It’s been more than 10 years since I last reviewed Phantom Canyon Brewing Co. and I’m happy to report it’s still a great option for a reliably good place for food, service and a lively ambiance. Barbecue pork sandwich at Phantom Canyon. (Cody Van Hooser, The Gazette) I’ve certainly eaten at this downtown establishment multiple times in the intervening periods between reviews, but this time, I was back on the clock, so to speak. Yes, there’ve been changes. These were most noticeable on the menu: not just the offerings but also the prices. The latter came as no surprise, and they aren’t out of line compared to many other restaurants. As expected, names and faces of staff have changed, but I’m happy to report that our server was exceptionally friendly, attentive and efficient. She offered suggestions, provided descriptions of beverages and entrees and seemed genuinely happy to be serving us. The bill of fare is varied and creative. It’s sometimes hard to remember the place is also a brewery until you notice the number of dishes featuring beer. And why not? The brews enhance the food flavors. The beer pretzel at Phantom Canyon. (Cody Van Hooser, The Gazette) The beer pretzel ($13.50) came with beer cheese and sweet onion beer mustard. The twisted, bronzed colored baked pastry was sprinkled with sea salt. It filled the paper-lined tray it was served on. The pretzel was chewy and buttery. The mustard was tart and the onion was so subtle I wasn’t certain it was really part of the mix. The beer cheese was creamy. The caramel flavors that make amber ales popular came through. I’m glad this has remained a Phantom Canyon staple through the years Our excellent server said the shepherd’s pie ($17), lemon tabasco fried chicken ($18) and the Funky Chicken Sandwich ($16.50) were the most popular items. Based on what I saw delivered at other tables, this seemed to be the case. However, we opted for only one of her suggestions: the Funky Chicken. It was hard to resist the name. The sandwich was massive with the golden fried chicken breast smothered in pimento cheese and hefeweizen maple glaze and topped with several pieces of crispy bacon. Everything spilled out of the brioche bun. Hidden among the assorted ingredients were bread and butter pickles. Lettuce, tomato and onion accompanied the sandwich but remained untouched; there was plenty already happening between the bread. The chicken was well cooked and never lost its crunchiness. The cheese had a slow to kick spiciness. This was too difficult to eat whole by hand. Even after cutting it in half, it was a mess to eat, which didn’t stop me from enjoying every bite. The main problem, though, was the bottom piece of bread got soggy way too fast. The bun was also a problem for the barbecue pork sandwich, much of which was eaten by fork. The tender meat, creamy coleslaw and thin crispy onions fell out of the bread. The onions held their crunch even with the house barbecue sauce that had saturated the pork. All sandwiches come with french fries or slaw. Other options are available for an upcharge. It gets noisy here, but there are sections where it isn’t quite as loud. Just ask. Phantom Canyon Brewing Co. in downtown Colorado Springs. (Cody Van Hooser, The Gazette) Phantom Canyon Brewing Co. Upscale pub fare Location: 2 E. Pikes Peak Ave. Contact: 719-635-2800; phantomcanyon.com  Prices: $7 to $25(CQ) Hours: 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Wednesday; 11 a.m.–2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday Details: Credit cards accepted. Alcohol. Wi-Fi. Favorite dishes: Funky chicken sandwich, pretzel with beer cheese Other: Gluten-free and limited vegan options available. ...read more read less