Gettin’ Groggy in Ouray, CO

There are many old saloons in Ouray but only two breweries; Ouray Brewery and Ourayle House Brewery – similar names but VERY different experiences!

Ouray Brewery has great home grown beer and great burgers, a good small menu and super NICE people working at the beer taps. This is a 3 story brewhouse with a rooftop area that has a killer view of Ouray Main Street. The first floor has ski lift chairs at the bar and the second floor is a great indoor space that can accommodate big parties. At the rail on the rooftop is the place to be though, its a win win win with great food, great beer and great views. Ouray Brewery is a great stop after driving the Million Dollar Highway – the steeply spectacular mountain drive from Ouray to Silverton (or vice verse). See my post “Gettin’ Groggy in Silverton for more info of the MDH!

Ourayle House Brewery – The legend of Mr Grumpy Pants Brewery has echoed through the streets of Ouray since 2007 and Yes, there is actually a Mr Grumpy Pants (his name is Hutch) and he brews beer, one barrel at a time, in the back room of the old Ourayle House and he has some PRETTY definite ideas about how his fine establishment should be patronized. When we visited Ourayle House Brewery we found a half closed door and an old guy who looked like Skeletor sitting inside a damp dark cave next to a chalkboard. We asked him “may we come in?” he abruptly said “NO”! OK rude… and kinda bizarre! Are actual people not allowed inside? BTW where ARE the other patrons? Are we in the wrong place? We checked the website www.coloradobrewerylist.com which clearly states “visitors welcome”… Really?! A little taken back, we opted not to stay because we were a little scared of Skeletor’s inhospitableness and also because from outside the front door, we couldn’t read the tiny print on the chalk board where we believe the beers were advertised.

As we meandered through Ouray and spoke to the locals of our experience with Grump; we learned that you don’t go there if you want; ambiance, hospitality, comfort, friendly banter, food or water… you don’t take your children, use a credit card or expect a variety of beer… and you don’t go if you want good customer service or good craft beer. Well, the reviews of the beer and the Grump, are mixed. Some people LOVE the beer, others purely hate the beer. Some people have great fun at the brew cave and enjoy conversation with Grump, others despise the place and find Grumps brashness inexcusable, never to return. In hindsight, I wish we had better recovered from our initial shock of the Grumps rudeness and stayed to try the beer, it may have been really good! Or Not.

HOORAY FOR OURAY! This 1876 mining town has it all… located 7,800 feet high in the San Juan mountains of Southwestern Colorado, you will enjoy shopping, galleries, restaurants and old hotels on the historic main street, as well as many outdoor adventures such as epic back country skiing, ice climbing and jeeping in Ouray’s high country – where exists many world class off road adventures such as the famous Imogene Pass and Yankee Boy Basin (www.alltrails/us/colorado/ouray/off-road-driving)

For an fun activity, visit Box Canyon which is located in town where you can hike (and by “hike” I mean “easily walk”) the short upper and lower trails to see the The Tunnel and High Bridge (8,100 feet above sea level) and then walk down the steps into the Box Canyon Falls below. Just check in at nature center (and by “nature center” I mean “small shack”) and pay $7 fee per person, then walk around as much as you want, you will get some great photos of the box canyon and views overlooking the town of Ouray.

If you like to ride horseback, please contact our friend, Kari Thorn, owner of RED MARE TRAIL RIDES located in the Ouray KOA campground. Not only will you have a comfortable ride through some beautiful country overlooking the Ouray canyon, you will learn a lot about horses from the best trainer around, Kari is a true horse whisperer! When you enter the KOA campground, stop at the camp host store and ask for directions to the stable, its at the other side of the campground and not very obvious but you will see a trailer… and a shed… and a very friendly little donkey named Cupid!

Last but not least, Ouray Hot Springs. Open year round, the hot springs features five large geothermal heated mineral pools surrounded by the beautiful San Juan mountains. This hot springs includes no sulphur, no smell, no alcohol and no reservations necessary but bring your own towel (they charge $10 to purchase one) and $5 to rent a locker. A great place to take the family for soaking in the pool or picnic in the park… check out the big fish pond (just outside the front doors of the hot springs) with a variety of colorful fish, cute little turtles and some VERY large Carp!