Broken Compass Brewing

     Good afternoon beer buds and welcome to the second and final edition of this Beers with Brandon segment reviewing some breweries I had the pleasure of visiting while on a recent trip to Colorado. A few days into our trip we found ourselves walking the streets of downtown Breckenridge taking in the beautiful scenery and mountain views that words just wouldn't do justice when we had the sudden urge to relax and warm up inside while enjoying a frosty beer thankfully, we were able to find refuge in the Broken Compass taproom. Located near the end of downtown Main Street this brewhouse was founded on May 30th, 2014 when owners Jolene and Jason Ford had finally made their dreams come true. Since it's humble origins as a tiny taproom it has grown over the past seven years into one of the must stop destinations in Breckenridge for both locals and tourists alike. While they do not serve food at this brewery there is really no need to with all the local restaurants and other activities you can do while visiting. On a separate visit to the city, we stopped by a family-friendly restaurant called Downstairs at Eric's that serves a variety of options from numerous cultural backgrounds. In addition to that there is also an arcade packed with twenty-five flat screen TVs and twenty-seven arcade style games. At my brother's strong recommendation, we also made a stop by the renowned Crepes A La Cart to enjoy a savory treat after we had our drinks. 

Circling back to Broken Compass the environment they had cultured over the years made one feel right at home from the moment we stepped through the threshold. The employees were very friendly and offered suggestions for what beers we should try based off our taste preferences. We eventually decided on one of their two sampler packages which offered a breakdown of their menu on each with four 6 oz pours to try. The package we tasted started off with the Mango Passion Fruit Sour with a low ABV of 4.5%. As far as sours go this one was one of the tarter I have tried and was very smooth going down but pursed my lips after each drink. Next was the Coconut Porter stout with a mild 5.6% ABV. This drink was actually one of my favorites because the coconut flavors added a unique pairing to the malty and bitter flavors found in a traditional porter stout. The third beer of the flight was the intriguing Nitro Tangerine Dream, a pale ale with a strong tangerine and vanilla aroma that is well represented in the overall taste when you take a sip. Finishing strong with the Zamba Juice Hazy IPA which gets it name from the dance and music style of Argentina. A fitting name for this beverage since after a few you'll have the courage to get up and start dancing with an astounding 7.3% ABV. Of the beers I tried while on my trip this was my hands down favorite not only because of it's high alcohol content but also the flavors of pineapple, mango, and tangerine that took my tastebuds to the tropics where they didn't want to leave. Thank you all so much for joining me on yet another exciting adventure into the world of craft beers. Until next time have a beer for me. Cheers!