USA, CO: Peculierales brewpub aiming at spring opening

The third and last commercial space at the historic Windsor Mill will be filled by a brewpub with a peculiar name, The Coloradoan reported on October 18.

Greeley brewer Nick Armitage plans to open Peculierales — pronounced "peculiar ales" — next spring at the newly rebuilt Windsor Mill, 301 Main St.

Windsor Mill Tavern opened nearly three weeks ago, followed by Cacciatore at Heller's Kitchen on Oct. 11. Customers will have to wait a few more months before Peculierales opens as Armitage completes the million-dollar interior renovation.

The addition of Peculierales brings the mill back to its former glory after suffering through a tornado and catastrophic arson fire.

"It's the final piece to the puzzle to make the trifecta within there, and it will hopefully be successful," said Stacy Miller, Windsor's economic development director.

Peculierales will be the town's fourth brewpub, joining High Hops Brewery, Mash Lab Brewing and Mighty River Brewing Co.

Armitage brings almost a decade of brewing experience to his own venture. After going back to school for a degree in industrial chemical and brewery science at University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, he interned at New Belgium Brewing Co. and worked for WeldWerks and a small Greeley brewery startup before deciding to start his own brewpub.

He and partners have been looking for the right spot for nearly six months, Armitage said. A Windsor Downtown Development Authority member recommended the mill, and Armitage has signed a seven-year lease.

The 6,000 square feet looks large without brewing equipment, but Armitage said he is already wishing it were a little bigger. "I know it will fill up every night and we'll be wishing for more space very quickly."

Peculierales hasn't settled on a menu yet, but Armitage said it will be along the lines of upscale bar food. "We are open to a lot of things. Whatever you are eating, we want it to be the best you've ever had. We want the best IPA ... whatever you are enjoying, we want it to be the best."

The pub will offer various beer styles and let customers dictate what styles it brings back, Armitage said. "We will try our hand at everything."

He hopes to be open in April or May to take advantage of spring weather and the expansive patio. "April and May is a good time to be outside in Colorado," Armitage said.

Current plans call for the brewpub to open at 11 a.m. to cater to a downtown lunch crowd.

Peculierales will complement the tavern and Cacciatore at Heller's Kitchen, he said.

"The nice thing about having three separate venues is people can migrate," Armitage said. "They can start the day with a business lunch and beer, migrate into the evening with dinner at Cacciatore and end the night at the tavern," he said. "It's all about flowing through different venues."

The addition of Windsor Mill's three tenants brings the number of eateries listed in the town's restaurant guide to 59. Two are grocery stores; 12 are breweries, wine bars or coffee shops with limited food; and 21 have counter service only.

That means about 40% are considered sit-down restaurants with full table service. But residents are still clamoring for places to sit and eat, Miller said.

The mill's proximity to the business park, the city's largest employment center, "is huge," Miller said. "We have a daytime population and employment base that keeps talking to me about 'where are the sit-down restaurants?'" to take clients and business prospects.

None of the town's brewpubs are open for lunch, Miller said, so Peculiarles will offer something different. "It gives people a place to come in, go to lunch in a nice dining environment ... it seems like it will be amazing."

20 October, 2019