Odell Brewing Co.'s plans to open a Denver taproom before the end of the year have come up against a formidable foe: construction delays.
The Fort Collins-based craft brewer is working on a taproom and 10-barrel pilot brewhouse at 2945 Larimer St. The facility in the River North section of Five Points should be open during the first few months of 2018, said Alex Kayne, spokesman for Odell.
Odell is redeveloping and building near a 100-year-old factory in RiNo. The maker of 90 Shilling and Cutthroat Porter announced earlier this year that it expected to hold a grand opening for the site in late 2017.
"We are still planning to open, but it won't be in this calendar year," Kayne said.
Odell got its start in 1989 — early in the life of Colorado’s craft beer scene. Today, the brewery is the third largest craft beer maker in Colorado and the 27th largest in the nation, according to the Brewers Association.
A Shake Shack location is expected to open next year north of Odell's Denver taproom. Across the street, The Block Distilling Co. has set its opening for Dec. 16. And New Belgium Brewing Co. is expected to soon open The Woods taproom about half a mile to the northeast at the Source Hotel.
When Odell opens in RiNo, it's expected to expand its Charity of the Month program to Denver, giving area nonprofits a chance to raise exposure and funds.
Karla Baise is the community outreach coordinator for Odell and said she sees the brewery partnering with different nonprofit partners at each taproom. Under a revamp of the program, a nonprofit would partner with Odell for three months and be provided space for an after-hours event as well as a check for a $10,000 donation.
"I think it's an amazing opportunity to reach out to our neighbors (in RiNo) and find out what's important to them," Baise said. "It's just a part of our ownership's DNA to be really philanthropic and give back."
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Business & data reporter Adrian D. Garcia can be reached via email at [email protected] or twitter.com/adriandgarcia.
