Boulder Beer Company

Colorado’s Boulder Beer Company has had a bumpy few months. In October, the brewery announced it would be pulling back national distribution, and downsizing operations after 30 years. The Boulder Pub would remain in business.

Then in December, Boulder changed course, announcing a partnership with Denver’s Sleeping Giant Brewing Company which would allow their beer to stay in national distribution without interruption.

Here in 2020, Boulder Beer has a new announcement – they will be closing the brewpub and attached in-house production facility permanently, ending 40 years of Boulder Beer operations.

In a letter published today from brewery owner Gina Day, an opportunity to sell the 19,000 square foot facility has presented itself, which will ultimately close the Pub at Boulder Beer for good.

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.

Thanks to the production partnership with Sleeping Giant, the Boulder Beer lineup will still be available in package and draft in Boulder and beyond.

From cutting national distribution to focus solely on the Pub to maintaining national distribution and the pub, and finally, selling the pub completely, it’s been a rollercoaster for Boulder Beer the past four months. In closing, Day mentions that the opening of a new pub location in the future isn’t off the table. Time will tell.

The last day of operations for the Pub at Boulder Beer will be Saturday, January 18th.

Boulder Beer Company is pulling back national distribution, and downsizing operations.

For nearly 30 years, Boulder Beer has been brewing beer in their home in Boulder, Colorado. Citing an “explosive number of brewery openings” and “crowded shelves,” Boulder will focus solely on providing their brewpub at Wilderness Place with beer.

Brewery owner Gina Day made a statement about the move on Boulder’s Facebook page:

Times have changed and change is hard, but I’m ready to put the ‘fun’ back in beer. Our friends will still be able to enjoy our beers in the brewpub, and by brewing in small batches, have a wider variety of options on the ever-rotating specialty taps.  We’re celebrating our milestone 40^th Anniversary this year and look forward to furthering our legacy in Boulder and the industry.

The brewery further states the brewery fans will be able to try Boulder’s beers in small batches at the brewpub that is open seven days a week, with even more styles and creations in the future.

Boulder Beer currently produces 16,000 barrels (496,000 gallons) of beer annually and distributes to 34 states. Unfortunately, up to 21 employees will be eliminated as a result of the downsize.

The brewery declined to further comment.