Beer Break: A Perfect Pale Ale and Classic John Denver Music Video

Welcome to another installment of an occasional series I call “Beer Break.” Rather than diving deeply into another object of my fanaticism, I instead kick back with a beer (or several) and write briefly about something I love without exhaustively explaining why.

It’s a pause, a respite, a recess from the time and energy I typically spend on these entries. Unlike my usual lengthy commentaries, “Beer Break” is more of a vignette in which I pithily pay tribute to a favorite drink, quote, song, poem, whatever.

After posting a “Beer Break,” I always take a much-needed and extended hiatus from writing “A Fan’s Notes.”

Today, I honor one of my favorite beers and one of my favorite artists—both with “Denver” in their names and both well-known exports from my adopted home state of Colorado.

First up, the beer. For today’s “Beer Break,” I chose Denver Pale Ale by Great Divide Brewing.

Pale is my preferred style for its flavor profile, crispness, and drinkability, and the DPA ranks second on my current list of favorite brews behind only Upslope’s Mary Jane Ale, which I celebrated in a previous beer break.

Yes, the name and its myriad can designs over the years (see progression above) are perfect, but this is my go-to can of suds because of its taste.

As Great Divide describes it, the Denver Pale Ale is a “delightful balance of tropical fruitiness, subtle bitterness, and a refreshing finish. Perfect for tailgates, chairlifts, and everything in between, we believe this is the best version of DPA yet!”

I’ll drink to that.

Next up is the real MVP of today’s post—the legendary John Denver and one of his lesser-known but still great songs, “Dancin’ with the Mountains,” which is accompanied by an even better video.

And by better, I mean, gloriously and fabulously stuck in the ’80s—that beautiful decade of bliss, decadence, neon, and just the right amount of ridiculous pastimes like ski ballet. You’ll see what I mean in a sec.

This video was filmed on the slopes of Aspen during its heyday, when the famous mountain town was defined more by dirtbags than douchebags. This was the era of Hunter S. Thompson and laid-back living, not the Koch Brothers and Kardashians.

Denver’s video featuring Aspenites skiing and snowboarding is pure delight. It captures all of the revelry and rejoicing of life in the mountains (plus a healthy supply of cocaine), and even though that simpler time has passed, it resonates deeply with those of us who love sliding down a snowy Colorado slope.

Without further ado, here’s the video:

Perfection, right? How can you not smile when watching all that synchronized and joyous schussing, including Denver’s own sweet turns?

I’ve been on a John Denver kick lately—which is a pretty on-brand thing for a Coloradan to say, I suppose—having mentioned him in my last two blogs.

The first one was about my favorite Christmas music (he has two songs on the list, including the top spot), followed by a post in early January about the artist deaths that affected me deeply (he didn’t make the top five but was an “honorable mention”).

This latest tribute is my way of bringing his influence full circle. It’s also a reminder to seek happiness and contentment in life, just as Denver found it by being one with the mountains and skiing with friends. Hard not to be a fan of that.

On that note, I’m taking a break. I’ve written and published 36 entries since launching this blog almost exactly two years ago, and I now need some time to figure out the future of “A Fan’s Notes.”

During my hiatus, I hope to be dancin’ with the mountains and enjoying plenty of Denver Pale Ale in the process.

And I hope you find your joy—whatever that might be. Amid these dark times, we could all use a lot more of it.

Cheers.