E-Malt.com News article: USA, CO: Big Thompson Brewery to launch in Loveland by the end of August

Two years of work and waiting are coming to fruition as the owners of Loveland's newest craft brewery, Big Thompson Brewery, located on 114 E. 15th St., create their first batches and prepare to open their doors, Loveland Reporter-Herald stated on July 12.

Big Thompson Brewery could welcome its first customers next month, said co-owner Kurt Biegel, although he doesn't have a firm date yet. The brewery already has approval to brew but is waiting for parking lot issues to be resolved so that it can get its certificate of occupancy from the city, Biegel said.

Biegel bought a 10-barrel, semi-automated brewing system, which is significantly different from the equipment he uses as a homebrewer, so it has taken a while to get accustomed to a new setup, he said.

“A 10-barrel brewhouse is larger than some craft breweries use when they start out,” Biegel said. The capacity to brew 20 kegs' worth at a time fits into his long-term business plan.

"We do want to be a production brewery and be able to package beer and sell beer out our back door ... in kegs or cans or bottles," Biegel said.

Originally, Biegel said, he expected to start out selling his beer just in the taproom, then begin selling kegs to local restaurants and bars before putting the beer in cans after about a year. But he has been thinking about taking that step sooner because of the apparent interest that area businesses have in carrying local products.

“Big Thompson Brewery won't stake out a niche for itself,” Biegel said.

"When you go around town and drink at all these breweries, everyone's got something a little different going on," Biegel said. "There can never be enough good craft beer around for people to sample and drink."


15 July, 2015