Monica LaSalle, Nederland.
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot
and old lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!
And surely I’ll buy mine!
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
***Robert Burns
Some things are meant to be used only by adults, and thanks to modern methods of cleaning water for daily consumption we no longer have an excuse to drink beer all day long in order not to risk getting sick from drinking water.
Yet, mind altering substances have always had their allure, especially during the holiday season. Alcohol and marijuana have also been known to be used as stress relief during hectic times, with THC and CBD being found to treat anything from PTSD to depression, muscle soreness to healing more quickly and effectively from surgery.
However, the effects of alcohol and marijuana on brain development in people under the age of 25 is just beginning to be understood by the general public. It has been discovered that marijuana inhibits the final stages of development in the area of the brain that controls decision making capabilities, making it extremely detrimental to teenagers. But enough preaching on a soap box…here’s what the Nederland community has to offer as local shopping for convivial imbibement this holiday season.
Harvest House is a family-owned and run local dispensary that has been open for 3 years and has already experienced a lot of holiday shopping. The establishment features 30 varieties of flower such as Candyland Wifi, which has been known to be very functional and gives a “bright up” effect, or Inzane in the Membrane for a little more kick – both of which are Headie level.
They also offer several options of edibles that consist of anything from lozenges to chocolates to tinctures specifically designed to help control stress and anxiety, sleeplessness and tension that seems to go hand in hand with the holiday season. In fact, family member Emily Johnson tells me that they will soon be offering an exciting new sublingual product that goes straight into your blood stream rather than into your lungs or digestive tract. It is a great product for managing PTSD and depression without the psycho-active high.
Behind the front counter, I am helped by the kind and knowledgeable Tory, who recommends an aromatherapy 3 pack that is a medicinal blend and would make a perfect stocking stuffer this year. She shows me an infused Ayurvedic cannabis-infused essential ointment that also helps sore muscles, joints and tension-filled areas all over the body.
In addition to helping heal your own body or that of a loved one, consider trying one of the pet tinctures Harvest House has to offer. Not psycho-active, these tinctures are designed to help all the aches and pains our older pet friends tend to suffer from as they age. From vaporizers with extracts that are pre-screened for any additives and preservatives to seeds from ETHOS in collaboration with Klone, all products on the shelf at Harvest House are 100 percent pesticide free and no-spray. They also offer local art by Laraine Scott, hats, t-shirts and a multitude of smoking implements for your private use pleasure.
Silver Stem is another local dispensary located on main street Nederland that is part of a bigger chain with 5 locations elsewhere. They boast the only medical-marijuana-only counter in Nederland and feature loyalty programs that function with points accumulation that result in discounts on future purchases. All their product is grown in Colorado and is 5th generation grown in soil, as opposed to hydroponics. Cassie Rauhof has been the store manager for 2 years and shows me a few of their featured flower; Snow Cap and Dutch Treat Haze to name a few of the Sativas in stock, and Kosher Kush as a popular Indica available with competitive pricing.
The establishment also stocks small gift opportunities like chocolate bars, bath bombs and pocket-sized topical salves. They have an extensive variety of products at varying prices guaranteed to be affordable for the deepest to the most threadbare of pocketbooks.
Peak Wine and Spirits is the liquor store to be found on the north side of town. Located on the corner of N. Jefferson Street and Highway 72N, Karen Fletcher has been open since 2010 and says she is always happy to place special orders for customers. If the order is placed on a Monday, more often than not it can be turned around within a week. Karen offers a special rack in her wine section called “NedHead Favorites” where she directs customers if they are looking for advice on a purchase or want to know what their fellow locals are drinking these days. There are a multitude of Colorado made products on the shelves, from wine to beer and liquor.
A really good bet for the holiday season is A Midwinter’s Dram, from High West Distillery out of Park City, Utah. A limited release whiskey and rye blend that is finished in French oak port barrels, it makes a distinctive impression at any holiday gathering. She also has a variety of gift boxes for the season, such as Grey Goose Vodka, which is the same price as the bottle alone usually is but comes with a shaker set for the holidays. All boxes are the same price as the regular bottle.
Peak offers a weekly Tuesday special featuring one wine and one beer at rock bottom prices, changing the brands each week to allow for all different pallets to benefit from the great deals. Or take advantage of the 6 bottles/10 percent off deal that includes wine or 750ml liquor, all non-sale of course (you can include a sale item, but the 10 percent would not apply to that item). Both sales offer great opportunities for gift purchasing during the holiday season or stocking up for your own holiday party. They even offer tiny bottles of sparkling wine!
Dam Liquor has been a staple of the Nederland community since time forgotten. Owned by Kent Bartlow and managed by Scott Havnes, the store has served the community through many a holiday season. Featuring an extensive wine collection, they offer tastings every 3-7 p.m. to help shoppers develop a more experienced pallet.
Jarod Lambert escorts me to the beer section to highlight their latest addition to their stock, Accumulation by New Belgium Brewing. A white IPA with a 6.2 percent ABV, this brew is purposely in direct contrast to a long standing tradition of brewing dark beers for the long cold winters. A wheat beer with Amarillo hops, it’s sure to appeal to the snow lovers by keeping “long nights blizzard white”. He also shows me a variety of gift boxes with rocks glasses to actual crystal encased, making another great gift idea. One doesn’t have to look much farther to find Dom Perion or a simpler sparkling wine to ring in the New Year, or my favorite, the chocolate covered liquors (mmm delicious…but don’t let the kids get em’!) in a variety box. With a friendly and knowledgeable staff, Dam Liquor is always happy to see you and offer advice for whatever challenge the holiday season offers you.
(Originally published in the December 13, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)
