Ear to the ground

“I felt so dirty afterward, but I couldn’t help myself.”

-A local manly man after getting sucked into “The Bachelor: London Calling”

A visit from the Bachelor

Durango is still in Bachelor mode on ABC. Chelsea Wanstrath, a 24-year-old local pharmaceutical sales rep, once again made the cut during the most recent installment of “The Bachelor.” In her quest for the hand of Matt Grant, a London businessman, Chelsea got the rose after an episode that included a visit to Durango.

Things looked potentially shaky when Grant arrived in Durango and described Chelsea as “hot and cold” up to this point and Chelsea, feeling nervous because she realized Grant was a man she could “potentially fall in love with.” The pair enjoyed a meal with her parents, and when the Londoner met Chelsea’s mom, it was time for true confessions. Grant told her he had fallen for Chelsea after their first meeting but was afraid she “might not be completely into” him. Chelsea’s mom replied that the TV show’s format makes it difficult for women to open up.

After a talk with dad, Chelsea was ready to make the leap.“I realized if I want to take the risk, I need to put myself out there a little bit further,” she said. “I just need to let myself just open up and feel the feelings I have and let him know how happy he makes me feel.”

The two then had an old-time photo taken downtown and shared a kiss in a closing scene where they ambled down Main in their period attire.

The action returns next Mon., April 28, when “The Bachelor: London Calling” airs at 8 p.m. on ABC.

Beer Olympics

A Durango brewery has returned from the “Olympics of beer competition” with medal in hand. Just one week after earning a bronze at the Australian International Beer Awards, Steamworks Brewing Co.’s Colorado Kölsch took silver at the Brewers Association World Beer Cup.

Brewers from five continents had their suds tested by “an elite international panel of judges” for the seventh bi-annual competition. In the end, medals were awarded to brewers from 21 countries ranging from Australia and Italy to Bolivia and Japan. The Colorado Kölsch competed against 36 entries in the German-Style Kölsch/ Köln-Style Kölsch category en route to the silver.

“A great thing about the Colorado Kölsch is that the label features the Colorado state flag,” said Brian McEachron, Steamworks co-founder. “We’re reminding everyone in the world that Colorado is the home of great craft beer, and beyond that, reinforcing that Durango above all is the Napa Valley of beer.”