Video #289: Beer Hero - Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper.

Our Beer Heroes documentary series continues: Welcome Brewer, Geologist, former 2-term Mayor of Denver and current Governor of Colorado, John Hickenlooper!

The Governor, Duncan Clauss (owner of ABC) and Jimmy

The Governor, Duncan Clauss (owner of ABC) and Jimmy

Our latest Beer Hero couldn't be more deserving: The first Brewer to occupy a State Governorship since Samuel Adams in 1793, Governor Hickenlooper's involvement with Craft goes back a long way. From humble beginnings as a homebrewer, to becoming an owner of a brewpub that helped rebuild the defunct LODO section of Denver, the Governor has always known that Craft Creates. 

So after finding that the Governor would be in Aspen for the Ideas Festival, we contacted his communications staff and asked for an interview. Initially we were told that we had 5 minutes; the Governor ended up staying nearly a half hour. 

Click play above for seat at the Aspen Brewing Company's production facility just outside town, and a past, present and future look at this talented politician and downright terrific guy. Cheers!

Outpost: Colorado.

The Maroon Bells - some of the most photographed mountains in the world.

The Maroon Bells - some of the most photographed mountains in the world.

One of the greatest things about The Happy Hour Guys has always been that the show is so very portable. As Actors, Mark and Jimmy are always traveling around then world for various projects, and where they go, The Happy Hour Guys inevitably follows. 

This summer, while Mark holds down the fort on Broadway in NYC, (Newsies, The Musical) Jimmy will be spending 10 weeks in Aspen, Colorado doing the musical The Full Monty at Theatre Aspen. And there is much to cover in and around that frontier outpost! (But can a town with a Prada flagship store ever truly be called an outpost?!?!?)

These require more study. And camera angles.

These require more study. And camera angles.

Be sure and drop us a line or leave a comment if you're interested in seeing us at your place, or are looking to do a fun event - either in CO or NYC.  

Its going to be a terrific summer! 

MAKING BEER: Let's talk process, with Aspen Brewing.

Back in 2010 we had a chance to do a beer making PROCESS SHOW with our friends out West at Aspen Brewing Company, in their old space.  Things have changed mightily for them since (they've grown a ton, have moved their taproom and brewery to new, larger spaces, they package their beer now, etc etc etc...) but the process of brewing beer is still the same.  And Rory Douthit is a masterful teacher.  Now LETS MAKE SOME BEER.  Cheers!

PART ONE:

PART TWO: