In a mountain community where 22 town businesses have gone belly up in the last two years, the 1,500 locals of Nederland, "Ned" as it's called, and 10,000 others that live scattered through this winding landscape are making sure at least one indigenous spot thrives: the Wolf Tongue Brewery. Through the creation of several tasty craft brews and a schedule of musical acts second to no one, the Wolf Tongue has gained a reputation that will have this young establishment going nowhere but up any time soon.

The building that now houses this brewery formerly served as the town's assay office, where miners once brought their gold to be weighed. And they keep this Old West atmosphere intact by doing little modern renovation. One patron told me it's probably the only pub where both a horse and a motorcycle have been ridden through the front door. Bullet holes can still be found behind the bar as well. And Ned the bartender (yeah, it's true, Ned from "Ned") says he has seen soda guns fly from their holsters, phones jump off the walls and doors open on their own, all the work of restless apparitions who haunt the saloon.

Only Wolf Tongue beer is served on draft and the head brewer, Cory O'Neel, tries to keep five taps running at all times. But the Coffee Porter, a gold medal winner at the 1998 Great American Beer Festival, goes fast. Unfortunately, this signature brew was missing from the line on my recent visit. This is something you have to put up with in the smaller breweries, but I was able to soon shrug it off after the barkeep slid me a Ned Red on the house. One of four choices which also included Bucking Trout Brown, O'Neels Irish Stout and Old Prospector, probably the last of the winter ale for the season.

Ned Red is burnt orange in color and Cory keeps the clarity hazy as he does with all styles that come off the line. You'll get a nose of hop florals as you tip this glass to your mouth and the first draw will emit an equally assertive bitter flavor. But from the second taste, the hop smack evens out perfectly with the heavy malt, blending this ale into a notably rich full-bodied glass of pleasure.

Bucking Trout Brown is an English mild ale and is traditionally translucent, yet Wolf Tongue's is hazy once again, and reddish brown in hue. The hop character is gentle, just a tweak above conventional subtlety lending way to more of a nutty chocolate malt flavor. A lace of the bubbles sticks like a curtain around the glass giving the appearance of a thicker brew. But the body is light with a good balance as is intended for the style. Here's a beer for all you Newcastle fans. You can drink the hell out of this one.

O'Neels is their nitro Irish Stout. It comes with a frothy tan head over an appealing pitch-black content. However, upon the first drink, O'Neels felt far too light in my mouth. It has a good flavor but lacks the heavy body of the stouts I prefer. I like to almost chew on this style, especially sitting at 8,200 feet with one of the biggest buckheads I've ever seen staring me down from the wall across the room. A good stout for someone just testing the waters, but if you drink them with regularity, a stout by definition it is not. I would pass.

Old Prospector is a strong Red Ale, which is served in a half-pint glass due to an intoxicating alcohol content of 8-9 percent. It has the caramel colored hue of a Scotch Ale and owns a nice aroma of malt and hops. The taste I would have to say is perfectly bitter in that it is incredibly smooth with a definite bite in the end. The perfect beer for the cold season, but beware, if you drink too many of these I don't believe cabs frequent the area.

Along with the beers I was able to review, the aforementioned Coffee Porter, Mr. Hoppy, a Chinook derived IPA and Miner's Gold Pale Ale take turns in the tap rotation. Whichever you choose, each brew at the Wolf Tongue comes off clean and fresh with a nice head that sticks around.

In a brewpub, though the beer could be great, if the atmosphere sucks, you 'll never stick around long enough to find out. Therefore, the layout, ambiance and entertainment have to make the grade as well. This is where the Wolf Tongue enjoys equal success. Mike Torpie, AKA Michigan Mike, schedules the most astute assemblage of jazz, bluegrass and folk musicians I have ever seen around the Front Range. Since 95, Torpie has grown into quite an auspicious booker of live music and through his hard work and dedication it won't be long before he rises to the stature of Boulder County's own Billy Graham. Music is featured on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Acid jazz, the locals' biggest night out, occurs on Mondays and they now have Open Mike Wednesdays. Check out michiganmike.com for more details.

You can also catch a game or play trivia on one of three corner televisions. But don't expect to hear the obnoxious drone of the play-by-play as they are close-captioned, giving way to the jukebox or anything the bartender might want to hear. It may be a little far for the Denverite to travel, but if you're coming back from a mountain trip on I-70 and get the fever for the flavor of a smooth porter, or if you feel the need to drown your sorrows after failing to beat the absolutely crappy blackjack odds in Blackhawk/Central City, the Wolf Tongue is pound-for-pound one of the best pubs around.

For the beer and music lovers of Boulder, you simply have no excuse. Get your ass up that canyon!

Pros: The beer, the music, the high country.
Cons: The locals are friendly, but don't step on their mountain ideologies. It's still legal to carry visible guns and a man's Bowie knife could very well be his drinkin' buddy.

There is another dimension beyond that which is known to most Denverites ... it is a dimension as vast as genres and as timeless as music ... it is the middle ground between flashing lights and lurking shadows, between yuppie and raver ... and it lies between 19th and Blake. No, it's not the Twilight Zone, it's Bash -- Denver's newest electronica-driven night-club.

Located right smack in the middle of LoDo, in the same building which used to house the LoDo Music Hall until the name was changed (to avoid copyright infringement) to the Blake Street Events Center, Bash is fixing to be Denver newest and brightest hot spot.

The normal top 40 music that pulses throughout the LoDo scene will be interrupted by the hypnotic sounds of trance and house techno, as Bash officially opens its doors on April 20.

Stan Breeding, the general manager, said that the club will not only feature premium local DJ talent, such as Double "00," Amtraxx and Foxx, but bring in some of the foremost DJs from around the country for the low price of $7 (for the locals) and $10 (for the out-of-towners).

On Thursday, April 20, the festivities begin with the wicked sounds of Mike Day and Jasun. Followed up on Friday by Double "00," to give the dancers an appetizer for the main course of Rob-E, as he invades Colorado from Orlando, to finish up the night.

The fun continues on Saturday night as Bash and Sound Pharmacy present "Heaven." Denver's own Jeriko starts off April 22 fol- lowed by Petey from LA Moontribe.

For those who are expecting Bash to be just another night club, they will be sorely disappointed. Bash not only has the music to bring change to the arena, but it has style as well, making it a lethal dose of competition for similar clubs in the Denver area. A huge, black, and fully stocked bar stands in the middle of the spacious first room, if one enters from Blake Street, which is lined with small tables and stools for those who either need a good rest or a good drink. The front room is much quieter than the dance floor; there are no speakers in this room, so there is no need to shout out an order to the bartender.

The room is bathed in the glow of neon and black lights (as the wall decor is tastefully done in fluorescent greens, yellows, and pinks) and two very large circles are cut out of the wall that separates the bar from the dance floor.

Covered with a screen, the onlookers enjoy watching the silhouettes of the go-go dancers positioned on blocks upon the dance floor. There are also TVs that show a computer-generated video display of the night's activities found at each end of the bar.

Upon entering the dance floor, the patron is confronted with a storm of sights and sounds. Music explodes out of big speakers that surround the floor. Lights flash and revolve around the spacious center area where patrons undulate their bodies to the thunderous rythm of the electronic sounds.

A very large video screen that flashes the same images of patrons, go-go dancers, and the DJ that is shown in the bar, sits on top of the DJ booth that faces the dance floor. A sparkling fiber optics display oozes across the vast ceiling.

Every 10 to 15 minutes, give or take, a noxious cloud of smog rolled out from underneath the DJ booth across the dance floor from a smoke machine, making it difficult to see at times, as well as breathe. However, when it thinned out, the billow of smoke created a sexy haze that enveloped the dancers that moved and swayed on the dance floor and inspired a similar mood throughout the club.

Two smaller bars located on either side of the dance floor, underneath two stairways that lead to a balcony, accommodate the thirst worked up from the dancers who do not want to leave the floor to obtain a drink.

Scooter Eagen, the owner, said that the club has been in the works for the past nine months and is far from being completed.

"We're still going to make a lot of changes," he said about the visual display around the dance floor.

Whether the club changes or not, Denver better be ready for the unique new clubs that will be sprouting up in the millennium.

"Denver has needed something like this for a while," said Eagen.

This club can only be described using a few of my favorite words "exclusive, exotic, innovative, and mystical. And since it's located in Denver, it's almost too good for words.

The Alley Cat has introduced itself into the nightlife scene as the most exclusive nightclub in Denver, and that it is. "We don't run this like a typical Denver club," said Mark Ginkel, general manager and designer of the Alley Cat.

This club is almost underground so I hesitate to even write this article, since its elusiveness only adds to its charm. If you haven't heard about it, it's because you're not cool.

This club is posh and upscale, but not just modish because it has much more style than the current fashionable nightclubs. When you walk into Alley Cat you are entering a sanctuary for nightlife, and that's not just because of the angel statues you encounter as you're walking up the stairs. There's definitely a mystique and according to Ginkel, "You don't quite know what you're getting into." Red lights (a sign of good fun) lead the trail into the club and into the first room of Alley Cat. The first room has a full service bar, a dance floor, and a DJ who plays house/techno music.

You're welcomed into the second room by another full service bar, and beyond that is an elevated stage with a percussionist who plays along with the DJ. The music played in this room is described as Miami house and has a definite South Beach flavor. There are also two other elevated stages alongside the main stage where professionally trained go-go and belly dancers exhibit their talents.

On Saturdays, those who want an even more private experience can utilize the bottle service room. The menu includes martinis, wines, champagnes, and any spirit you want can be brought straight to your reserved table. Depending on your drink of choice, everything you need is brought out to your table: ice bucket, glasses, mixers, garnishes, etc. Pit reservations handle about 6-8 people in the bottle service room, and the bottle service room is usually fully reserved by 11 PM. There's no cost to reserve a table but there is $150 minimum when enjoying the beverages and perks in the bottle service room.

It's definitely worth it because you can order the finest cognac, Cristal, and bottles of champagne -- prices range anywhere from $90 to $900 dollars a bottle. Alley Cat is justified in its steep prices because they carry vintages you can't even get anywhere else in the country. There's even a reserve list of wine that goes up to $30,000 a bottle. Just so you know, there's approximately $500,000 worth of inventory in fine liquor between the Alley Cat and the famous and elite Diamond Cabaret. (There's a little hint to where this club is located).

In addition, there's a percussionist who plays on stage in the bottle service room and musicians and belly dancers there to entertain. And for smoking bliss, also on the menu, there are hookahs available in several flavors, to include strawberry, apricot, and tropical fruit. Food and appetizers are also served in the Alley Cat and prepared by the chef and staff of the gentleman's club, Diamond Cabaret. Tim Killeen, general manager of Diamond Cabaret, seconded Ginkel's com- ment that they serve the "best steak in Colorado." The crowd of people in both places would probably agree as well.

The décor in the Alley Cat is by far some of the best a nightclub in Denver has ever had. The furniture is custom built and there is real art everywhere. Real art! There are leopard and zebra print sofas, psychedelic, black light art, and be sure to check out the large metal-looking birds with lights for eyes (something you have to see for yourself). And did I mention the carpet and chande- liers?

"We've tapped into a market of people who want an upscale experience," Ginkel said. Many clubs try to tote around the term ‘upscale' but very few deliver that upscale atmosphere. Alley Cat is making sure they are not another let down for upscale clientele in Denver. "Upscale is service and style," Ginkel said, "how you project yourself and all of those little things."

Alley Cat is a place where people can utilize their sense of style because there is a strict dress code (by Denver standards) that is enforced because classy is how they want to keep it. There are clean restrooms with restroom attendants/valets who are there to help you freshen up (lotion, gum, makeup tray, etc.) and look your best before you re-enter the club scene. The Alley Cat staff (mainly managers and security) have headphones with mics, so that exceptional service is provided to clients at all times.

The club's rooms are an intimate size because they aren't trying to pack all of Denver into it. It's elite, so understandably not everyone is expected to attend -- nor are they desired.

As for competition from other clubs, Ginkel says he doesn't worry about that; he's just worried about running his business. "As long as we keep it upscale, take care of our house -- you do that and you don't have to worry about anyone else."

"This club is going to be known through word of mouth," Ginkel said.

There's no heavy-duty advertising done by this club, no radio spots, nor printed fliers. As a matter of fact, there's not even a sign out front. There's just a little arrow pointing to one of the coolest spots in Denver.

I'd like to keep a secret but nonetheless, I'll tell you where it is. It's tucked away in an alley between Glenarm and Tremont; off of 13th St. Check it out and you 'll be sure to have extraordinary night out.