Three Things I Never Knew About Greeley
Greeley, Colorado is seeing a mega progression when it comes to new local business and more attention around longer standing ones. A new campaign called Greeley Unexpected is drawing awareness around this. Recently, I spent a day in the city to get a feel for the change. Here are three things I never knew about Greeley.
1. I could make it a hot wing and a half into the Bear Hot Challenge. This is a spicy eating challenge at the 8th Wing Shack. The goal: eat 12 hot wings spiced with ghost peppers and other secret spices in 6 minutes. Winners get their photo placed on the wall and are gifted a sauce to take home. Less than a minute into the challenge, I was dizzy and thinking of tapping out. I kept on… but just for another 30 seconds. That’s when my eyes started watering and I could feel my whole body enter a heat wave. I slapped my hand on the table, eyeing the ranch and celery.
Insider Tip: Don’t let the heat scare you away. There are 12 other flavors (6 are mild) to flavor up wings. There is always a crowd here, even outside of peak hours, which is testament enough to the good eatin’.
2. Newstands still exist. They were especially common in the 1940’s as a spot where you could buy newspapers and periodicals. Most folded as bookshops came in even hotter off the press. But in Greeley, Woody’s Newstand has stayed relevant since opening in 1940 by expanding inventrory to also sell 4,000 magazine titles, books of all kinds, gifts and also by opening a coffee shop serving up a local beans from Coal Creek Coffee is Laramie, Wyoming.
Insider Tip: The store first opened as a cigar shop and still holds to those roots. Cigars, pipes and house made pipe tobacco are all still for sale.
3. You can mix a porter and IPA (in the same cup) and it’s drinkable. This was proven at Wiley Roots Brewing Company where the Black & White beer is made with the Off the Tracks IPA and the Chocoalte Porter (which won bronze at GABF). I am a huge fan of stouts and porters and love the dark roasted flavors. But when it comes to IPA’s, I am on the first train out of town. When I tried this brew, I assumed it would be just one sour faced sip. Instead, I found the hoppy flavors mellowed the taste and I made it to the bottom of the glass.
Insider Tip: The brewery bottles a few brews at the brewhouse- including the Impersial Chocoalte Porter. Grab a bottle on your way out for $10 to enjoy from home.
