Coffee and beer are contradictory in nature but when you pull back the blinders on this life they are two of the most abundant and necessary forms of escapism. They are seemingly at our fingertips, all day, every day. And thank God for this, because life would be invariably harder without them and I would be a grumpy bastard in the absence of their love. Out in Englewood, with only a few years under their belt in a growing neighborhood, The Brew on Broadway (The BoB) understands my need for stimulants and depressants with care and ease. And that is as good a start to a friendship as I could ask for.
The lighting was a dim and pleasant and coffee shop-like. Dogs roamed around freely. With the wood floors and robust colors, I sank into the mood of The Brew on Broadway like a hot tub, on a chilly fall evening, with a beautiful woman in it. After taking my now standard pictures of the brewery like a tourist, I found my friend Jenny and we posted up next to the large bar.
A significant crowd had assembled for Open Mic Night. Before the music began we ordered our first beers. I went for the Tuileries English IPA and Jenny – in her typical might of wisdom – ordered the Oxford Creamery Oreo Cookie Stout. Needless to say, I was impressed by the Tuileries English IPA but that Oreo Cookie Stout kept its eyes on me the entire time, making me drink faster in anticipation of the wonder held within.
The buck could have stopped there. That’s how good that shit was. The enlightenment that came from that Oreo Cookie Stout and it’s Oreo Cookie and sugar rim would have impressed Gandhi if he was alive today. The craft and the excellence told volumes of Paul and his employees.
Ah yes, I should mention that we had a pleasant conversation with the owner of The Brew on Broadway. He is an enthusiastic, passionate and friendly fella who took on this beer making shit about three or so years professionally. We talked about The Great American Beer Festival and how he has been attending that for more than 25 years. Beer people are essential to the order of humanity and Paul definitely fit that bill.
He went back to work and we stayed for a while longer. I ordered a flight of some of their beers: the 285 Kolsh, Tramway Rye Extra Pale Ale, Brookridge Dairy Fudgecicle Stout, Oxford Creamery Oreo Cookie Stout and the City Mark Mild Ale. They have over 15 beers on tap. Again, beer people are as important as oxygen. And I would order all of these again with the exception of the City Mark. This isn’t because it was bad. It had a little too much English styling to it for my tastes.
As the need to call it a night arrived, Jenny and I were joined by our friend Ryan and the conversation picked back up and click-clacked along. The Brew on Broadway is an easy place to take life in at a slow pace or get lost in good conversation and that’s the way it should be. So, make your trip down to see Paul and his caffeinated nugget of Beervana down on Broadway. Oh, and bring your dog too.
The Brew on Broadway (The BoB)
Website: thebrewonbroadway.com
Address: 3445 S. Broadway, Englewood, CO 80113