It is a wonderful ritual of ours to make a stop at the Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery on the first night of our return trips to Boulder, Colorado. We are often anxious for a good locally brewed beer, and we both have our own individual hankerings for specific items on the menu. But it’s not just the brews and grub that we crave – it’s the familiar, friendly faces and the warm and inviting atmosphere that makes us feel so at home.
Just earlier this week, we once again found ourselves driving the last stretch towards Boulder, discussing what beer we were going to indulge in when we arrived at the Sun. As we were getting ready to head to Pearl Street, a friend called saying she had some extra tickets to see Keller Williams and the Traveling McCoury’s at the Ogden Theatre in Denver. Free music on our first night back seemed like a no-brainer, but when the next call came in for a personal invite for dinner at Vine Street Pub, we knew we were heading to Denver for the evening.
We couldn’t stray too far from tradition, so we all jumped in the car and headed to Pearl Street to say our hellos at Mountain Sun. With so many new beers on tap, it was a tough decision; but Jessica (the GM) started us off with tasters of the crisp, refreshing Resinous Rye. We decided a pairing would be in order, so we ordered a quesadilla to share as an appetizer. There are very few establishments that can make a quesadilla even close to as delicious as the Sun: crispy on the outside, (quality) gooey cheese and veggies on the inside and healthy portions of homemade salsa, guacamole and sour cream on the side. They are always my weakness; but with so many other delicious menu items, it was a treat to have it as a starter so I could enjoy a second option for dinner.
Vine Street Pub & Brewery
After our beer and quesadilla pairing, we said our goodbyes and headed down to the big city to check out Vine Street Pub. The most recent addition to the family of Mountain Sun Pubs (four years ago), Vine Street has quickly become one of the most popular restaurants and bars in the Denver area. If you are a fan of Mountain or Southern Sun, then you will feel right at home at Vine Street. The décor is right on point, from the carpet on the floor to the tapestries on the wall. The same unique service concept exists; so don’t be surprised to see your server cooking tomorrow night. Every employee has been trained to work in all aspects of the restaurant, giving the place a much more cohesive energy.
As is usual for all the pubs, we had to put our name down on the waiting list. Gratefully, we were called quickly and Co-Owner Tim McMurray led us to our table. We were surprised when we were lead outside of the restaurant and down the sidewalk a couple feet to an entrance next door – Jerry’s Annex. This is where the uniqueness of the Vine Street location becomes apparent. The addition comes complete with a full-service bar and a distinctive feel from the other pubs. As I am sure is completely typical with most of their special guests, Tim had taken the time to set us up with a tablecloth, a romantic candle and some fresh flowers. His next act of kindness was to take us on a tour of the new brewery facility, which just opened up April 2012. I expect some incredible things to start happening with the distribution of Mountain Sun beer in the near future, because this brewery is simply ginormous. It will produce twice as much beer at the downtown Boulder location, and it looks like they are anticipating selling their beer to other restaurants around town. (You can enjoy a Mt Sun pint at The Kitchen on Pearl Street now!)
After the tour, we returned to our tables to enjoy our first cocktail. Ordering a mixed drink at the pub seemed both exciting and strange, as if we were having an affair on our love of beer. The refreshing mixed beverages were crowd pleasers all around, and I think all guilt was washed away instantly.
Food’s up next! You can expect that the food on the menu at all the pubs will be consistently delicious. From the nachos to the burgers, – and all the stuff in the between – they have created a system for putting out plates of food that are sure to satisfy time and time again. The boys had a tough time deciding which burger to order – the list of options is impressive. Jason went for the one on the “Special Menu” – the Hawaiian Punch. BBQ sauce and pineapple topped off the huge hunk of meat, along with bacon, arugula and some tasty sauces. Moore treated himself one of the most popular menu items – the Junk Burger. This thing comes fully loaded with roasted garlic mayo, sautéed mushrooms and onions, bacon and cheese. The ladies went for a lighter option, the Poached Pear Arugula Salad. While the standard fare menu is always great, I am a sucker for the specials. The cooks keep coming up with more impressive dishes every time I visit, but their special salads are what hits the spot for me. (It sounds healthy, until you remember I had a quesadilla-appetizer.)
As is with all the pubs, Vine Street makes a great meeting place. We enjoyed the last sips of our cocktails, caught up with lots of familiar faces and then headed downtown to see Keller and the McCoury’s put on an awesome show. What more could you ask for on your first night back in Colorado after almost a year? This place does not suck.