Video #291: A return to Aspen Brewing, 2014 - Rockin' and Rollin'.

Jimmy and Duncan Clauss (Ben Liebert on camera).

We started following the Aspen Brewing Company in just after they opened their doors in this swanky Colorado ski town in 2008; we then returned each summer for 3 straight years, following their ups and downs as they grew into a 7 barrel brewery/taproom space 'down by the river' away from Aspen Mountain. Then we took a 4 year break to focus on the East, and returned this summer - has anything changed?

Well, let's put it this way: Owner Duncan Clauss shows us around the new production brewery, the canning line, and the new 'uptown' tap room. Growth? Leaps and Bounds. Change? Indeed. Rockin' and rollin'? Sing out, y'all. Sing out.

Enjoy!

Video #290: Shenanigans in the Glass - Tips from the Bearded Alchemist.

Mark, Jimmy and Squigs make their way back to The Jeffrey on Manhattan's Upper East Side to spend a little time with their Mixology guru Jacob, a.k.a. The Bearded Alchemist. Click play for yet another great reason to hang out at the Jeffrey, and a set of tips and tricks that this Master of Liquids recommends that you take back to your own home bar.  Cheers!

Video #289: Beer Hero - Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper.

Our Beer Heroes documentary series continues: Welcome Brewer, Geologist, former 2-term Mayor of Denver and current Governor of Colorado, John Hickenlooper!

The Governor, Duncan Clauss (owner of ABC) and Jimmy

Our latest Beer Hero couldn't be more deserving: The first Brewer to occupy a State Governorship since Samuel Adams in 1793, Governor Hickenlooper's involvement with Craft goes back a long way. From humble beginnings as a homebrewer, to becoming an owner of a brewpub that helped rebuild the defunct LODO section of Denver, the Governor has always known that Craft Creates. 

So after finding that the Governor would be in Aspen for the Ideas Festival, we contacted his communications staff and asked for an interview. Initially we were told that we had 5 minutes; the Governor ended up staying nearly a half hour. 

Click play above for seat at the Aspen Brewing Company's production facility just outside town, and a past, present and future look at this talented politician and downright terrific guy. Cheers!

Video #288: We say, who could be afraid of The Jeffrey?

Been on Manhattan's Upper East Side lately? It recently became a much more Craft-y place, thanks to some folk who have a great deal of experience creating terrific places to meet, eat, and drink. The Jeffrey is the new Neighborhood Joint that starts pouring Craft Coffee at 6am, and then goes, and goes, and goes. Join Mark, Jimmy, and Squigs on a trip to this new gem!

Video #287: Good News in Detroit - Atwater Brewing.

BIER STUBE!

Sure, there's plenty of bad news coming out of the Motor City these days - the largest American city ever to declare bankruptcy, images of ruin porn, and on and on. But we have some good news from Detroit - and it has to do with Craft. Join Mark, Jimmy, AJ and Joe at the Atwater Brewery in the historic Rivertown District in Downtown Detroit City, where a warehouse from 1919 and brewing techniques that are over 200 years old continue to do their part to revitalize a city. Cheers!

Video #285: BEERmuda Triangle in Avon and Upland!

Rounding out our time with the BEERmuda Triangle Tour last summer for Bagger Daves, here's our last stop, Upland Brewing and the BDVs store in Avon, Indiana. What an amazing trip this was!

Outpost: Colorado.

The Maroon Bells - some of the most photographed mountains in the world.

One of the greatest things about The Happy Hour Guys has always been that the show is so very portable. As Actors, Mark and Jimmy are always traveling around then world for various projects, and where they go, The Happy Hour Guys inevitably follows. 

This summer, while Mark holds down the fort on Broadway in NYC, (Newsies, The Musical) Jimmy will be spending 10 weeks in Aspen, Colorado doing the musical The Full Monty at Theatre Aspen. And there is much to cover in and around that frontier outpost! (But can a town with a Prada flagship store ever truly be called an outpost?!?!?)

These require more study. And camera angles.

Be sure and drop us a line or leave a comment if you're interested in seeing us at your place, or are looking to do a fun event - either in CO or NYC.  

Its going to be a terrific summer!