In honor of Women’s History Month, we would like to shine the spotlight on Kokopelli Beer Company. Kokopelli Beer Company is the first solely woman-owned and operated brewpub in the state of Colorado. Located in the Solaire Shoppes at 8931 Harlan Street in Westminster Colorado, they are across from the Downtown Westminster development at Highway 36 & Sheridan. We spoke with owner Christine Wares about her journey to becoming a brewpub owner.
When did you start Kokopelli and why?
CW: I first started Kokopelli in 2013 -- after 30 years in a telecommunications career! I created Kokopelli Beer from the ground up. I happened to be the first woman in Colorado to solely open and operate a brewpub. We officially opened our doors in early 2014, and our main goal was to create a place that people could come and meet friends and family – as well as make new friends and memories. Creating beers and food that people enjoy was our top priority. I absolutely love the interaction with our community.
How did you settle on the name “Kokopelli” and the logo
CW: The Kokopelli is a symbol of many Native American tribes in the Southwestern United State. While usually depicted as a humpbacked flute player, our Kokopelli finds that our delicious brews are what gets his feet moving! And since we planned to offer our ales in both mugs and bottles, we decided that we needed two Kokopellis to model the proper procedure of drinking a quality handcrafted ale. Coincidentally, I also have twin daughters!
What are some customer favorites on your menu?
CW: There are so many beer favorites! We have 27 of our beers on tap all the time. Some of the favorites are our Blarney Stone Irish Red, Nitro Stouts, and four different IPA's. We have won many awards on our beers over the last eight years. We also offer a full food menu – all made with fresh ingredients, many made from scratch – and some made with beer!
To learn more about Kokopelli, including hours and full menu, check out their website: https://kokopellibeerco.com/
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