Every three months my employer brings me to Colorado to hang out with my team of fellow software geeks. While blogging about a work trip may seem strange, I really want to share what goes on out here with my friends and family.
A couple of years ago I started staying at this place, this magical lovely place. A slice of the UK, Thee Hilltop Inn and Burns Pub is nestled in the wild grasses of an office park in Broomfield, Colorado (of all places!).
The rooms have real keys, the barkeeps - hi Ron and JT - dress nattily with vests and hats, and the food is fresh, scratch, simply prepared. It is some of the best pub fare I have had anywhere.
This Irish Stew with soda bread was the last thing I ate here.
As you can see it was kind of good.
But besides the food...
The location is really nice, this is a picture of hole one at a disc golf course, about a mile's walk. The walk through the office park consisted of 50% overland grassy fields and wooded acreage with bunnies and prairie dogs and the other 50% was pleasant sidewalk. I probably never would have guessed it was so walkable but I am trying a Lyft-only trip this time (no rental car) so I am getting creative on the outings.
My score. I stopped tracking putts after hole 11, though... it was distracting. Full disclosure to those familiar with Interlocken East Park Disc Golf Course (hi Jon) I played 15 and 16 in the short tees.
A bunny on the walk back.
Me, on my overland route returning to the inn.
Back to my room. Did I mention all the rooms have names?
My view of the heath from the window of Blarney. Am I really in office park land in Broomfield? I feel transported.
A huge draw for me here is also the whisky. Above is Mr. Ron Nadel setting me up on a flight. I think it was a sherry cask flight but this is a file photo from January so I cannot remember. I am only a whisky novice but it is obvious that Burns' whisky selection is incredible.
Besides hosting a classical music and opera show on KGNU, Ron Nadel also hosts whisky appreciation nights on Thursdays. Here is a picture of Ron talking to us about Lowlands Scotch last January. Tomorrow we are are visiting the Kilchoman Distillery remotely from the basement of the pub. Maybe I will finally start to get it with the peaty scotches. It seems Kilchoman is a favorite among people who know what they are talking about.
The proprietor Chris Odde (pictured here enjoying the Lowlands tasting) and his very-soon-to-be-bride Brittany are friendly and welcoming. "Enter as a stranger, leave as a friend" is posted in the restaurant and they really live up to that. I am grateful.
My friend Jodi from work cannot make the whisky tasting this time because she is recovering from surgery, but we will be thinking of you Jodi.
And now I have got to stop writing this and go enjoy the #1 best thing about this place, the people.
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