When Great Divide Brewing Co. was founded in 1994, there were 537 craft breweries in the nation, according to the Brewers Association. Today, there are nearly 5000 nationally and around 350 in Colorado alone. With the explosion of craft brewing in recent years, there have been a lot of changes in the industry, with many start ups failing and many others growing so successful they have become bait for multinational buyouts.
Some, however, like Great Divide, have grown and continue to be successful, while staying independent. Last year, they opened a new production facility just a mile north in Denver’s burgeoning RiNo neighborhood that will enable the brewery to eventually increase production from the current 37,00 barrels to potentially 400,000 barrels.
During the recent Great American Beer Festival (GABF), I joined a tour for the media of the new facility. Of course, we began with a tasting of a few current releases:
- Yeti Nitro – I loved the roasted, rich malted and toffee of this Imperial Stout, a multiple GABF award winner
- Barrel Aged Hibernation – an English Style Old Ale aged in whiskey barrels, this powerful brew was loaded with creamy, orange, caramel, coffee and molasses
- Twenty-Second Anniversary Dark American Sour Ale – actually a blend of Hoss Oktoberfest Lager and Collette Farmhouse Ale aged in wine barrels, it is quite fruity and tangy, with lime, orange, and cherry notes while drinking firm, and intense
- Denver Pale Ale – recently reformulated from more of a classic English style to more of a bold American style; now in cans, the package will feature a new artist each year
The new facility is impressive indeed and there are plans for a second phase of expansion on the property. Throughout its 22 years, Great Divide has been a Denver favorite and they seem to be making all the right moves. I’m rooting for their continued success.