and waving at the people thinking about entering the bar. Come on in!!!
During my lunch, I sampled their British Amber (5.2% ABV) on tap with my beef tacos (which were only a step up from the tacos I make at home and mainly only because I a) didn't have to make them and b) didn't have to do any dishes). The beer itself was nothing extra special or unique but it was good. It's not a beer I would seek out or drive the extra mile for, but it quenched my thirst for a local mountain brew in a local mountain bar full of local mountain people.
Note: I first attempted to order the Southwest Chicken Tacos but was informed that they were out of chicken. Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat? Out of chicken??? Ok, I guess I'll have the beef instead.
Once the snow crew got home, we opened a growler of the Rodeo Rider Red (Silver Medal Amber Ale - Colorado State Fair 2009) that we had filled at the brewery the previous day. This beer poured up with minimal head (not sure if this is typical or due to our growler being more than 12-hours old) and was an easy-drinking beer. It was not a typical red because I liked it and I typically don't like red beers. The finish was smooth and almost nutty. This was the last of the Pagosa brews we would sample on our trip.
After finishing our growler of the Rodeo Rider Red, the snow crew packed up the empty growler and planned to fill it the next day on their way back from the slopes. On their way back from the slopes, they stopped into the Brewery for a re-fill. The restaurant/bar was busy but not slammed. Husband requested a re-fill and he was turned away saying that they sold all the pre-filled growlers for the day. Husband mentioned that they could re-fill his empty growler in his hand and they told him no. We were disappointed and pissed. This was officially the last time we attempt to support the Pagosa Brewing Company.
Dear Pagosa Brewing Company Owners,
You are running a business. A business that involves making and selling beer in a market flooded with competition. Therefore, when someone comes in wanting to buy the product you made, you should sell it to them. If you make it difficult for them to purchase, they will go elsewhere and buy something else.
Thank you,
Beer Lovers Who Attempted to Support a Local Brewery But Were Denied TWICE
