Some might say that in the grand scheme of things football is an unimportant endeavor. And that’s true. But one could also say that every other act we do besides sex, birth, and death is ultimately pointless. That’s nihilism and it’s tedious. Here at the Denver Hopper, we have no time for nihilists besides the ones in The Big Lebowski. We want to celebrate wherever you are from and we want to toast to this life with a strong beverage at your new favorite bar or brewery. And it’s with that spirit that found myself watching college football at a Nebraska Corn Husker bar called the Giggling Grizzly with drunken friends.
This wasn’t the first time I’ve found myself drinking cheap beer at the Giggling Grizzly. In fact, I have stumbled through blurry vision and bad decisions at this bar in the heart of the LoDo for many a night in my early 20’s. But what I didn’t know was that it’s a haven for the Nebraska folk who find themselves in Denver.
The sea of red surrounded me as I drank my pitcher of PBR. When Nebraska scored I heard Go Big Red! Go Big Red! the roar from the loud-speaker and the mouths of the transplants that surrounded me. The Corn Huskers were doing well but I could tell that the passion and support of the fans would be alive no matter what. I should mention that I have don’t have a dog in the fight and I could care less about college football but the fans at the Giggling Grizzly made me want to cheer and be part of something.
I slipped away into the madness and listened to the crowd and talked to my people. The beer was cheap and the service was excellent. The place seems to be falling apart which brings a divey charm to the heart of downtown Denver. I don’t think this is by choice. I can only imagine the war of attrition that hordes of drunken 20-somethings can put a place though. A shiver just ran up my spine thinking about that nightmare and the moments I have been part of the said horde.
Yes. It’s true. That is duct tape holding the sink together
Nebraska won their game against Oregon. Go Big Red! Go Big Red! It’s nice to be part of something even if it doesn’t matter what the outcome is to you. A few Nebraskans turned it up a notch and one started to stroll up to folks and he began a muted conversation about probably harmless things. My friend started drunkenly yelling at him. He waved the young man off like one would shoo away a raccoon that was picking at some garbage. It was wildly entertaining and if that isn’t a way to celebrate a win, then I don’t know what it is.
If you are a Nebraska fan you undoubtedly know about the Giggling Grizzly. If you are not a fan you should go anyway, just for the hell of it. It’s a good stop for abundance cheap beer on a Saturday morning before you turn it up for afternoon drinking.
Every experience I’ve had at the Giggling Grizzly reminds me of the sex I had back in my more formative years: it wasn’t pretty, but goddamn it felt good and I am almost positive that I am better for it. So, even if you didn’t have sex in high school or still don’t partake, you should give this downtown Denver staple a shot, especially on College Football Saturday. And I hope you bask in the excitement of things you may not care about at all.
Giggling Grizzly
Website: giggling-grizzly.com
Address: 1320 20th St, Denver, CO 80202