RiNo’s old Mockery Brewing space is trading snark for sunflowers this spring, as Denver brewer Jacob Sabo gets ready to open Flower Shop Beer Werks at 3501 Delgany Street. The new microbrewery will squeeze into roughly 900 square feet, with a cozy taproom that leans hard into a greenhouse vibe, plenty of plants and unfussy seating. Instead of chasing the latest hype, Sabo says he is focused on approachable beers at wallet-friendly prices, while still playing with floral and fruit-forward recipes, nonalcoholic options and the occasional oddball release. He and his wife, Ava Olmstead, plan to run the operation themselves at the outset.
According to BusinessDen, Sabo bought the brewing tanks that were already in the building for about $15,000 and is aiming to produce at least 2,000 barrels a year out of the compact spot. Roughly half of that volume is expected to be contract brewing for other brands, and about 75 percent of total production is slated for distribution rather than relying only on pints poured in-house. The taproom lineup will feature flagships like a Nordic ale, a lavender cream ale and a porter, alongside more experimental options such as a strawberry habanero hazy and a cedar-infused IPA.
A Short, Busy History For 3501 Delgany
The Delgany Street address has not exactly been a long-term commitment kind of space. It was home to Mockery Brewing until 2023, then cycled through out-of-state taprooms and a neighborhood bar, per Westword. Those quick turnovers mirror a broader pattern among small RiNo taprooms, where operators have been testing different concepts and price points to keep crowds coming. The small footprint has effectively turned the building into a proving ground for pop-ups, contract-focused outfits and short-run taproom experiments.
Commissary Model And Local Partnerships
Sabo built his reputation in Denver’s small-batch brewing world and co-founded the Cheetah Coalition brewing commissary, a background that informs his latest venture. His plan for Flower Shop Beer Werks combines a neighborhood taproom with a compact production hub, according to BusinessDen. The outlet reports that Flower Shop will produce two lagers under the Vertigo Beer USA label for the Hispanic Restaurant Association, while food in the taproom will be handled by Heritage Flame Barbecue. Sabo and Olmstead will operate the bar themselves as they ramp up both production and distribution, and he told the publication he expects to open the taproom in the coming months.
Why Distribution Is Central
Colorado’s craft beer scene has tightened considerably in recent years. One local count put pandemic-era brewery closures in the triple digits, and industry groups have noted that more breweries closed than opened nationwide in 2024. Per Denverite, the Colorado Beverage Coalition tallied roughly 140 closures in the state since the pandemic, a sobering backdrop that has pushed many new breweries to emphasize distribution and contract brewing instead of relying solely on taproom traffic. Sabo’s distribution-first approach fits that landscape and gives the tiny RiNo space a shot at more stable revenue than weekend crowds alone can provide.
The brewery’s modest scale and focus on accessible pricing are a deliberate response to what Sabo and other brewers see as a saturated, increasingly expensive market for full-scale brewpubs. For RiNo regulars, Flower Shop Beer Werks is shaping up to be another laid-back, plant-filled stop in a neighborhood that is still very much experimenting with what kind of taproom model can truly stick.
