Kick Off: Aspen Football-Watching Spots

When Aspen quiets down in the off-season, there’s something that still gets the crowds out en masse: football. Whether it’s NCAA or NFL, fans love a good match-up, and it turns out restaurants and bars in Aspen do too. If you’re making the rounds on a Saturday or Sunday–or really any day of the week on which a game airs–here are some highlights:

• Head downstairs to Finnbarr’s for draft specials and sinful mid-game treats like Guinness cheddar fondue with pretzel bites.
• Belly Up may be known as a live music venue, but its football menu and 16-foot hi-def screen with ample seating make it popular stop for some pigskin too.
• In the newly remodeled historic Hotel Jerome, happy hour gets an extended curfew during football games. Look for $8 glasses of house wine, along with a free pitcher of beer when you order hot wings.
• Racks of ribs and cold beers? Sure. Aspen’s favorite stop for barbecue-smoked is also a stop on the game circuit. Plan a stop by Hickory House for specials on wings, beer and other carnivorous treats.