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From gluten-free to nonalcoholic, Colorado is positioned to be at forefront of beer’s next transformation

Joe Rubino The Denver Post
Rowland Kuntz of Heating & Plumbing Engineers, Inc. is installing the valve controllers at the construction site of the new facility of Holidaily Brewing Company in Golden, CO. April 16, 2019. The facility will be the largest dedicated gluten-free production brewery in the U.S. and the 10,000 square foot facility will triple the company’s brewing capacity.
Hyoung Chang / The Denver Post

Colorado was a beer state since before it was a state. Adolph Coors and partner Jacob Schueler opened what was then the Golden Brewery in 1873, three years before Colorado achieved statehood. A century later, Colorado was at the forefront of the craft brewing movement when Boulder Beer launched in 1979 and laid claim to the title of first licensed “microbrewery” in the country.

In an industry that’s seen its growth go flat in recent years, beer makers are on the lookout for, and, in many cases, already working on the next wrinkles to throw into their tanks that have potential to scoop up new drinkers or boost interest from existing ones.

No surprise, Colorado is expected to be at the forefront of next wave of beer and beer alternatives, industry advocates say.



“Colorado has been known as the hotbed of innovation in beer for several decades,” Andres Gil Zaldana, executive director of the Colorado Brewers Guild, said. “Consumer preference in the recent decade or so has shifted to more of a health and wellness perspective and that really fits with Colorado in general. We all like to run, hike and bike.”

To read the full story on The Denver Post website, click here.


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