Boulder Beer Ends Four Decades Of Brewing In January

, Boulder Beer Ends Four Decades Of Brewing In January

(Gone, Baby, Gone – Boulder Beer Company)

A rollercoaster ride of announcements over the last three months has come down to this… Boulder Beer, Colorado’s oldest craft brewery, will be shutting down on January 18th.

When the company started there were only around 42 traditional breweries operating in the US. But that number exploded over the years, putting pressure on Boulder Beer’s 34 state distribution network overwhelmed by hundreds of new breweries, and consumers increasingly gravitating towards uber-local beer brands…

In October, the company, which is headed by Gina Day, announced a defensive retrenchment aimed at helping them better navigate craft beer’s increasingly turbulent waters. To better survive, it would cease packaging and selling beer throughout its multi-state distribution region, including Colorado, and operate only as a brewpub out of its Wilderness Place location in Boulder.

, Boulder Beer Ends Four Decades Of Brewing In JanuaryThat decision made sense right?

It reflected the growing migration of consumers away widely distributed craft beer brands to uber-local brewers. Boulder Beer already had a popular brewpub…so why not just be that.

But on December 5th  Boulder Beer surprised the industry with another announcement that it had entered into an agreement with Sleeping Giant Brewing which would allow the large contract brewer to produce, package and sell most of its core lineup of beers, including Buffalo Gold, Mojo IPA, Hazed Hoppy Session Ale and Shake Chocolate Porter.

Details of that arrangement were kept close to the vest. But basically it sounded like Sleeping Giant would be handling the brand entirely going forward, through a profit sharing agreement with Boulder Beer. And since Boulder Beer wasn’t contributing any money to the new effort it felt more like they were licensing out the brand rather than actually remaining in the game.

Then on January 6 Boulder Beer surprised again with this announcement that it would be shutting down its wilderness brewpub and exiting the biz…

January 6th, 2020

A Letter to Boulder Beer Company Customers and Friends

Dear Boulder Beer Patrons,

As you all know, things have been changing here at Boulder Beer, and we now have a new development we would like to share. Some outside influences have recently transpired that have led us to make business decisions we feel are best for the company. An opportunity to sell the building at 2880 Wilderness Place recently presented itself to us, which has led us to the decision to close The Pub at Boulder Beer. Our last day of operation will be Saturday, January 18th, after which we will close for business.

After closing the manufacturing side of our business and then creating a relationship with Sleeping Giant, we feel it is now in our best interest to pursue this opportunity to sell the building. The 19,000 square foot production facility has proven to be too large for our brewpub to operate within.

Moving forward, because of our new partnership with Sleeping Giant Brewing Company in Denver, you will still be able to find our beer on draft and in six packs at your favorite liquor stores, groceries, bars and restaurants. They will continue to brew, package and distribute the Boulder Beer brands we all know and love and keep the Boulder Beer legacy alive at retail. So although the Pub will be closing, the brands will live on.

Our valued Boulder Beer staff will all have access to job opportunities with our sister company Concept Restaurants should they decide to join their team.

Also, with all of these changes it isn’t out of the picture that you may see a new Boulder Beer Pub open sometime down the road.

Thank you all for 40 amazing years of support and friendship. If you’re in the Boulder area, please come raise a pint with us on or before January 18th to toast the fun ride it’s been, and celebrate the many, many great memories that make up Boulder Beer.

Sincerely,

Gina Day, Owner

 

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