Going hiking in the mountains always poses the big question of “what are we going to eat once we’re done?” Instead of the typical Beau Jo’s pizza, I suggest you try Westbound & Down Brewery in Idaho Springs (very close to Beau Jo’s actually!)Â When I walked in for the first time, I was struck by how modern, bright with natural light, and crisp the ambiance was.
It’s hard to explain, but it just feels equally welcoming and “hip” at the same time– not your typical mountain bar. They have 2 different rooms- one that’s more of a bar feel with TVs, and one that’s more of a restaurant feel. But if you do sit on the bar side, you can still get the food from the restaurant side. We ordered a flight of beer, not knowing which one to pick, because they all sounded good. And I’m very happy to say that I liked each beer. We got the Colorado Smash (lighter summer beer), Bel-Hop Pop (hoppy Belgian), Vers L’ouest Tripel (Belgian ale), and the Angry Brown Ale (I know, so surprising that I liked that one.)
For lunch, we ordered the Grilled Chicken Sandwich with bacon, Gruyere and slaw that was delicious, and the Colorado Lamb Burger with ricotta salata. They both came with delicious fries that were perfectly crisp and seasoned. They have a lot of other yummy things on their menu that I would describe has sophisticated bar food. Their pints, growlers, and merchandise are also really cute, so that’s a bonus.
So next time you’re heading down the mountain, consider Westbound & Down.
Address: 1617 Miner Street Idaho Springs, CO 80452