MNP Week 6: Unbeatable Bacon

No matter the potluck, talent will win out. 

That was the case Monday night for the sixth edition of Broken Compass's Monday Night Potlucks. No amount of game planning or strategy from the various assorted dips, soups or cakes could hope to stop the juggernaut that was Chantal Mings's Bacon Cheddar Tater Tot Bombs, which conquered the field with 41 points. 

Facing the stiffest MNP competition yet (17 dishes were brought this week. 17! And yes, that's including the pre-prepared plate of friend chicken, mashed potatoes and corn from City Market. You guys rock), Tot Bombs was unfazed, methodically and mercilessly laying waste to the rest of the field. 

Even strong performances from runner-up Buffalo Chicken Dip (made by Jasmine and Matt Smitg with 25 points) and third place Grilled Cheese With Basil Tomato Soup (by Billy Grow and Rachel Carpenter, 23 votes. And, c'mon, those mini grilled cheeses were hilarious how could you not vote for them?) could do nothing to slow Tot Bombs' momentum (we should pause for a moment and recognize the unfairness of Tot Bombs performance. Anytime you're combining bacon and cheese you're creating something delicious. That's two of the greatest foods in the world right there. Wrap them around a fried potato? Unfair). 

"Just a devestating performance by Tot Bombs tonight," said veteran potlucker D Buckets. "They just have too much talent up and down the roster."

Broken Compass would once again like to thank all of those who brought food for another amazing potluck. As we'll start doing every week, here's everyone who brought food and the dish they brought:

Robbie, Mel, Nancy and Andy - Spin on Artichoke Dip and Chips

Seth Cohen - Broken Compass Chili Pepper Pale Ale Wisconsin Cheddar Soup

Steve and Julia - City Market Chicken Breast and Bag of Chips (the night's true winners) 

Alex Dean, Grant Robinson, Nick Shaffer - All'arrabiatta, Haluski (I do not know what either of these are, but they were delicious) 

Aaron Vogt, Ryan Cram - Gooey Butter Cake  

Mel Sutherland - Shepherd's Brit-tasty Pie

Joe Napolitan - Pizza Crusts From a Dumpster

Jef Bryon - Penne Dankfredo (made, apparently, with "bacon, sausage, veggies and crack." See attached photo for details)  

Chantal Mings - Bacon Cheddar Tater Tot Bombs  

Rebecca Hearn - Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Kevin Gerbes - Buffalo Chicken Mac N Cheese

Billy Grow and Rachel Carpenter - Tomato Basil Soup and Grilled Cheese

Jasmine and Matt Smith - Buffalo Chicken Dip  

Keith and Janelle - Chicken Wing Dip with Chips

Jesina Bear and Julia Gulia - (Banana Popcicles, Stuffing) 

Katie McB - Broccoli Mac N Cheese

You guys are awesome.  

Monday Night Potlucks will continue next week (Nov. 24) at 6:30, with eating commencing at 7. We can't wait to see what you make next! 

(Editor's note: Broken Compass Brewing's Monday Night Potlucks are popping off every Monday night, with eating starting between 6:30 and 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!)

Food line out the door

MNP Week 5: Coconut Porter Ice Cream Reigns Supreme

(Editor's note: We apologize for the delay in the posting of this blog. As a result of mass potluck consumption, the author was in a deep food coma for a majority of Tuesday and only recently awakened to the world) 

The spirit of winter continued to manifest itself at Monday Night Potlucks, as a frozen, delicious dessert carried the day for the second straight week.

The final polling was hotly contested, but Seth Cohen's Coconut Porter Ice Cream (made with real Broken Compass Coconut Porter! Because only the best ingredients and all that jazz) squeaked out a one-point victory over a collaborative effort by Dave Radcliffe (no relation to Daniel, or Harry Potter, and if you don't get that reference, well congrats, you're not a huge nerd like me), Kendall Turcotte and Dustin Flory, who supplied a stellar French Onion Mac N Cheese. CocPo Ice Cream finished the night with a MNP record 34 points, while Mac N Cheese fell just short, recording 33 points. Hearty Bison Hash rounded out the top three with 17 points (and could have put together a stronger showing, but was unable to sustain a hot start after it's supplies were depleted early in the feast).

It was the deepest and most competitive MNP field to date, as 11 excellent dishes were provided by our amazing patrons (11! You guys rock. If I knew how I would make Coconut Porter ice cream for all of you. And then I'd eat it all before I could give it away). But nothing could steal the spotlight away from Crazy-Good-Melt-In-Your-Mouth CocPo Ice Cream. 

"This ice cream is the greatest achievement in the history of man," one delighted eater said. "It is singlehandedly responsible for changing my outlook on life."

The same could likely be said for the rest of the fortunate crowd gathered at Broken Compass. 

Once again, Broken Compass would like to thank everyone who brought food. Many amazing dishes were consumed that were not included here (bacon-wrapped jalepenos, homemade bread, stuffed portabello mushrooms, gumbo, pot roast to name a few. I'd include more but I was in food heaven and don't entirely recollect everything from the night. And no, alcohol was not involved in this particularly memory loss), and we appreciate every one of them. Congratulations to Seth Cohen on his extraordinary, growler-winning ice cream. 

Monday Night Potlucks will continue next week (Nov. 24) at 6:30, with eating commencing at 7. We can't wait to see what you make next! 

(Editor's note: Broken Compass Brewing's Monday Night Potlucks are popping off every Monday night, with eating starting between 6:30 and 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 Week 4: It's a Tie!

With the falling snow creating an epic backdrop, food wars were waged once again at Broken Compass on Monday night. 

For the first time ever, Monday Night Potluck goers witnessed a tie, as Dave Johnston's Frozen Mocha Cheesecake used a late surge to catch Autumn Moses's Saffron-Spiced-Scalloped-Potatoes With Pancetta, Prosciutto And Parmesan-Reggiano (ummm, so that was a mouthful...let's just call them Super Potatoes), both finishing with 21 points apiece. Tom Hollinshead's Baked Beans With Smoked Brisket rounded out the podium, finishing a near third with 19 points. Despite laying claim to perhaps the most pure talent on the night, Hollinshead's Cherry Wood Smoked Chicken Thighs received 17 points and just missed a top three finish. With only six thighs and an abundance of empty stomachs, Chicken Thighs simply ran out of gas in the fourth quarter.

But MNP's true drama came in the battle for the top spot. Cindarella-story Super Potatoes jumped out to an early lead, surprising eaters with it's delicious, rag-to-riches presentation of one of the more basic foods on the human menu (seriously, I'm not sure I could tell you what half of those garnishes are. But I do know the word "garnishes." So shut it).

But as the night wore on, Frozen Mocha Cheesecake slowly gained traction (it should be said, "Frozen Mocha Cheesecake is one of the undersells of the century. Ladies, gentlemen, this is a cheesecake with a crust made of CRUMBLED AND CONDENSED OREO'S. It's a force of nature. It's a marvel. It's also sitting in my fridge as we speak. And.......now....... it's being shoveled into my mouth by the forkful). As dessert plates were pushed away and burps sounded, Cheesecake's final melting push closed the remaining gap for the photo finish. 

"I'm genuinely speechless," bartender D Buckets said. "And that's mostly because I ate so much that if I'm worried what will happen if I open my mouth. But oh yeah, also because I've never seen two foods dueling it out in such epic fashion."

When offered a chance at a tiebreaker (whoever can eat the most food from among the leftovers), both Johnston and Moses declined, citing "full stomachs" and "food babies" and "little desire to become Potluck champion of the world" (fine, I made that last one up). 

The tie left MNP with two champions, but everyone in attendance was a winner, with the best spread to date. 

Broken Compass would like to thank everyone who braved the snow and roads to make it out for the potluck. Congratulations to Dave, Autumn and Tom. We all appreciate your phenomenal work in the kitchen. See you all next Monday for Week Five!

(Editor's note: Broken Compass Brewing's Monday Night Potlucks are popping off every Monday night, with eating starting between 6:30 and 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!)

Our winners from left to right: Autumn Moses, Tom Hollinshead and Dave Johnston

Monday Night Potluck: Week 3

It isn't a potluck if it isn't full of surprises. 

For the first time ever (a significant achievement considering our Monday Potluck's extensive, three-week history), a foreign power has prevailed on our shores, as Bruce Lederer's Gougeres (aka a French cheesy puffy bread, and don't ask me how to pronounce it because I've mangled it seven times already, in fact autocorrect is trying to tell me it's actually "gougers," which sounds awful, and whoops this parenthetical rant has gone on far too long and you are probably now "gouging" your eyes out. Get it? OK, I'll shut up now) took a convincing victory in the third Monday Night Potluck. 

Gougeres easily outpaced Erica Ohmes' runner-up Gluten Free Soft Pretzels With Beer Mustard Sauce and Becky Walter's third-place Asparagus Beef Roll-UP (which should, however, be commended for its admirable strategy of disguising itself as a vegetable when in fact it was small parts vegetable large parts roast beef and cream cheese), while Italian Sausage In Tasty Tomato Sauce, Deviled Eggs and Spicy Sweet Potato And Bacon Pancakes* rounded out the field. The Gougeres (can't believe I'm still spelling this correctly) employed a sophisticated game plan, using exotic foreign tactics to run away with the victory. 

"They were just so puffy. And cheesy. And glorious," an anonymous source (that may also be writing this post) said. "It was like eating a cloud. Made of bread. And cheese."

Bruce Lederer's win was the second straight for the Lederer family, as Bruce followed up on his son, Jason's victory from the previous week. The Lederers now have an opportunity to go where no one else has gone before - a three-peat. The father-son duo declined to give any indication of what dish to expect next week, but assured the adoring masses that it would be delectable. 

Broken Compass would like to thank everyone who participated in this edition of Monday Night Potlucks, whether they brought food or simply drank beer and voted. Congratulations to Bruce, Erica and Becky on their excellent food, and join us next Monday at 6:30 p.m. as the Lederers attempt to etch their names into the history books!

*Spicy Sweet Potato And Bacon Pancakes, it should be noted, were excessively delicious and garnered enough votes to podium, but were disqualified as a result of being prepared by Broken Compass's own The Muse.

(Editor's note: Broken Compass Brewing's Monday Night Potlucks are popping off every Monday night, with eating starting between 6:30 and 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 dish. 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!)

Chocolate Pumpkin Pie Stout and Halloween Costume Giveaways

At long last, the Halloween candy you've been waiting for is on tap at Broken Compass! 

Give yourself the gift of delicious beer and come down to the taproom today to try our brand new Chocolate Pumpkin Pie Stout.

We'll also be giving away prizes for our favorite costume every hour starting at 6 p.m. Prizes will be given away as follows:  

6-7: free pint and glass

7-8: free 32 oz. growler and fill

8-9: free 64 oz. growler and fill

9-10: free shirt, pint and glass  

Costumes will be judged by your lovely beer maiden Molly, our esteemed brewmaster Ford and a third judge to be decided. Throw on your best Halloween best and come join the festivities! 

Help us celebrate Ax's birthday!

Attention friends, beer and disco lovers, it's party time! Tomorrow (Friday, Oct. 24th) we are hosting a day long celebration of the birth of our esteemed boss and co-owner, David Axelrod (pictured here at a ripe age of 18. Note the difference in hair style). Festivities will begin at A Basin during the day (in shocking news, there will be beer) before moving to the Broken Compass taproom for a DISCO party starting at 7. Tastefully exposed chest hair, absurdly flashy sequins and ludicrous mustaches are strongly encouraged, as is any and all forms of dancing. The bartender (who may or may not also be writing this post) will award a free beer to his favorite 70s disco costume of the night. So break out those open-chested shirts and come on down, we can't wait to see you all there! 

First Tanks

Our first round of tanks have been delivered, please stop by and check them out. 

Announcing Broken Compass Brewing

We are excited to announce a brand new world class craft brewery coming to Breckenridge, Colorado.  Please check back often as we are actively building out our brew house now!