The frontage road to my right twists and turns alongside Highway 36 as I saunter towards the Flatiron Mountains lining Boulder, Colorado. I know this is my destination partially because my phone says so, but also, I recognize the area from past experience. I am one of those Millennials, now – the kind half-lost both metaphorically and physically. My more formative years happened around the same area that Nighthawk Brewery is located. The scene is familiar but I have a peaked interest in what is to come.
Some years ago, I moved twenty miles away from the northwestern suburbia but living in Denver feels like an entirely different life. Traveling out into the hushed tones of the distant city sprawl is a healthy change. Broomfield is a fresh attempt for independence in Denver’s northern burbs. The city-county is young with respect to the neighboring areas. It’s as if the old exurban landscape is shedding the dead skin and underneath is fresh new look and face of what I once found so dull.
The taproom in Nighthawk Brewery is dimly lit and storybook tavern-like in its simplicity. The line to order a beer is almost to the door as I walk in. Faces of thirsty patrons sit in short-lived beer-less agony as the line quickly dissipates. I find a seat at the bar and wait for Shawn to arrive. The Grapefruit IPA (6.5%) calls my name as a safe choice in a foreign place. I find myself satisfied with my decision as I receive a consensual soft pinch of grapefruit at the end of each sip.
Shawn is caught up in meetings (as will happen in the world of small business), so, the Head Brewer, Dan, is kind enough to talk with me instead. He explains to me the origin of the name has two major elements. First, the street that the founders began their journey into home brewing on is Nighthawk Court in Louisville, Colorado. That is a lively and outstanding name for a street. I grew up on Pierson Street, and although I cherish those years, I would do it all over again to live next to some asphalt with a name that spurs imagination and sounds like a superhero. Second, there is a famous painting by Edward Hopper called Nighthawks. I googled the painting and aesthetics of the Nighthawk Brewery pair well except for the loneliness portrayed in the painting. Nighthawk Brewery is the opposite. I will be looking into buying a copy of this painting or something by Hopper for my drab, shapeless bachelor pad.
On Dan’s recommendation, I try the Socially Awkward Llama Strong Ale (6% ABV) that’s brewed with Boulder Organic Coffee and it balanced out like a fucking gymnast. It was an accident, an anomaly. The beans was over-roasted and no one knew – one thing lead to another and now Boulder Organic Coffee is going to create the same type of roast that ended up in the beer originally for mass production. And from that Dan wants to whole-bean different types of beer. Not just the porters and stouts we are used to when drinking coffee infused beers. These Things Happen.
Dan’s keeps variety and ingenuity going with a line of barrel aged sours called Follow The Light. The sours aren’t just for the niche Denver markets. You can found them out here in the metropolitan spread, far away from the messy traffic of downtown.
I am sitting by the door of the game room at Nighthawk Brewery. Yes, your eyes have not deceived you – they have a goddamn game room at Nighthawk! And at moments, I can barely hear Dan explain his vision for their future because pinball machines and race games drown out the room for conversation. Soon they will have two then three pool tables. Kids are excited and entertained and their parents are relieved. Ding, Ding, Ding! It sounds like people are winning, in more ways than one.
The post-work-beer-drinkers start to line up like lotto balls at the front of the taproom. The two worlds of Happy Hour and Family Night Out are separated by an invisible wall, normally. But at Nighthhawk they coalesce in a peaceful, righteous, dance. As I try to gauge the pace and rhythm of Nighthawk I decide to order some of the pizza I have seen so many Dads come in and get for the kids.
The 3 Toed Cream Ale (4.6% ABV) has the makings to go with pizza. It’s that beer you would trick your Uncle into drinking because he only drinks Bud Light and you want him to understand there is more to life before dies. It’s a light and easy drinking brew for people who enjoy the craft of beer and who want some substance with their alcohol.
The pizza arrives like a knight in shining armor might for a princess in distress. I feel so lucky at this moment, so hungry, so pretty. Beer meets food. I am whole again. I am a simple man with simple tastes when ordering bar food. And this hits the spot. It saves me. So, I ate the whole thing like a goddamn animal.
The afternoon has turned to evening as I walk out the door. That raw sensation of appeasement holds my soul up like a hammock. Pizza and good beer and the staff at Nighthawk Brewery have done this for me. I feel a little less like a half-lost Millenial now. I am where I grew up, after all, at the wistful heart of something I should never leave completely behind.
The Denver Hopper Notes:
Nighthawk Brewery has a ton of events that you can find on their Facebook!
Social Media!
Give them a follow on IG: @Nighthawkbeer, Twitter: @Nighthawkbeer, FB: @Nighthawkbrewery
Follow The Light Sour Series: Facebook for Follow The Light
Nighthawk Brewery
Website: nighthawkbrewery.com
Address: 2780 Industrial Ln, Broomfield, CO 80020