Chris Proctor was looking to bring something different to Summit County when he introduced the Thirsty Pika Taproom to Silverthorne in March 2024. He wanted a unique business model that involved a namesake that would ring a bell for locals.

The watering hole received its name from one of Proctor’s favorite animals, the pika, after he discovered one while on a hike with his best friend and business partner, Ben Staley.

A pika is considered to be one of North America’s toughest animals by wildlife biologists. The tiny mammal is one of North America’s only mammals that is able to live their entire lives in high-Alpine terrain without hibernating. Something the pair loves about the animal is that its key to survival is finding power in numbers. These mammals stick with their family units and fiercely protect each other.

His spot has a self-serve tap wall with around 20 beverages on draft that rotate where patrons can load money onto a card and help themselves, a model that hadn’t previously existed in Summit. All this helped the establishment win Best New Business in the 2024 Best of Summit contest.

He said the support from the community has been reassuring for a first-time business owner.

“We’ve had nothing but positive feedback. Since we opened, people come in and say they love the concept,” he said.

The taproom charges by the ounce for their drinks on draft, and prices range from $0.25 to $1.66 per ounce. It also has cocktails and ciders rotating on draft in addition to having gluten- and alcohol-free options. 

On Fridays and Saturdays it is open from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursdays, it is open noon to 8 p.m. Proctor said the hours could change seasonally. 

The Thirsty Pika Taproom is in the Silverthorne Outlets at 167 Wildernest Road East. For more information, visit ThirstyPika.com.

This story previously published in the Best of Summit guide. See complete results at SummitDaily.com/best.