USA, CO: Mighty River Brewing Co. under construction in Loveland

When Dan Miller heard the corner of North Fairgrounds Avenue and Colonial Park Drive in Loveland would soon be under development, he couldn't pass up the chance to make a dream six years in the making come true, the Greely Tribune reported on June 17.

Dan has worked in the golf business for 22 years, most recently serving as the golf course superintendent for the Highland Meadows Golf Course. As he learned more about home brewing over the past 11 years, he started to think maybe opening a brewery would be the right path.

For the past six or seven years he's held onto the idea, but it wasn't until he learned the property at the corner of North Fairgrounds Avenue and Colonial Park Drive in Windsor was going to be developed that his dream started to look like a reality.

After some discussions with the site owner and a lot of planning, Dan and his wife, Kristine Miller, are now the proud owners of Mighty River Brewing Co., which is under construction at the site.

"It was meant to be," he said.

Kristine isn't the only family member in on the project — Dan's brother Tim Miller will serve as the brewmaster, bringing with him 26 years of brewing experience.

The two brothers communicate well, Dan said, so he doesn't anticipate any familial conflict will arise.

The brewery will include indoor and outdoor seating, with the patio connected to the inside via large, garage-like doors, which on pleasant days Dan said will remain open. Inside will likely seat 80-90 people, and the outside patio will seat about 50, he said.

Patrons of the brewery can also see into the room where brewing will happen from one side of the bar. Dan said he and his brother hope to do at least some brewing during business hours, so guests can watch the process.

The brothers have always liked a variety of beers, Dan said, so they plan to brew ales, lagers, stouts and whatever else they want.

"There's no limit to what we're going to do," Dan said.

The name, Dan said, comes from his, his family's and his friends' love of fishing on rivers. When he's fishing while watching the rapids, he can see how mighty the rivers are, he said.

"They carved parts of all these mountains," he said, gesturing behind him to the Rocky Mountains.

Mighty River Brewing will be the third brewery for Windsor, with High Hops Brewery opening in 2012 and Mash Lab Brewing in 2016.

Dan said the brewery is aiming for an Aug. 1 opening.

"We're excited to get going, we're hoping we can add to the community here," he said.

18 June, 2018