When Brett Smith, the chef and partner behind The Post Chicken & Beer, first started dreaming up this contribution to the Big Red F family of restaurants, fried chicken seemed like the obvious choice. It has always been a personal favorite of his and makes the perfect centerpiece for a menu dedicated to comfort foods. Smith and the team did their homework too, nothing short of the best fried chicken would do. After deciding to focus on bone-in, pressure-fried chicken and trying 75 different variations they landed on their signature corn-meal batter. Deliciously crispy and light and, unlike most fried chicken, gluten free.
“I love everything about fried chicken,” Smith said of the direction he chose for his restaurants, “I love comfort food and it’s approachable food that people can eat every day.”
Smith’s dedication to his vision has absolutely paid off as the comfort food and brewery combo is now up to seven locations along the front range. Taking up residence in the historic IHOP building on College Ave in Fort Collins is restaurant number six. A refreshed and expanded interior with a fireplace and a comfortable, homey feel completes this iteration of The Post and has brought new life into the old a-frame and its high vaulted ceilings.
After four years with The Post, Morgan Hetrick has taken on the role of General Manager at this new location and couldn’t be happier for it.
“I think it says a lot that I’ve been here for so long,” Hetrick says of her time with The Post, “the company culture is amazing and I’ve never not wanted to be here.”
Whether they’re serving their new neighbors here in Fort Collins or their long time friends in the original post location, it really all boils down to the people.
“We can do all that we want to do with the chicken and the beer,” Smith says of his people-first philosophy, “but if we don’t have amazing people who take amazing care of our guests, we’re kind of stuck.”