SweetWater Brewing Co. is planning to open a new, full-service brewery, production facility, taproom and restaurant in Colorado.
The opening of this new brewery marks a major milestone in expanding the availability of SweetWater’s brews and 420 spirit throughout Colorado and will propel the 11th largest craft brewery in America into the Western U.S.
The craft brewery also has opened the SweetWater Mountain Taphouse in Concourse B at the Denver International Airport, in partnership with Concessions International. This is SweetWater’s second airport bar location in the U.S., outside of the SweetWater Last Call Bar and Grill located in its hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, also a partnership with CI.
“This exciting expansion with the opening of this state-of-the-art brewery in Colorado and SweetWater Mountain Taphouse at the Denver International Airport truly brings things full circle. This is where our team’s brewing careers began nearly 30 years ago when we began washing kegs back in 1992 at Boulder Brewing Co. while attending University of Colorado,” said Freddy Bensch, founder and CEO of SweetWater.
“The general vibe throughout Colorado aligns perfectly with who we are as a brand and SweetWater’s passion for the great outdoors, embracing a 420 lifestyle and our motto – Don’t Float the Mainstream! We have a lot of respect for the beers and brewers from Colorado and look forward to raising a glass in this great state. There’s not a more perfect location to expand our brand and help grow the reach of our heady, high-quality brews with beer drinkers throughout the West Coast.”
The latest SweetWater Colorado brewery will produce cans and kegs of all the core, award-winning brews within the brand’s line of beers, including its flagship 420 Extra Pale Ale and H.A.Z.Y. IPA, as well as specialty beers brewed specifically for West Coast markets.
The Georgia-based craft brewery will soon begin producing and pouring its beers for West Coast drinkers within the expansive 32,450 square foot space, which previously housed Red Truck Brewing Co. and Fort Collins Brewing, located at 1020 E Lincoln Ave. in Fort Collins, Colorado. Each employee currently working at the facility will be offered roles at SweetWater’s brewery, and additional jobs will also be created.
In addition, SweetWater will honor all existing contracts with brewers who are currently using the facility to brew up their own specialty beers. Laird Mulderink, general manager of operations, will continue to run the facility under SweetWater.
Joining Laird from the SweetWater team in Atlanta to assist in the transition, expansion and re-opening will be Brewmaster Mark Medlin, VP of Hospitality Steve Farace, CMO Brian Miesieski and Bensch.
The Western U.S. brewery will undergo an extensive renovation that will include operational enhancements to the brewing and packaging areas, an overall facelift for the taproom and restaurant as well as upgrades to the decor.
The SweetWater Mountain Taphouse at the Denver International Airport will offer a selection of brews, a full bar as well as a menu of classic pub grub such as burgers, wings and salads.
The opening of the new facility and airport bar support SweetWater’s continued investment and emphasis on growing its brand in the Centennial State. Earlier this year, SweetWater announced the launch of its brews in Colorado, which brought the craft brewery into its furthest western market to date. With the expansion into Colorado, SweetWater’s lineup of year-round, seasonal and specialty beers are now available in 34 states, plus Washington, D.C.
In 2020, SweetWater was acquired by Aphria Inc., now Tilray Inc., a global cannabis company. SweetWater Brewing Co. celebrated 24 years of brews in 2021.
SweetWater is passionate about protecting natural resources and habitats and is recognized for its contributions to environmental initiatives throughout its distribution footprint. Supporting the conservation of some of the nation’s most threatened rivers, streams and coastlines is a cause near and dear to the brewery, as clean water is also vital to the creation of its brews.
