Despite Closures, Phoenix Welcoming Large Denver Craft Brewery

Four Peaks is one brewery Foundation will be competing with.Photo byElevateonUnsplash

It took time for the craft beer movement to fully pick up steam, but once it did, it ran like a runaway locomotive down a steep hill. There was no stopping it or slowing it down. Microbreweries popped open on street corners, many hawking beers that tasted identical to the breweries across the street. To stay competitive the new brans pushed the limits on new brews, releasing seasonal after seasonal, IPA after IPA. Many even leaned into quirky brews only made under a full moon. Despite doing whatever they could to stand out, eventually, the locomotive skidded off the tracks. This has led to breweries closing up shop left and right. Just the other day in Phoenix, Little O’s closed down. Several local breweries in Tucson have done the same. And yet, despite this, a new brewery looks to push its way past failure and open up in the heart of downtown Phoenix. 

Back at the height of the craft beer boom, Denver Beer Company opened in 2011. Over the past decade, the Colorado-based craft brewery has nestled itself into the state’s already bustling beer scene. Anyone who has been in the craft beer market for a while remembers when New Belgium and Odell reigned supreme and when the only way to grab a bottle of suds was to drive into the state. While it’s significantly easier to sample beers these days (and New Belgium is no longer independent and instead owned by a Japanese company), Denver Beer’s ability to navigate the market and remain a viable operation has proven impressive. 

The owners of Denver Beer have since set their sights on Phoenix as the destination to launch their next venture. Of course, opening “Denver Beer” in the heart of Arizona likely wouldn’t play well, which is why the new location will be called Foundation Brewery. 

Foundation Brewery will open at 925 North 5th Street. The 10,000-square-foot space will give patrons more than enough space to sip their favorite pint while sampling the wide selection of food. The brews will be made on-site, as the facility will have a 19-tank brewhouse. Renovations are currently in the works (as is the brewing process). 

There is no exact word yet as to when the brewery will open, it is expected to begin welcoming guests at some point this year. With the additional amount of time it takes for such large facilities, as well as the licensing needed (not to mention the several months it takes to produce certain styles of beer), chances are the brewery will open near the end of the fourth quarter, 2024.