E-Malt.com News article: USA, CO: Black Bottle Brewery to open in Old Town

Fort Collins is in line to get its 10th brewery and third brewpub with Black Bottle Brewery looking to launch in Old Town, Coloradoan.com reported on September, 13.

Sean Nook, Black Bottle founder and brewmaster, has been honing his craft for six years as a home brewer and is now looking to go "pro" with a full-fledged brewpub. Nook and his wife, Erin Nook, are looking to start as early as January with a seven-barrel brewing system offering 30 beers on tap, 200 bottled beers and small plates of food.

While Nook, 31, of Timnath grew up in Fort Collins and is familiar with the brewing scene, he said Black Bottle is intended to be like nothing Northern Colorado currently has. The couple is in the process of locking down a location.

"There is too much Colorado in Colorado," he said. "We want to bring an old-world-meets-new-world atmoshere."

With the beer, that means Nook will not offer a flagship brew to start. Instead, he plans to mix up 10 to 15 of his own beers and let the drinkers decide on their favorite.

Nook, a master auto technician at Tynan's Kia, said that homebrewing started as a hobby that allowed him to stay home near his family, but quickly evolved into an obsession. He leaves out fruit and spices popular with brewing today and instead focuses on single malt and single hop brews.

"Hops are definitely not as important as yeast," said Nook, whose beer lineup consists of "Hopelessly Devoted" a Belgian ale, "Grumpy Gringo" a Belgian white, "Recession Proof," a Porter and "Just a Minor Threat" an Imperial IPA.

Black Bottle also will focus on a small line of sour beers.

Nook anticipates the food/brewpub element will set them apart from other breweries in town that only offer beer. He also said Black Bottle will work with the current brewers rather than compete. "We are not looking to dominate. We are looking to add more to the craft beer industry and Fort Collins," said Nook who is convinced Fort Collins can support another 10 breweries adding to the "Napa Valley of beer."

Fellow brewer Steve Jones, owner of Pateros Creek Brewing Co., which opened at 242 N. College Ave. knows Nook from his days in the Northern Colorado homebrewer organization Liquid Poets Society.

Jones said Nook is an innovative brewer who always is trying new styles and different mixes.

"Sean is great local boy who grew up in Fort Collins and he is really excited," said Jones who couldn't pick a favorite Black Bottle based on the fact that they change so frequently.

Jones said he did not see Black Bottle as potential competition, rather another brewer on the block to welcome.

Nook plans to pay homage to his homebrewer roots once he starts the company by allowing homebrewers to submit a recipe. He will then choose a winner and let them brew the beer on his system and put it on tap in the brewpub.

"Behind every great brewer is a home brewer," Nook said.


14 September, 2011