{"id":1293,"date":"2025-10-30T13:00:53","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T14:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.agencywebdesigners.com\/?p=1293"},"modified":"2025-10-30T14:23:41","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T14:23:41","slug":"aurora-brewery-to-close-taproom-after-20-years-with-plans-to-open-a-new-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.agencywebdesigners.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/30\/aurora-brewery-to-close-taproom-after-20-years-with-plans-to-open-a-new-space\/","title":{"rendered":"Aurora brewery to close taproom after 20 years, with plans to open a new space"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kevin DeLange and Michelle Reding celebrated the 20th anniversary of Dry Dock Brewing Co.<\/a> last weekend at the Aurora taproom where they laid roots as one of the pioneers of Colorado\u2019s craft beer scene. Unbeknownst to fans, the party was as much as a toast to the past as it was to future changes.<\/p>\n

In January, Dry Dock will close its long-standing taproom at 15120 E. Hampden Ave. as it prepares to open a new brewpub elsewhere in the Denver metro area, the brewery announced Thursday. Additionally, DeLange and Reding are seeking a buyer for the attached homebrew supply shop, the Brew Hut, which has operated for 30 years.<\/p>\n

The announcement comes as Dry Dock continues to integrate its business with Longmont\u2019s Left Hand Brewing Co. The two craft beer stalwarts merged in April<\/a> in a deal that has since introduced Dry Dock\u2019s products into 15 new U.S. states, Mexico and the Netherlands, DeLange said.<\/p>\n

Relocating will allow Dry Dock, which currently holds a beer manufacturer license, to operate under Left Hand\u2019s brewpub license. The new location, expected to open in spring 2026, will serve food and \u201call that jazz,\u201d similar to Left Hand\u2019s newest spot in Denver<\/a>, DeLange said. The company is currently searching for real estate and will likely land south of downtown Denver, Reding said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe love this location and what we\u2019ve built here, but at the same time there\u2019s a lot of positive energy going into the future,\u201d Reding added.<\/p>\n

Still, the move marks the end of an era. Dry Dock opened in 2005 in what was then a 900-square-foot space, and it was among the first to add a tasting room where drinkers could seek out and try house-made beers, providing a blueprint for innumerable businesses thereafter.<\/p>\n

Over the two decades, DeLange and Reding expanded the brewery, and they expect it will remain one. In fact, they are currently in talks to have a new startup beer maker take it over at the beginning of next year, though they declined to say exactly who is behind it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s certainly bittersweet,\u201d DeLange said. \u201cWe started here 20 years ago in this strip mall in Aurora, so passing it on to someone else and having it be their brewery, it\u2019s exciting but bittersweet.\u201d<\/p>\n