USA, CO: Owners decide to close Wilds Woods Brewery in Boulder

After seven years of slinging Ponderosa Porters and Treeline IPAs, the couple behind Boulder’s Wilds Woods Brewery have decided to close the brewery to pursue life’s next adventure, the Boulder Daily Camera reported on January 7.

After opening in 2012 as a nano-brewery, Wild Woods has since grown from a small two-barrel operation with a taproom to a seven-barrel operation bottling beers for distribution across the Front Range.

But Wild Woods announced early in 2020 that its last day of business would be Saturday, January 11, a decision coowner Erin Evans said was “purely personal.”

“We just needed a breather from being business owners,” she said.

Evans said she and her husband, Jake, wanted some more time to spend in nature doing the type of activities that inspired the business and gave the brewery its theme.

“While we’re still passionate about craft beer, Jake and I just have a desire for more time to get back outside and be with our friends,” Evans said.

But while the couple decided it was time to move on, Evans said the experience of taking their home brew recipes and opening up their own brewery was memorable.

“We just had a lot of fun with it,” Evans said. “We like the concept of being a local place to hangout. It was just a really fun ride.”

Evans said they have been touched by the outpouring of support and well-wishes since the brewery’s announcement.

“It’s been bittersweet,” Evans said. “It’s been great being part of that local Boulder scene and being embraced by the community.”

Wild Woods’ announcement comes in the wake of some other Boulder breweries stumbling upon hard times, with Fate Brewing Co. closing in May and Boulder Beer downsizing and closing its brewpub.

But Evans said their decision was personal, and not a result of “oversaturation.”

“For us, this is just a personal decision,” Evans said. “There’s definitely still a market for beer drinking in east Boulder.”

To illustrate her point, Evans said Wild Woods Brewery’s space and equipment at 5460 Conestoga Court won’t remain vacant for long. While she couldn’t reveal too many details, Evans said the plan is for a new brewery to move into the space.

“This gives a new individual a way to start their journey,” Evans said. “It actually works out pretty perfectly.”

And Evans didn’t completely close the door on a return to the brewing business in some form or another down the road.

“I have a sneaking suspicion craft beer is still in our future,” she said.

But until then, Evans said the brewery and its staff plan on enjoying the last week with customers.

“We still have beer,” Evans said. “We’re going to celebrate.”

12 January, 2020