Your Family Friendly Brewery

 "Daddy, can we go to the brewery today?"  Yes, you read correctly, one of our kids' favorite places to go is the Crabtree Brewing Company.  On a lazy, sunny afternoon it is a perfect outing for our family.  We load up our kids' scooters, a bike, a trike, and head down across the tracks.  My wife and I can sit on the patio sipping one of our favorite beers while our kids play with Crabtree's 2 sons.  Whether they are riding their scooters, climbing on a dirt pile, or waving at one of the trains going by only 50 feet from where we sit they have a blast!  Meanwhile us grown-ups can keep our eye on them and at the same time have a conversation!  As many parents of young children can attest to, a husband and wife having a conversation together with children around is hard to come by. 

 As far as the beer goes - when I say we get to enjoy one of our favorite beers, I don't just mean a favorite Crabtree brew.  I mean that this brewery makes a couple of beers that beat out any beer I've ever had.  Of all the beers Crabtree has made, my very favorite was a limited time smoked porter that was aged in a whiskey barrel for a number of months.  The aroma alone of the smoked porter makes my mouth water, and the first sip does not disappoint my anticipation.  Normally whiskey is not my drink of choice, but something about the hint of whiskey flavor in this porter makes it my very favorite!  It was a Brewer's Reserve and I hope that they make it again soon.  Otherwise my other beers of choice that are regularly available at the Brewery are the Oatmeal Stout and the Boxcar Brown.  Delicious!  

 Jeff and his team of brew-meisters are scientists, artists, and perfectionists who have a blast making great beer!  To learn more about the great beer on tap at Crabtree follow this link.  Steph is the PR gal and is always keeping brewery fans up to date on the latest special or up coming event. 
Tomorrow, Saturday April  16th, Greeley Revolution and Crabtree are teaming up to present "Bike Battle at the Brewery".  This is a free event beginning at 3PM featuring live music (at 8PM) and featuring such events as -Races (sprints, crits, cross style and more), Jumps, trials, Obstacle Course, Footdown, Bike Polo, Bunny Hop contest, Trick contests, Bike Pageant and more!  I don't even know what a lot of those things are, but I am going to find out!

Here are the Crabtree boys and our kids waving to a train.  The brewery has quite a large lot, perfect for such events as the Bike Battle and their annual Spring and Fall Fests.  April 30th will be this year's Spring Fest.  Check out the details of this amazing event with live music, free pint glass and special release beer.  See the Crabtree Brewery website for all of the weekly, monthly and yearly special events.
Below is a photo of the building and the covered patio.  Have a free afternoon or evening?  Want the kids to be outside and run off some steam?  Want to reconnect with friends, or your spouse?  Like beer?  You can have it all at the Crabtree Brewery located at 625 3rd Street in Greeley.

"

Crabtree Brewery... Raising the expectations of beer drinkers.. one pint at a time."       ~ Jim Stiehl

Hot Day, Cool Treat

It was 80 degrees out on Saturday and we wanted something delicious and refreshing to cool us off.  We were planning on trying a new yogurt place, Aspen Leaf Frozen Yogurt.  They were having a grand opening special and there were a couple hundred people in line.  We couldn't wait in line that long, but we will try it soon.  In the mean time I checked out their website.  Aspen Leaf is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, based on the western slopes of Colorado.  We are so excited to have another new restaurant in the University area - it is on 8th Avenue and 17th Street.  So, we still needed a treat so we headed a few blocks over to Tropical Snow.

 

Tropical Snow has been family owned and operated for over 20 years.  It is an eclectic mix of 50s diner and  ice cream parlor with a little authentic Mexican food thrown in!  If you have never had their signature shaved ice, it is like no other shaved ice you have ever had.  They do not skimp on the syrup and the ice is so delicately shaved that every single bite is soaked in one of their 100+ flavors.  It is an inexpensive, delicious treat!

But, don't just try it on a hot day.  Breakfast would be a great time to stop by for a burrito.  Lunch choices are vast, from hand patted, never frozen burgers, to corn dogs, to nachos, taquitos, and the list goes on. There is something for everyone.

Little E enjoyed some chocolate "hard" ice cream; they also have soft serve.  D and our daughter C had the shaved ice in blue raspberry and black cherry.  Tropical Snow is located at 923 8th Avenue next to Margie's Java Joint.  They are open year round.  If you haven't been in, check it out.  If you have, it's time for a visit!