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I can’t show you what it says on the other side of this beer coozie. I will give you a hint: It has to do with the awesomeness of being Vegan. It’s choice, but it’s not safe for work.

The most diehard carnivore might have a hard-time enjoying all the glory that is one of Colorado Springs’ strangest attractions: A Vegan Lounge. As in vegan, not just vegetarian, straight-up no animal protein or product anywhere in the place. So what’s a diehard in need of protein order? Well either the Sasquathcho’s or The Serious Nachos. Yes, they stay vegan-qualified by using their home-made yeast-flake, cashew “cheese-product” and it’s better than anything your microwave can produce when combining Velveeta or Rotel. They’re straight up high-gas producing bliss (yes, this is a Vegan restaurant, and while not labeled as such, there is basically a Portlandia-esque Fart Patio). Also worth an exploration: The Loaded Potato Soup, The Pueblo Sloppy Slopper, The Guacamole Tostada or the Bread and Spread.

By Lounge, I mean a place where all the beer (and wine) is canned, served for your long-term refreshment in a not-at-all ironic beer coozie. The rule is the first one is free, “welcome to your new favorite watering hole.” If you’re a collector, well that’s cool too, but they’re a $1 after that. The emphasis is on Colorado Brews available in conditioned cans so the local-hopivore has their indulgences met, too. As far as wine in cans, if you’re asking, you haven’t heard of Infinite Monkey Theorem, with tasting rooms in RiNo and Stanley in Denver.

The cocktails? They have those, but don’t get pretentious with what you want in them. The reason they serve incredible custom cocktails with top-shelf, usually local, ingredients for a meager $5 a cocktail is because they’re all pre-made. It’s pretty choice sitting at the bar seeing the different labeled experiments and Mason Jars. The best example of Burrowing Owl pre-made mixology is “The Mother”: Benchmark Whiskey, Apple Cider Vinegar, Agave Syrup. Served around a giant two-inch wide high-ball ice cube that takes forever to melt so it shan’t dilute.

Okay, you might be thinking… “so it’s a hipster be-kind-to-animals places. Sounds absolutely awful. Why on earth am I still reading?” Because… it’s an honest to goodness lounge. The most impressive collection of 1960’s to early 70’s lit bar signs can be found at The Owl, ranging from your hallmarks like Michelob to a variety of defunct Midwestern Beers to south of the border. The furniture is all made from salvaged beetle-kill pine. There are board games like backgammon and chess. The lighting is low, and while there’s always a pleasant chatter of background noise, you can always enjoy the company you’re with. Plus the staff is consistently friendly, attentive, and out of the way. Quite simply, there is nothing else like The Owl, and thank goodness there is something like the Owl.

How to get to the Owl?