The Ultimate Colorado Super Bowl Spread for Broncos Fans
We asked Edible Aspen Publisher, Lisa Houston, to share the Colorado spread she’ll be making on Super Bowl Sunday to cheer on the Broncos. And no Game Day menu is complete without a quality local brew. Craft beer expert Anne Fitten Glenn gave us a list of her Colorado picks (plus more widely available brews) for each recipe.
There is no better way for Coloradan’s to celebrate the Broncos going to the Super Bowl than with flavorful and filling appetizers, complimented by craft beer from over 200 of the state’s micro-breweries. Nearly 70% of the state’s agricultural cash receipts are attributed to livestock, which makes for easy access to high-quality beef, pork, lamb and poultry. Meat-centric dishes will most likely dominate throughout Colorado on Sunday.
Hoisin & Aspen Brewing Co.’s Brown Bearale Braised Beef Short Ribs
Colorado serves up some epic cold and snowy weather during football season and the best way to beat the chill on game day is with warm comfort food like these addictive short ribs.
Pair with (surprise!) Aspen Brewing Company’s Brown Bearale (6 percent ABV)
This sweet ale, brewed with dark and chocolate malts, makes an easy, flavorful braise for beef short ribs. As the recipe calls for four bottles of the nectar, it’s clear that the remaining two from the six-pack should be enjoyed while cooking this dish. An additional sixer to drink during the game perfectly complements the sweet and spicy tang of the Hoisin sauce coating the tender meat.
*More widely available option: Brooklyn Brown Ale
Sausage and Sage Jalapeño Poppers
As the Broncos turn on the heat in San Francisco, you can elevate the temperature at home with these spicy jalapeño poppers. The trick to the perfect heat (spice) is in the boiling process—too long and they’re not spicy enough; too short and you’ll feel the pain.
Pair Jalapeño Poppers with Avery Brewing White Rascal (5.6 percent ABV)
Full Jalapeño pepper heat requires a slightly sweet, citrus-spiced authentic Belgian wheat-style beer to balance its intensity. Plus the tight carbonation of the White Rascal cuts through the melted cheese, cleansing the palate for more. This pairing is smooth and intense, just like Peyton Manning.
*Another Colorado-based option: New Belgium Snapshot Wheat
Homemade Boudin
Impress your Super Bowl party guests with homemade boudin—a tasty and distinct sausage that is most readily available in Louisiana. This version, served at The Nickel in downtown Denver, uses the freshest local ingredients that Colorado has to offer. Whether you have a meat grinder or not, this recipe can easily be made at home.
Pair with Oskar Blues Brewery G’Knight Imperial Red IPA (8.7 percent ABV)
The bayou meets the mountains in this pairing. A malty red or amber ale enhances traditional Boudin’s peppery flavor. G’Knight combines two styles—the red ale and the IPA—in a strong, complex brew that’s both sweet and bitter. Given that Oskar Blues brews in both Colorado and North Carolina, these qualities likely represent how the brewery’s staff will feel after Super Bowl 50.
*Louisiana-brewed (and lower ABV) option: Abita Brewing Amber
Red Chile Posole Soup
Meat & Cheese Restaurant & Farm Shop in Aspen warms up guests with this thick Mexican soup that is as filling as it is flavorful—sure to be a game day crowd-pleaser.
Pair Red Chile Posole with Great Divide Brewing Company Yeti Imperial Stout (9.5 percent ABV)
The pork and hominy in this soup make it lighter than a beef-based chili, but it still packs a spicy punch. The rich roasty malts in the Yeti Stout soften the flame, while the complex hop profile provides a dry bite that brightens the flavors of this hearty dish. The Yeti truly is a monster of a beer, so we recommend sips between spoonfuls.
*Another big option: Stone Brewing Imperial Russian Stout
Buffalo Chicken and Crispy Skin Mac ‘n’ Cheese
“One of the best things about being a part-time Aspenite is that I get to share my big-city food sensibility in a small but food-loving town. Plus, Aspen loves a good party. That’s what inspired this spicy crunchy mac & cheese. Between the snowy winters and football get-togethers, this twist on the ultimate comfort food can go anywhere and make people pretty happy along the way.” - Laura Werlin, author of Mac & Cheese, Please! and numerous other cookbooks
Pair Buffalo Chicken and Crispy Skin Mac & Cheese with Odell Brewing Co. IPA (7 percent ABV)
This recipe combines two classic pub foods. Given the Buffalo spice and cheesy goodness, a slightly bitter, palate-cleansing IPA pairs well with this comforting casserole. Nine different U.S. hop varieties make Odell IPA highly aromatic, flavorful, and boldly bitter enough to cut through the heat and fat of this Super Bowl winning dinner.
*More widely available option: Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA
Lisa Houston is the owner and publisher of Edible Aspen magazine, a James Beard Foundation award-winning publication that she started in 2007. Lisa moved from her hometown of Houston to Aspen in 1986 where she raised her sons and enjoys skiing, hiking, biking, cooking and grilling with her husband, Sam.
Anne Fitten Glenn, author of Asheville Beer: An Intoxicating Guide to Mountain Brewing, led the East Coast marketing and PR efforts for Oskar Blues when that Colorado-based brewery opened its first expansion facility in North Carolina. Thus, she’s partial to both Colorado and North Carolina craft brews, and she’s super excited about Super Bowl 50’s team pairing.
