Tour Stop 130 - Carver Brewing Company - 6/9/2022

Carver Brewing Company, 1022 Main Ave, Durango, CO 81301 #970-259-2545
website: CarverBrewing.com/
Hours: 11AM - 9PM Daily | Happy Hour: 3PM- 5PM weekdays $2 off beer & wine

Experience before you go . . .

The Colorado Road Trip continues so the next day we rented a 4X4 Jeep Wranger and really didn't know what we were in for. We'd never Jeeped on any of our vacations but early in our marriage we bought a 4X4 GMC Jimmy with some nice tires and I remember the first week, Guy my brother in law was visiting and we drove down to a rolling hill home construction site and it had rained the nite before and everything was going just fine, mud was flying and wheels were spinning until we attempted a muddy hill. Half way up we started going sideways and there was a moment there where it could of gone either way. Either we straighten out and climb the hill or we continue to slide sideways and we flip over and roll down the hill ending up in a tangled mess at the bottom. Well we straighten out, thank God and climbed to the top and when we hit the top both Guy and I looked at each other, no words were needed but we both knew that we were very close to having a bad day!!

So with this fine experience under my belt a full day of jeeping through the Colorado mountains above the tree line in a rented vehicle....shoot, what could go wrong? Well we picked it up and drove out of the lot and towards the mountains around 9:00. Driving through town and up the highway I managed to get a good feel for it and it was a solid well maintained jeep. Our plan was to drive to Silverton and go from there. Silverton is a National Historic Landmark, part of the San Juan Skyway (with the Million Dollar Highway connecting Silverton to Ouray), home to Animas Forks and the Alpine Loop, and the summer destination for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train ride. It's beautiful and the Hwy leading to it has limited guard rails. Once in Silverton we turned right on 14th street and immediately we were climbing a moderate jeep trail numbered 33. I quickly learned you need a constant death grip on the wheel because if you hit a rock the wrong way the tires fly one way or another and the wheel jockeys left or right and either way can be tragic....so death grip that wheel Lucille!!

After we got our fill of #33 we head up #2 towards Animas Forks where there is a ghost town and several little mining posts. Absolutely beautiful!! This jeeping thing is alright but I finally let go of the steering wheel because I've lost all my feeling in my hands and they are both white....alright time for a break!! Anyhow we had a ball but we were exhausted by the end of the day. We were staying at the historic Strater Hotel. One of the West's iconic hotels, Strater Hotel is the centerpiece of Durango in every way. Located two blocks from the Historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, it is also the heart of fun and entertainment. The interior is adorned with beautiful handcrafted woodwork, period wallpaper, and the largest collection of American Victorian walnut antiques. Everywhere guests look are high-quality features of the Old West. The world-famous Diamond Belle Saloon features nightly entertainment, including top-rated ragtime piano players. Our room was fourth floor front corner room....fabulous!!

Considering we were exhausted from a day of jeeping, we had a fast turnaround and our plan was to go on a brewery tour… The Carver Brewery!! Carver's had been pouring craft beer since 1983 which makes it the first brewpub in the Southwest. It was a short walk from the Strater down the sidewalk looking in windows. We even had a young professional looking women pass out on the sidewalk and her boyfriend was trying to revive her. Never boring here in Durango!

Up ahead we see Carver, front sign selfie and we bust through the doors! Carver occupies one retail space of about 30-40 feet wide and heading back as far as you can see. To the right is the bar with two empty stools so we gravitate that way and before you know it we're seating and chilling and bing bang boom the Hoppin Brewery Tour strikes again for the 130th time.....this HBT is quickly becoming an institution or maybe it should be institutionalize or maybe should Brad and I be put away? As we get comfy Kathy from behind the bar greeted us and took our beer order. I went with The Yankee Boy - New England Yazy IPA (6.7%, 31 IBU) hazy, tropical and super juicy. Kat lite it up with the Lighten Creek - German Style Light Lager (5.5%, 20 IBU) light and refreshing. Kathy and Kat were talking it up and I saw an opportunity to go exploring. Carver Brewing just kept going back, there was a whole other area in the back with elevated outdoor patio and of course the brewing area was further back yet. This is where I met Ellen, one of the managers with a British accent. She was real nice and let me see the production area and take some pictures.

I was very impressed by the staff especially Ellen and Kathy. The customers were all enjoying themselves with laughter and just generally have a good time. The food looked amazing and if we didn't have reservations up the street at 636 Main we would of dove in. Durango has upped their game in the last 30 years which was the last time we were here. Carvers Brewing is a definite stop next time you stop in for a visit. Enjoy the lifestyle of living in the mountains, drink a lot water and wash in down with a craft beer chaser you'll be glad you did!!

Until next time and remember......

Go get'cha one!!