Westbound & Down Brewing opens pop-up taproom in downtown Denver
Denverites now have a new bar where they can find Westbound & Down Brewing Co.’s beers on tap and in cans to-go without ever leaving the city limits.
The brewery, which boasts locations in Idaho Springs and Lafayette, recently opened a pop-up taproom in the Free Market (1801 Blake St.) at the Dairy Block near Union Station. The quaint space features a counter where drinkers can walk up and order a beer to enjoy at patio tables set up in the alley or seating inside Free Market.
Eric Schmidt, Westbound & Down spokesperson, said the brewery was invited for a residency in the space by BRUTØ restaurant, which operates in the same building but in a separate area. The taproom debuted Thursday, just in time for Stanley Cup parade revelry.
“We will be there for the remainder of 2022 with hopes and intention to make it a permanent location in 2023,” he said.
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In addition to serving 10 Westbound & Down beers on tap, there’s a selection of wine and spirits, plus cans of beer patrons can buy to-go. Draft options upon opening include a variety of India pale ales such as Great American Beer Festival award winner Westbound Double IPA, multiple pilsners, Meta Blackberry sour and Western Justice bourbon barrel-aged stout.
“No food at all from our side to begin. We highly encourage guests to visit BRUTØ,” Schmidt said.
The new outpost comes on the heels of a major expansion in late 2021, when Westbound & Down opened a new brewery and pizzeria in Lafayette. The new spot functions as its primary brewing and packaging facility and the company, which was awarded small brewery of year at GABF in 2019, now uses its first location in Idaho Springs as a pilot brewery to create experimental recipes.
Westbound & Down at Free Market will be open Monday through Thursday from noon to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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