Typically, Olander would let the soil rest through the winter months, but in recent years he’s begun experimenting with new varieties of barley that have been specifically adapted to withstand cold temperatures. Growing in the winter means the crops will absorb precipitation through the spring, a vital advantage as weather in the Western U.S. continues to get hotter and drier.

As the proprietor of both Olander Farms and Root Shoot Malting, which supplies Colorado breweries and spirit makers with locally grown and malted grains, Olander has to innovate to sustain his family’s 97-year-old farm. About five years ago, he began taking proactive steps to prepare for what he expects to be the next big challenge: the water crisis.

That looming threat was enough to begin cultivating the winter-friendly Lightning, Thunder and Buck barley without yet having customers for them.

“I can see the writing on the wall just with everything going on with water in Colorado. There’s a possibility of a reduction in our allotment and also the possibility of not having runoff we typically see from snowpack,” Olander said. “That’s why I’m trying to be ahead of the game.”

As the Colorado River continues to dry, local barley growers and maltsters are seeking out creative solutions to sustain their businesses in the face of climate change. Some are embracing nontraditional and drought-resistant grains while others are investing in technology to become more efficient. Their innovations aim to reduce water usage and bring the supply chain for craft beer and spirits closer to home, in hopes of ultimately building a resilient ecosystem that supports farmers, brewers and distillers in Colorado.

In 2022, local farmers grew 4,440,000 bushels of barley, the sixth most in the nation, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. A large portion of that is purchased by Coors Brewing, which contracts with around 800 growers in the Western states and Canada, according to the company’s website.

But Colorado is also home to several craft malthouses that kiln and roast barley for smaller brewers and distillers to use in making beer and liquor. Still, buying local has yet to become the norm since craft malt usually fetches a premium price.

Brewer Eric Larkin has been working with Troubadour Maltings in Fort Collins to procure custom malts since he opened Cohesion Brewing Co. in Denver two years ago. It’s not the cheapest option, but it works because the brewery specializes in specialty Czech-style lagers.

Larkin’s other options would be to import malt from Europe or use European-style malts grown in the U.S. While sourcing local might present unique challenges, the benefits of keeping his dollars in the local economy outweigh any potential downfalls, Larkin said.

“Every crop I get from Troubadour, the malt changes and I have to make adjustments in the brewhouse,” he said, acknowledging it’s easier for a small operation that focuses on a limited portfolio of styles to do that. “Keeping your dollars with local and small producers, the impact it can have really multiplies. It stays a little closer to home. That idea has always been really valuable to me from an economic standpoint and environmental standpoint.”

Spreading the gospel of local grain

The nonprofit Colorado Grain Chain aims to spread that ethos more widely with a variety of projects that connect local producers and makers, and incentivize collaboration. For example, the organization is currently building a digital marketplace where farmers can connect with companies or entrepreneurs seeking to purchase locally-grown grains.

Project manager Lisa Boldt, who also co-owns Primitive Beer in Longmont, sees a unique opportunity to amplify the Grain Chain’s message in the beverage space. That’s why the organization recently offered $4,000 “microgrants” to brewers and distillers who used novel grains in a new product.

Cohesion and WeldWerks Brewing Co. in Greeley received one grant to team up on a special release, Foamies Czech-style pale lager, using custom malts from Troubadour. The beer debuted in August and a second batch is due for release in November.

WildEdge Brewing Collective in Cortez earned a grant to experiment with a Munich wheat from Root Shoot Malting, with which it created a Dunkelweizen-inspired beer called From the Fields. Steamboat Springs’ Routt Distillery, another grant recipient, leveraged a trial batch of barley grown in Montrose by Proximity Malts for its new West Slope Sarvis Gin, which also features locally foraged sarvisberries.

Perhaps the most intriguing microgrant project came from Dune Valley Distillery in Mosca, which will release a vodka made from quinoa in January. The distillery, which opened this summer in the historic Mosca Community Hall and Gymnasium, shares a campus with a local food hub and a potato and quinoa processing plant. It specializes in making potato vodka specifically because of the resources at its disposal, said managing partner Nicholas Chambers.

“The local food approach is that you learn to consume what’s grown right near you,” Chambers said. “We are at literally the center of North American quinoa right here. It’s such a good crop for us because of low water use and it fits with our valley.”

Reducing water usage

One underutilized opportunity Audrey Paugh, marketing and networking specialist at the Grain Chain, sees for beverages is in millet. Colorado is the country’s top producer of proso millet, a gluten-free and drought-tolerant ancient grain. The state is also home to Grouse Malt House, one of the few U.S. maltsters dedicated to gluten-free grains.

Twila Soles founded the company with her late partner in 2013 after years of having celiac disease and being dissatisfied with gluten-free beer options. Malting even gluten-free grains requires a lot of water. Recently, Soles upgraded her system to include a steep tank that uses up to 40% less water than her original equipment.

Soles sources most of her grains within 200 miles of the malting facility in Wellington and has seen her producers weather unpredictable and sometimes devastating growing seasons.

“Using a crop (such as millet) that takes less water to thrive is important now and will be even more important as climate change continues to impact weather patterns,” said Soles, whose biggest Colorado client is the gluten-free Holidaily Brewing Co. “I’m hopeful that the use of more drought-tolerant crops for craft beer grows.”

In Alamosa, Jason Cody knows the value of diversifying crops and revenue streams. Cody saw firsthand the desire for local, craft malts when he opened Colorado Malting Co. in 2008. At one point, Cody had more than 100 breweries waiting for the opportunity to buy his products. The venture saved his family farm, which first began growing barley for Coors in the 1990s.

But business has slowed amid economic pressures and larger companies cashing in on demand for cost-effective malts. So these days he focuses on serving a niche base of distillers and brewers.

Water usage is always top of mind for Cody, who manages the 300-acre farm his ancestors purchased nearly a century ago. In 2018, Cody began making original beers at his Colorado Farm Brewery, which highlights sustainable practices from grain to glass. He grows and malts his own grains, uses an original strain of yeast and recycles all the water from the brewing process to irrigate his farm.

“Every single gallon of water we use in the brewery that goes down the drain, goes out to the center pivot irrigation sprinklers and is injected into the line that the sprinkler is running on,” Cody said.

An added bonus: The brewery’s wastewater repeatedly tests high in nitrogen, sulfur, potassium and other compounds that reinvigorate soil, so he needs fewer fertilizers to keep the ground healthy.

Back in Berthoud, Olander has yet to malt last year’s winter crop, so he doesn’t know what it tastes like or if brewers will be interested in using it. Olander is hopeful Lightning in particular will be an apt pilsner-style product and catch on, but he’s not waiting for feedback to continue his experiment.

Last year, he planted 15 acres of Thunder, 15 acres of Lightning and seven acres of Kernza. This year, he planted 20 acres of Lightning and 10 acres of Buck.

“We decided, let’s roll the dice and go with Lightning,” he said. “Hopefully winter treats everything well and they’ll survive.”

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Denver is brimming with New Year’s Eve events, whether you want to attend an all-inclusive soiree, a concert or a casual party. And the holiday falling on a weekend this year makes it even more worthwhile to celebrate.

Here are 15 places to say goodbye to 2023 and hello to 2024. A bonus: If you end up near the 16th Street Mall on New Year’s Eve, pop outside to enjoy a fireworks show, which will illuminate the skyline at 9 p.m. and midnight.

Swanky soirees

Denver NYE Black Tie Party

Don your best formal attire and ring in the New Year in style at the Denver NYE Black Tie Party. Guests get to enjoy an open bar, music from local DJs and cover bands, and Vegas-style casino games. There will also be a complimentary photo booth, midnight balloon drop and party favors.

Dec. 31 from 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at Asterisk Event Center, 1075 Park Ave. West, Denver. Tickets cost $135 at newyearsevenight.com.

Denver New Year’s Eve White Rose Gala

The Roaring ‘20s are back in fashion as the theme of the 2023 White Rose Gala. Live entertainment will spotlight music and dance from the era. Decor and dress will reflect that timeless quality, too. Additional attractions include selfie stations and a speakeasy for VIP ticket-holders.

Dec. 31 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Ritz-Carlton, 1881 Curtis St., Denver. Tickets cost $99-$149 at newyearspartydenver.com.

New Year’s Eve Dance Extravaganza

Dust off your dancing shoes and start the New Year off on the right foot at the Dance Extravaganza, which features multiple ballrooms with bands playing a variety of music styles such as bachata, swing and salsa. The event includes dance lessons as well as free-for-all fun, hors d’oeuvres and a complimentary champagne toast at midnight.

Dec. 31 from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. at the Avalon Ballroom, 6185 Arapahoe Road, Boulder. Tickets cost $40 at eventbrite.com.

Denver NYE Cocktail Party

Looking for an all-inclusive soiree? Look no further than the Denver NYE Cocktail Party. DJs and bands will play in multiple ballrooms at the Sheraton hotel downtown, where guests can also enjoy an open bar, casino games, photo booths and more.

Dec. 31 from 8:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, 1550 Court Place, Denver. Tickets cost $110-$210 at nyenightdenver.com.

New Year’s Eve at The Tropicana

The Colorado Mambo Orchestra will be bringing the heat to The Brown Palace and transforming the venue with its Latin- and Cuban-infused jazz tunes, led by renowned musician Raul Murciano. (You might know him from the Miami Sound Machine with Gloria Estefan.) The party includes light bites, desserts, a champagne toast and enough sonic heat to make you forget the Colorado winter.

Dec. 31 from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at The Brown Palace Hotel & Spa, 321 17th St., Denver. Tickets cost $250-$825 at eventbrite.com.

NYE concerts

Decadence Colorado

Outside of summer festivals, there’s hardly a bigger EDM event in the U.S. than Decadence Colorado. The Denver-based New Year’s Eve party at the Colorado Convention Center welcomes the genre’s biggest DJs, producers and groups, including the city’s own Illenium (who this summer headlined at  Empower Field at Mile High). The 2024 installment also features Red Rocks headliners such as Zeds Dead and crowd-movers like Two Friends, Mersiv, Subtronics, Steve Aoki, Sofi Tukker, Sidepiece, Ganja White Night and influential dubstep act Skrillex.

Dec. 30-31 on two main stages. Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St., Denver. Tickets cost $109-$359 at decadencenye.com.

Slim Cessna’s Auto Club at the Hi-Dive

A beloved country-punk tradition, Slim Cessna Auto Club’s NYE shows bring the Gothic folk sound that Denver is known for to intimate crowds for a raucous, two-night run. It’s a gritty tent revival through the funhouse mirror, with glowering, preacher-like stage presence and figurative brimstone aplenty. Swaggering, thunderous instrumentation. Cowboy hipsters. Mortality! In other words: true, ungentrified Denver.

9 p.m. Dec. 30-31 at the Hi-Dive, 7 S. Broadway in Denver. Tickets cost $25 per night or $40 for both at hi-dive.com.

CloZee at Mission Ballroom

French DJ and, recently, Denverite CloZee is an international EDM headliner having one of her biggest runs yet in the Mile High City this holiday season. Her pair of shows at this sterling RiNo venue are packed with guests, including Vincent Antone, Yoko and Daggz (Dec. 30), and LYNY, Super Future and Pheel (Dec. 31).

8 p.m. Dec. 30-31 at Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St. in Denver. Ages 16 and up. Tickets cost $85-$99 at axs.com.

Itchy-O NYE at Summit

This massive Denver ensemble, which invokes fiery ritual and release as much as dark rhythms and melodies, is taking over LoDo venue Summit for what promises to be a bacchanal with (a) soul. Known for its outlandish costumes, glowing instruments and in-crowd performances, Itchy-O is a unique Denver act that must be seen (and heard) to be believed. Its NYE show is pitched as a celebration when the “ancient and avant-garde merge into a symphony of sensory upheaval.”

9 p.m. Dec. 31 at Summit, 1902 Blake St. All ages. Tickets cost $41.25-$58.50 at concerts.livenation.com.

Neal Francis at the Ogden

Chicago R&B act Neil Francis plays a mean keyboard as he’s backed by airtight percussion, electric guitar and rubbery bass, his tastefully detached vocals meditating over it all. Live, the band is another potent backside activator, leading crowds through sweaty bliss and funky, ’70s-flecked dance numbers that sport as much texture as they do melody. There’s every chance this will be a legendary concert.

8 p.m. Dec. 31, with the Texas Gentlemen, Ogden Theatre, at 935 E. Colfax Ave. 16 and up. Tickets cost $45 at axs.com.

Casual affairs and family-friendly parties

The Improper Circus

Ring in 2024 with help from aerial performers, fire breathers, stilt walkers and tarot card readers when the Improper City bar in RiNo transforms into a circus for the last night of the year. The ticket price includes a welcome drink, complimentary big-tent snacks like popcorn, and a champagne toast at midnight.

Dec. 31 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Improper City, 3201 Walnut St., Denver. Tickets cost $35 at eventbrite.com.

NYE on Tap

Denver brewery Bierstadt Lagerhaus plans to host a New Year’s Eve party sure to delight beer and cocktail drinkers alike. The all-inclusive ticket price buys access to an open bar featuring Bierstadt lagers as well as liquor, an appetizer buffet and a champagne toast at midnight. A DJ will also be onsite spinning tunes.

Dec. 31 from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at Bierstadt Lagerhaus, 2875 Blake St., Denver. Tickets cost $99 at eventbrite.com.

NYE Family Carnival Extravaganza at Bounce Empire

The title of this event hints at the scale of Bounce Empire, a sprawling inflatables “theme park” marketed as a DJ-driven party-pad as much as a kiddie-birthday destination. This event combines both, with full access to the huge inflatable slides and jump houses, as well as full bars and adult chill rooms, plus a full menu and other programming.

8 p.m.-1 a.m. Dec. 31 at Bounce Empire, 1380 S. Public Road in Lafayette. All ages. Tickets cost $39 at bounceempire.com. 

Downtown Aquarium New Year’s Eve Family Celebration
Sharkey, the Downtown Aquarium’s mascot, will be on hand as the cultural attraction, restaurant and venue welcomes folks for its buffet, balloon drop, contests and giveaways for kids. Reservations are required; call 303-561-4450 to secure one. Multi-course dinners are available for $45.

Seatings at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. 700 Water Drive in Denver. All ages. Tickets cost $26 for kids 10 and under, and $46 for everyone else. Reservations are available online. aquariumrestaurants.com/downtownaquariumdenver.

Roaring ’20s New Year’s Eve

Fortissimo’s dueling piano bar will make good on the promises of its brand name – which means “very loud” – with a raucous New Year’s Eve party. Dress the part for this Roaring ’20s-themed event and prepare to belt out sing-along songs into 2024.

Dec. 31 from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. at Fortissimo Dueling Pianos, 891 14th St., #110, Denver. Tickets cost $35-$70 at eventbrite.com.

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Living the Dream is also moving into the small bar that Grist had been operating inside the Sterling Center, a building at 8155 Piney River Ave. that serves residents of Littleton’s Sterling Ranch neighborhood. That change will take place on Dec. 29.

Grist owners Chuck Norman and Jim Mack, both petroleum engineers by trade, had originally been “passive” investors and are now “ready to get back to our roots,” Norman said.

Living the Dream owner Jason Bell, on the other hand, “knows the industry and has spent many years in it. He’s on-site every day, and that’s an important part of success,” Norman added. And while Living the Dream is buying Grist’s assets and taking over its leases, it isn’t buying the company itself. “Grist will still be alive, but what we do with it, I don’t know.”

The move “just makes sense,” said Bell, who opened Living the Dream, at 12305 Dumont Way, in 2014. “We have been looking for a new home for the better part of a year and a half.”

“It’s a big deal, a lot of work and a good amount of money,” Bell continued, speaking about the mile-or-so move up Santa Fe Drive to Grist’s spot. “The economy is not robust, either, but this is when you can make those kinds of moves — and hopefully they pay off.”

The move is also an upgrade, Bell explained, in part because Grist’s brewing system is bigger, more advanced and more efficient than the one at Living the Dream, but also because Grist’s space, including the taproom and the overall infrastructure, is “much nicer.”

If anything, Bell joked, Living the Dream will have to rough it up around the edges to give it the more rustic and outdoorsy feel that his customers are accustomed to. Living the Dream has a heavy focus on skiing, both in its decor and its beer names. Powder Run Cream Ale and its variations, for instance, are the brewery’s biggest-selling beers in cans and taproom flagship.

While Grist served food, Bell said Living the Dream, which will close its existing location, will continue to rely on food trucks, as it has done in the past.

The business of brewing beer has changed quite a bit over the past decade, Bell said, as the industry has matured and public habits have changed. “Ten years ago, it was 65% fun and cool, and 35% business. Now it’s 95% business.” To survive in the existing beer economy, each brewery needs to know how it fits in and what its goals are for the future.”

The deal is expected to close on Dec. 29. Bell said he hopes to make cosmetic changes after that and reopen inside Grist in mid-January.

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The company has just purchased two other Colorado beer makers: Aspen Brewing, with its brand-new, 7,000-barrel-capacity production facility near the Pitkin County Airport; and Capitol Creek Brewery in Basalt, according to a statement released Friday afternoon. Both had been owned by High Country Brewing LLC, an investment firm that acquired them in 2019 and 2021.

“We have had a goal for some time to open more brewpub locations and have always kept an ear to the ground for locations that might make sense,” said Jake Gardner, Westbound & Down’s director of brewery operations and one of its operating partners, in a statement.

“Although we were originally looking into opening completely new projects in unoccupied spaces, this serendipitous opportunity was brought to us and continues to align with our dream of operating Colorado brewpubs that serve as gateways to the outdoors and the mountains.”

For now, Westbound & Down will keep both breweries’ identities and “continue to build on the rich brewing tradition that these two brands have established in the Roaring Fork Valley,” Gardener said. But the company will also “assess” everything further down the road.

Westbound & Down said it has also hired Matt Husted, a partner and former hospitality director at Denver chef Kelly Whitaker’s Id Est restaurant group, which owns Michelin Star restaurants Bruto (located next to Westbound’s Denver taproom) and The Wolf’s Tailor, among others. Husted will help streamline the food and beverage operations at all of Westbound’s properties.

Founded in 2015 in Idaho Springs in a partnership with the owners of the historic Buffalo Restaurant & Bar, Westbound expanded to Lafayette in 2021, where it built a new brewhouse and restaurant; it later added a small taproom at 1801 Blake St., in Denver’s Dairy Block.

But those spaces aren’t enough to keep up with Westbound’s continued success: The brewery won three medals at the Great American Beer Festival earlier this year, tacking those on to multiple other medals and awards, including GABF’s Midsize Brewpub of the Year in 2019. The company is known for its IPAs, in several styles, as well as lagers and barrel-aged stouts.

In addition, its brewing capacity in Lafayette is “maxed out, although new tanks are on their way that will allow for an additional 1,500 barrels of beer to brew to be made annually. Westbound & Down produced 3,400 barrels of beer in 2022 and is on pace to 4,300 barrels by the end of 2023.

Friday’s acquisition, which also includes Aspen Brewing’s Aspen Tap pub in Aspen, continues a trend in Colorado that has seen sometimes dramatic consolidation in the craft beer industry. For instance, earlier this month, Dry Dock Brewing in Aurora announced that it would close its production facility and turn over brewing and canning to Great Divide Brewing in Denver.

4 Noses Brewing in Broomfield also opened a new production facility this year where it makes its own beer and that of Odd13 Brewing, which 4 Noses’ parent company bought in 2021.

“Brewing is a resource-heavy industry where the ability to scale contracts, equipment, and personnel is critically important,” Gardner said about consolidation.

Starting soon, both Aspen Tap and Capitol Creek will begin pouring a small sampling of Westbound beers, along with a few of its signature dishes, the company said. Westbound & Down also will likely use Aspen’s production facility to make some of its beers in the future.

“Aspen Brewing’s location and long-standing, dedicated fan base and Capitol Creek’s fresh look and dedication to high-quality food and beer were both attractive out of the gate,” Gardner said.

“In getting to know key personnel on the brew staff at Capitol Creek, as well as amazing leadership in the food and hospitality program there, we immediately felt like it would be a natural fit for what we’ve been building at Westbound & Down,” he added.

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The owner of Ursula Brewery, which opened in 2014 next to the Anschutz Medical Campus, Procop decided earlier this year that it was time to sell the brewery in order to focus on his family restaurant at 2100 Ursula St., Cedar Creek Pub, which is across the street from the brewery.

That happened this week, and the new owners, who he didn’t name, plan to reopen the brewery with a different name in early or mid-2024.

“I’ve been in the restaurant business for 34 years, so this is sort of like going back to my roots,” Procop said about turning his attention to Cedar Creek, which he opened in 2011 with his wife. “It was a good run [at Ursula]. We did great, and this is the end of the story.”

The last few years have been harrowing for small brewery owners, who have dealt with the effects of the pandemic, rising costs for raw materials and supplies, and static beer sales in an industry that had been previously experiencing double-digit growth in the early and mid-2010s.

“Everyone is hurting,” he said about fellow craft beer breweries and taproom owners. As an example, Procop pointed to one of his most well-known and well-loved beers, Crustless, a peanut-butter-and-jelly porter, and an imperial version of the beer that was aged in bourbon barrels. “We used to have lines down the street of people waiting for that beer. Now it’s nothing.

“Brewing is a young man’s game, and I can’t figure it out anymore. I got to a point where I just wasn’t sure what to do next,” he added. “But restaurants aren’t going anywhere.”

And that’s how Procop intends to continue supporting craft brewers in the future. Cedar Creek, which serves burgers, sandwiches, fish and chips and other traditional pub food, has always had a wide selection of craft beers on tap as well and hosts rare beer tastings on occasion.

After Ursula closes, it will still have a few of the brewery’s beers on tap, and Procop said he’ll carry the new brewery’s beers in his restaurant as well if the new owners ask him to. (Procop would only say that it is a business group that hasn’t owned a brewery before.)

In the meantime, he’ll be working the bar at Ursula by himself until the brewery’s last day, Dec. 22. But not before he throws one final two-day party for the winter solstice. The annual fest is typically the release of the Sacred Fire, an imperial Scotch Ale. Procop also will have a hot poker by the fire to caramelize and warm the malty beer.

“We want to go out with a bang at the end as a thank you to our customers,” he said.

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And if you’re looking to get into the Christmas spirit – emphasis on spirits – there are numerous pop-up bars decking the halls. Here are 10 places bartenders will be making a drink, shaking it twice. Your choice whether it’s salty or spiced.

Plus: One booze-free holiday pop-up that’s great for the whole family.

Avantiki

Open now through Dec. 29

The rooftop space at Denver’s Avanti Food & Beverage food hall will be transformed into a pop-up called Avantiki, a beach-inspired destination where the vibes are warm and the drinks are strong. Libations come served in hula-clad Santa mugs and other fun vessels to match the vibe. Entry costs $5 and benefits CHOW or the Culinary Hospitality Outreach and Wellness program, which supports mental health and wellbeing in the service industry. While Avanti in Boulder won’t be as decked out with baubles and lights, it will serve the holiday menu of drinks.

Located at Avanti Food & Beverage, 3200 Pecos St., Denver. avantifandb.com.

Big Holiday Energy

Open now through Jan. 1

The spirit of Christmas saved Call to Arms Brewing Co. in Denver. That’s according to the owner, who considered throwing in the towel after several tough pandemic years. But luckily for holiday revelers, he didn’t and now the brewery goes all out hanging Christmas trees from the ceiling, decking out a Hanukkah room, and tacking up lights in nearly every corner for that perfectly twinkling selfie. This year, Call to Arms is building the pop-up around the theme of Christmas movies.

Located at Call to Arms Brewing Co., 4526 Tennyson St., Denver. calltoarmsbrewing.com.

The Christmas Pop Up Bar

Open Fridays and Saturdays now through Dec. 23

Ho-ho-how many shots do you think it would take for Santa to stumble down the chimney? Find out at Mile High Spirits’ seasonal pop-up, aptly named The Christmas Pop Up Bar. Located in the distillery’s barrel room, the bar serves four unique holiday shots. Entry is free, but a reservation is encouraged since spots are limited.

Located at Mile High Spirits, 2201 Lawrence St., Denver. eventbrite.com/cc/christmas-pop-up-bar-shots-with-santa-2852319.

Festivus for the Rest of Us

Open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays now through Dec. 31

Up on the rooftop, reindeer pours. That’s the scene at BurnDown on South Broadway on Thursday through Saturday nights during the pop-up Festivus for the Rest of Us, hosted on the restaurant’s third-floor rooftop bar. Starting at 6 p.m., locals can find libations such as a frozen negroni and peppermint Irish coffee and toast to the season with skyline views.

Located at BurnDown, 476 South Broadway, Denver. burndowndenver.com.

Miracle

Open now through various dates depending on location

Born as a single location in 2014, Miracle popularized the concept of holiday-themed pop-up bars and led a worldwide proliferation of festive libations to be sipped among over-the-top decor. Miracle comes to six different locations in Colorado this year, each with the same menu of seasonal beverages, like the Christmas Cricket (tequila, vanilla liqueur, mint amaro, coco pandan, mole bitters) and the Snowball Old Fashioned (rye, gingerbread, bitters, orange essence). Because they’re so popular, most encourage or require a reservation.

Located at Cousin Pat’s Pub & Grill (451 S. Saint Vrain Ave., Estes Park), The Eddy Taproom & Hotel (1640 8th St., Golden), /pôr/ Wine House (836 Main St., Louisville), The Post Chicken & Beer (1002 S. College Ave., Fort Collins), Trainwreck (812 S. Sierra Madre St., Colorado Springs), and Union Station (1701 Wynkoop St., Denver). miraclepopup.com.

Mistletoe Lounge

Open now through Dec. 24

Those who shop local at the Cherry Creek Holiday Market can reward themselves with a festive drink at the Mistletoe Lounge, a new addition to holiday happenings at the shopping center. Inside a heated tent, bartenders mix up Hot Toddys, Mocha Martinis, hard cider and a variety of non-alcoholic hot chocolate recipes to enjoy alongside the hustle bustle. Stop by on a Saturday to catch some live music.

Located at the Fillmore Plaza at Cherry Creek North, 105 Fillmore St., Denver. cherrycreekholidaymarket.com/mistletoelounge.

Sippin’ Santa

Open now through various dates depending on location

As a tropical counterpart to the ever-popular Miracle pop-up, Sippin’ Santa has been delighting drinkers with a beach staycation since 2015. The pop-up takes over three bars in Colorado this year, each serving cocktails that are equal parts holiday and vacation. That includes the Surf Nut, a blend of Puerto Rican rum, coconut water, coconut cream and apricot brandy; the Merry Spritzmas, featuring prosecco, aperitif, port wine, cognac, falernum, lemon and bitters; and the namesake Sippin’ Santa with rum, lemon, orange and a gingerbread mix.

Located at Allusion Speakeasy (323 N. Tejon St., Colorado Springs) Ay Papi (248 Detroit St., Denver), and Bernard’s Tiki Room at The Arvada Tavern (5707 Olde Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada). sippinsantapopup.com.

Sleigh Bar

Open now through Dec. 24

Before you take part in McGregor Square’s seasonal offerings like ice skating and drag shows, stop by the Sleigh Bar at Milepost Zero to add some pep(ppermint) to your step. The pop-up bar returns with cheeky drinks like the Hot Co-Ho-Ho (vodka or whiskey mixed with Mexican hot chocolate) and the Yellow Snow (Smirnoff Ice with lemonade). On Mondays, all drinks are $2 off.

Located at Milepost Zero, 1601 19th St., Suite 150, Denver. mcgregorsquare.com/events/sleigh-bar.

Snowdrift

Open now through Dec. 30

Physically in Denver, mentally on a warm Caribbean island. That’s the energy at Snowdrift, which takes over Adrift tiki bar with an abundance of decor and specialty eats and drinks. Adrift is known for its sharable punch bowl cocktails and this season’s festive flavor is the Ho Co-Co Gingerbread Nog, a mix of multiple rums, raspberry liqueur, coconut cream, gingerbread syrup, lemon juice and spices. Bring two to three of your best buds to share it with.

Located at Adrift, 218 S Broadway, Denver. adriftbar.com.

Tinseltown: The Christmas Speakeasy

Open now through Dec. 30

Expect cocktails and carols when you slip into Tinseltown, billed as a Christmas speakeasy because it’s hidden on the third floor of a building near the 16th Street Mall. Tickets ($15) are required for entry to this 90-minute holiday experience. Rumor has it Santa’s elves will be there for photo ops.

Located at The Venue at Denver Pavilions, 500 16th St., Suite 320, Denver. viralventuresusa.ticketspice.com/tinsel-town-denver.

Bonus one for the kids: Santa’s Little Man Factory

Open now through Dec. 31

So you can’t find a babysitter for the kiddos? No sweat. The holiday pop-up Santa’s Little Man Ice Cream Factory trades 21+ cocktails for family-friendly treats and entertainment, including ice cream-making classes, cookie decorating and gingerbread houses. All that plus an indoor slide and appearances by the big man himself. Pair it with Little Man’s seasonal ice cream flavors like eggnog, gingersnap and candy cane for a buzz minus the booze.

Located at Little Man Ice Cream Factory, 4411 W. Colfax Ave., Denver. littlemanicecreamfactory.com.

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“The creativity behind the pop-up is like making beer; I get a lot of joy out of it and to me, making a beer isn’t about throwing a bunch of ingredients together, it’s about evoking things from people’s senses,” said Bell, over the phone as he shopped for said pop-up at Home Depot.

“While generally those senses are the nose and mouth, they are also your eyes and how that beer looks, and Christmas is the same,” he added.

Bell’s wild decor inspiration hails from his hometown of New York City. There, a bar called Rolf’s German Restaurant, which opened in 1968, became famous for its holiday lights and decorations. During the month of December, it’s impossible to make a reservation, let alone get someone on the phone. You just have to go in and hope to score a seat. Now, Call to Arms has a similar following, though this will only be the second year Bell has gone over the top for the Christmas season.

Originally Bell planned on launching the pop-up, now dubbed Big Holiday Energy, in 2020. Of course, that was the time of COVID, and with the lack of in-person interactions and low funds, no one was doing much. Then came another shift, dumping his hard-earned and pricy barrel program to make room for an expensive canning facility so customers could bring Call to Arms’ award-winning Cherry Freedom Fries (a cherry saison), CTA IPA and Oats and Hose (oatmeal porter) home. The brewery also started working on a hazy IPA and a hard seltzer for the first time.

“I spent a ton of time brewing, dumping and changing hazies during COVID, and took a lot of feedback from customers,” added Bell. “I got good at something I wasn’t good at, and now Janet Reno’s Dance Party (an IPA) is our best seller.”

Between canning, working on new beers and tweaking older recipes, Bell and his brewery managed to get through the pandemic without closing. But, he said, it wasn’t easy.

“You kind of question it, as you are taking on loans and working hard to keep everyone safe, and you worry about the employees’ health and jobs,” said Bell. “But I think it’s the natural instinct of an entrepreneur not to give up. You’re blindly confident you will get through it, and though COVID punched me in the gut, I still thought I could keep doing it.”

After the emotional drain of going through the pandemic as a business owner, Bell did think about taking a step back from the day-to-day operations, even though it was all he has ever done since graduating in 2008. Instead, he kept fighting to stay open, and once bars and restaurants started to get their groove back, so did Call to Arms and Bell’s ideas for its future.

And in that future was a massive holiday pop-up.

“After COVID, everyone was like screw it, I want to do what I have been putting off, and people had a new view of life and focused on what they wanted to do,” said Bell, who had been planning the holiday decor for years at this point. “We got a new, fresh staff and that was like a new regeneration.”

Through that refresh, Big Holiday Energy came into fruition. To pull off the multi-room, totally-decked-out bar, Bell enlisted his label designer, Andy Geppelt, to help.

“He really came up with the bulk of it, and knew how to approach it from a design perspective,” said Bell. “I needed Andy’s help to look at each area and find out how to approach it, what will make it fun and exciting and not just stuff on the walls and ceilings. We were hoping everyone would love it and come out [to the brewery].”

Come they did. That first run in December 2022 was a hit. The bar was so packed, said Bell, it was hard to get a seat.

That year, the theme was generically “the holidays,” and each space represented different aspects and titles, which eventually became the permanent names for the bar. There was the White Room, featuring winter and snow; the Blue Room, decorated for Hanukkah; and the Christmas Tree Room, which showcased fully-decorated fake trees hung upside down off the ceiling. The brewery also laced the bar with wrapped presents, and filled the middle space with lights and garlands.

“That Wednesday night, I stayed late decorating and took a picture of the bar, which I accidentally posted to the brewery’s social media,” said Bell, who thought he was pinning a post on his personal account. “I woke up the next day and there were over 700 likes, and that was it. The next Thursday was double the sales and I couldn’t believe it.”

This year, promises Bell, will be even better, and the planned theme is beloved Christmas movies. Expect a giant tent outside on the patio, decked out with a chandelier wreath and plenty of twinkling lights, and more upside-down Christmas trees, festive lights, wafts of holiday scents and overall good cheer.

“It’s a lot of fun and great to watch people get jazzed on it,” said Bell, adding he is planning on hosting entertainment this season, too. “The best part really, is you’re sitting there, late afternoon by the front door, and see people who weren’t expecting it, and their jaws would just hit the floor.”

Join the holiday party through the New Year. Call to Arms Brewing is located at 4526 Tennyson St., and open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 3 to 10 p.m.;  Friday 2 to 11 p.m.; Saturday 12 to 11 p.m.; Sunday 12 to 9 p.m.; and Monday 3 to 9 p.m.

Linnea Covington is a freelance writer in Denver. 

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Either way you look at it, it’s been a big year for both — and it’s not over yet. At least three breweries have opened so far in the extended Denver metro in November.

Bearded Brewer Artisan Ales

Omaha-area brewery owners Kirk and Alyssa Hearon have teamed up with Longmont local Brandon Knudsen to open a second outpost of their Nebraska company, Bearded Brewer Artisan Ales. The brewery specializes in making adventurous beers and will have 18 different selections on tap. Current beers include a blueberry cotton candy sour, a cream ale with peanut butter and marshmallows, and a blonde ale with cinnamon roll flavors.

1425 S. Airport Road #100, Longmont; beardedbreweraa.com

Bent Barley Brewing II

Bent Barley Brewing, which opened in 2018 in Aurora’s Southlands Mall, 6200 S. Main St., added a second location this month in Centennial. The new spot has its own four-barrel brewing system and will make some of its own beer, according to owners Mark Job and Paul Dampier. Bent Barley specializes in making what the owners call “beer-flavored beer,” meaning straightforward styles, including a stout, an amber, a fruit blonde, a kolsch with honey and an IPA.

15416 E. Orchard Road, Centennial; bentbarley.com

Monolith Brewing

Professional brewer Stephen Monahan took over the former space belonging to Black Project Wild & Spontaneous Ales on South Broadway earlier this year, and has spent the past six months turning it into a new brewery with a new look and a new vision. Monolith Brewing opened earlier this month, using Black Project’s old system, and serving an IPA, a pale ale, a stout, a wheat, a chile beer and more. Beer styles will vary going forward.

1290 S. Broadway, Denver; monolithbrewing.com

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Brewery co-founder Dave Bergen said in a video on Facebook that he is making a very public announcement as a way to remain open and honest with customers.

“Joyride will be filing for Chapter 11 reorganization due to suspected financial malfeasance from a former manager,” Joyride said in its statement. “This filing has nothing to do with Joyride’s ability to run a successful and profitable business but rather, has everything to do with the improper and unauthorized spending as well as financial mismanagement from the former manager.

“During this time, Joyride will be reorganizing the brewery, and Dave Bergen has stepped in as president of the company, and he will also continue his role as director of marketing and brewing.

“Joyride will not be closing and everyone will still have their jobs,” the brewery added.

Bergen and Grant Babb opened Joyride in 2014 at 2501 Sheridan, in Edgewater, and added a rooftop patio several years later with views of Sloan’s Lake. Bergen has served as president of the Colorado Brewers Guild and is a very active member of the local brewery community.

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Tuesday. The aurally iconic voice behind “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” a classic of Christmas pop, will headline Ball Arena on Tuesday, Nov. 21, in what promises to be the most Christmas-y concert of the week (and that’s saying something).

The Denver show from Mariah Carey and her Merry Christmas One and All! tour is one of only 13 dates this winter. “This festive event is a celebration of the global superstar’s timeless collection of holiday classics including the record-breaking mega-hit, ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You,’ and fan favorite chart toppers,” promoter Live Nation wrote.

If that’s your jam, head to 1000 Chopper Circle in Denver for the 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets are still available, though be warned that many are pricey (if verified) resales from Ticketmaster. $85-$200, ticketmaster.com

The holiday explosion starts now

Through Dec. 31. This weekend sees a burst of family friendly holiday, including Denver Botanic Gardens’ massively popular Blossoms of Light (opening Friday, Jan. 17, through Jan. 7, but closed Nov. 25 and Dec. 25; tickets at botanicgardens.org) and the re-launch of Estes Park’s Catch the Glow Holiday Season programming, which will soon feature the Frosty Beer Fest (Dec. 9) and Holiday Wine Fest (Dec. 16).

For metro Denver and Aurora, there’s also the continually impressive ICE! event at Gaylord Rockies, which this year recounts the holiday classic movie “A Christmas Story” through hand-carved ice sculptures (seriously). The 2 million pounds of ice will be on display Nov. 17, through Jan. 1, 2024, alongside a host of other Christmas activities and shows there.

6700 North Gaylord Rockies Blvd. in Aurora. Phone: Tickets for the ICE! show are $19-$32 via christmasatgaylordrockies.marriott.com. Call 720-452-6900 for more.

7-year-old social media star at Denver Fashion Week

Through Sunday. Denver’s fall celebration of everything-Colorado-fashion wraps this weekend with a pair of very different, complementary runway programs featuring some of the best local and national designers.

Saturday, Nov. 18, brings back the popular Couture Show, featuring not just luxury looks but the Colorado debut of 7-year-old California design prodigy and social media sensation Max Alexander, who creates custom designs for actors such as Sharon Stone and displays them online to his nearly 2 million Instagram followers.

The Sunday, Nov. 19, closer is the Kids Fashion Show, a relaxed and color-splashed collection of Colorado designers, with a runway performance from Cherry Creek Dance. Both Denver Fashion Week events take place at York Street Yards, 3827 Steele St. in Denver. Tickets: $40-$185. Visit denverfashionweek.com/tickets for more.

A stunning array of “Wild Color”

Opens Friday. The truly breathtaking variety of hues in the natural world comes to life in the new temporary exhibit at Denver Museum of Nature & Science,  “Wild Color,” which opens Friday, Nov. 17. The included-with-admission show celebrates “the vibrant and untamed beauty of the natural world, showcasing a diverse collection of vivid flora and fauna,” curators wrote.

“Wander through rooms, each dedicated to a hue from the rainbow and grasp the profound roles colors play in the natural world. From the mystery of creatures that change color to shades that the human eye can’t perceive.” Content will be available in both English and Spanish.

Open 9-5 p.m. daily at 2001 Colorado Blvd. in Denver. Museum admission is $20-$25, and kids under 2 are free. Note: there’s also an SCFD free day coming up on Dec. 4. dmns.org

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