Idaho Springs’ Westbound and Down Above, left; The ‘Don’t Hassle the Hef’ wheat beer, with cloves and banana aromas and a citrus-flavor finish. Above, right; The historical buffalo side of Westbound and Down’s brewpub. PHOTOS BY OMAYRA ACEVEDO[/caption]

At the end of January, I experienced one of the scariest moments in my life. I won’t go into detail, but I will share that it forced me to appreciate, even more so, the life I live. I began recollecting some of my experiences. The most recent one was at Idaho Springs’ Westbound and Down Brewing Company.

A friend and I sat at a table at the buffalo bar. As we shared a beverage, my mind began to wander. I contemplated how I got to where I am, the future, the new challenges I was facing, and things I wanted to start pursuing. I’m not sure what happened, but as I looked around the room, admiring everything I saw, even the bubbles in my Hefeweizen-style beer, my senses were heightened.

I began to ask questions about the place whose walls I found myself confined in. I learned that their story started when friends made a pact to share their pursuit of better food and drink. Their ever-evolving menus, which change with the seasons, and their desire to provide new and delicious ideas, are proof of their continued pursuit.

The Bottle Club membership also caught my attention. It’s a way for beer enthusiasts to get a little closer to the brewhouse action. It isn’t only about getting first dibs on their beer, but it helps fund new experiences and special projects. This exclusive membership offers members the chance to take newly released beers home and includes a 10% discount on food and merchandise.

Assistant General Manager, Isaac Callion, shared that passion and dedication rest on doing things right and that every aspect of each guests’ visit matters. I’ve been there several times and Callion will get no argument from me. I was further impressed when I discovered that they also care about the environment. The energy used to help power their operation comes in part from wind power.

Westbound and Down has been awarded the #1 Brewery by Top Rated Online and #1 Top Rated American Sandwiches for 2018, 2019, and 2020. As well as three Great American Beer Festival awards, including silvers for their Double Barrel Louie English Barleywine and the Westbound Double IPA. To no surprise, they have also won Mid-Size Brewpub of the Year.

Westbound and Down is rich with Colorado roots and aims to instill the spirit of the West in every keg, bottle, meal, and moment. In my opinion, their ambition for better things has paid off, and I can only hope that my pursuits will pay off too.

The Westbound and Down Brewing Company is located at 1617 Miner Street in Idaho Springs, Colorado, 80452. For more information call 720-502-3121 or go to their website https:// westboundanddown.com/.