It was at Phantom Canyon one week ago last night that Chris and I were helping my good friend celebrate her 40th birthday. It should have been a surprise, but she’s a smart gal and pretty much put it all clues together and figured it out. However, this did not deter from the celebration as a whole, whatsoever.

Phantom Canyon is a historical establishment in the downtown part of Colorado Springs. It’s a classy, yet casual restaurant, serving creative dishes that knock on the door of gourmet, but don’t actually walk all the way in. Meaning, you could get these types of  flavors and culinary ideas in a fine dining establishment, but the chefs at PC keep it cool enough to relax with a cold beer in a comfortable environment. We enjoyed the Ahi Tuna Tostada (see photo):

And the fried Risotto (check it out!):

Very scrumptious, indeed, and plenty for us to share. But before we go any further, did I mention that Phantom Canyon is a brewery? Oh, yes, it is. Certainly I would be remiss if I withheld that fact any longer. For Chris and I, dining within a brewery is grounds for us to make great strides in our quest of becoming better connoisseurs of craft beer.

I’ve lately been trying to put together a few words that would eloquently describe our love for tasting good beer. I wanted to say something that might compare it to wine tasting or coffee tasting. And, low and behold, I found in the paper this morning an article that puts into words the thoughts that have been jumbled in my brain. In today’s Gazette, an article by R. Scott Rappold, called Beer Lover Hops on Colorado, he writes, “If people can travel to vineyards to sample the wines put out by different regions, why not beer? A beer can tell you as much about a place and its people as a glass of wine.” The article highlights a newly published book by a bloke that I worked near during my stint as a reporter at the Gazette.

My point is, is that Chris and I enjoy the adventure of tasting different brews and we take it rather seriously, if I can say that without cracking a smile. When we have an opportunity to partake in a tasting, we do so with gusto! Therefor, when we were  at PC last weekend, with great haste, we ordered a flight of beer.  A flight of beer is simply a selection of tasters that the brewery at hand has to offer. Usually a sampling of four to six is standard. This gives us an opportunity to discover new tastes and make a decision of what we like prior to ordering a pint that we may actually not love.

This flight at PC was the largest offering we have ever experienced.

Chris couldn’t believe it!

I couldn’t wait to get started!

So, with 10 samplings, we sure got an education on what’s being brewed downtown at Phantom Canyon. We ended up sharing many sips with our friends and we all got in on determining what we liked and did not like. But, isn’t that what good food and good beer is all about? Bringing friends together for the sharing of a good time? I say, “yes!”

Cheers!

*I like to give credit where it is due, so thank you to my very talented and dear friend, Teresa, for taking the flight photos!