Grand Adventure Brewing Company releases new menu and partners with Blue Valley Spirits

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photo by Kim Cameron | Chef Daniel Skyes, Brewmaster Rick Reliford and Master Distiller Red Waldron. Waldron, of Blue Valley Spirits, will offer locally-made whiskey, rum, vodka and specialty products in a tasting room that was formally the dining room at Grand Adventure Brewery.
photo by Kim Cameron | Chef Daniel Skyes, Brewmaster Rick Reliford and Master Distiller Red Waldron. Waldron, of Blue Valley Spirits, will offer locally-made whiskey, rum, vodka and specialty products in a tasting room that was formally the dining room at Grand Adventure Brewery.

by Christy Parrott
On January 6, Grand Adventure Brewing unveiled their new menu to an eager audience. Presented to a community-style table were familiar favorites with exciting twists, such as Mary’s Little BLT, the classic sandwich made with tangy sourdough, packed with arugula, fresh tomato and lamb bacon, and drizzled with house-made tzatziki sauce.
The presentation of food, beer, and spirits was founders Rick and Laura Reliford’s vision. “We wanted to build a place for the community to gather in and enjoy. One that serves great food that’s trail, river and adventure-ready,” Rick Reliford explains.

The Relifords dream began years ago, when Rick took a chance at accepting a cellar position and realized his previous studies, which included physics, chemistry, German and art, culminated perfectly with his “Love of beer.” Rick developed a knack for brewing, and the couple worked to purchase their own place: The Grand Adventure Brewing Company.

What had once been a bar serving standard drinks and pub-style eats has transformed under the Relifords into a family-friendly brewery now serving handcrafted meals like bison short ribs, bighorn Bolognese pasta, or Brussel sprouts sautéed in duck fat and tossed with pine nuts and feta.

The Grand Adventure Brewing’s menu is not frozen, pre-made food thrown into a fryer. Unique items such as the adobo chicken wings will surely draw locals out of the house on a blustery winter evening.
“I loved everything,” local Kendrick Flor shares. “The lamb BLT is a great take on the classic, and I’ve never had wings like that.” Thick burgers, carved meat sandwiches, and a perfectly appointed charcuterie board are elevated yet convenient grab-and-go options.
The Grand Adventure Brewing’s menu offers the kind of meal any chef would dream of creating, if they had the time, the ingredients and the talent, all of which Chef Daniel Skyes has brought to the kitchen. A Santa Barbara Culinary School graduate, Skyes is passionate about cooking, and cooking meat, in particular. “I wanted to be a butcher,” Skyes explains. “I like taking everything slow and easy, ending with a good product.” With over ten years experience, Skyes has the talent and training to maintain menu consistency as well as offering seasonal specials. “We’re very excited to bring a new palate to the town,” Skyes says.

The new menu certainly is not covering the same meal locals and tourists have eaten a million times. Dishes include the White Lightning Burger that’s smothered in a Moonshine BBQ sauce made with whiskey from the house distillery.

Anyone familiar with the brewery’s location is sure to notice the former dining area has been shut down. That’s because along with the shift in menu comes a shift in layout, as the Relifords have partnered with Red Waldron, founding owner of Blue Valley Spirits.

The former back-dining area will house a Blue Valley Spirits tasting room, where patrons can enjoy locally-made rum, vodka, white whiskey and a “specialty product” that’s sharp and smoky with a smooth, light anise finish. Waldron has been honing his distillery craft for over 15 years. “We’re looking forward to serving customers unique cocktails they can only get here, at home. It’s something we can all be proud of,” Waldron says.

While the Grand Adventure Brewery’s menu and layout may be unfamiliar to some, the Western tradition of a hardworking family creating something for their community to enjoy and participate in is not. Friends, locals, Kremmling natives and neighbors are welcome to gather in the new, regular dining room (or the tasting room by summer) to enjoy live music, freshly prepared, wholesome food paired with craft beers and spirits created onsite (seasonal favorites include the sweet Christmas Cookie ale; the Figgy, dark, rich and satisfying; or the Nutmeg Christmas Bock with a caramel, nutmeg-malt finish).

“It’s a great feeling,” Rick and Laura Reliford stand side by side. “I can look at this and say, we finally did it.”

For more information, contact Grand Adventure Brewing Company at 970-724-9219 and take a look at Blue Valley Spirits, both on Facebook and Instagram.

Photo by Kim Cameron | The taste testing at the Grand Adventure Brewing was met with smiles and enthusiasm.