A well-loved brewpub in downtown Boulder, Walnut Brewery, announced Thursday that they will be closing their doors on June 4th after 27 years of business. Where Boulder Beer Co. gets to claim its place as Boulder’s first brewery, Walnut Brewery was Boulder’s first brewpub; a contribution that I, for one, greatly appreciate. If you haven’t (or even if you have) had their chicken friend chicken n’ waffles, I highly suggest giving it a try with the Buffalo Gold ale.

The current owners of Walnut Brewery report that ownership of the brewery will transfer to Frank Day, owner of the Boulderado Hotel, and Boulder Beer Co. Following a brief transition period, the newly branded location is scheduled to open in July. Day and the partners of Boulder Beer say that they do not plan to change much, continuing to offer Walnut Brewery favorites in addition to using the space for small-batch and specialty brews.

What does this mean for us? I’m hoping it means that they’ll be keeping beers like Buffalo Gold, St. James Irish Red Ale, Old Elk Brown Ale, and Indian Peaks Pale Ale for us on tap alongside staple Boulder Beer offerings while introducing unique brews that they concoct in small-batches. It sounds like we’ll be able to continue enjoying our old favorites and experiment with finding new ones.

So, I recommend taking some time this beautiful weekend or in the coming weeks to appreciate this brewery before it goes. It is always sad to see a long-standing brewery close its doors, especially one that has a claim to being one of the firsts in such a flourishing craft brewing community, but it is heartening to know that the legacy will linger in the Walnut Brewery location and will give life to a new venture.

Cheers!

Krista Davis

Krista is a native of Nebraska who left all that corn behind for the Rocky Mountain lifestyle. She graduated from the University of Denver with BAs in English and Anthropology and is currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing from CU. In the ceaseless search for inspiration, her passions for writing and culture led her to another great love: Colorado microbreweries. When she’s not trying the new IPA on tap, Krista can be found hiking Chautauqua, running the Boulder Creek Path, or curled up with a good book