MNP Week 6 - A Parodelicious Affair

Never before has a Monday Night Potluck seen such a spread.

Of voting, that is. 

Out of the 18 dishes that delivered delicious taste and satisfaction, 15 tallied 10 or more points on the night, with no dish receiving more than 30. It was the most hotly contested potluck of our time. 

Continuing the spirit of fall, Ike Marble's Coconuty Pumpkin Pie managed to separate itself from the rest of the pack by a slim margin, posting 30 points to take home first place and secure Ike's first podium finish. The second and third positions were even more of a battle. Lana McLaughlin's Green Chili Enchilada Casserole and MNP newcomer Sara Paynter's Smores Dip With Assorted Fruits/Mellows/Crackers tied for third with 23 points, while another MNP freshman, Brad Randall, took home second with a creamy and delightful Squash Soup.

Thanks to all chefs! As always, the potluckers and their dishes.

Bruce Lederer - Caponada
Brad Randal - Squash Soup (2nd Place)
Beth Groundwater - Spinach Salad
Tobin Page - Pecan Cream Cheese Pumpkin Bread
Lana McLaughlin - Green Chili Enchilada Casserole (T-3rd Place)
Tommy Peters - Pumpkin Tandoori Curry Soup
Ike Marobla - Coconut-y Pumpkin Pie (1st Place)
Jack Yeaton - Christmas'ed Veggie Enchiladas
Brian Munger - Honey Ginger Roasted Carrots
Steve Immer - Pumpkin Pie
Amy Sierpina - Pastitsio "Greek Lasagna" 
Nick, Grant and Emma - Morel Mushroom Madness
Kyle - Mi Amor (Mexican Chicken Rice)

Potluck will continue next Monday night (Nov. 16) with eating commencing at or around 7 p.m., but we recommend showing up early to get a table. We can't wait to see what you bring next!

(Editor's note: Broken Compass Brewing's Monday Night Potlucks are popping off every Monday night, with eating starting around 7. We encourage everyone to contribute a dish every now and then, but everyone in the brewery is welcome to sample the food and vote for their favorite dishes. First place wins a 64 oz growler and fill, second place a 32 oz. growler and fill and third place a free pint and glass. See you there!)

Miranda Sprague - Carne Adavada/AKA Red Chili Pork
Nick Maiorano - Spicy Raspberry Preserves And Brie
Brittany Holloman - Pepperoni Bread/Cheese Bread
Sara Paynter - Smores Dip & Assorted Fruits/Mellows/Crackers (T-3rd Place)
Joseph Napolitan - Veggie Pasta Salad

MNP Week 4: Monday Night Potluck Breaking Records

A potluck of epic proportions took place at Broken Compass on Monday night, with a record 32 dishes (32!) weighing down the brewery tables on a Halloween-themed potluck. 

With so much delicious food, palates and stomachs were stretched to the limit. 

"I don't even know what I'm eating anymore," said one delirious potlucker who wished to remain anonymous. "But it's all blowing my mind." 

That potlucker spoke for nearly everyone in attendance Monday night. But on Monday Night Potluck's most competitive night in history, four dishes separated themselves from the pack. 

Mr. Dracula's Pumpkin Cake (made by Lana McLaughlin), whose creamy, pumpkiny, deliciousness cannot be exaggerated, dominated the Halloween/Pumpkin category, while Chelsie's Monster Mash Hot Dish cleaned up in the general voting, posting an impressive 49 points en route to a 20-point victory margin.

It was fortunate that potluckers did not have to choose between the Monster Mash and Mr. Dracula, as the ensuing cage match between the two would have been gruesome and resulted in something lesser than the sum of their parts. 

Nick and the House's Butter Chicken And Rice Curry narrowly claimed second place, using potluck veteran guile to edge out Barbara Wolitzky's Sweet/Sour Meatballs by three points. And yet, in a 32 dish potluck, Meatballs' third place finish is impressive in it's own right. 

As always, a gigantic thanks goes out to all the chef's who graced our tables with your delicious cooking. It's always amazing to see what you guys can bring, and how much of it. Here's the potluckers and their dishes:

Blake Schwalls - Beef Enchilada Casserole
Rebekah Stackhole - Poached Eggs On Quinoa And Veggies
Russ Schissler - Apple Rose Pastry Puff
Patty Copps - Pumpkin Cheese Bread
Barbara Wolitzky - Sweet/Sour Meatballs (3rd Place)
Karlie McLaughlin - Graveyard Lasagna
Lana McLaughlin - Mr's Dracula's Pumpkin Cake (Halloween/Pumpkin Winner!)
BJ and Bob Cassidy - Meatloaf Hand/Potatoes (easily wins points for most creative presentation, see picture below)
Claudia Richardson - Chorizo Chili
Tami Koenig - Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll
Maria Mattera - Scary Pumpkin Bread
Chelsie - Monster Mash Hot Dish (1st)
Abbe G. - Ghoulish Pasta Salad
Ronda Westhoff - Pumpkin Green Chile
Katie Medina - Raspberry Brownies (somehow I didn't get this, my life is over)
Annika Ledbetter - Buffalo Chicken Taquitos
Tessa and Patrick - Tomato Cobbler With Basil Biscuit Crust
Katie Goncalves - Pumpkin (something I can't read, but was totally delicious)
Marian Anderson - Fruit And Delicious Dip
Marc Anderson - Paleo Bison Meatloaf With Homemade Ketchup
Kim Haller - Smore Bites
Candy Eherson - Apple/Sausage Pumpkin Bake
Megan McCulloch - Prosciutto Pumpkin Pizza
Emily Jones - Raspberry Brie Massacre
Erin Vander Veen - Vanilla Pumpkin Dip
Darcy Brickehoff - Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
JT and Lucy and Mia - Stuffed Mushrooms With Bacon And Cream Cheese
Ryan Helle and Natalie Casey - Pumpkin Cinnamon Cream Cheese
Kelsey Miller - Buff Chicken Garabag Bread
Nick and Da House - Butter Chicken and Rice Curry (2nd)

The potluck champs

Best dish presentation

Potluck will continue next Monday night (Nov. 2) with eating commencing at or around 7 p.m., but we recommend showing up early to get a table. We can't wait to see what you bring next!

(Editor's note: Broken Compass Brewing's Monday Night Potlucks are popping off every Monday night, with eating starting around 7. We encourage everyone to contribute a dish every now and then, but everyone in the brewery is welcome to sample the food and vote for their favorite dishes. First place wins a 64 oz growler and fill, second place a 32 oz. growler and fill and third place a free pint and glass. See you there!)

MNP Week 3: Beer Pumpkin Ginger Soup Wins Over Taste Buds, Hearts, Votes

October may not be a successful month for the Chicago Cubs (RIP), but Monday Night Potluck continues to thrive as the days grow shorter and the snow flies (and as we're still mourning the Cubs here at Broken Compass, expect this to be baseball themed). 

This week brought another excellent array of dishes to the table, as eight foods battled it out for potluck supremacy. Piggy Poutine, Beer Cheese Bread and BBQ Pork With Peach Jalapeño Sauce all took cracks at the plate but came up empty (really though, what does mankind want in food that Piggy Poutine doesn't provide? Fries, cheese curds and pork, covered with a hefty dose of gravy? That wins this humble potluck blogger's vote).

In the end, it came down to three dishes - Beer Pumpkin Ginger Soup, Braised Pork With Apple and Chipotle Apple Cake - battling for the top spot. Braised Pork With Apple put together some strong at bats and Chipotle Apple Cake even put runners in scoring position on multiple occasions, but neither could come up with the clutch hits necessary to keep them in the game, as Beer Pumpkin Ginger Soup raked home run after home run to take home the top spot, finishing the night with a whopping 49 points. 

It was another MNP victory for acclaimed potluck chef Seth Cohen, and a victory for the taste buds and stomachs of all potluckers in attendance on the evening. 

We would also be remiss if we didn't offer a huge thank you to Maria and Rick Galgas, who didn't enter the actual potluck proceedings, but made a beautiful and delicious birthday cake for your regular MNP bartender, emcee and blogger Daniel (Dr. Buckets) Miller-McLemore. You guys are totally awesome.

As always, our phenomenal MNP chefs and their delicious dishes:

Seth Cohen - Beer Pumpkin Ginger Soup (1st Place)
Abbe and Mike - BBQ Pork With Peach Jalapeno Sauce
BJ - Beer Cheese Bread
Jay - Guinness Beef Stew
Eric, Steph, Ellen, Warren - Piggy Poutine
Ronda Westoff - Chipotle Apple Cake (3rd)
Megan Drew - Tabbouleh
Mike Spies - Braised Pork With Apples (2nd)

The MNP champions

Maria and Buckets with the birthday cake

Potluck will continue next Monday night (Oct. 26) with eating commencing at or around 7 p.m., but we recommend showing up early to get a table. It will be our Halloween-themed potluck, so we're giving away an extra first place prize to the most creative use of pumpkin in a dish. We can't wait to see what you bring next!

(Editor's note: Broken Compass Brewing's Monday Night Potlucks are popping off every Monday night, with eating starting around 7. We encourage everyone to contribute a dish every now and then, but everyone in the brewery is welcome to sample the food and vote for their favorite dishes. First place wins a 64 oz growler and fill, second place a 32 oz. growler and fill and third place a free pint. See you there!)

MNP Week 2

It was only fitting that on Columbus Day, Monday Night Potluck boasted exotic dishes from all over the world and full stomachs all over the Broken Compass taproom. 

In what was one of the tightest finishes in MNP history between 18 dishes, Doug Polanski's Korean Beef Tacos were finally able to pull away in the second half for the victory. Korean Beef Tacos were aided by a gutsy veteran effort from Flour Tortillas, who came off the bench to chip in during some crucial moments down the stretch, as well as an excellent showing from up and comer Lime Sauce. The trio's chemistry elevated KBT to 32 points and a narrow victory for Polanski (although reports are coming in that it was actually Doug's lovely companion Janette that contributed both the brains and brawn to the dish).

Sticking with the Asian theme, Jennifer Anderson's Oriental Slaw pulled in enough points (28) to snag second place, while Maria Galgas (a repeat winner from the season's first potluck) snared the final podium spot with delectable Columbus Day Cannoli Cups. Cannoli Cups beat out a phenomenal assembly of desserts that very nearly satisfied this writer's sweet tooth (not possible). 

But on this Monday night, no dessert could outshine the deliciousness that was Korean Beef Tacos.

"I'm not entirely sure why (Janette) put my name down on the sign in sheet, but I'm thrilled to be a champion," Polanksi said.*

*All quotes not word for word and possibly partially fabricated

As always, thanks to all our wonderful MNP chefs that made delicious grub this week. Here's the chefs and their dishes:

Nathan Claus - Bangin' Chile
Chris Runyon - Veggie Chile
BJ Cassidy - Blue Cheese/Caramelized Onions Squares
Annika Ledbetter - Cheesecake Nutella Bites
Anna Whitehurst - 3 Cheesy Bread
Cody Medina - Nutella & Raspberry Crepes
Mark Montgomery - Chile Rellenos
Doug Polanski - Korean Beef Tacos
Lucy Greene - 4-Layer Pie With Pecans
Claudia Richardson - Chilean Empenadas
Chelsie Givan - Oreo Salad
Mike Spies - Apple Blossom
Jerry and Ronda Westhoff - Roasted Vegetable Pasta
Jennifer Anderson - Oriental Slaw (2nd)
Maria Galgas - Columbus Day Cannoli Cups (3rd)
Alex Beach/Mia Tavduno - Apple Curry Soup
Kelci Gutierrez - Pasta Bites
Becky Walter - Crab Bruschetta

Potluck will continue next Monday night (Oct. 19, which, by the way, happens to be the day after Buckets' birthday, and any cake will be much appreciated. See sweet tooth note above) with eating commencing at or around 7 p.m., but we recommend showing up early to get a table. We can't wait to see what you bring next!

(Editor's note: Broken Compass Brewing's Monday Night Potlucks are popping off every Monday night, with eating starting around 7. We encourage everyone to contribute a dish every now and then, but everyone in the brewery is welcome to sample the food and vote for their favorite dishes. First place wins a 64 oz growler and fill, second place a 32 oz. growler and fill and third place a free pint. See you there!)

Monday Night Potluck Returns!

The first Monday Night Potluck of the 2015-2016 season brought fireworks, sublime sweetness and a strong coconut presence to the refined palates of Breckenridge.

On the heels of the Broken Compass Coconut Porter's bronze medal at Great American Beer Fest (woohoo!) it was only fitting that a coconut-themed potluck be held in celebration. And so, taking up spatulas and ladles and forks and knives, the MNP chefs once again returned to the kitchen to wage food wars against each other (wars that everyone, ultimately, would win). 

But on this momentous Monday night, it was also fitting that potluck veterans Maria and Rick Galgas would steal the spotlight with their Heirloom BLT Salad With Coconut Bacon (wait, hold on, am I reading that right? A salad stole the spotlight? Yes, yes I am). 

Facing off against a strong 12-dish field, Heirloom BLT Salad With Coconut Bacon (which we'll just shorten to HBLTSWCB from here on out) raced out to an early lead on the back of balanced performance from both lettuce and bacon. 

HBLTSWCB continued to build on an early lead, but the other dishes would not go down without a fight. Kendal Oakleaf's Thai Coconut Peanut Noodles put in a strong performance for Southeast Asia, ultimately settling for second place, while Mike Spiel's Venison Stroganoff used a combination of heartiness and deliciousness to finish third. Chantal Wener's delectable Chococonut Cookies (which I challenge you to pronounce correctly) and Alex Beach's Coconut Sweet Potato Balls With Honey Coconut Sauce scrapped their way to tie for a podium finish against an exceptionally deep and competitive field.

The Galgas's, despite owning a closetful of potluck hardware, were thrilled to pick up the first gold medal of the potluck season, and will look to build on that success at next week's edition.

Thanks so much to all of you who helped make the return of MNP a success! As always, here are the talented chefs and their delectable dishes:

Mike Spiel - Venison Stroganoff (2nd)
Seth Cohen - Coconut Porter Ice Cream
Maria and Rick Galgas - Heirloom BLT Salad With Coconut Bacon (1st and Most Creative and Awesome use of Coconut)
Jerry and Ronda Westoff - Chicken Mushroom Coconut Hot Pot
Chantal Wener - Chococonut Cookies (T-3rd)
Kendal Oakleaf - Thai Coconut Peanut Noodles (1st)
Alex Beach - Coconut Sweet Potato Balls With Honey Coconut Sauce (T-3rd)
Mia Tarduno - Coconut Lime Rice
Megan Drew - Potato Bulgar Wheat Porridge
Kerry and Nick - Spicy Coconut Sweet Potato Cor...(?something illegible)
Trenton - Coconut Cookies
Kristen - Love You S'mores

Potluck will continue next Monday night (Oct. 12) with eating commencing at or around 7 p.m., but we recommend showing up early to get a table. We can't wait to see what you bring next!

(Editor's note: Broken Compass Brewing's Monday Night Potlucks are popping off every Monday night, with eating starting around 7. We encourage everyone to contribute a dish every now and then, but everyone in the brewery is welcome to sample the food and vote for their favorite dishes. First place wins a 64 oz growler and fill, second place a 32 oz. growler and fill and third place a free pint. See you there!)

The winners!  

Great American Beer Fest 2015

WE WON A MEDAL!!!!!!!!

But seriously, GABF 2015 was another huge success for Broken Compass and not just because our Coconut Porter won a bronze medal in the Field Beers category. 

It truly is special to pour at the fest each year and see and hear the love we receive from all of our fans throughout Colorado. Many of the volunteers at the fest are from the Denver area and it's a joy to have them flock to our booth (one of about 400!) on their breaks, as well as non-volunteer beer lovers who have enjoyed a pint in our little taproom. Without the support of all of you guys and gals we would not be able to continue to do what we love. 

Keep spreading the good word, and we'll keep making good beer for you to enjoy with good friends in our taproom up in Breckenridge. It's been a wonderful (almost) year and a half and it's only going to get better from here. 

Cheers,

The Broken Compass Team

Brew day No. 100!

Today marks yet another landmark moment in our short history, our 100th brew day!

To celebrate, Ford's whipping up a wet hopped pale ale, made with fresh local Colorado Cascade hops (wet hopping, for the non beer geeks out there, means using hops straight off the vine rather than hops that have been dried out and pelletized). 

The brew will be ready to drink in a couple weeks and will most flavorful right when it goes on tap, come try a pint and help us celebrate! 

Gorgeous Colorado Cascade hops

Hops in the boil

Big Sexy

The Raspberry Habanero and Pomegranate Pale Ale have arrived!

If you've been waiting on the edge of your seat since that delightful picture of fresh raspberries was posted to our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter last week, today is your lucky day! 

We are now pouring a very limited supply of both the Raspberry Habanero Pale Ale and Pomegranate Pale Ale exclusively in our taproom. Both beers will likely only last a few days, so come by and try them while they last! (and for all you home drinkers out there, we're sorry to say we aren't able to fill any growlers with either new beer)

Celebrate the last bit of summer with us with these two refreshing beers. 

(PS: keep an eye out for another exclusive release of Cucumber Mint Pale Ale in the coming week or two, as well as the delicious Chocolate Pumpkin Pie Stout this fall)