Avalanche Brewery ~ Silverton, Colorado

First visit: Aug 2023

If going into Ouray is the most beautiful drive, then going south into Silverton is the most hair raising. You need to be on high alert for this drive, with many hairpin turns with no railing and straight drops of thousands of feet. It's also beautiful, and since everyone is going so slow, there's plenty of opportunity to take in the sights.

Silverton is one of the most isolated towns in Colorado, and it shows. It's a bit rundown on aggregate, with most of the money pouring in from the Durango-Silverton railroad tourist crowd. Well heeled hundred-millionaires and billionaires can fly their private jets into Aspen, Vail, and Breckenridge, but there is no such potential option in Silverton. And the winter represents total isolation with scary drives to Durango as the only point of refuge.

In any case, after the exhilarating ride into Silverton, it was time for an ice cold beverage. Last time (again, 2018) we tried the Golden Block Brewery, so it was Avalanche's turn. We walked the whole town prior, and then settled in for one beer each, as we still had the Durango drive to do (much easier than from Ouray). Solid option - much brighter than the dark saloon feel of Golden Block, which I'd give the nod to if choosing between them, including beer taste.

8/9/23 (new entry)