In their ongoing investigation of good places to eat, drink and be merry, residents of and visitors to Lincoln, Nebraska, now have an exciting new way to break dieting laws within the walls of local landmark Robbers Cave.
Blue Blood Brewing Co. is located above 12,000 sq. ft. of caves eroded by water from a natural sandstone deposit. Human hands have enlarged the caverns beyond their natural boundaries over hundreds of years through many incarnations, from Pawnee Indian grain storage and supposed Jesse James hideout to high school party destination and home to an endangered species of bat. Today, visitors to the restaurant and brewery above can arrange tours of the impressive caves below.
The brewing company was founded in December 2011 by three Lincoln Police Department officers, with the initial location in downtown Lincoln. Blue Blood was moved to the iconic caves in May 2016.
The roots of Blue Blood Brewing Co. lie in the home-brewing passion of its president and cofounder, Brian Podwindski. A former Lincoln police officer, Podwinski was involved in a training accident that forced his retirement, which led to the opening of the brewery with cofounders and fellow officers Brock Wagner and Jason Goodwin.
In addition to its unique history (and the bats), Blue Blood’s claim to fame is a fun line of pre-meditated craft beers with police-related names, such as the Outlaw Series and the Robbers Cave Series of lagers. According to operations manager Colby Coash, new craft beer flavors are introduced monthly.
The menu complements Blue Blood brews, with tasty dishes such as Loaded Felony Fries, diet-legal Kale Steak Salad and Jambalaya Pasta. Barbecue sliders and a line of delicious burgers tempt diners, with prime rib available after 5 p.m. as long as it lasts.
Colby Coash said the endangered bats are protected within one of the caves, but more than 5,000 sq. ft. of caverns are open for guided exploration during inexpensive pre-scheduled tours for at least 10 people at a time—no badge or bat spray needed. Private spaces are reserved for gatherings such as birthday and Christmas parties. Coash said cave movies and live-music Cave Sessions are coming soon.
Next time you’re in Lincoln, do a little spelunking for good food and brews at Blue Blood Brewing Co., 925 Robbers Cave Road. For more information, visit bluebloodbrewing.com or call 402-477-2337.
Kindra Foster is an award-winning senior writer/editor who has worked many years with a broad array of businesses. She’s also an "every-person's" travel writer, usually traversing the U.S. and Canada solo, camping in the back of a Jeep, collecting memories of America's beautiful and interesting places, and introducing readers to the hardworking people of this land.
Kindra Foster
Kindra Foster is a professional freelance writer and editor. Her services include marcom substitute writing and travel writing. For more about Kindra, visit her professional writing website and her travel chronicle, Roadworkwriter.