MNP Week 22: Meatballs Bring Potluck Title Back To Portugal

After a dominant run by the USA, a foreign power finally ended the American stranglehold on the Monday Night Potluck podium. 

Adam Sunderland's Portuguese Meatballs brought the MNP title back to Portugal, its 46 point effort claiming a resounding victory. 

Cathy Griffin also made waves at her first potluck, becoming the first potlucker in MNP history to take two spots on the podium. Griffin's Mud Pie (29 points) and Mighty Meaty Manicotti (24 points, and which also came with a Might Meatless version) took second and third, respectively. 

"A truly special performance for a potluck rookie," bartender Dr. Buckets said. "There's some real talent there."

But on a night that included a near-record 25 dishes, nothing could touch Portuguese Meatballs. 

"I've never been to Portugal and never had their meatballs," one anonymous potlucker said. "But this is how they've tasted in my dreams."

Once again, a huge thank you goes out to all of you who brought food for the potluck. You continue to provide the best food in Breckenridge every Monday night. Without further ado, the potluckers and their dishes:

Heather - Pecan Pie
Brittany Holloman - Sausage Balls
Danielle Tarloff - Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Joey Jansen-Hedrick - Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Katie L'estrange - White Queso
Cathy Wagner - Manicotti (3rd Place)
Cathy Wagner - Mud Pie (2nd Place)
Tiernan Spencer - Vanilla Pavlova
Jennifer Santangelo - Cream Filled Strawberries
Steve Sizemore and Kathleen Walsh - Pepperoni Pizza Rolls
Kelly Hepburn - Tater Tot Shepherds Pie
Sam Tallen and Justin Jimenez - PB Cookies
Samantha and Warren - Baby Berry Pies
Johnny Neuman - Spicy Deviled Eggs
Sam Heindel - Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread
Hayley Heindel - Veggie Pizza
Grace Gabree - Breck Distillery Bourbon Chicken and Apples
Adam Sunderland - Portuguese Meatballs (1st Place)
Sarah Jo and Allison - Sausage Cream Cheese Rollup
Chloe - Bruschetta Veggie And Prosciutto
Bo and Matt - 14 Layer Dip (Our layered dips are now in double digits. Who can hit 20?)
Maria and Rick - Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates With Prosciutto
Shelby, Ford, John and David - Cheesy Delight
Nick, Julia and Alex - Holy Moly Guacamole!
CJ and Austen - Spinach Artichoke Bacon Dip

The winners: Cathy and Adam

Packed house for potluck  

Potluck will continue next Monday night (March 30) 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!)

MNP Week 21: Moms Always Win

It's a timeless lesson in cooking (or anything, really): Moms always win.

It's impossible to pinpoint exactly why mom-cooked-meals are superior. They just are. Maybe the secret ingredient is nostalgia. Or the experience gained over years of momming. Or the extra love and care that goes into the preparation. 

Whatever the reason, Samantha and Warren put it to full use to conquer the 21st weekly Monday Night Potluck last week with My Mom's Pulled Pork, a delicious, carnivorous dish that took the better part of the previous 24 hours to prepare. Samantha credited her mother (also in attendance) with the recipe.

Mom's Pulled Pork beat out stiff competition from a number of dishes, most notably John, Shelby and Ford's Baked Bacon Mac N' Cheese (a cousin of last week's winner) and Paula and Tom's Sweeeeeeeet Potato Casserole (extra E's added by author to emphasize that, holy hell, this casserole crazy sweet), which placed second and third, respectively. Justin's Smoked Salmon, a true revelation in its own right, narrowly missed the podium, finishing just two points behind Sweeeeeeeeet Potato Casserole. 

But despite the plethora of delicious foods loading the table, the result was really never in question. Don't mess with Moms. 

As always, a huge thank you goes out to all who brought food and made it another successful and delicious MNP. You rock. Here's the potluckers and their foods:

Warren and Samantha - My Mom's Pulled Pork (1st Place)
Lunds - My Dad's Guac (the lesson, again: Moms always win)
Finns - Browkie (which, I believe, was a combo cookie-brownie that was so gooey it should have just been scooped up with your bare hands. In other news, I loved it)
Heather and Linda - Wild Elk Chili 
Nancy Redner - Chinese Almond Salad
Aaron Redner - Red's St. Paddy's Cookies
Derek Snook - Tater Tot Hot Dish 
Scarlet Jones - Meatballs
Tessa Neal - Mediterranean Salad
Isabelle - Chicken Oriental Salad
Brian Munger - Sticky Honey Lime Chicken Wings
Kathy Munger - Peanut Butter Pie (which combined two of my absolute favorite things into one of my absolute favorite thing)
Paula and Tom - Sweeeeeeeeet Potato Casserole (3rd Place)
Grant Robinson - Pigs On A Date (which wins the award for "Most Creative Name")
Maggie Vander Pol - Avocado Tomato Salad
John, Shelby and Ford - Baked Bacon Mac N Cheese (2nd Place)
Buck Beatrous - Chicken Parm
Justin - Smoked Salmon
Rick and Maria - St. Paddy's Pasta

MNP Week 20: Smokin Maple Bacon Mac N Cheese Smokes Competition

Monday night witnessed a record-breaking potluck performance. 

Team Brovenyark's Smokin Maple Bacon Mac N Cheese didn't just break records, but shattered them, taking 20th Monday Night Potluck victory with ease in a 61 point effort.  

The nostalgia of classic macaroni and cheese, coupled with a preparation process that included candying bacon in a heavy dose of maple syrup, then pureeing it into a sauce that included pepperjack cheese, cream cheese and most likely a myriad of other cheeses that I couldn't pinpoint as I deliriously scooped handfuls of cheesy, bacony goodness towards my face (um, this didn't actually happen), was almost a surefire way to place at MNP. (Does that sentence make sense? I still can't tell. In other news, I need an editor)

But to obliterate what was once again a delicious field, almost doubling the points of second place Cheesy Jalapeno Grits (which, unfortunately, I did not get to try. Which, in retrospect, is probably a good thing, since intaking any more cheese might just stop my heart immediately), is truly an impressive feat on the level of the 1996 Bulls or the 1929 Yankees. 

Julia and Team's Cheesy Jalapeno Grits' 36 points was good enough for second, while Alli Langley's Orzo With Root Veggies And Goat Cheese rounded out the top three with 32 points. 

A final shout out goes to Kathy Munger's Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake, which finished outside the top three but made this writer's life complete. 

Once again, thanks to all who helped make Monday another amazing potluck. The 18 potluckers and their dishes are as follows:

Braum - Swiss Chicken SQ's
Kathy Munger - Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake (aka one of the greatest dessert's this writer has ever tasted and it's a damn shame it didn't place top three)
Team Brovenyark - Smokin Maple Bacon Mac N Cheese (1st Place)
Sara and Erin - Goat Cheeze Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Bites
Melissa Chiella - Southwest Salad
Julie Meloy - Chicken Chili
Seth Cohen - Chicken Friend Steak Bites With Chocolate Coffee Stout Gravy
Kate Step.....I'm sorry, I just can't read the rest of your name - Cookies And Popcorn
Paul Ahern and Co - Japanese Curry Rice
Warren and Samantha - Poutine Poppers
Jason Lederer - Roasted Veggie Awesomeness
Sam and Elliot - Fluff! (disclaimer, this was not the marshmellow fluff that I grew up making peanut butter and fluff sandwiches with. Yes, I've been eating terribly unhealthily my entire life. Thanks Mom and Dad.)
Julia and Team - Cheesy Jalapeno Grits (2nd Place)
Nancy and Ben Redner - PIZZA
Alli Langley - Orzo With Root Veggies And Goat Cheese (3rd Place)
Nick Schaffer - Red Chicken Curry
Zach - Deviled Eggs
Anna, Alex and Ellen - Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars

Potluck will continue next Monday night (March 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. See you there!)

The winners: Team Brovenyark (middle), Julia (left) and Alli  

Prepared potluckers with their own plates

Coconut Porter (and other taplist) update!

Great news for all you beer lovers!

By the end of the weekend, the Broken Compass tap list will once again be as robust as our Chocolate Coffee Stout. 

With the arrival of all 350 pounds of unsweetened, organic, coconut flake Monday night, the long-awaited return of the Coconut Porter is projected for Friday (at the earliest) or Saturday (more likely). 

In addition to the Porter, the Irish Red will be back on tap Thursday afternoon or evening, while the Helles will make its return during the middle of next week. 

For those of you who can't wait until Thursday or Friday for fresh beer (me), the Trappist Trippel, brewed in collaboration with Luminous Brewhouse from Ford's hometown of Sheridan, WY, will be on tap this (Wednesday) afternoon. 

While you patiently wait for our favorite beers to be back on tap, we have tapped one keg of a young version (one month or so) of our Bourbon Barrel Aged FDFH Brown Ale to help keep your thirsts quenched. 

Drink up! 

MNP Week 19: A Heavyweight Clash

For only the second time ever, a Monday Night Potluck came down to a single point.

Brett Lomoro's Spinachoke Dip and Kendall and Mikey's Super Ham Rolls locked in a heavyweight battle at Broken Compass on Monday, easily outpaced the third place winners Very Berry Custard Trifle (made by Maria) and BBQ Chicken Sammies With Red Cabbage Slaw (made by Erin and Jake, who continue to make a habit out of third place finishes. Which, by the way, is nothing to be ashamed of) by more than 10 points. 

Spinachoke Dip was augmented by a lovely presentation that included celery, pita chips and dippable French bread, as well as a healthy disposition that Lomoro said included "lots of garlic and cheese. Like, wayyyyy too much cheese." 

Super Ham Rolls, meanwhile, benefited from the use of Hawaiian rolls, a hand-to-mouth delivery method that has never once been frowned at in the history of, well, probably the world, I guess. With a special sauce that included "butter, sugar, honey mustard and uhhh, more butter," according to creator Kendall, Super Ham Rolls shed any and all attempts at appearing to be healthy (editor's note: a tactic that the author of this post supports wholeheartedly).

Both heavyweights went blow for blow for 15 rounds, mixing in a series head and body blows that left potluckers reeling from deliciousness. But in the end, it was Super Ham Rolls left standing, a 40-39 victor, delirious and soaked in butter, forever a potluck champion.

Once again, a huge thank you goes out to all of you who brought food to the potluck. You continue to amaze with your creativity and general deliciousness. Without further ado, the potluckers and their dishes:

Brett Lomoro - Spinachoke Dip (2nd Place)
Katie Lestrange - Bacon Brussels
Erin and Jake - BBQ Chicken Sammies With Red Cabbage Slaw (T-3rd Place) (Also, wins the award for "best labeled food," which you can view below)
Scott and Daryl - Cheesycake
Amber - Sausage Cheese Dip
Peggi - Kale Salad
Bob - Stuffed Jalepenos
Kathy Munger - PB&J Bars (pretty much like a PB&J sandwich, except if you replaced the bread with a cookie-like substance. Yes, I ate far too many of these)
Wayne Holmes - Hot Pepper Corn Pudding
Nancy and Ben - Pita Pizza With Jalepenos And Chicken
Warren Rixon, Chelsea Stevens and Samantha - Weiner Shrooms
Seth Cohen - Ginger Pale Ale Ice Cream 
Maria - Very Berry Custard Trifle (T-3rd Place) 
Janet Healy - Soooo...Ready For Spring Salad
Angie and Kyla - Nutjobs (Pretzel Pecan)
Kendall and Mikey - Super Ham Rolls (1st Place)
Kathleen and Steve - Peppadews Stuffed With Artichoke Hearts And Goat Cheese (still upset I didn't get any of these)
Emma Montague and Andy McCory - Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
Nick Shaffer - Roasted Veggies

Potluck will continue next Monday night (March 2nd) 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, from left to right: Maria, Brett, Erin, Jake, Kendall and Mikey

Erin and Jake's awesome label

And...your entertaining vote of the week: 

MNP Week 18: A Dessertalicious Affair

Monday night was a potluck for sweet teeth. 

With two incredible desserts dominating the pallets and polls and four desserts causing potluckers to return to the buffet line simply for a "dessert plate" (wait, am I the only one who did that?) the sugar highs were real and unchecked.

In the end, it was Michael M.'s Oreo Ice Cream Dessert that came out on top, recording 31 points to narrowly edge out Laura and Jessi's Pumpkin Mousse Dessert and Nick Shaffer's slightly-less-sweet-and-probably-healthier Avo-Eggplant Parmigiano, who tied for second with 27 points. Rick and Maria's Jersey Sliders With Stuffed Mushrooms narrowly missed making it a three-way tie, finishing third with 26 points. 

Oreo Ice Cream Dessert wasted no time pushing its sugary goodness onto pallets, served with a note to "eat fast or I'll melt," but was unable to shake free of the competition. Pumpkin Mousse Dessert, served in mini cups of pumpkin cheesecake, whipped cream, graham crackery deliciousness (and of which at least four mini cups may have found their way into my refrigerator for a short time before being devoured as I wrote this blog because I have no self-control and because they are a true revelation) refused to go quietly into the night.

But in the end, nothing could stop the force that was Oreo's mixed with dairy products, a time-tested combination that will forever hold a place in the hearts of every man and woman who once dipped an Oreo into a cold glass of milk (which, let's face it, is basically everyone).

Michael M. credited his mother with the recipe for his first potluck victory, and was already planning his next dish as he filled up his winner's growler. 

As always, thanks to all who braved the snowy conditions Monday night to join us for another awesome potluck! The potluckers and their delicious dishes:

Laura and Jessi - Pumpkin Cheesecake Mousse (T-2nd Place)
Penny, Julia, KT - Self Saucing Chocolate Pudding
Brian Munger - Butternut Squash Lasagna
Benny - Deviled Eggs With Garlic Bread
Michael M. - Oreo Ice Cream Dessert (1st)
Tiernan - Black Bean Salsa
Kathleen and Steve - Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Nick Shaffer - Avo-Eggplant Parmeggiano (T-2nd)
Samantha and Warren Rixon - Cookie Bark
Adam Spencer - Caprese Salad
Rick and Maria - Jersey Sliders With Stuffed Mushrooms (3rd)
Jake - Chicken Parm
John Holdos - Chili Verde

Potluck will continue next Monday night (March 2nd) 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!)

MNP Week 17: BLT Bites Bring Glory Back To Bacon

Bacon-related foods have finally battled their way back to victory in 2015.

After spending 2014 systematically conquering seemingly every Monday Night Potluck, Bacon had suffered through an uncharacteristic drought leading up to Monday night, finding virtually no success despite many attempts (see: Candied Bacon, Chocolate Bacon, Plain-ass Bacon). But a breakthrough finally occurred for one of the world's tastiest foods, although in a somewhat unexpected way. 

Bacon returned to its roots, utilizing a reliable food chemistry long-tested, presented with an innovative twist, in the form Kyle and Jen's BLT Bites (what, you ask, is a BLT Bite? A deliciously ripe cherry tomato, somewhat hollowed out and filled with bacon and lettuce and maybe something else that was delicious but I can't quite put my finger on). BLT Bites' convincing 39-point victory proves, as always, chemistry trumps talent.

While BLT Bites ran away with the win, a stiff battle ensued for the other podium positions. Killer Beets And Carrots and run-on sentence String Bean Carmelized Onion Portabella Bake Goat Cheese (SBCOPBGC), from veteran potluckers Nick Shaffer and Rick and Maria Galgas, respectively, eventually tied for second place with 28 points after a healthy battle (because they're vegetables, get it? Oh fine, I'll shut up). Heather and Ben's Jambalaya rounded out the podium with 24 points, narrowly edging Fresh Strawberry Sauce With Cheesecake (23 points), Kingcake Pastry (22) and Pistachio Cake (21).

As always, thanks to all who braved the snowy conditions Monday night to join us for another awesome potluck! The potluckers and their delicious dishes:

Kathy Munger - Fresh Strawberry Sauce With Cheesecake
Johnny Nevana - Brownies
Loni and Chris - Kermit & Miss Piggy Go To The Beach
Heather and Ben - Jambalaya (3rd Place)
Sam - Plant Sliders
Jose - Chips, Hummus, Cheese, Dip
Katlyn and Peter - Kingcake Pastry
Kyle and Jen - BLT Bites And Veggie Bites (1st Place)
Warren and Samantha - Buffalo Chicken Mac N Cheese
Rick and Maria Galgas - String Bean Carmelized Onion Portabella Bake Goat Cheese (T-2nd Place)
Kim Haller - Pistachio Cake
Lyndsey and Shervin - Steak Pita Bites with Tzatziki Sauce
Madelaine Tayer - Wicked Wonderlust Wings
Nick Shaffer - Killer Beets And Carrots (T-2nd Place)
Florina and Steph - Chicken Strips
Chantal and Alli - Chantalli's Sexy Chipotle Potatoes
Janet Healy - Super Sexy Sausage (sex and food sells, people)

From back to front: the winners, Kyle and Jen, second place Rick and Nick and third place Heather and Ben

Bourbon Barrel Aged Brown lived young, fast and free

The beer-loving community of Breckenridge and greater Summit County spent the week in remembrance of another dear friend's passing.

Broken Compass's Bourbon Barrel Aged Brown Ale, just four weeks old, passed away last week, a victim of being too damn delicious. Barrel Aged Brown is survived by his father, Jason Ford; his brother-from-another-mother, FDFH Brown; and his many cousins still on tap at Broken Compass (http://www.brokencompassbrewing.com/beers/).

With only two kegs available, Barrel Aged Brown seemed destined from the beginning to be short-lived. And at 8.5 percent alcohol-by-volume (ABV), Brown never shied away from his reputation as a lover of parties, no doubt contributing to his early passing. 

"I definitely had a few crazy nights with Mr. Brown," Broken Compass beertender Dr. Buckets remembered wistfully. "He did that with everyone, every night. He just lived to have fun. That's who he was and nobody was going to stop him."

Even in its short time on tap, Barrel Aged Brown wowed with his eminent drinkability. The undertone of dark oak, a hint of sour, then the sweet bourbon finish often left Broken Compass patrons with tingling toes and taste buds, expressions of joy, love and longing left on their faces for hours. 

The Broken Compass family and staff will remember Barrel Aged Brown fondly, the last remaining drops of beer from the first ever batch brewed on the brewery's large system. Initially born the FDFH Brown, Barrel Aged Brown was separated from his twin at birth, with half the batch kegged and put on tap in the first weeks of the brewery's existence.

Barrel Aged Brown, however, was due for another incubation period. Following fermentation, Brown was left to sit in Breckenridge Distillery Bourbon barrels for eight and a half months, giving him the time necessary to round into his final, delicious self. 

And despite his early passing, Barrel Aged Brown paved the way for other barrel aged beers to make their way to Broken Compass's taps. A dark saison, barleywine and Trappist Trippel are following in Brown's footsteps in bourbon barrels while Coconut Porter is currently aging away in rum barrels. Barrel Aged Brown also left behind the hopes for a son, with multiple barrels still carrying the original FDFH Brown.