Aye, there's the pub - and a snug one at that

And yet, most of these joints have their own unique flair for imbibery. From the LoDoriffic digs of Fado's to the highfalutin environs of the Irish Hound to the divey beer-and-a-shot Shamrock, there's an Irish pub for everyone, regardless of how thick their brogue.

And now, for those who want to blend their Emerald Isle tastes with a Colfax spice, there's the Irish Snug.

I stumbled through the door of the new pub where Decisions restaurant used to reside with the Confidant in tow on a recent boys' night out. It seems I'm surrounded by Guinness drinkers, so scoping out the recently opened Snug seemed like a swell idea, indeed.

The Snug is owned by the brothers Mcloughlin, Jim and Frank, according to bartender Kirsten O'Donoghue, a game and friendly lass if ever there was one.

It's their first venture, and they've approached it with a tasteful, authentic sense that suggests they've spent at least a few nights in an Irish pub or two themselves. It's split into two rooms, each with its own bar point. Along the wall separating the two rooms stands the reason for the bar's name.

Two very private booths with barely enough room for a small, intimate group of people stand side by side, providing a private drinking refuge not too unlike the traditional snugs that popularized Irish drinking culture in the 19th century.

"Back then, the snugs opened onto the street, so someone could get a drink without actually going into the bar," Kirsten related. "So the parish priest or the police officer could get a drink with no one knowing."

Indeed, if you need a drink while in these snugs, all you have to do is press the button and the bartender on the other side of the wall sees a light and opens a small window to the snug to get your order.

However, the Confidant and I didn't spend any time in a snug, since we ran into an old high school friend of mine, Katie, and her friend Michelle, two lovely lawyers (don't hold it against them) out for a drink themselves. They invited us to join their party.

Over a collection of 20-ounce beers (mostly Guinness and Killian's) we explored topics ranging from how tough the dating scene is nowadays (and how lucky I am to be married) to the pitfalls of interfaith relationships (Katie's mom would just die if she ever brought home a Republican). The Irish snug provided an entrancing backdrop to the discussion - indeed, I think the environs alone edged up my witty-repartee meter a few notches.

The high ceilings and the smoky wood trim all combined to color the evening's parlances in a delightful shade of green.

It couldn't have been more snug.

Dave Flomberg hates L.A., thinks David Lynch is a genius, and always doubles down on eleven.

flomberg@thedenverbuzz.com