There’s never a dull moment in Colorado’s tumultuous craft beer landscape, and if the first two months of 2025 are any indication, then beer fans better buckle up. In the last two weeks alone, we’ve seen an absolute onslaught of industry news, including announcements for highly-anticipated brewery openings, a few notable closures, a closure that didn’t exactly take, notable brewer moves, a merger, and so much more.

To help you keep track of all of the comings and goings, we thought we’d break down some of the biggest moves within the Colorado craft beer landscape in the last two months.

Highly Anticipated Brewery Openings

Full Frame Beer |  1139 20th St, Denver, CO – Opening Friday, February 28

It was only announced just three months ago that Full Frame Beer would be taking over the former Jagged Mountain Brewery space, but the accomplished brewer/co-founder duo of Alyssa Hoberer, formerly of Jagged Mountain and Jacob Kemple, formerly of Our Mutual Friend Brewing are already primed to open their doors to the public, this Friday, February 28. Debuting with two house-made beers, as well as a slew of collaborations brewed with industry friends, Full Frame is already one of the most anticipated brewery openings of the year. Hoberer and Kemple hope to breathe new life into the Ballpark neighborhood-based space by eventually adding a coffee concept, as well as transitioning into a full brewpub license to serve food and a full menu of alcohol options. However, until then, they’re taking some innovative approaches to distinguish themselves, including launching hand-mixed seltzer cocktails served on ice, like their Margarita seltzer, which features a seltzer base, margarita mix, and jalapeños.

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Littleton Brewing Company | 1201 West Littleton Boulevard, Littleton, CO – Opening Saturday, March 15

Father and son team Ray and Troy Beer have spent the better part of three years building out Littleton Brewing Company, but for good reason. It seems that the team has spared little expense in ensuring a world-class beer experience from the addition of a roof-top deck outfitted with a second 16-tap bar, to the hiring of long-time brewing veteran Wayne Waananen, who previously made his mark at the likes of Hub Cap Brewery, Sandlot, Rockyard, and most recently at Station 26.

Luckily, the wait is nearly over as Littleton Brewing, which will also dishout pizza, burgers and other pub fare, has finally announce its grand opening date, which is now just two and a half weeks away.

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Fiction Beer Co | 7101 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO – Announced New Ownership & Re-Opening Plans

For a second it looked like Fiction Beer Co. had written its final chapter, but perhaps a happy ending is in store after all. The beloved literary-inspired brewery initially announced its closure back in December 2024, but has since reversed course with news yesterday that it plans to re-open under new ownership in the near future.

Originally founded by Ryan and Christa Kilpatrick in 2014, the East Colfax brewery was known for being early adopters of innovative styles like Hazy IPAs, Pastry Stouts and more, and also garnered medals at both GABF and World Beer Cup. In 2023, Fiction spun off a second location in Parker, CO, under different ownership, which has remained open despite its namesake’s closure. While re-opening details still have yet to be revealed, Fiction’s social media pages indicated that multiple fan-favorite recipes are currently being brewed under its new ownership, with a full announcement on the horizon.

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Broken Hops Brewing Company Launches as a Side Project

A relatively unknown brewery brand will look backward as an inspiration toward producing modern styles.

Christopher O’Connor, who currently serves as Vice President of Operations for Prost Brewing, has launched Broken Hops Brewing as a spin-off personal side-project distribution-only brewery. O’Connor, who has helped oversee brewing operations for the German-focused Prost Brewing since 2021, will employ traditional German brewing methods to produce innovative modern IPAs featuring a variety of experimental hops.

“I created Broken Hops to showcase my love for German brewing principles, looking to the past for inspiration on what the future of IPAs could be,” said O’Connor. “With these modern IPAs as the vehicle, Broken Hops showcases how clean and vibrant the style can be, and how these techniques can make an unforgettable finished product.”

We had an opportunity to preview some of O’Connor’s test batches during 2024 GABF week and were incredibly impressed with the vibrant, bold, expressive, and clean profile of Broken Hops’ West Coast IPA. Both Broken Hops’ aforementioned West Coast IPA and East Coast IPAs will be available on draft and in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans at retailers across Metro Denver beginning this week.

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TightKnit Brewing Re-Opens in Evans, CO

One of Colorado’s brightest young lager producers recently announced the closure of their original downtown Greeley location, but lager heads didn’t have to worry for long. TightKnit Brewing which has already earned multiple top finished in PorchDrinking’s own blind tasting series for their prolific lager portfolio has re-opened with a new tasting room in nearby Evans, CO just last month.

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Taproom Outpost Update

TRVE Brewing RiNo No Longer Moving Forward

TRVE Brewing, one of Denver’s most well-respected breweries will no longer be moving forward with their originally planned RiNo taproom outpost. We first reported in October 2023 that TRVE Brewing had announced plans to open a 3,500-square-foot taproom on the ground floor of the upcoming Mica RiNo apartment complex.

Originally slated to open in 2024, TRVE’s second Denver tasting room intended to build on its metal-inspired programming due to its proximity to Mission Ballroom which is located directly across the street from its planned location.

However, we spoke with founder Nick Nunns who stated “We’re not going to be pursing the second taproom. It just wasn’t the right time, place, or partners.”

TRVE has since opened a second location in Asheville, NC, and moved all brewing operations to be produced at New Image Brewing.

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Brewery Closures

Incantation Brewing Closes Both Locations

An rising young brewery in Incantation Brewing, has had its own share of ups and downs. Originally launched in 2021 as Jade Mountain Brewery & Teahouse, which showcased beers brewed with Asian-inspired ingredients, the upstart South Denver brewery announced a re-branding last February to become Incantation Brewing, shifting to a heavy metal and ambitions to grow a barrel-aging program. Soonthereafter, Incantation announced the opening of a second location with an on-site coffee shop in South Denver. However, both concepts have since closed at the beginning of the year.

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Dewey Beer RiNo Has Transitioned into The Shambles Corner Bar

Speaking of Denver’s River North District, Dewey Beer, the Delaware-based brewery that gained a reputation for Hazy IPAs and fruited smoothie sours, has moved on from its Denver taproom, which first opened in January 2024 in the former Mockery Brewing space.

While no official statement has been issued, all social channels associated with Dewey Beer RiNo have been transitioned over to The Shambles, a “corner bar”.

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Brewery Consolidation & Coalition Launch

Denver Beer Co & Cerveceria Colorado along with Funkwerks & Formation Beer Join Stem Ciders’ Wilding Brands

Stem Ciders’ Wilding Brands, has quietly been assembling a formidable beverage and restaurant umbrella company that now consists of all Denver Beer Co. locations, as well as its sister company Cerveceria Colorado. But what adds even more intrigue to the mix is the addition of Funkwerks and the relatively unknown Formation Beer.

Stem has been pretty tight-lipped about this merger, but what it now allows the renowned cider brand to offer distributors a more robust portfolio when expanding to new markets. Wilding Brands now consists of Stem Ciders along with its pub locations, Acreage, Ghost Box Pizza, Stem Ciders RiNo, Denver Beer Co (DBC) Platt Street, DBC Littleton, DBC Lowry, DBC South Downing, DBC Olde Town Arvada, DBC Canworks, and Cerveceria Colorado, DBC’s Easy Livin Hop Water Brand, Funkwerks, Formation Beer, and Howdy Beer, which was acquired from The Post Brewing.

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Goldspot Brewing Launches Cheetah Coalition with Flower Shop Beer Werks & Neon Buzz Beerwerks

Never ones to follow convention, Goldspot Brewing has taken an innovative approach toward supporting upstart breweries. Goldspot founder, Kelissa Heiber recently launched the formation of the Cheetah Coalition, an incubator cooperative for brewers to own and operate their own brands while operating within the Goldspot Brewing space. Its inaugural class includes Flower Shop Beer Werks and Neon Buzz Beerwrks as well as a new food purveyor in Periphery Kitchen.

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Brewer Movement

Josh Rapp Moves from Prost Brewing to Oversee Brewing Operations for Wilding Brands

Speaking of Wilding Brands, Josh Rapp, who has also built quite the brewing resume over the last decade, dating back to his tenure as Brewing Manager at Avery Brewing and more recently as Head Brewer at Prost Brewing, now joins Wilding Brands as their new Director of Brewing Operations.

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Andy Parker Moves to Odyssey Beerwerks

The Avery Brewing family tree has branched out in other directions as Andy Parker who launched and oversaw the iconic Boulder brewery’s barrel-aging program recently left New Image Brewing to join the Odyssey Beerwerks team as their “Beer Baron”, an equivalent to head brewer.

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Teresa Blaisure-Clark Moves to Highside Brewing

Highside Brewing just announced the addition of rising brewing standout, Teresa Blaisure-Clark to their brewing team. Teresa had gained notoriety for her work most recently with Bierstadt Lagerhause and will now bring her talents to the high country at Highside, which now boasts locations in Frisco, Breckenridge, and Fairplay.

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Danny Wang Joins Black Shirt Brewing

A familiar name to the Denver beer scene, who has remained active within the industry is returning to a brewing role. Danny Wang, co-founder of Fermly, the QA/QC lab that provides testing options for breweries across the country, and former co-founder of Caution Brewing, has joined Black Shirt Brewing as their new Head Brewery. Want will continue in his role at Fermly as well.

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Ryan Carroll Joins Westminster Brewing

Another industry journeyman has found a new home as Ryan Carroll, who previously brewed at the likes of Sanitas, Crooked Stave, Ratio, Upslope, Golden City Brewing, has now moved to the Head Brewer role at Westminster Brewing.

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