Great Divide Brewing Co. Planning for a Fifth Location (Local Tips & Reviews)

Per a Lone Tree building permit application, the Great Divide Brewing Co. is expanding again. With no official completion date set, plans are in the works for a new taproom and kitchen at 9878 Schwab Way.

Great Divide set up its initial Denver brewery in 1994 a few blocks south of Coors Field, just three years after the Rockies rolled into town. Riding the early wave of the craft brew renaissance, the new brewery was quick to grow a loyal customer base with signature brews like Titan IPA, Samurai Rice Ale, Denver Pale Ale, and Yeti Imperial Stout.

The brewery’s initial success was not only due to serendipitous timing. Before opening Great Divide’s doors, founder Brian Dunn first spent five years overseas building out farms in developing countries. Here, Dunn expanded his palate and appreciation for good brew that began with a family “the valued good food and drink” (per Great Divide). Upon his return to Colorado, Dunn doubled down on his development knowledge in graduate school while learning how to home brew on the side. After conducting a marketing study and putting together a business plan, Dunn gathered financing from family, friends, and a City of Denver loan to open the first Great Divide’s doors.

In 2001, just a few years later, the brewery purchased the building where it was founded. The former dairy processing plant set the stage for a massive expansion in 2015 — a two-year project that led to a massive production building and canning facility with the connected Barrel Bar in the RiNo district, offering up a taproom and associated food truck.

With production facilities rolling, Great Divide’s growth kept increasing. This resulted in the Great Divide Taphouse & Kitchen full-service dining experience in the Denver Airport in 2019 and a partnership with Vibe Concepts to open the 8,000 square foot Great Divide Brewery & Roadhouse in Castle Rock in 2020.

There’s no word yet on what the Lone Tree build out will include, but people can certainly expect the same quality service, elevated comfort food, and creative brews that Great Divide has been delivering to the Denver area for nearly the past three decades.