THE TELLURIDE SPIRIT: TELLURIDE BREWING COMPANY

25 Jan THE TELLURIDE SPIRIT: TELLURIDE BREWING COMPANY

These days in Telluride, it’s very out to bring a bottle of wine to a dinner party. If you want to crush it, and I mean crush it, bring a growler of Telluride Brewing Beer instead.

When I sat down and had a pint with Tommy Thacher, one of the owners of Telluride Brewing, last Friday, the traffic into the brewery was non-stop. Almost everyone who came in was swinging their brown growler bottle by their side, ready for a refill.

Although Telluride Brewing Company has been open for less than six months, it’s easy to see why they are already so popular. Chief Brewer, Chris Fish, who brewed for Smuggler’s for years, has won numerous awards, including a gold and a bronze from the Great American Brewing Festival. It shows. There are ten beers on tap at Telluride Brewing, the most popular of which are the brown, the rye, and the IPA. This is a man who has mastered the craft of “craft brewing”.

Telluride Brewing Company’s start helped its popularity as well. Months before they released their beers, they had their iconic sun-rising-over-the-mountains t-shirts, hats, and belt buckles for sale. (I quickly scooped up all three for my brothers and dad.) Says Tommy Thacher of the logo, “We have John Lehman to thank for the great design. He captured the spirit of Telluride Brewing perfectly.”

When I asked Tommy and Fish about that spirit of Telluride Brewing Company, Fish quickly jumped in to explain, “We are a company that’s inspired by and making products for outdoor adventures. We chose cans over bottles because it’s more environmental and because it’s more portable. We want you taking our beers outside wherever you go, whether it’s a music fest, a rafting adventure, or a climbing trip.” Fish went onto explain their efforts to source their malt from a carbon neutral plant and to compost their brewery waste at farms in Naturita.

As I, too, placed my growler up on the bar for a refill, it came to me. The real reason Telluride Brewing Company is so popular is because they have nailed the exact spirit of Telluride. We love community, great conversation, and time outside. Taking beer, especially local beer, along with us just makes it all the better.

Bottoms up….

Lawson Hill Brewery and Tap Room: open daily 4-7 PM.
Lama Resturant and Bar, Telluride: 10 beers on tap
Local Liquor Stores: Bridal Veil Rye Pale Ale cans

Hear all about why Tommy loves running a brewery: