As we near the end of 2023, several Colorado breweries are making changes. On November 30, 2023, two Colorado breweries reported significant news changes to their businesses. First, Living the Dream Brewing Co. in Littleton shared they will be opening a tap room at the Sterling Center in the Sterling Ranch neighborhood in Littleton. Then, one week later Living The Dream announced it would be taking over the assets and leases of Highlands Ranch’s Grist Brew Co. In an interview with the Denver Post, Grist Brew Co-owner Chuck Norman said, “Grist will still be alive, but what we do with it, I don’t know.”
Secondly, Jonathan Shikes of the Denver Post shared that Ursula Brewery of Aurora is selling its business to unnamed owners. The new owners will shut down the business temporarily and reopen under a new name at some point in the first half of 2024.
Living The Dream Brewing Taking Over Grist Brew Space & Second Taproom
Living the Dream Brewing opened in Littleton in 2014. Now it is moving to a bigger space and expanding to a second location nearly 10 years later.
“Littleton and Highlands Ranch are home base for us, and it was critical for us that we stay in the area,” says Living The Dream Founder Jason Bell. “We’ve been searching for a new space for a while now, looking for more seating, parking, and overall accessibility. We want to make our customers more comfortable and create opportunities for our growing staff.”
Opening in January 2024, Living the Dream will take over the Grist Brew Co. location at 9150 Commerce Center Cir #300 in Highlands Ranch. This space will allow for greater beer production and to meet the increased demand.
Second Taproom
In addition to moving locations, Living The Dream will also open a taproom at the Sterling Center in the Sterling Ranch neighborhood. This is also a former Grist Brew space. This second taproom is only a 7-minute drive from its original location with both spots being just off of US-85/Santa Fe Drive.
“We have been looking for potential additional locations for a little over a year,” Owner Jason Bell says. “The Sterling Ranch space is unique as it is already done and located within the Sterling Ranch Community Center along with Atlas Coffee. Also, we already draw customers from Sterling Ranch so the added convenience just makes sense.”
“The seating is communal within the community center,” Bell added. “The space itself is very open with amazing natural light and views.” Bell expects with the 400 square foot space already in great condition that adding their Living The Dream touches and operations to open should go smoothly. “We do plan on expanding to-go options for the community residents as well as getting involved with the Sterling Ranch community events.”
In 2020, Living The Dream Brewing won a Bronze Medal at the Great American Beer Festival in the Herb and Spice Beer for its Powder Run Vanilla Cream Ale, one of its flagship beers. Another fun fact about Living The Dream is Bell’s son, Teddy Bell, is part of the brewing team.
Ursula Brewery Sells to New Owners, Closed Temporarily
Originally opened in 2014 as Coda Brewing on the Anschutz Campus in Aurora, the brewery changed its name to Ursula Brewery in 2016. Owner Scott Procop is now selling the Ursula Brewery as he told the Denver Post, stating, “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.”
One of Ursula’s has some great beers including Xocolatl Mexican Hot Chocolate Imperial Stout, Crustless, and Imperial Crustless, a Peanut Butter & Jelly Porter.
Procop owns and will continue to run the Cedar Creek Pub across the street from Ursula Brewery.
