Hitting the Spot

Three Boulder County bars redefining happy hour one flight, pint and pour at a time

By Rainbow Shutlz

Wine bar, brewery or urban tasting room? Why choose. Boulder County’s drink scene is buzzing with new spots that balance expertise with laid-back charm. Whether you’re after a cheese-forward flight, a party-in-a-can IPA or a small-batch local red, these stylish haunts make day drinking feel downright cultured.

Longmont Libations

Although Küper Wine Bar only opened in 2022, it’s easy to tell that it’s already sewn a devoted crew of regulars that good watering holes can take years to cultivate. Friendly waves, jokes in passing and customers’ favorite tables give that authentic neighborhood vibe that makes a bar a home. Part wine store, part wine educator, part relaxed happy hour destination, Küper in Longmont has a fun, casual vibe.

The locally owned venue features an impressively varied wine menu, as well as beer, cider, and a well-thought-out, cheese-forward snacking menu. For the most interesting wine tasting experience, choose a “Staff Choice Curated Flight” and get a tour around the world with four surprise 1.5-ounce pours. Each comes with an educational description about the grapes, notes, terroir and history. Considering that each flight combines to make a 6-ounce glass of wine, a curious wine student could order the curated flight twice and comfortably learn about eight different wines. 

The service is incredibly warm, and the patio just off Main Street in downtown fits a handful of roomy, shaded tables for a perfect late-summer afternoon stop.

Küper Wine Bar is located at 600 Longs Peak Ave., Unit H, Longmont, kuperwinebar.com

Whet Your Palate at Westbound

If you’re having the freewheeling kind of a day where libations start even earlier than happy hour, check out the newest outpost of Westbound & Down Brewery that opened in Lafayette in 2021. There might be nothing better than a cold, foamy, draft craft beer and artisan personal pan pizza for lunch.

Born in Idaho Springs, Westbound & Down’s brand is built around a love of Colorado, the spirit of the West and quality ingredients. Its beers are bold, balanced and delicious. The “Westbound Select” won gold at the Great American Beer Festival for a West Coast Style IPA, and the “Juice Caboose” lives up to its namesake. It is a sultry but fruity lip smacker of a Hazy IPA and the tie-dye label has the vibes to go with this party in a can. You can pick up 4-packs of the most popular beers when you stop in the brewery. 

For lunch or dinner, choose between sandwiches and personal pizzas, all made with incredible soft and chewy brewery-made dough. The focaccia is some of the best you’ll find anywhere. There’s something about being around enormous vats of beer that makes breweries a festive place to visit. At Westbound & Down, the bartenders are happy to pour samples of the new brews. A modern-industrial aesthetic extends throughout its tasting room with airy white subway tile walls, while touches like cloth napkins and fresh grated ribbons of parmesan on pizzas and sides elevate the tasting room vibe.

Westbound & Down is located at 2755 Dagny Way, #101, Lafayette, westboundanddown.com/lafayette

Slowed-Down Sipping

Silver Vines Winery is a family-run Colorado Winery that recently opened shop in Boulder County. The Arvada Vintner opened its second tasting room in 2022, on 13th Street in Boulder, just doors off the Pearl Street Mall. The location couldn’t be better if you’re looking for a way to start your downtown Boulder evening out by trying something new. The barrels and stone walls give a genuine California wine country attitude, but the wines are all made here in Colorado with grapes harvested from throughout the American West. Situated blocks from some of Boulder’s best art, restaurants and music venues, Silver Vines is a perfect place to try something locally produced, learn a little bit about its red, white and dessert wines, and enjoy a relaxed moment in the spacious upstairs tasting room before heading out for the night.

Silver Vines is located at 2015 13th St., Boulder, silvervineswinery.com