Time to grow
Goat Patch Brewing announces new, Northside taproom; Springs cocktail culture examined in tap&table Ep. 11; Lucy I'm Home to retire; The Rey ready to roll + more food & drink news
Goat Patch Brewing Co. is growing. Or, will grow. Next year. So don’t get too excited yet. Hold your horses. Er, um, goats. But be informed.
Earlier this week, I drive up to meet the brewery’s executive team — sponsors of Side Dish — at 12245 Voyager Parkway (Suite 100, in the shopping center with Sushi Ato and Zesty Thai). It’s the former F45 Training gym space, an endcap unit with abundant natural light, high ceilings and lots of room for Echo Architecture to work their design magic. We sit around a fold-up card table in plastic chairs, except for brewer/owner Darren Baze, who’s in comfortable repose in a camp chair, because he and his wife Cate’s new puppy sits in his lap, indistinguishable from a stuffed animal. (I can hardly focus on the meeting.)
Co-owner Jen Grant walks me through an early rendering of the new taproom’s floor plan, which she points out is remarkably similar to the layout of their Lincoln Center space. Except there are more tables past the 16-tap bar, which is on the far opposite wall of the entryway, adjacent to an angular front patio. There’ll be rollup doors for warm weather days, too. And overall occupancy capacity for roughly 60 more patrons than at Lincoln.
But what’s this? A kitchen space in the back corner? Goat Patch, popular for its steady food truck rotation, is getting into the food game up north?
Essentially. That square footage will be separately licensed and intentionally distinguished from the brewery — “we’re not becoming a brew-pub,” clarifies Co-owner Justin Grant. What they are doing for menu design is tapping their old friend and neighbor Jay Gust of Ascent Restaurant Group — who operated Smorbrod for a stint where The Roswell later went in and Nacho Matrix is set to go next. Gust’s concept (in a consulting role) remains in development, but a press release notes “shareable plates and small bites.” The team has plenty of time to noodle on the in-house eatery. Because the anticipated opening date up north will be sometime in spring, 2025. (Like I said, hold your goats.)
Why now, why north? “We were initially looking for more production space, but we’ve always been open to a second taproom, and there’s a lot of exciting things happening on this side of town,” says Co-owner Cate Baze, immediately referencing the incoming Ford Amphitheater not far up the street. The team says for years they’ve had their eyes out, searching as far as Falcon and Security, but of course Covid introduced some setbacks, or at least a pause on ambitious plans. They say they have a little capacity still left to grow into before they fully cap out in the brew house. “We’re doing everything we can to keep up,” says Darren, noting that when this new location opens next year, the beer demand will likely put them at full brewing capacity. “So we’re kicking the can down the road,” says Justin.
They feel like the town as a whole has already changed quite a bit in the seven years since they opened shop. (Their anniversary falls in late July, next month; stay tuned for party details.) But they really like the vibe of this stretch of Voyager Parkway, in between the bustling, chain-dominant Interquest Parkway and North Gate Boulevard developments. This shopping plaza by contrast hosts mostly independent, local businesses, and it’s far enough away from the nearest breweries (like Pikes Peak Brewing in Monument and Black Forest Brewing to the east) to likely capture ample support from the surrounding residential neighborhoods. Because of the small-business synergy, they feel there’s a touch of a Lincoln Center vibe in this place, despite not being connected by a hallway like the repurposed elementary school is.
I ask about entertainment programming and Social Media & Events Coordinator Averee Dilday says it’s too early to say, but it’s safe to presume they’ll launch with the easy stuff like Trivia Night and maybe Singo Music Bingo. “We might duplicate our calendar, but we’ll let our patrons dictate what they want, here,” adds GM Johannah Murphy. The beer taps, by the way, will be redundant to the OG taproom, and no brewing will take place at this new site, if that wasn’t clear already.
If you’re for some reason still not familiar with or have never been to Goat Patch for a pint, check out their quick bio and expansive list of awards here, including prestigious GABF and World Beer Cup wins, including a Bronze nod this past April for their Baaah-ley Wine. And drop by their Lincoln Center taproom on June 28 for two special release beers: Cantaloupe Cream Ale and Dry Hopped Limeade Shandy, both tapping at 5 p.m. Now, back to fawning over that puppy:
*Like animals? Make sure to read all the way to the bottom of the newsletter this week (as I’m sure you always do, ahem) for more pictures of beautiful creatures. You’re welcome.
11-11: Tap&Table tackles all things cocktail culture in Episode 11 — filmed at District Elleven. (How symbolic!)
If you don’t know these guys’ faces, you need to get out for a drink. (Mocktail option totally acceptable.) Colby Schaffer will greet you warmly and make you truly at home at District Elleven (a Side Dish Dozen sponsorship member), and Shayne Baldwin will shake you a spectacular cocktail at The Archives — which just dropped a new summer cocktail menu. Baldwin also won our six-month Bar Battle series in January of this year and is known for the flair he brings to the game. In this episode, we talk about true hospitality in the industry; examine where our cocktail scene stands today; unpack cocktail prices; hear about the guys’ favorite drinks; and much more. Tune in, share it, and swing by these establishments to continue the conversation, or just grab a drink.
*Like what you hear? Then subscribe to our tap&table YouTube channel. And/or follow us on Apple, Google, Amazon, or Spotify.
Lucy I’m Home to call it quits
“Shit happens, it’s been a nice run. It’s bittersweet and the end of an enjoyable ride.” That’s what Hector Diaz, founder of Lucy I’m Home food truck texted me on Thursday evening ahead of their public announcement on Friday morning that they’re having to soon call it quits. Why? Take a look at the photo below.
“… Lucy I’m Home was in an accident last week, (no one was hurt) unfortunately the repairs are too costly to fix. This situation was untimely however our family has been in discussion of possibly transitioning out of this business,” they explain on their Facebook post. Noting nearly 10 years since the truck first hit the road, they also say “Hector would like to actually retire and his children who have been his support all these years are feeling a change of pace for their future as well. Long story short, this accident solidified our decision to retire Lucy I’m Home for good.”
Before they hang up their aprons, though, they wish to honor their commitment to Hillside Gardens’ Summer Concert Series (through Oct. 2), so they’ll serve on site under a tent there. Go get your last of their Cubano (a pretty perfect rendition I’ve raved about over the years) and empanadas. And if you need a new Cuban spot for your fix after Lucy I’m Home is shuttered, consider visiting Hector’s pal Amaury Hernandez at Restaurant Arelita on Platte Ave., which I recently reviewed here.
I want to close with a personal acknowledgement that Hector became a friend over the years, and his kids were always awesome to me as well. I got to know him well when we first met, and I wrote an expansive cover story for the Indy at time (which I would link to here if the paper’s new owners/management had unfucked our historical archives by now). It was about Hector’s arrival from Cuba to the U.S. as a child as part of Operación Pedro Pan. That’s a lesser known chapter of American Cold War history, but the events had a profound impact on Hector and his siblings, which reverberates through their lives today. I was honored to tell Hector’s story and for the trust his family bestowed me. That piece of journalism remains one of my proudest works and favorite stories I’ve ever written. Through it came a warm bond with Hector that I’m grateful for.
Lucy I’m Home’s food spoke for itself, so I’ve found zero conflict of interest in calling like it is and regularly rating it outstanding and memorable. It will be missed.
Bites and Bits
• The highly anticipated re-opening of El Taco Rey in the form of new food cart The Rey finally has a date attached: This Saturday, June 29. Twin sisters Jana Aguilar Mitchell and Judy Aguilar Allen will begin service at 11 a.m. outside their church: Heritage Pentecostal Church, 2950 Monica Drive West. Bring cash, because their credit card reader isn’t yet ready for service, they say. Here’s their launch menu:
• “In typical Broadmoor fashion, we do it all,” says resort VP of Food and Beverage David Patterson. That’s something Patterson told me for my write-up on The Broadmoor Creamery (the property confectionary) and Falling Waffles (the bubble waffle cart seasonally located at Seven Falls). That blurb is featured (on p. 66) in the just-published Broadmoor Living magazine, 2024 Summer/Fall edition. Also, on the prior spread (on p. 64-65), you’ll find my feature story on Distillery 291, who’s part of the Broadmoor’s new single-barrel whiskey program, spearheaded by Patterson, a Kentucky native.
• Snooze A.M. Eatery just unveiled a “new fresh juice program” called The Juicery by Snooze. It furthers their non-alcoholic options and is composed of Super Greens, Rejuvenate and Butterfly Lemonade juice options. Each of the three claims to have “a fun twist,” such as prickly pear coconut water and Himalayan pink salt in the Rejuvenate for electrolytes and hydration.
• And in other chain eatery news, Colorado got its first Wing Zone location here in the Springs on June 25, at 3670 Austin Bluffs Pkwy. I think you can guess what the place serves. You’ll find four heat levels for spice options and a bunch of dry rub flavor options. And a press release calls the wings “perfectly hot and juicy.” (Sorry, does that read facetious?) The franchise is brought to us by Ron and Christen Sanders, the couple who also brought two Capriotti’s Sandwich Shops to town.
• Marigold & Go soft opened with promotion of pastries, desserts and drip coffee on June 27 in the former (and short-lived) Just Love Coffee Cafe space at 140 E. Cheyenne Road. That’s at the Creekwalk. A Facebook post notes they’ll soon add breakfast and lunch options The business is an extension of Marigold Café at 4605 Centennial Blvd. and Marigold Bistro at 146 E. Cheyenne Mountain Blvd., which was formerly Walter’s Bistro but sold to new owners Julie and Ghassan Nehme in 2023. They’d purchased the original cafe from Elaine and Dominique Chavanon in 2017. I missed out on this soft opening and ran low on time this week to reach out to the Nehmes, but have it on my to-do list to an update on all things Marigold at the moment. It’s a legacy business with new energy, clearly, so I’d like to get us all up to speed on the latest haps.
• Next week: I’ve interviewed Juelz Ramirez, barista and founder/owner of the newly soft-opened Stompin’ Groundz coffee shop on the Southeast side of town. They’re holding a grand opening party on July 6, 9 a.m. to noon. And I’m aiming to have the next Side Dish newsletter to your inbox on Wednesday, July 3, ahead of the Fourth of July holiday, in case you’re traveling or just busy makin’ mischief with your grill and some friends in the back yard. Meanwhile, here’s a taste of what’s to come:
Side Dish Dozen happenings
• Local Relic Artisan Ales: Join our beer club! Become a monthly or annual member here and gain access to member-only release beers. On draft right now: a Nori Gose, which is a salted, German-style sour brewed with dried seaweed. That’s just one example of our brewer’s creativity from our 18 constantly-rotating taps.
• The French Kitchen: Tour de France croissant sale, June 29 only: We call them our “TDF Croissants” because these breakfast croissants are To Die For! Featuring layers of creamy Béchamel sauce, Gruyère cheese, and Prosciutto Cotto ham on a buttery, flaky house-made croissant. Spots open in our Instant Pot classes, July 2, 1-4 p.m. and 5:30-8:30 p.m. Check out our Taste of July specials: peppered bacon and green bean quiche; coconut-mango soup; and strawberry-rhubarb cobbler Queenets.
• Edelweiss: Stiegl Grapefruit Radler from Austria is on tap for summer. Clean, crisp and only 2-percent ABV for a refreshing low-alcohol option made with real cane sugar (vs. high fructose corn syrup). Enjoy one soon on our dog-friendly patio.
• Red Gravy: Back by popular demand: Red Gravy Sunday Supper Club. First dinner date to be announced soon. These are ticketed, multi-course meals with wine pairings. Live cooking and plating by Chef Eric Brenner.
• Bristol Brewing Company: Check out our limited edition 30th Anniversary beers on draft in the Pub: Lemon Gose, RyePA, Dark American Wheat. Also, Soapdish plays Bristol’s Music in the Yard on Friday, June 28, 6-8 pm.
• Blue Star Group: Ivywild Kitchen has incorporated favorites from our Weber St. Kitchen menu: The wedge salad and pretzel bites have been added permanently, while the cheeseburger (smashburger) and popcorn chicken rotate as weekly specials. Gold Star Bakery is adding seasonal favorite strawberry rhubarb pie and key lime pie to its menu starting July 1! Visit the bakery or preorder your whole pies online here.
• Ascent Beverage: Hit up Shame and Regret for the Corpse Reviver No 2, featuring Jackson Hole Still Works’ Great Grey Gin.
• Goat Patch Brewing: Cantaloupe Cream Ale and Dry Hopped Limeade Shandy beer releases, 5 p.m., June 28. Baby Goat Yoga, June 29. Sessions between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets here. Free Summer Music Series featuring Patchwork Jack, 6-8 p.m., June 30.
• Kangaroo Coffee: We're launching our summer featured drinks July 1! Hoppy Camper: white chocolate macadamia nut cold brew. Summer Harvest: Red Bull infused with watermelon and cherry syrups. Strawberry Fields Lemonade, and a Blackberry Lavender Latte. Hoppy Summer!
• District Elleven: Happy Hour at our whiskey bar, from 4-6 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays, gets you $6 tapas, $6 wines, an $8 Old Fashioned, $5 wells and $4 beers.
• Wobbly Olive: Half-priced cocktails from our full menu during happy hour, 4-6 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. $6 goes a long way with us.
• Four by Brother Luck: Now that you’ve seen our Chef de Cuisine Ashley Brown compete on Chopped, come by to dine off her current menu. Also check out Chef Brother Luck’s latest venture, Eleven18 Latin Tapas Bar.
• Odyssey Gastropub: Offering Fourth of July brunch & bottomless mimosas, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (closed the rest of the day).
• Rasta Pasta: Wine Wednesdays feature two-for-one on all house wines. Generous pours of Big House Red Blend, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio.
Upcoming events
• June 29: 10 Year Anniversary Celebration at FH Beerworks. Noon to 10 p.m.
• June 29: Revel ReMix: AdAmAn Alley Dance Party: By way of eats, look for grab-and-go items from Red Gravy (toasted ravioli) Jack Quinn’s (steak & mushroom hand pies) and CO Craft (mac & cheese).
• June 29: Field of Drinks Beer Festival at Fountain’s Metcalfe Baseball Field. Noon to 4 p.m.; $35. Catch 20 Southern Colorado breweries, live music, food trucks and more.
• July 13: Banning Lewis Ranch Brewfest. Noon to 4 p.m. in Vista Park. A family-friendly day in the park featuring samplings from area breweries and distilleries, plus food trucks, live music and kids activities.
• July 14: Sunday Supper at the Meanwhile Block. 6-10 p.m., free. Bring your own bites or dine from food trucks on site. Organizers are setting long community tables down the alley with an open invite to share a meal, connect with others and “combat the loneliness pandemic.”
• July 18: Get your tickets now for Taste of Pikes Peak, 6-9, July 18 outside the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum at Park Union. Schnip’s pick: Get the $85 VIP ticket for early access (worth it!), just $20 more than the regular ticket, with proceeds benefitting the Pikes Peak Chapter of the Colorado Restaurant Association.
• July 25: [Early notice] Tails, Tunes & Tastes at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. 6-9:30 p.m., $64.75 includes unlimited small plate samples plus two drink tickets. (Tickets also available for Aug. 29 and Sept. 26 dates.)
• July 27: [Early notice] Downtown Summer Fest. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. View the Olympics on a big screen in the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum plaza alongside live music, vendors and more.
*All summer: Support our local farmers markets. Use Visit COS’ online guide to find the market(s) nearest you.
Parting shot(s)
I greatly enjoyed attending Moonlight on the Mountain Thursday night at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Many animals were out for view before their general 8 p.m. bedtimes, so we made our rounds with drinks in hand and pit stops along the way to grab bites from the night’s generous vendors. I made a game out of seeing how many compliments I could get on my rad sloth shirt that I found several years ago at the ARC for $6. My total count for the night: more than 30. True story. I even ran into another dude wearing a sweet sloth shirt and dope hat, feeling like I’d met my long lost brother. (We should probably take the new relationship really really slow when we hang out. Sloth reference and pun — zing!)
I also ran into several of my Side Dish Dozen member businesses, who like the other vendors for the evening, generously donated all their product samples and staff time to help raise money for the zoo via this annual event. So I made an effort to snap photos with each of them, as well as SSA Group (who holds the contract for the zoo) Area Chef John Kuespert, effectively hosting for the evening with his culinary team. Their sample dish was one of my faves of the evening: beef short rib over pimento polenta with a roasted tomato, crispy sweet potato and sweet tea bordelaise. Another fave was My Neighbor Felix’s cochinita pibil (a regular menu item you can find there) with a soon-to-release green chile tortilla that they previewed for the event. If you’re getting a sense of how gourmet and worthwhile Moonlight on the Mountain is, and you want to experience a similar event before next year, consider snatching tickets to Tails, Tunes & Tastes on July 25, Aug. 29 or Sept. 26. It features unlimited small plate samples plus two drink tickets for $64.75, again benefitting the zoo. (You can read my writeup on last year’s event here.)
