On South Broadway, Meier Skis is turning part of its working ski factory into La Couloir, a compact taphouse tucked inside the roughly 6,200-square-foot production floor. Visitors will be able to sip local beer, Colorado-made wine and straightforward cocktails while looking through interior windows at skis being built on the other side of the glass. The company will keep its tune shop humming and its factory tours rolling, then funnel guests into a space that is meant to feel like an après stop for both skiers and neighbors.
La Couloir's lineup
As reported by The Denver Post, Meier Skis plans to dedicate roughly 1,500 square feet of its South Broadway property to the taproom, which will be called La Couloir. The Post notes that the bar program will lean into local craft beers, Colorado-made wines and no-frills cocktails. For anyone who prefers their spirits with a little ski lodge flair, shot-skis will be available for use at the bar and as take-home merch.
Factory-first taproom and merch
The company has long pitched a "Craft Skiery" experience. Meier Skis shows a bar made from ski-core wood with windows that look directly onto the press, where visitors can watch skis being pressed in real time. The brand already lists shot-skis for sale on Meier Skis, so folding that party trick into a bar program was probably inevitable. The shop will keep operating its full-service tune operation for waxes and repairs while integrating the taproom into tours and events. Local TV outlet Denver7 reported that Meier applied for a city liquor license to officially run the space as a bar.
Why it matters to local skiers
Founded in 2009 and relocated to Denver in 2016, Meier says the La Couloir concept is the result of nearly three years of planning and permitting, according to The Denver Post. "We think Denver is a ski town," Michelle Kidd Eynon told the paper, explaining that the taproom is intended as a pre- or post-ski hangout for riders coming off nearby resorts. For locals, it is a chance to grab a drink, talk snow conditions and watch next season's boards come to life without ever leaving the city.
