102 APRIL 6-12, 2023 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SHOPPING & SERVICES | CONTENTS | downtown skyline to the east; development is exploding to the south. We have seen the future, and it’s enough to drive us to drink. Fortunately, the Lakeview is there to serve. Best Wine Bar Sunday Vinyl 1803 16th Street 720-738-1803 sundayvinyl.com When it comes to hospitality and wine, no one does it better than master sommelier Bobby Stuckey and the team at Frasca Hos- pitality Group. Inspired by the tradition of European wine bars, Sunday Vinyl offers accessible vino for all, from casual sippers to true afi cionados. Sure, you can splurge on pricey bottles here, but you can also enjoy an $8 glass during happy hour; the knowledgeable and friendly staff will help guide you to new fl avor profi les without the slightest hint of condescension. As re- fl ected in the name, the chic eatery also has an extensive vinyl collection, along with an impressive sound system; both are best experienced every Wednesday, aka Flight Night, when Sunday Vinyl presents a cu- rated wine list paired with great tunes. The food is a draw in itself, and new chef David Zboray is set to debut an even more ex- pansive and approachable menu this year. Best Distillery Taproom Talnua Distillery 5405 West 56th Avenue, Arvada 303-431-4949 talnua.com Meagan and Patrick Miller were inspired to open what became America’s fi rst single pot whiskey distillery, Talnua in Arvada, while on their honeymoon in Ireland. At the distillery’s tasting room, spirits are highlighted in a collection of reimagined takes on the classic Old Fashioned, with such options as the Elvis, in which whiskey is infused with plantains and peanut butter that has been fat-washed with bacon; the Wasabi Tsunami, made with wasabi pop- corn-infused gin; and the Lemon Espress Old Fashioned, which combines Hunter Bay Moose Drool coffee and lemon oleo. Best Colorado Distillery Golden Moon Distillery 412 Violet Street, Golden 303-993-7174 goldenmoondistillery.com When Stephen Gould and Karen Knight launched Golden Moon Distillery in early 2008, the husband-and-wife team started small. Fast-forward fi fteen years, and the pair has expanded its spirit offerings and added a speakeasy in downtown Golden that works as both a trendy bar and a tast- ing room for the distillery’s vast portfolio. Many of the spirits are made using his- torical recipes and techniques, thanks to Gould’s collection of rare books on distil- lation and concoctions, some dating back to the 1500s. Taste the dedication by sip- ping drams of REDUX Absinthe, Amer dit Picon and Ex Gratia Génépi. The lineup of whiskeys is just as delightful, and Golden Moon’s gin is one of the best in its category. Best Cidery Haykin Family Cider 12001 East 33rd Avenue, Aurora 720-242-7292 haykinfamilycider.com Daniel and Talia Haykin offi cially opened Haykin Family Cider, which has a simple tasting room in an industrial part of Aurora, in February 2018. Here, Haykin produces single-variety ciders from apples (many of them grown in Colorado) that are picked, pressed and fermented in season, allowing the distinct fl avor of each to shine through. Crisp, clean, complex fl avors make Haykin the Champagne of ciders — and it can be found sold in champagne bottles at liquor stores across the region. Best New Brewery Taproom Danico Brewing 18490 East 66th Avenue 303-531-2739 danicobrewing.com Nikki Harwood and Dave Lotierzo made lemonade out of lemons, so to speak, when they ran into COVID-related delays in opening their new brewery. The addi- tional planning time allowed them to fi nd their ideal builder, and after a smooth con- struction process, Danico Brewing opened in late 2022. The pair brought on veteran brewmaster Chris Kennedy, launching Danico with one of the best-tasting lineups for a fl edgling brewery in recent memory, with delicious beers like Front Porch Por- ter and Tookah the Tucker Munich Dunkel. Both are available among the dozen or so rotating brews available in the gleaming taproom, with its groovy mountain-like, turquoise-accented backdrop and comfy back-supported bar stools. Pair these ex- cellent brews with a snack from one of the food trucks that pull up outside. Best Brewery Cannonball Creek 393 Washington Avenue, Golden 303-278-0111 cannonballcreekbrewing.com Cannonball Creek has long been known for making hop-forward beers, and mak- ing them well. But in recent years, the brewery has expanded its menu to focus more on lagers — which, not surprisingly, are very good, too. From Dad Squad pils to Let’s Talk About Mex!, you can always fi nd tasty options here. The brewery mixes in a few other interesting styles, from Belgian golden beer to porters and saisons, that will tempt those looking to venture outside the realm of IPAs and lagers. You’ll have to go directly to the source for these beers, as Cannonball Creek doesn’t distribute cans, and you’ll rarely fi nd a keg outside of the taproom. The upside is beer that’s always fresh, and the Golden location is prime for pre- or post-outdoor adventures, with a lively crowd and rotating food trucks. Best Specialty Brewery Primitive Beer 2025 Ionosphere Street, Longmont primitive.beer Coloradans are fortunate to have quite a few high-quality producers of specialized beers, from makers Food and Drink continued from page 100 continued on page 104
