Hello readers. We have some bad news. Due to visits from various out-of-town guests and Haley and Megan’s inability to plan anything, we were not able to pull together a Colorado Springs brewery review this week. That being said, I (Megan) still persevered and went to drink at Broken Compass in Breckenridge. It was a great pregame to my stressful ski patrol tryout the next day. So while we do not provide you with a Colorado Springs review this week, if you ever ski Arapahoe Basin or Copper and drive the back way, you should stop here for après. The vibes in this place are unmatched: I saw at least 10 dogs that were the cutest things ever, and I tried almost every beer on their hand-drawn board (I’m a sucker for craft). I will tell you unwaveringly that you need to go here.
On to the beer. First, my father, Buzz, and I started with the Beery Joel Vienna Lager and the Sunflower American Lager. The Vienna was slightly dark and had a good, mellow nuttiness to it. The American was a bit too sweet and was not crisp enough for my liking. Buzz, on the other hand, preferred the American to the Vienna. This is unsurprising, given that while my dad and I are very similar vibe-wise, we have very different tastes, as you will see.
Next, Buzz and I decided to embark on a flight. Anyone looking at that menu would think the same. We chose the Towdo Bien Mexican Lager, the Ginger Pale Ale, the Fruit Ninja, the Watermelon Sour, the Heated Rivalry IPA (for the name alone) and the Mug of Thunder Chocolate Coffee Stout. We were then gifted two more samples: the Snow Blind Double IPA and the Coconut Porter mixed with the Mug of Thunder. This mixture, coined “The Tiki” by Broken Compass regulars, turned out to be Buzz’s favorite. My favorite ended up being the Fruit Ninja, which was unexpected, as I am usually not a fan of fruity ales. However, this ale was perfectly tart and wasn’t too sweet or overwhelming, which allowed for a magical drinking experience.
Now, a few notes. I will not be doing an in-depth review of the 10 beers we tried, or we would be here forever. So, a few key things. First, the Fruit Ninja was more sour than the watermelon. If you crave a tart beer like I do when I order a sour, I would recommend the Fruit Ninja, even though it is an ale. Next, their IPAs are solid. The Heated Rivalry (points for the name, great marketing) and the double IPA, Snow Blind, were both smooth and not too heavy. The double didn’t leave a disgusting taste in my mouth for hours. The ginger IPA was not what I was expecting and was not spicy enough. Buzz even thought it tasted like soap. It was super disappointing. Lastly, even if you do not like dark beer, I implore you to try the Tiki, the coconut porter mixed with the stout. It was honestly magical and like desert in a cup. It definitely isn’t a combo you want to be doing multiple of, but if you want a sweet treat, I 10/10 recommend.
Overall, we love this place. It has a welcoming atmosphere, with puppies and people getting off work and hanging out with their friends. They even have cornhole in the summer, if anyone is passing through Breck (potentially a post-Quandary hike spot?). We hope you tune in for another review of a Springs brewery next week.
