More than 40 breweries closed statewide this year, according to the . That number is somewhat deceiving, however, since it accounts for some businesses that closed multiple locations as well as others that remain open, but discontinued brewing beer. Muddying the data further are brands that closed their brick-and-mortar taprooms but still have beer available at bars and retail stores.

In fact, many of the year’s most notable closures are companies that haven’t disappeared entirely, but transformed in ways that left the local beer community with a sense of mourning.

On the Front Range, that list of casualties includes Great Divide Brewing Co., which closed its two stalwart locations in the Mile High City; Denver’s TRVE Brewing Co., which is now a hot chicken restaurant; and Dry Dock Brewing Co. in Aurora, which will change hands in January after 20 years.

In all three cases, you can still find the companies’ beer for sale and yet somehow, it still feels like something was lost.

Shawnee Adelson, executive director of the Colorado Brewers Guild, doesn’t expect the industry to trend away from brick-and-mortar spaces, but acknowledged the cost of running a brewery has increased substantially since the dawn of the modern craft beer boom in the 2010s. That����ap why she expects that businesses will continue to evolve, whether through partnerships or by expanding their offerings to include wine, non-alcoholic drinks and food.

In short, Adelson attributed much of the activity this year to the maturation of the beer market – and turnover is to be expected as part of that.

In the future, she explained, “it����ap going to look a lot more like the restaurant industry… Everybody’s thinking the sky is falling, and I would say the sky just looks different right now. You know, we were in a heyday, and I think that it����ap slowing and maturing. We should keep in mind we still have more breweries than we did 10 years ago.”

Despite the closings and consolidations, local experts insist it����ap not all doom and gloom. Blogger Stephen Adams, known as the , counts two dozen new breweries that opened in 2025. Plus, the industry is still growing on the Western Slope. In Grand Junction, for example, there are now eight breweries, about double the number five years ago, Adelson said.

One potential silver lining on the economic side: Beer makers that shutter often leave behind already-built facilities for someone to potentially jump behind the brew kettle, Adelson added.

“Trenching floor drains is costly, and if the floor drains are already there, that makes it a lot easier. Glycol systems are expensive to install — and unique to breweries. So there are a lot of things that are unique that if it����ap already in place it does help a lot,” she said.

Still, this year’s changes are likely to reshape the local craft beer scene in a big way, as many of the recent closures include longtime breweries that spent a decade-plus serving drinkers and helping fuel the nationwide movement for better beer.

Here are some of the industry shakeups that defined 2025.

Great Divide Brewing Co. sells

Opened in 1994, Great Divide is one of the state’s pioneering craft breweries that recently underwent massive change. In April, craft conglomerate Wilding Brands acquired the brewery. Then this summer, founder Brian Dunn closed its two locations in Denver, notable because of how many people in the beer industry got their start there. Wilding eventually rebranded a taproom in the River North Art District with the Great Divide name, so Denverites can still belly up without traveling to the suburbs. Great Divide-branded beers are now brewed at Wilding’s Denver production facility.

Blue Moon shutters local brewpub

Given Molson Coors’ exit from the craft beer space in 2024, it is perhaps unsurprising that the beverage giant would forgo having a consumer-facing taproom that makes smaller batches of beer. In March, the company closed the Blue Moon Brewing Co. taproom in RiNo after nine years. The beer itself, which is brewed at Coors facilities around the country lives on, however — as does the Sandlot brewery inside of Coors Field, which is where Blue Moon was first produced.

TRVE Brewing Co. closes… or does it?

Heavy metal fans were left with heavy hearts when Denver’s TRVE Brewing Co. announced its closure in July after 13 years, taking a chunk out of Denver’s beer culture. The news came after the brewery had already shut down in-house beer production in 2024 and began contract brewing its beloved sour beers and lagers at New Image Brewing in Wheat Ridge. Its space on Broadway is now being run by Music City Hot Chicken, which opened a food counter inside the brewery in 2021. But TRVE isn’t entirely dead: New Image continues to brew some of its beers for distribution to Music City Hot Chicken and some other accounts.

Dry Dock Brewing Co. leaving Aurora

Dry Dock Brewing Co. is another one of Colorado’s legacy brewers to experience significant changes this year. In April, it merged with Left Hand Brewing Co. in hopes of growing the brand while sharing the cost of production. Part of that plan involves closing its taproom in Aurora, which has been open for 20 years. The spot, which is attached to a home brewing store, was another rite of passage of many in the local brewing community. It����ap expected to close Jan. 10 after a goodbye party on Jan. 3. A new brewery is slated to take its place.

Call to Arms Brewing Co. says farewell

Denver favorite Call to Arms Brewing Co. closed on Dec. 23 after a decade in business. Part of what makes this one so heartbreaking is that the owner said the brewery simply couldn’t survive in a post-COVID economy, despite a loyal following and great beer.

Sanitas Brewing Co. pours its final pints

After 12 years and multiple expansions, Sanitas Brewing Co. poured its final pints in December. Its announcement in November cited “rising costs and lower sales of craft beer” as reasons for closing the brewery’s three locations Boulder, Englewood and Lafayette.

Small breweries call it quits

Of course, it wasn’t just the biggest or oldest breweries that folded this year. Many small operations that were hubs of their neighborhoods also shuttered with significant impact. Pour one out for places like Banded Oak Brewing Co., Burns Family Artisan Ales and Raices Brewing Co. in Denver, Over Yonder Brewing Co. in Golden, Halfpenny Brewing Co. in Centennial, and Incantation Brewing, which had two locations in Aurora and Denver.

Goldspot Brewing announced that it will leave its longtime home near Denver’s Regis University on Feb. 1 because its building is being sold. The owner is hoping to find a new location.

And Trinity Brewing, a pioneer of the sour beer scene and a longtime fixture in Colorado Springs, also ended its 17-year run in 2025; it will be replaced by an existing brewery.

Holiday pop-up bars have become beloved traditions in Denver and beyond, though we’d argue the term “pop-up” is something of a misnomer since it takes extensive time, effort and funds to pull them off. Nonetheless, it����ap near impossible to feel like a Grinch when you’re immersed in displays overwhelmed by decor.

Here are 33 places where you can cozy up and celebrate the season, whether you want to double down on Christmas, find a tropical escape or bring the whole family.

$10,000 for decor and more: Here’s what it takes to build holiday pop-up bars

Denver

Atomic Christmas at Atomic Cowboy

If you’re craving pizza, brunch food and Christmas vibes, good news: Atomic Cowboy locations across Colorado will be reimagined as Atomic Christmas. The restaurant houses both Denver Biscuit Co. and Fat Sully’s pizzeria under one roof (and more in select markets), plus festive decor, a hot chocolate bar, Christmas music and seasonal cocktails from Nov. 28 through Jan. 1. That includes locations in Congress Park, Berkeley, and Baker. For more information, visit .

Avantiki at Avanti Food and Beverage

Tiki cocktails and immersive decor help transport drinkers from Avanti in the Highlands to the warm shores of a beachfront destination at the food hall’s holiday pop-up Avantiki, which runs Nov. 28 to Dec. 28. Admission costs $5, which goes to support Culinary Hospitality Outreach and Wellness, an organization providing mental health support to hospitality industry workers. Avanti is located at 3200 Pecos St. in Denver. For more information, visit .

Big Holiday Energy at Call to Arms Brewing Co.

Beloved Denver brewery Call to Arms is preparing to close at the end of the year, but not before one last party. From Nov. 21 to Dec. 22, the taproom becomes Big Holiday Energy, an over-the-top pop-up that will host festive events, including pictures with Santa (Dec. 6) and holiday movie screenings. Call to Arms Brewing Co. is located at 4526 Tennyson St. in Denver. For more information, visit .

Blanco Navidad at Blanco Cocina + Cantina

Mexican restaurant Blanco Cocina + Cantina is celebrating the season with Blanco Navidad, a holiday pop-up running now through Dec. 31. Expect the dining room to be packed with Christmas trees and twinkling lights, and for bartenders to be shaking up festive cocktails, including The Christmas Tree sampler featuring mix-and-match margaritas. Blanco Cocina + Cantina is located at 4177 E. 9th St. in Denver. For more information, visit .

Christmas at Cirrus

From Nov. 19 to Dec. 24, cannabis lounge Cirrus Social Club will be gussied up and channeling a classy Christmas aesthetic for its pop-up. Think New York City high society – emphasis on high, thanks to the lounge’s menu of marijuana flower and edibles. Holiday programming includes a themed drag show (Dec. 4) and live jazz group playing seasonal tunes (Dec. 11). Cirrus Social Club is located at 3200 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver. For more information, visit .

Christmas Pop Up at Church & Union

Church & Union, a modern American restaurant in LoDo, plans to decorate its downstairs as a holiday escape with “twinkling decor, festive cocktails and all the cozy vibes you could ask for,” per a statement. The pop-up opens Nov. 25 and includes a specialty holiday menu of food and drinks. Church & Union is located at 1433 17th St., Suite 150 in Denver. For more information, visit .

The Delorean

The Delorean, a 1980s-themed bar, invites guests to go back to the future with holiday decor and specialty cocktails. From Nov. 28 to Dec. 28, expect throwback seasonal accents and drinks like the Cousin Eddie (a White Russian with cinnamon) to satisfy your inner child. The Deloran is located at 1753 S. Broadway in Denver. For more information, visit .

HiFi Holiday

Head to the Populus Hotel – recently named the world’s best new hotel – for a limited time holiday listening bar. The hotel partnered with Denver’s ESP HiFi, a vinyl-focused spot on Santa Fe Avenue, to bring HiFi Holiday to life. For two weekends (Dec. 12-14 and Dec. 19-21), the hotel’s second floor will be “a glowing, sensory refuge” serving Japanese-inspired cocktails and tunes curated by local DJs. The Populus hotel is located at 240 14th St. in Denver. For more information, visit .

Jingle Bao Rock at Bao Brewhouse

From Nov. 28 to Jan. 4, Chinese restaurant Bao Brewhouse will be decked out from the tea room to the taproom with ‘90s Christmas decor and festive events, such as holiday movie nights, drag brunch (Dec. 14) and an ugly sweater party (Dec. 19). The business is also offering a free cocktail or cookie shot to guests who bring a new, unwrapped toy for its holiday Toys for Tots donation drive. Bao Brewhouse is located at 1317 14th St. in Denver. For more information, visit .

The Jingle Bar at Club Vinyl

If you’re looking for a festive night out, The Jingle Bar at Club Vinyl nightclub aims to satisfy with trees, twinkling lights, tunes and more. Each night the pop-up is open from Dec. 4 to 23, expect holiday games, prizes for the best dressed patrons, and drinks like Mrs. Claus’ Cookie Martini. Admission costs $18. Club Vinyl is located at 1082 Broadway in Denver. For more information and tickets, visit .

Litmas at Linger

Naughty is nice at Litmas, hosted by mortuary-turned-restaurant Linger in the Highlands. Stop by the eatery’s rooftop between Nov. 26 and Dec. 31 to enjoy boozy drinks, cozy igloos, firepits and Christmas mugshot photo station. Linger is located at 2030 W. 30th Ave. in Denver. For more information, visit .

Miracle at Union Station

Miracle, billed as the original holiday pop-up experience, returns to Colorado with three locations. Denverites can stop by the lower-level Gallery Bar at Union Station from Nov. 26 through Dec. 24 to enjoy festive cocktails and seasonal decor. Don’t forget, you can always buy the cute glassware to take home with you. Union Station is located at 1701 Wynkoop St. in Denver. For more information, visit .

Mistletoe Lounge at Cherry Creek Holiday Market

Sipping and shopping can both happen in one stop at the Cherry Creek Holiday Market, which hosts a pop-up called the Mistletoe Lounge now through Dec. 24. Attractions include decor and festive drinks, of course, as well as live music Thursday through Sunday. The Cherry Creek Holiday Market is located Cherry Creek North, 105 Fillmore St. in Denver. For more information, visit .

North PL at Poka Lola Social Club

Starting Nov. 28, Poka Lola Social Club near Union Station will be known at North PL where guests can find more than a dozen specialty holiday cocktails and festive events. Poka Lola Social Club is located at 1850 Wazee St. in Denver. For more information, visit .

OverFlyte at FlyteCo Tower

Head to the top floor of FlyteCo Tower in Central Park from Dec. 2 through Jan. 18 to find holiday lights, decor and drinks. That is, of course, in addition to virtual golf games, axe throwing, darts and more. FlyteCo Tower is located at 3120 N. Uinta St., Suite 300 in Denver. For more information, visit .

Santa’s Little Man Factory at Little Man Ice Cream

Bring the whole family to an all-ages pop-up that����ap sweet as the season, literally. Santa’s Little Man Factory, open Nov. 26 through Jan. 4, features “an exuberant explosion” of lights and holiday magic, complete with caroling, bingo led by Mrs. Claus, an in-store slide, crafting opportunities and more. The shop will also sell specialty ice cream flavors like eggnog and gingersnap. Little Man Ice Cream is located at 4411 W Colfax Ave. in Denver. For more information, visit .

Season's Greetings at Death & Co.

From Dec. 3 to 30, the mezzanine enclave known at Suite 6A at Death & Co. will be known at Season's Greetings. Expect “festive lighting, vintage décor, and a nostalgic cocktail and food menu,” per a statement. That includes Vintage Eggnog and a gingerbread toddy. Death & Co. is located at 1280 25th St. in Denver. For more information, visit .

Ski House at Larimer Lounge

Free music and après-skis ski vibes are the bread and butter of Ski House, a pop-up winter venue built inside the Treehouse space next to Larimer Lounge. The spot featured a heated winter tent plus show every weekend from Dec. 12 through April 11, so you can celebrate the season beyond the new year. Larimer Lounge is located at 2721 Larimer St. in Denver. For more information, visit .

Snowdrift at Adrift

Tropical paradise is always the vibe at Adrift, but a winter storm is rolling through to transform the restaurant into Snowdrift from Nov. 25 to Jan. 3. The pop-up features seasonal tiki drinks, including two new punch bowl cocktails for sharing, as well as limited-time food items, snow-capped palm trees and special events. Adrift is located at 218 S. Broadway in Denver. For more information, visit .

Starlight Lounge at Retrograde

Retrograde, a speakeasy located through a freezer door at Sweet Action ice cream shop in North Capitol Hill, hosts a holiday pop-up called Starlight Lounge. From now until Jan. 31, guests can enjoy cocktails inspired by Christmas cookies and ethereal decor. Stop by Monday through Thursday to take advantage of $1 discounts on all drinks plus a free mini ice cream cone with any order. Retrograde is located at 530 E. 19th Ave. in Denver. For more information, visit .

The Tipsy Tundra at Ball Arena

Denver’s hockey and basketball arena is getting in the spirit this year and transforming the Michelob Ultra Mountain House restaurant on its ground level into a holiday pop-up. Dubbed The Tipsy Tundra, the bar will be open all game nights and during select concerts from Nov. 20 until the New Year. It will open two hours prior to arena doors and you do not need an event ticket to belly up. Ball Arena is located at 1000 Chopper Cir. in Denver.

The Ugly Christmas Sweater Pop Up Shop at Punch Bowl Social

In addition to bowling and bar games, you can shop and sip to celebrate the season at Punch Bowl Social. The venue hosts a pop-up store for the nationally renowned Ugly Christmas Sweater Shop, open through Dec. 28, so guests can dress in style while enjoying Very Merry Karaoke on Friday nights with a festive drink in hand. Punch Bowl Social is located at 65 Broadway St. in Denver. For more information, visit .

XXXMas Pop-Up Bar at Los Chingones

So you expect to be on the naughty list? Head to Los Chingones in RiNo for the XXXMas Pop-Up Bar, billed as a “risqué pop-up on the rooftop” serving bold and raunchy holiday cheer through Dec. 21. That includes festive cocktails, including a Jell-HOHOHO shot. Los Chingones is located at 2463 Larimer St. in Denver. For more information, visit .

Suburbs

Atomic Christmas at Atomic Cowboy

If you’re craving pizza, brunch food and Christmas vibes, good news: Atomic Cowboy locations across Colorado will be reimagined as Atomic Christmas. The restaurant houses both Denver Biscuit Co. and Fat Sully’s pizzeria under one roof (and more in select markets), plus festive decor, a hot chocolate bar, Christmas music and seasonal cocktails from Nov. 28 through Jan. 1. That includes locations in Aurora, Golden, Colorado Springs, and Centennial. For more information, visit .

Blitzen’s at OMNI Interlocken (Broomfield)

Expect “tinsel, twinkle, and a touch of North Pole magic” at Blitzen’s pop-up bar, now open at Shep’s restaurant inside the OMNI Interlocken in Broomfield. The pop, which runs until Jan. 11, features specialty seasonal cocktails and fun bites, like a Santa-approved cookie plate. The OMNI Interlocken hotel is located at 500 Interlocken Blvd. in Broomfield. For more information, visit .

Magic on Main at Little Man Ice Cream (Littleton)

I scream, you scream, we all scream for a holiday pop-up at Little Man Ice Cream in Littleton. From Nov. 21 to Jan. 4, expect cozy decor, crafting opportunities and special events, such as movie nights on Tuesdays and horse-drawn carriage rides on Dec. 10. Little Man Ice Cream is located at 2449 Main St. in Littleton. For more information, visit .

Miracle at The Eddy (Golden)

Miracle, billed as the original holiday pop-up experience, returns to Colorado with three locations. Folks in the foothills can stop by The Eddy Taproom & Hotel from Nov. 25 through Dec. 28 to enjoy festive cocktails and seasonal decor. Don’t forget, you can always buy the cute glassware to take home with you. The Eddy Taproom & Hotel is located at 1640 8th St. in Golden. For more information, visit .

Sippin’ Santa at The Arvada Tavern (Arvada)

Sippin’ Santa is the beachy cousin to Miracle holiday pop-up that trades snow for sand and shakes up tiki cocktails to mentally transport drinkers to warmer weather. From Nov. 28 to Dec. 31, Sippin’ Santa takes over Bernard’s Tiki Room at The Arvada Tavern. Find your island escape through the bar's phone booth and up the stairs. The Arvada Tavern is located at 5707 Olde Wadsworth Blvd. in Arvada. For more information, visit .

Sippin’ Santa at Gaylord Rockies (Aurora)

The Gaylord Rockies is a hub for holiday fun with its annual ICE! wonderland and other life-sized installations. New this year, the venue will host the tiki-themed Sippin’ Santa bar on the Old Hickory Terrance, from Nov. 24 to Jan. 2. Stop by to enjoy festive drinks or “carol-oke” on Dec. 8 and 15. Gaylord Rockies is located at 6700 N. Gaylord Rockies Blvd. in Aurora. For more information, visit .

Ski Jorts City at Lady Justice Brewing Co. (Englewood)

Take a trip to the mountains without leaving the urban core by visiting Ski Jorts City, which channels an après ski lodge vibe, until Dec. 31. In addition to oversized ornaments, fake snow and special events, the brewery will have two specialty beers – Butter Queer American Porter and Beer Hug Winter Warmer – on draft to celebrate the season. Lady Justice Brewing Co. is located at 3242 S. Acoma St. in Englewood. For more information, visit .

Mountains

Frozen Tap at Ice Castles (Cripple Creek and Silverthorne)

Ice Castles, a popular family-friendly winter attraction, is getting an adult upgrade as it returns to Colorado. The installations themselves are pop-ups, given they are built out of ice, but this year, both locations in Cripple Creek and Silverthorne will have igloo bars called Frozen Tap, equipped with boozy beverages, firepits and outdoor games. Tickets go on sale Dec. 2. Ice Castles’ two locations are located at 339 Irene Ave. in Cripple Creek and 125 Stephens Way in Silverthorne. For more information, visit .

Miracle at Lookout Bar (Avon)

Miracle, billed as the original holiday pop-up experience, returns to Colorado with three locations. Skiers in the mountains can stop by Lookout Bar in Avon from Nov. 20 through Dec. 30 to enjoy festive cocktails and seasonal decor. Don’t forget, you can always buy the cute glassware to take home with you. Lookout Bar is located at 42 Riverfront Ln. in Avon. For more information, visit .

WhoVail at Four Seasons Resort and Residences (Vail)

Located on the fourth floor of the Four Seasons in Vail, the Dr. Seuss-inspired storefront called WhoVail offers a chance to be immersed in whimsy. The hotel’s pastry chef builds the facade to resemble a life-sized gingerbread house and inside you can find cookies, green eggnog, and hot chocolate. Four Seasons Resort and Residence is located at 1 Vail Rd. in Vail. For more information, visit .

Opens Friday. The tiny plastic foot-killers known as Legos return to Denver Museum of Nature & Science this week for “Brick Planet.” The temporary exhibit, which opens Friday, Nov. 14, and runs through May 3, 2026, “brings our planet’s unique ecosystems to life through colorful, playful environments where nature is represented by Lego brick sculptures,” organizers wrote of artist Sean Kenney. “From towering polar bears and vibrant coral reefs to bustling cities and sweeping African savannas, guests will feel a renewed sense of wonder for the connection between the science, nature and art.”

Visitors can also build their own creations, sketch in journals and make a magnetized game, organizers added. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily at 2001 Colorado Blvd. in Denver. Included with museum general admission, $21-$30. — John Wenzel

Bottoms up

Friday. What’s better than a beer festival or a beer race? An event that’s both! On Friday, Nov. 21, more than 20 craft breweries will gather at Call to Arms Brewing Co. on Tennyson Street for Kick the Keg, a fundraiser for the Colorado Brewers Guild. Starting promptly at 2 p.m., the taps will open, and brewers need your help to be the first to empty. The winning brewery wins $500; the customer who snags the very last pour wins tickets to a 2026 beer festival hosted by the guild. The drinks start at 2 p.m. Guests can get there early to decorate their cups and make this a keg party that harkens back to your wildest college days. Bottoms up!

Kick the Keg happens Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. at Calls to Arms Brewing Co., 4526 Tennyson St. in Denver. Tickets cost $40 in advance or $50 at the door. Find more information at . — Tiney Ricciardi

“Traqueros” at Colorado Railroad Museum

Through Aug. 1, 2026. Next time you roll through the Colorado Railroad Museum, make tracks for an exhibit that helps celebrate unsung heroes of Western expansion. “Traqueros: Mexican Trackworkers + the American Railroad” sheds light on “the untold history of Mexican and Mexican American laborers who built and maintained the railroads that connected the American West. Through rare photos, documents, and oral histories, the exhibit explores the families, culture, and resilience of these overlooked workers,” the museum wrote.

It’s a fun stop if you’re already there for the 100-plus, narrow- and standard-gauge steam and diesel locomotives, passenger cars, cabooses and freight cars — or the elaborate miniatures and rides around the 15-acre park on real locomotives. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays at 17155 W. 44th Ave. in Golden. Tickets: $5-$10; kids aged 2 and under are free. — John Wenzel

Get your dance on in Boulder

Saturday. The folks behind the Boulder Balkan Bash have been putting on the event since 1996, but it doesn’t happen every year, so its 10th overall return is cause for celebration. The dancing and live music-focused evening features six local musical ensembles and one dance group, and folks who attend are invited to join. Among the more than 50 performers are “many of the top local experts in these styles,” organizers said, with acts including The Bitōvniks, Gora Gora Orkestar, Planina and Gaitani Bulgarian Folklore Dance Group.

Never fear: “Most of the dances are done in a line; many of them are easy enough to learn on the spot and there will be strong dance leaders present,” they added. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22; live folk-dance music starts at 5 p.m. and continues until 11 with a 6-10 p.m. community potluck. (All performers and guests are requested to bring a dish to share.)

Avalon Ballroom, 6185 Arapahoe Road in Boulder. Tickets: $30 in advance; $40 at the door. Students over 12 are $20 in advance, $30 at the door. Kids 6-12 are $15, and ages 6 and under are free. — John Wenzel

Beloved beer maker recently announced it would close at the end of the year. It did so with help from local entertainer Yupi the Clown, who made the announcement while juggling rainbow pins while riding a unicycle in .

Its last day of business is slated for Dec. 23, so fans can stop by this fall to enjoy the brewery’s Oktoberfest pop-up, featuring communal beer tables, wiener dog races and festive decor. The brewery will also still deck the halls for its over-the-top Big Holiday Energy pop-up later this year.

In an interview with The Denver Post, co-owner Chris Bell said a confluence of factors — from increased costs to consumers drinking less to having a tough time rebounding after the COVID-19 pandemic — played into the decision to close. Revenue from both wholesale and retail sales is down, while property taxes, insurance and maintenance expenses continue to rise, said Bell, who frequently uses funny or off-kilter videos in his social media messaging.

Ultimately, the business’ lease at 4526 Tennyson St. is up at the end of the year and financially speaking, it didn’t make sense to continue.

“All told, we’re paying a small fortune for this rent,” Bell said, “and you can’t survive on selling $7-$8 pints.”

Opened in 2015, Call to Arms Brewing Co. is the brainchild of Bell and Jon Cross, who met while working together at Avery Brewing Co. Their goal was to pay homage to beer’s long heritage while also adding modern twists in recipes and taproom design.

As much as local drinkers love the beer, Call to Arms Brewing Co. has become a must-hit destination because of its events, such as Big Holiday Energy, which helped save the business following COVID-19 shutdowns. Bell said that����ap the one aspect of the business that has steadily grown each year.

“That����ap the biggest month of our year, and everyone absolutely loves it. It’s a shame we can’t keep it going,” he said. “Definitely throughout this process, I’ve thought about other ways to keep it going.”

Excitement for that pop-up is part of the reason Bell decided to unveil that Call to Arms would close with a couple of months ‘ runway. It����ap an unusual move, but it also gives longtime supporters a chance to make plans to come, since many have moved away from the Berkeley neighborhood in the decade since it opened, he said.

“I don’t think we really go by the book on most of the things we’ve done in the last 10 years. It����ap on brand for us to let people know and be transparent about where the business is at and hopefully that will allow more people to come out and support us. I know we could use it,” Bell said.

When he reflects on Call to Arms’ time in Denver, Bell thinks about all the relationships that he built along the way, not the least of which is with his wife. The two met while he was in the process of opening the brewery, and they now have one child with another on the way.

Bell isn’t sure what the future holds, but he expects to take time next year to focus on his family, including the new baby who is due to arrive in the next month. And in the meantime, he hopes to raise a pint with all the friendly faces he’s seen come through Call to Arms over the years.

“It’s hugely important to thank everybody who supported us,” Bell said. “No matter how much hard work it’s been or stress, the real credit goes to everybody who’s come out and bought pints over all the years.”

In the U.S., Oktoberfest organizers have taken the liberty of adding new traditions you won’t find in Munich to this historic event. Perhaps the cutest of them all is wiener dog racing.

Known for their hotdog-like physique, dachshunds are a German breed that have been adopted into many Oktoberfest celebrations. While others, such as greyhounds, engage in highly competitive sport, wiener dog racing is meant to be a jovial activity strictly for entertainment. That����ap why many owners dress their pups up before they strut up to the starting line.

The energy is never more electric than when the green race flag waves and the dachshunds take off, said Kat Lewis, spokesperson for , which is organizing a race at Highlands Oktoberfest in Denver.

“Who doesn’t love screaming ‘Go, wiener, go!’ while floppy ears and tiny legs dash across the turf?” Lewis said. “The pure joy these races bring to spectators – and honestly, to us too – is unmatched. There’s just something truly magical about the mix of laughter, cheering, and happy chaos.”

Here are five events where you can get your cuteness fix by watching dachshunds race or enter your dog into the competition this fall.

Highlands Oktoberfest (Denver) on Sept. 13 – The event’s Dachshund Dash competition runs 3 to 4 p.m. Guests also enjoy an Oktoberfest-themed costume contest, stein-hoisting competition, keg bowling, live music and a gift market featuring more than 75 local vendors. The event, which takes over the streets in Denver’s West Highland neighborhood, will be set up along 32nd between Julian and Perry streets and is free to attend. For more information and to register your dog, visit .

Denver Oktoberfest on Sept. 21 and Sept. 28 – The Long Dog Derby, which debuted in 2008, takes place twice during the festival’s two, consecutive weekend runs. Races start at 12:30 p.m. each day. Attendees can also join a talent show, keg bowling, and stein-hoisting competition. The costume contest is also open to owners and pets beyond German breeds. As an added bonus, the official Denver Oktoberfest stein design this year features a dachshund wearing lederhosen. The event is held outdoors in Denver’s Ballpark neighborhood (near 2060 Larimer St.) from Sept. 19 to 21 and Sept. 26 to 28. It����ap free to attend with an option to purchase VIP experiences and upgrades starting at $105. Dachshund registration costs $25. Find more information at .

BARKtember Fest (Lakewood) on Sept. 27 – Wiener dog races start at 2:30 p.m., but there’s plenty of other fun to be had that this dog-friendly festival. That includes vendors selling treats and gear, crafts to do with your fur baby, and live music. The event takes place at Belmar shopping center at 7337 West Alaska Dr. in Lakewood and is free to attend. It costs $7.18 to enter your dog into the race and proceeds benefit the Foothills Animal Shelter. Find more information and registration at .

Colorado Springs Oktoberfest on Sept. 27 and Sept. 28 – The festival’s Dachshund Dash takes off at 2 p.m. each day. Guests also enjoy beer, wine and schnapps tastings, a baking competition and more. Entering your pup in the race costs $15; otherwise, entry is free to the Western Museum of Mining and Industry (225 Northgate Blvd., Colorado Springs) where the event is held. For more information and to register, visit .

Call to Arms Brewing Co. Oktoberfest (Denver) on Oct. 4 – Wiener dog races run 3 to 6 p.m. The brewery celebrates Oktoberfest from Sept. 19 to Oct. 10 by transforming into a traditional beer hall and hosting special events. The weenie races will host heats of five dogs throughout the afternoon. In addition to the winners, the brewery will offer consolation prizes to participants with the best costume, the slowest race time and the best howl. For more information and to register your dog, visit .

Bonus: Dog-themed Oktoberfest events

While you won’t find wiener dog racing at these two events, it����ap all paws on deck for a good time.

Dogtoberfest on Sept. 13 at River North Brewery (6021 Washington St., Denver) features local vendors selling pet-approved gear and treats, a costume contest for pets and owners, and a stein-hoisting competition. Free to attend. More information at .

Longmont Oktoberfest on Sept. 20 at Thompson Park (420 Bross St., Longmont) is a fundraiser for the Longmont Humane Society, complete with adult beverages, a pet-centric vendor village, a Hot Dog Lounge with water and treats for the four-legged friends, and games for humans and animals alike. All that plus a headlining set from Keller Williams’ Grateful Dead tribute group, Grateful Grass. Tickets cost $32.80-$107. More information at .

Saturday.���۱��, Mardi Gras is Tuesday, but if you want to truly laissez les bons temps rouler, you might as well start on Saturday, March 1, at Call to Arms Brewing in Denver, which throws its annual Mardi Gras celebration, crawfish boil (1 p.m.) and Tiny Float Parade (4 p.m.), with the GUFA Brass Band.

To catch the parade, though, you need to get there on time because, as the brewery says, it will probably “last 20 whole minutes.” After all, the floats – made by customers, staffers, and others – are all less than 3 feet by 6 feet and are typically connected to a sled or wagon. Call to Arms is located at 4526 Tennyson St. It will have a full lineup of beers on tap.

Sunday. If one mini-Mardi Gras parade isn’t enough for you, then swing by the Dairy Block in Lower Downtown from noon to 2 p.m. for the annual Petite Parade on Sunday, March 2. Attendees can “build a creative, tiny (but mighty!) float starting with a shoebox base,” planners explained. “It must be able to be pulled on wheels. Bonus points for coordinating team costumes and for creating miniature parade ‘throws,’ with no glitter bombs please.”

The free parade takes place in the Alley at 1800 Wazee, and The Maven’s Windsor Room. There will be live music, entertainment and prizes. Get more info or sign up at . — Jonathan Shikes

Pour us a pint

Wednesday. At least 215 Colorado breweries will participate in the 10th annual Colorado Pint Day on Wednesday, March 5. They will all be selling this year’s Colorado Pint Day glass and donating $1 from each to the Colorado Brewers Guild, a nonprofit trade group whose mission is “to promote, protect and propel independent craft breweries” with “advocacy, community, education and public awareness.”

This year’s theme, Beer is for Everyone, was designed by local creative Leanne Bridie, who won the guild’s design contest. It features drawings of animals drinking beer. One note of warning from the guild: “Breweries are known to sell out of Colorado Pint Day glasses so make sure to check out our map and plan accordingly. We’ll also be sharing on social media which locations still have glassware.” Find the map and more information at . — Jonathan Shikes

Bourbon Street-inspired burlesque

Fat Tuesday. Celebrate Mardi Gras with New Orleans-inspired music accompanied by shimmies, shakes and seduction at the Bare Brass, a holiday-themed burlesque show coming to Meow Wolf Denver on Fat Tuesday. The show, put on by MissFits Entertainment, features a live band backing the dancers, and guests don’t even need to bring beads to get the goods. (Just don’t forget to bring dollar bills.)

Bare Brass takes place in the immersive art venue’s cocktail lounge, Sips (with a Z), so if you want to visit the art exhibit, you can purchase entry for an extra fee.

Bare Brass comes to 1338 First St., Denver, at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4. Tickets for the 18-and-up event cost $46.75 for the burlesque show, via . Guests can add access to the larger venue for $25. — Tiney Ricciardi

Vintage gaming con moves to Foothills

Saturday-Sunday. For the first time, Foothills Mall in Fort Collins is hosting the vintage gaming convention Vincon, after inheriting it from Larimer County’s Ranch complex. The video game and tabletop-gaming event pulls gamers from across the region — with an expected 5,000 attendees this year — and features on-site gaming, merch and collectors of all-things nerd, as organizers put it.

Entry to the all-ages, family-friendly event also includes 7,000 square feet of free-to-play consoles, computers and arcade games; tournaments; swap meets; cosplay; live music and more. It takes place 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, and Sunday, March 2, at 215 E. Foothills Parkway in Fort Collins.

Tickets are $20 per day or $25 for the weekend, with plenty of upgrades and add-ons available. Visit or for more. — John Wenzel

While we highly recommend checking out the local libations wherever your journey takes you, these 10 beer and spirits producers are destinations in their own right, with drinks and atmospheres that turn a simple pitstop into a memorable experience.

The Block Distilling

Sure, The Block Distilling makes vodka and whiskey, but what you really want to try are its brandies, aperitifs and liqueurs, which you won’t find house-made at many other distilleries. Luckily, The Block’s tasting room in the River North Art District is also one of Denver’s most interesting cocktail bars, where the craftsmanship in both spirits and mixology is on display. The atmosphere is sophisticated and inviting, so you’ll probably want to try a few.

2990 Larimer St., Denver. 303-484-9033. .

Call to Arms Brewing

While Call to Arms Brewing’s taproom is inviting on a regular day, it����ap even more fun to visit when there’s a themed pop-up. For example, the brewery decks the halls with an overwhelming amount of garland and lights around Christmas — that pop-up, called Big Holiday Energy, kicks off this year on Nov. 27 — and explodes with rainbows of color during Pride Month in June. In the fall, the brewery brought a piece of Munich to Denver with an Oktoberfest pop-up featuring draping hop bines, German-inspired ribbon and wood decor, and a festival tent with communal tables perfect for hoisting a stein.

4526 Tennyson St., Denver. 720-328-8258. .

Cohesion Brewing

When Cohesion Brewing opened in 2021, it filled a heady niche Denver drinkers had been craving. The brewery specializes in Czech-style lagers poured from Lukr faucets to achieve the European country’s signature foamy head. Each beer comes one of three ways: hladinka, a traditional pour with a thick head; š�Բ��, which features more than half foam-to-beer ratio; or ����í���, which is mostly foam with a sliver of beer.

3851 Steele St., Unit 1388, Denver. 303-997-7016. .

The Colorado Farm Brewery

What makes a truly local beer? Just ask the folks at The Colorado Farm Brewery in Alamosa, where a selection of so-called “estate” beers feature ingredients from the family-owned farm there. That includes the barley, grown and malted by sister company Colorado Malting Co.; hops also cultivated onsite; water drawn from a private well; and a strain of yeast procured naturally from the environment. The most popular beer is, fittingly, a farmhouse ale called Batch #1.

2070 County Road 12 South, Alamosa. 719-580-0051. .

Marble Distilling

Sustainability is the foundation of this operation in Carbondale, which saves an estimated 5 million gallons of water each year during distillation thanks to a unique water reclamation system it designed ahead of opening in 2015. The system also heats and cools Marble Distilling’s venue, including its restaurant, bar and attached boutique hotel with five dog-friendly rooms. Does sustainability taste better? Decide after trying the Moonlight Expresso liqueur, billed as an espresso martini in a bottle.

150 Main St., Carbondale. 970-963-7008. .

Colorado whiskey named ‘America’s greatest’ at international spirits competition

Old Elk Distillery

In the last year, two different whiskey magazines have praised Fort Collins’ Old Elk Distillery both for its products and its people. First, experts at Whisky Advocate deemed its port cask-finished bourbon one of the “most exciting whiskies” of 2023. Then Greg Metze earned the title Master Distiller of the Year at the Whisky Magazine Awards. See what the fuss is about at The Reserve by Old Elk Distillery, its tasting room serving elevated tavern fare and cocktails.

253 Linden St., Fort Collins. 970-682-3330. .

Outer Range Brewing

Colorado’s beer scene is overflowing with IPAs, but few makers do them better and more consistently than Outer Range Brewing Those who visit the taproom, conveniently located off I-70 in Frisco, may find a dozen-plus IPAs on the menu at any given time; we recommend going for something hazy, the brewery’s specialty. Pair your drink with a bite from the Bird Craft restaurant on-site and enjoy the scenery from Outer Range’s roof deck.

182 Lusher Ct., Frisco. 970-455-8709. .

Talnua Distillery

Arvada’s only distillery specializes in making pot still whiskey and claims to be the first to do so stateside. Commonly affiliated with Irish tradition, what makes this style of spirit unique is the method of using a copper pot still and the mash bill, which is half malted barley and unmalted. The unmalted barley plays prominently in the flavor profile of Talnua Distillery's various whiskeys, as well as its house-made gins. Try them on their own or in a cocktail at the onsite lounge.

5405 W. 56th Ave., Unit C, Arvada. 303-431-4949. .

Westbound & Down Brewing

Founded in Idaho Springs in 2015, Westbound & Down Brewing has become a local powerhouse with award-winning beers now served at five locations, each with its own personality. The brewery’s original home offers rustic, mining-town charm, while its spiffy production facility in Lafayette boasts a modern aesthetic. Its Denver taproom puts drinkers at the center of the action near Union Station, and its newest locations in Basalt and Aspen seek to feed thirsty outdoors people after their adventures in the mountains. The Aspen location, called Westy’s Tap & Tavern, is billed as a 1980s-inspired pop-up that shares the taps with its former owner, Aspen Brewing Co.

1617 Miner St., Idaho Springs; 2755 Dagny Way, #101, Lafayette; 1801 Blake St., Denver; 371 Market St., Basalt; and 121 Galena St., Aspen. .

Woody Creek Distillers

William H. Macy isn’t just the official “spokesdude” for Woody Creek Distillers near Aspen. He’s also a regular in the tasting room. Visitors will often find the “Shameless” actor bellied up for a tipple of his signature reserve whiskey, released last December, or entertaining guests on the ukulele. Macy even helps grow potatoes locally for Woody Creek’s vodka and gin, which are well worth a try.

60 Sunset Dr., Basalt. 970-279-5110. .

Check out our list of what’s new in Colorado (like a wave park, hotels and more) here, or take a look below to see 10 “cool” new ways to beat the heat in the Denver area and across the state.

Pedal a swan boat at Washington Park

Washington Park has always been a good bird-watching spot, but it’s even better with the addition of 18 swan-shaped pedal boats that people can rent. Even cooler, the majority have canopies that are illuminated at night, giving a trip around the lake a magical glow. City Park has offered swan boats and sunset rides for a few years now, but this is the first year for Wash Park, said Eric Heiserman, the operations manager for Wheel Fun Rentals in Colorado. Ride during the day or rent an illuminated swan starting 30 minutes before sunset. Then, catch the sunset, watch the stars come out and be back to the dock within an hour of sunset. Get there early if you go on a weekend because there will be a waiting list by 5 p.m. or so, Heiserman adds.

Create your own ice cream

If you haven’t had Thai-style ice cream before, you’re in for a sweet treat. To make each order, vendors combine milk, cream and sugar on a cold plate and then chop it, recombine it and roll it up before serving it in a cup with a variety of toppings. The latest Thai-style ice cream shop in Denver, Stir-Pan Creamery, opened late last year at 1221 S. Pearl St. after running its first store in Breckenridge since 2016. Its flavors change daily, but look for regular delicacies like French toast or banana pudding — or have your own flavor created right in front of you.

Related: 8 ice cream shops in and around Denver worth screaming about this summer

Take a cold plunge in Glenwood Springs

Cold plunging has risen in popularity over the past few years as people have touted the purported health benefits of freezing your butt off. Spas and hot springs, which are typically more about hot water than cold, have jumped on board, including Glenwood Hot Springs Resort, which has just opened five new pools, including the aptly named Inhale Pool, where the waters are a sharp-breath-inducing 52 to 60 degrees. Best done on a very hot day.

Ride a shuttle to the top of Pikes Peak

One of the funniest things to watch in the summer is a flatlander at the top of Pikes Peak wearing just shorts and flip-flops. Because while it might be in the 90s down at the bottom of the purple mountain majesty, temperatures at the top are 35-45 degrees all summer long. On the other hand, it’s a great place to cool off, which gets easier this year with an expanded bus service from Mile 7 of the Pikes Peak Highway to the 14,115-foot tippy top for people who don’t feel like risking vertigo and death by driving themselves (previous shuttle service began at Mile 16). The shuttles will run on the half hour from Friday, May 24, through Sunday, Aug. 11. ; tickets cost $23 for adults and $7 for children (which includes a pass).

Skip the line at Rocky Mountain National Park

Does waiting in a mile-long line of cars at Rocky Mountain National Park get you hot under the collar? Cool off with one of the park’s revamped transponder devices, which allow users to skip the line before 9 a.m. and after 2 p.m. between May 24 and Oct. 15. Although the transponder isn’t a fix-all — as the lane is used for regular traffic during peak hours — it’s good for early risers and latecomers. Right now, it can only be used at the Beaver Meadows Entrance, but transponder lanes may be added to the park’s other two entrances as well. , and by people who already own RMNP annual passes or one of several other National Parks passes.

Relax on a new patio

Patios are hot. Which makes them cool. Denver and its suburbs have their fair share, especially since “patio season” here can run from April to November. This summer, you can’t go wrong with a daytime hang on one of these stellar rooftop patios. Or, you could try something brand new, like the outdoor spots at the recently opened Desert Social, Corsica Wine Bar, Gusto/Cholon at Sloan’s Lake, Alma Fonda Fina, Wonderyard Garden + Table, or Kawa Ni.

Hope up in an aspen tree hotel

There’s nothing cooler than Colorado aspens, the iconic black and white trees that quake in the summer and turn gold in the fall. Which is why the 265-room Populus Denver hotel, which opens sometime between now and September (it’s already for that month), at 240 14th St., is going to be such a stylish and savvy addition to Denver, and a rare project that stands out for the right reasons. The architecture makes the building look like a tree, and the windows from many of the hotel rooms are shaped like the markings on an Aspen. All of that, and the hotel’s owners plan to use materials and practices that offset its carbon emissions.

Rock on at the Sunset Amphitheater

Music venues outside of the Denver area have been building names for themselves in recent years — the Dillon Amphitheater in Summit County, in particular. The newest draw for music lovers will be Sunset Amphitheater, which is slated to host its first show on Aug. 9 when One Republic begins a three-day stint at the 8,000-capacity arena in Colorado Springs. When it is completed, Sunset will include 90 privately owned VIP luxury fire-pit suites, a rooftop bar with views of Pikes Peak and the Air Force Academy, and a fine-dining restaurant

Drink a brewery-made hard tea

With more people looking for gluten-free, lower-calorie or even non-alcoholic beverages from their bars and restaurants these days, Colorado’s breweries are trying to fill the bill. Many of them now offer hard seltzer, kombucha, cider or non-alcoholic hop water or cocktails. Hard tea is the latest drink on their radar, and you now can find it at larger breweries like New Belgium, Oskar Blues and WeldWerks, as well as a few small ones. The newest brewery to can a hard tea is Denver’s Call to Arms Brewing, which debuted Denver Tea Party in May. The 5% ABV beverage is brewed with organic black tea, Meyer lemon and turbinado sugar. And you can serve it over ice.

Hang with a ‘roo at the Denver Zoo

The Denver Zoo’s newest — and one of its largest — habitats opened in late May, featuring tree kangaroos, red kangaroos, wallabies and dinosaur-like cassowaries, which are enormous birds. But the coolest thing about Down Under is that visitors can walk right through the grassy area where the red kangaroos and wallabies hang out. There are no fences or glass walls or moats. You can’t touch the animals of, course, but the experience is still very cool.

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These aren’t your run-of-the-mill recipes that can be easily found in a liquor store. The whole premise of Collab fest, as the name suggests, is to pair up breweries to make something unique. The lineup of mostly Colorado operations always rises to the occasion, turning out wild and wacky flavors alongside underrated styles.

This year, brewers appeared to lean into the culinary traditions of beer, producing more than a dozen food-inspired and food-infused recipes. Heck, you could practically drink a whole meal in beers. Now there’s an idea!

Here are 13 beers to help you “eat” your way through Collaboration Fest. Tickets, which cost $40-$85, are now on sale at .

Appetizers

Kumquat

Prepare your palate for the impending culinary adventure with a cleanser of sorts. Woods Boss Brewing Co. (Denver) and Angry James Brewery (Silverthorne) teamed up to make a kumquat pale ale that promises a citrusy punch.

Samosa

To make a beer inspired by this classic Indian favorite, brewers at Mountain Toad Brewing (Golden) and Coal Mine Ave Brewing Co. (Littleton) followed a samosa recipe from a friend in India. They started with roasted potatoes as the mash base, then added ajwan, cumin, ginger, chiles and other spices to make a savory California Common-esque spiced beer.

Entree

Thai soup

The idea to make a Thai-inspired sour Kölsch came from a perceived typo. Someone from New Terrain Brewing Co. (Golden) saw one of Denver Beer Co.’s Princess Yum Yum tap handles and mistook it for saying “tom yum.” That was enough inspiration for the breweries to collaborate on a soup-flavored beer using lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, ginger juice and dried chiles.

Sides

Beets and mushrooms

Don’t forget to drink your veggies! Two22 Brew (Aurora) and Fiction Beer Co. (Denver) made that task easy with a Belgian blonde ale infused with roasted beets and local pink oyster mushrooms. Brewers expect it to be earthy, floral, mildly peppery and, of course, pink in color.

Not much of a mushroom person? Try the beet-infused saison from Phantom Canyon Brewing Co. (Colorado Springs) and Evergreen Brewery. It����ap also a pink drink.

Potatoes

Potatoes aren’t commonly used in American brewing, but El Rancho Colorado (Evergreen) and Steep Brewing and Coffee (Keystone) are embracing the German style Kartoffelbier, which features them prominently. Kartoffel means “potato” in German, and this beer will be a lager.

Reverence Brewing Co. and Sleeping Giant Brewing Co., both in Denver, also celebrate the Irish variety of potato by using it in an India pale ale.

Desserts

Mochi

In the era of pastry stouts, dessert beers are hardly a novelty. But brewers are leveling up the creativity for Collaboration Fest. Denver outfits Call to Arms Brewing Co. and Joyride Brewing Co., for example, created a mango mochi lager using Jasmine rice, sake yeast and a healthy helping of tropical fruit.

Churros and tiramisu

Craving something more decadent? Try the tiramisu-churro stout from Downhill Brewing (Greenwood Village) and Los Dos Potrillos Cervecería (Parker), which includes a kick from the addition of bourbon barrel-aged coffee.

Ice cream

Two22 Brew (Aurora) and Vail Brewing Co. didn’t just make an ice cream-inspired beer. For their Belgian golden strong ale, the breweries added Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia alongside fruit-forward hop varieties to offer drinkers notes of cherry and fudge in every sip.

Cotton candy

Lastly, LUKI Brewery (Arvada) and Downhill Brewing (Greenwood Village) attempted to delight the inner child with a raspberry-cotton candy Kölsch.

Drinks

Cocktails

Drink-flavored drinks? How about that? Pair your bubbly “meal” with a beer designed to resemble the Coquito cocktail, made by 6 and 40 Brewery (Lakewood) and Mountain Toad Brewing (Golden). The Puerto Rican libation features rum and spiced coconut. This spiced witbier, too, includes cinnamon, coconut and a hint of liquor from being aged on rum barrel oak staves.

Jagged Mountain Craft Brewery (Denver) and Public Offering Brewing Co. (Denver) didn’t share much about the Paper Plane CocktALE they’re making, but its namesake drink is beloved among whiskey fans. The Paper Plane cocktail is a riff on the classic Last Word and typically features bourbon, amaro, Aperol and lemon juice.

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“At first I didn’t want to make it, but understanding Dry January is a thing — and we needed to make something NA [ non-alcoholic] as well as be all-inclusive — I figured if we were going to do it we wanted to do it right,” said Anthony Martuscello, the owner of Lakewood’s WestFax Brewing. “We did trials to figure out how to make it drinkable and not harsh.”

This was the first year Martuscello produced hop water at the brewery. To create the light and effervescent drink, he wanted something bubbly and refreshing, without too much hop flavor, like a double-strength hoppy LaCroix Sparkling Water, he said. The end product is a highly carbonated, clear beverage with notes of lemon, lime and a touch of mango.

But because the hop water at WestFax, 6733 W. Colfax Ave., isn’t pasteurized, it’s not served in a can to go. Instead, imbibers are encouraged to sidle up to the bar for a pint and enjoy the vibe of the busy bar without the usual buzz. “I think the overall reception has been positive,” Martuscello said. “It’s not selling outstandingly fast, but the folks that want to come in and hang out and not have an alcoholic beverage, they can come in and try it.”

Across Colorado, other breweries have rolled out their own non-alcoholic hop waters this year as well, some in cans and some just on draft, helping to create a new beverage category.

Denver Beer Co., for instance, debuted its Easy Living Hop Water in cans in October, 10 months after it first introduced the sparkling beverage — with zero sugar or carbs — on tap. “We know there are many reasons and occasions for an NA beverage and we wanted to provide our consumers with an option in those moments,” said Denver Beer Co. co-founder Patrick Crawford at the time.

Meanwhile, Lone Tree Brewing serves Ufloric Sparking Hop & Hemp Infused Water on draft in cans; Pikes Peak Brewing in Monument pours a version called Trail Water; and Cerebral Brewing in Denver makes Just the Hops, which features the same hops — Citra, Mosaic and El Dorado — as its flagship IPA, Rare Trait. Just the Hops is on tap and in cans to go.

At 4 Noses Brewing, the company said in January that as the beer industry “shifts and changes, and as we are also reaching for NA alternatives, we decided to work on making something that we can grab whenever and wherever that still has the essence of great beer.” The result of that was Water Proof, a sparking hop water that is also available at Odd13 Brewing.

Over at Call To Arms Brewing, 4526 Tennyson St., owner Chris Bell has created a hop water called Essence of Wetness, named after a scene in the movie “Zoolander.” Now in its second year, it’s one of the most popular beverages the brewery makes — and often sells out.

“I am surprised it’s sold as well as it has, I didn’t know what the market was for it and it moves great,” said Bell. “It’s affordable, reminds you of beer, it’s good for you, gives you those things hops generally provide, plus it’s sugar and carb-free.”

While Bell makes Essence of Wetness all year round, he said it’s not the priority. If Call to Arms needs beer, that will come first. Still, he personally enjoys having it available for those beer-light days and when doing a meeting at 10 a.m. with his team. It isn’t just for the non-drinkers, he added, it’s a great substitution when craving a beer, but not wanting a buzz.

“It’s a placebo, like you are really stressed and there’s an inclination to say you need a beer or you need to take a breath, but while a beer takes the edge off, it’s still alcohol and can bog you down,” said Bell. “Hop water, it tricks your brain into thinking you’re drinking a beer.”

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