E-Malt.com News article: USA, CO: The Lost Highway Brewery to open in Denver in December

Tina and James Pachorek, who own Cheeky Monk at East Colfax Avenue and Pearl Street in Denver, CO, bought the vacant shop next door and intend to open The Lost Highway Brewery in December, Denverpost.com reported on July, 05.

“It was always our goal to get into the brewery side, but we opened the restaurant first,” Tina Pachorek said.

Like the Cheeky Monk, Lost Highway will focus on Belgian beer. Tina Pachorek said they will have five “core” brands as well as five seasonal brews.

Belgian beer is something the Pachoreks know a good deal about. They’ve been serving it at the Cheeky Monk since it opened five years ago.

In fact, James was “knighted,” by the Brotherhood of the Mash Staff, a Belgian brewer’s guild, in Belgium in September 2011 for the work he has done bringing Belgian beer into the United States.

“We were way ahead of anyone in Colorado,” James Pachorek said.

The brewery is still being set up, but James said they have their liquor license and are “ready to go” once the facility is fixed up.

Lost Highway will be the first microbrewery along Colfax according to Tina, but many having been popping up in the metro area during the past several years. In fact, Denver is tied for No. 1 with Portland in microbrew consumption.

“Consumers have expanded their taste buds. They’re always looking for something new and exciting to taste,” she said. The Denver Beer Company opened nearly a year ago on Platte Street and their owner said the citizens are the main reason they have been successful.

“The Denver community really embraced us,” co-owner Patrick Crawford said.

Crawford also said that, although he doesn’t know the Pachoreks personally, he thinks they have a good reputation and a good location, which should set them up well.


10 July, 2012