Boulder gets a ginger beer brewery

Driving the news: TooSteppin Saloon opened at 4843 Pearl St. in January.

• Unlike many artificially sweet alcoholic ginger beers, TooSteppin ferments real ginger for a drier, beer-like sip.

What to expect: The bar offers its "OG" along with several fruitier versions, including blood orange, blueberry and mango.

• The brewery will also have a few nonalcoholic versions of its ginger beer, plus a selection of guest taps and special cocktails.

The vibe: The name says it all. The watering hole leans Western, at least as much as it can pull that off in a former auto repair garage.

• For a visual: Our table consisted of a couch, a coffee table, a barrel and a saddle on a wooden horse.
• Expect live music and karaoke nights, but the space is also family-friendly, with board games and bingo. Cultivating an atmosphere with events and activities on-site will be a big part of the operation's business model.
• On a random weeknight, there are also TVs playing Avs games.

There's no kitchen on-site, but rotating food truck visits are on the calendar.

My thought bubble: I'm not usually a ginger guy, but I found TooSteppin's drinks surprisingly refreshing.

• Some of the hazy and very fruit-forward versions have just a hint of ginger, while the OG has just the right spice and flavor without being overpowering.

The bottom line: For Boulder drinkers fatigued by IPAs, TooSteppin is offering something different — with just the right amount of spice.