After a decade of slinging pints in Denver's Regis neighborhood, Goldspot Brewing Co. is calling last call at its Lowell Boulevard taproom this Sunday. Owner Kelissa Hieber announced that the combination of a building sale and mounting operating pressures pushed the neighborhood spot to shut its doors, with this final weekend serving as a farewell before the team pivots to distribution and off-site events.
Speaking with Westword, Hieber said she found out the building that houses Goldspot was being sold about a week before Christmas and added that "Denver County is just making it impossible for breweries to survive in every single way." The timing, coupled with a planned water-pipe replacement along Lowell Boulevard, made it unrealistic to keep operating there, she told the outlet. Goldspot had been profitable in earlier years, but Hieber said the brewery has seen business slide in more recent seasons.
Local Beer Scene Under Strain
Goldspot's closure is part of a broader shakeout in Colorado's craft beer world. About 40 breweries closed statewide last year, and nearly 150 have shuttered since 2020, according to BusinessDen. The outlet also detailed a new commissary-style project called the Cheetah Coalition, which Goldspot's team is involved in. The effort is structured so small labels can share equipment, trim startup costs, and avoid the financial gut punch of leasing and building out a large production space on their own. Supporters say that kind of cooperative model might be one of the few ways emerging brands can still get a foothold.
What Comes Next: Pop-ups and Distribution
Goldspot’s taps will not go dry entirely. The brewery plans to keep beer flowing outside its own four walls while it figures out a longer-term home. Pop-ups are set to kick off at Brewability on Sunday, February 8, with service on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Mondays from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., according to Westword. Brewability, a community-minded Englewood brewery that employs adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, offered Goldspot the space for these pop-ups, Hieber told the outlet. The arrangement means the Goldspot name will still show up on taps and at events around Colorado, even after the Regis taproom shuts down.
A Neighborhood Loss and an Uncertain Next Chapter
Goldspot opened in 2015 and became a staple for northwest Denver drinkers; Hieber purchased the business outright in 2021 and cultivated it as a women- and queer-owned gathering place, according to The Denver Post. Hieber has stressed that "Goldspot isn't going away" as a brand, even as the taproom closes, saying the team will concentrate on distribution and special events while it searches for a more permanent solution. For now, the final weekend in Regis doubles as a goodbye party and a chance for neighbors and industry friends to tip one last pint in support of the staff as they head into their next chapter.
