Colorado+49 sits right in the heart of Golden, Colorado, a great college town that also happens to be known for some other alcoholic drink. This cider pub is right in the shadow of South Table Mountain and has a small but shaded patio perfect for a sunny day. I had a night to myself and decided to go and grab some dinner at this pub and try out their ciders—some of which turned out to be really good. This place has a good vibe, with a bar section that has TV screens where you can watch local sports, as well as the larger main room that is quieter for good table conversation. This also has a good view of the kitchen for those that like watching their meals prepared. Additionally, there is one separate room up front that would probably be perfect for a private event.

The day I went the service was great and I had a nice conversation with Tom, one of the managers, who told me about the history of the place and meaning of the name—basically that Colorado is better than all the other states. It is mostly pub fair with some salads and lighter options, but I opted for a burger and fries which were really good. The drink menu was solid with about a dozen cider options, half from their cider room in the back, and the other half were guest ciders. They also had a number of beers from all over, including one from their sister brewery on the other side of the mountain in Wheatridge. I tried five of their ciders, all of which were pretty good, but my favorite was Idunn, which was outstanding. They call it a "Nordic-Style Dry," and it has nothing to do with the super-sweet and fruity ciders Scandinavia is more well known for. The origins of this style must come more from the Viking heritage of the region as it was hearty, complex, a bit mysterious but also just a tad sweet once you got to know it. They also had an imperial-style cider, the only one in the US I’ve seen that was not produced on the coasts, that was really good as well. To get the full Golden experience, I suggest hiking to the top of South Table Mountain first, or any of the other great trails along Clear Creek Canyon, to work up a good thirst before you go. I know I hope to visit again whenever I next find myself in Golden to see what new concoction cider maker and zymologist, James Coulter, has for me to try.