That Was Rad: The Empourium #POURtrait
Introducing That Was Rad, a series that tells the stories of projects that we’ve had the professional privilege to be a part of. First up: #POURtrait photos at The Empourium.
Hey y’all! It’s Em Hutto. While I type, I’m sipping a beautiful dark lager called The Nightman Cometh brewed by our friends at The Empourium Brewing Co. and sporting my favorite pair of yoga pants— also created by The Empourium. I’m here to launch a new series that tells the stories of projects that we’ve had the professional privilege to be a part of.
Introducing That Was Rad.
We stay busy celebrating the work of our partners, but it’s rare that we pause to celebrate our own. Some wise folks have advised us to do so lately… so here we go.
We’re kicking it off by showcasing our work with The Empourium Brewing Co., who just celebrated their fourth anniversary last weekend!
We’re proud to say that we’ve worked with this standout brewing company in Denver’s Berkeley neighborhood since their start. Co-Owners Greg and Sara Fetzer told us that when they opened their own brewery, we’d be one of their first marketing calls. Sure enough, they called and the rest is history.
Included in that history is the #POURtrait concept that we teamed up on to showcase the eximious mural by Drew Button that shines on the west wall of their tasting room. Our friends hired Drew to paint a mural that would anchor their space as a community hub. To capture this ethos, he pulled in vibrant colors of red and yellow, with each fragment spilling across the background as a golden grain, a sliver of fruit, a chunk of passion, a new idea—all together to create an explosion of potential bursting into the unknown. If there was a “Top Ten Brewery Murals” list out there (maybe we should create one), The Emporium’s would make the list every year.
So what is a #POURtrait?
It’s a selfie or a photoshoot in front of The Empourium’s gorgeous mural, preferably with a beer in hand. Back in February 2020, we activated this hashtag with a photo contest for the most creative submission. We also invited beer photographer extraordinaire Holly Gerard out to create an album of The Empourium’s guests posing in front of it during a First Friday celebration. This event was a blast, and we saw the hashtag appear on Instagram for weeks to come.
Check out some of Holly’s photos here, and in this Instagram post!
Over their four years in business, Greg and Sara have indeed anchored the Tennyson Street, Berkeley neighborhood, Denver, and Colorado beer scenes in their hospitable, dog-friendly space that serves truly world-class beers. First Friday celebrations have continued, as well as their annual Freshtober Fest that’s become a can’t-miss autumn event in the Mile High City. They collaborate with their neighbors, they give back to causes that they’re passionate about, and they have a lot of fun doing what they do.
Oh, and they make pristine, repeatable beers that win awards, too! In 2022, their Atari’s Lantern jasmine rice lager earned a bronze medal in the American-Style Lager category at the World Beer Cup®!
At RadCraft one of our mantras is great beer, better people. It’s an honor to work with a company that exemplifies these simple but powerful four words. Cheers to that, and cheers to them!
Freshtober Fest by The Empourium Returns To Denver’s Berkeley Neighborhood October 15, 2022
Freshtober Fest 2022 at The Empourium Brewing Co. in the Denver Berkeley neighborhood will feature ten breweries pouring their fresh hop expressions.
The Empourium Owners Sara and Greg Fetzer
DENVER, CO— The Empourium Brewing Co. brings back its beloved celebration of fresh hop beers to the Berkeley neighborhood for the third year on Saturday, October 15 from noon to 6pm.
Freshtober Fest 2022 will feature ten breweries pouring their fresh hop expressions (the brewery list is below), The Hucklebearers at 12:30pm and Westword’s best new band of 2022 Traveling Rose Band at 3:30pm, eats from local favorite food trucks Little Red’s Kitchen and Pho King Rapidos. The Empourium will also host its annual denim drive to support The St. Francis Center. It’s all going down on the brewery patio that’s expanded into 42nd Street for the day.
The Empourium will also bring back its fresh hop beer Now & Forever, made with El Dorado hops from Hop Head Farms that were overnighted to the brewery for supreme freshness. This beer will return in a can with new label art for 2022.
Tickets cost $45 and include a festival glass and beer tokens for beers poured on the patio. Guests can also purchase full pints inside of the tasting room that can be taken back outside. Bring your friends, bring your jeans, and come ready to taste the season’s freshest hops all in one place.
Freshtober Fest 2022 Breweries
Barquentine Brewing
Berkeley Alley Beer Co.
Call to Arms Brewing
FlyteCo Brewing
Goldspot Brewing
Hogshead
Joyride Brewing
Odell Brewing
The Empourium Brewing Co.
Uhl’s Brewing
Media interested in attending or with questions can contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.
ABOUT THE EMPOURIUM BREWING CO.
Located in the heart of Denver’s Berkeley Neighborhood, The Empourium is a gathering place for all— patrons and beer styles alike. Armed with true to style recipes and local pride, owners Greg and Sara Fetzer, Mike Cugini, and Justin Vallely focus their efforts to craft a warm, lively community hub centered around balanced, sessionable beers guaranteed to bring people together. Visit The Empourium at 4385 W. 42nd Avenue or online at theempourium.com.
The Empourium Brewing Wins 2022 World Beer Cup Medal For Atari’s Lantern Rice Lager
Berkeley Neighborhood Brewery Recognized at Global Beer Competition
DENVER, CO— The Empourium Brewing Company is beyond stoked to announce their recent win at the 2022 World Beer Cup® in the American-Style Lager category.
On the heels of a successful third anniversary celebration, this local brewery in Denver’s Berkeley neighborhood continues celebrating with their first win in this prestigious global beer competition. This year, an international panel of 226 beer judges from 28 countries selected the winners for the largest World Beer Cup competition to date with 10,542 entries from 2,493 breweries in 57 countries. The American-Style Lager category had 100 entries.
The Empourium’s Atari’s Lager is a 4.8% ABV, easy-drinking Pilsner that employs flaked and Jasmine rice for about a third of its grist. It’s a lightly hopped, crisp and delicate craft lager that finishes dry. Its namesake is a reference to the Wes Anderson movie Isle of Dogs and like all of The Empourium’s beers, named out of pop culture inspiration and connectability with their customers. “If you've been to the Berkeley neighborhood, you know that it often feels like there are just as many dogs then there are people walking around,” says Co-Founder and Head Brewer Greg Fetzer. “About anytime you walk into the taproom or patio you'll see multiple of our furry neighborhood friends hanging out and we love it. This name and label was for all those goofballs.”
Notably, this batch of Atari’s Lantern is the first one that The Empourium has served. “That'll obviously have to change,” Fetzer says, explaining that a fresh batch is scheduled into the brew schedule this week. Fans will have to wait patiently for it to tap in approximately eight weeks, though they’ll never rush a batch… ever, he adds.
“Lagers are incredibly subtle and delicate beers that require attention to detail and a whole hell of a lot of patience. You don't have loads of hops or fruit to hide behind,” Fetzer says. “As a brewer when you release a light lager, you're really putting yourself out there saying ‘hey, here is what I can do’.” He and his team huddled behind a laptop in the back of the brewhouse on a busy Thursday night to catch the World Beer Cup awards, and they couldn’t be prouder to produce a beer recognized at this level.
Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com with media inquiries about The Empourium Brewing Co. or Atari’s Lantern Rice Lager.
ABOUT THE EMPOURIUM BREWING CO.
Located in the heart of Denver’s Berkeley Neighborhood, The Empourium is a gathering place for all— patrons and beer styles alike. Armed with true to style recipes and local pride, owners Greg and Sara Fetzer, Mike Cugini, and Justin Vallely focus their efforts to craft a warm, lively community hub centered around balanced, sessionable beers guaranteed to bring people together. Visit The Empourium at 4385 W. 42nd Avenue or online at theempourium.com
The Empourium Brewing Celebrates Three Years of Craft Beer in Denver’s Berkeley Neighborhood April 15 and 16
In the truest fashion for this spirited Denver craft brewery, their three anniversary beers are named with some of their favorite movie references.
DENVER, CO— Three times is a charm for The Empourium Brewing Company, who will commemorate three years in business with their Anniversary Party on April 15 and 16. This will be the first year that the Berkeley neighborhood brewery can celebrate to the fullest without COVID closure or restrictions, and you’re invited.
The Empourium will release three beers in honor of the occasion. In the truest fashion for this spirited brewery, these beers are named with some of their favorite pop culture references. On Friday April 15, look for the release of a Zoiglbier called You Son Of A Bitch I’m In! This bottom-fermented lager will be poured straight from the fermenter for guests to see through the glass brewery doors.
The Empourium will bring back its cold, lager yeast-fermented IPA, Freezing My Nay Nays Off, on Saturday April 16. Also debuting Saturday, the third beer is a farmhouse ale, Don't Have a Good Day, Have a Great Day, crafted with juniper berries and lemon peel, and fermented with Norwegian kveik yeast.
Come for the beer, stay for the live music and fresh eats from The Empourium’s favorite food trucks. On Friday, Man of 1000 Songs will play at 6pm, and on Saturday Stephen Castle will kick off live music at 1pm followed by The Traveling Rose Band at 3pm. Little Red’s Kitchen will serve on Friday, and Pho King Rapidos will roll up on Saturday. This anniversary weekend also marks the last weekend for the brewery’s extended patio, which will scale back in the recovery days after the party.
After three years, The Empourium has become a Tennyson Street staple. The brewery is excited to expand their self distribution in 2022. They plan to experiment with barrel aged beers and new flavors, with no plans of stopping their movie-inspired beer names.
“We feel like this is the first year in our company history that we get to have this celebration as intended,” says The Empourium co-founder Sara Fetzer. “We couldn’t have gotten through these last three years without our community, so we’re thrilled to welcome them out to drink these new beers with us.”
If you’d like to attend or cover this anniversary celebration, contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer.com.
ABOUT THE EMPOURIUM BREWING CO.
Located in the heart of Denver’s Berkeley Neighborhood, The Empourium is a gathering place for all— patrons and beer styles alike. Armed with true to style recipes and local pride, owners Greg and Sara Fetzer, Mike Cugini, and Justin Vallely focus their efforts to craft a warm, lively community hub centered around balanced, sessionable beers guaranteed to bring people together. Visit The Empourium at 4385 W. 42nd Avenue or online at theempourium.com
The Empourium Brings Back Fresh-tober Fest to Denver’s Berkeley Neighborhood October 9
Fresh-tober Fest quickly became one of the Berkeley neighborhood’s favorite festivals in 2019, and after a pandemic hiatus it’s back with even more beers.
DENVER, CO— The Empourium Brewing Co. will bring back the Fresh-tober Fest fresh hop festival on October 9, and this year they’re closing down a section of Tennyson Street so festival goers have even more room to enjoy beers from seven additional local Denver breweries, food trucks, and live music.
Fresh-tober Fest quickly became one of the Berkeley neighborhood’s favorite festivals in 2019, and after a pandemic hiatus it’s back with even more beers. The Empourium will tap its famed fresh hop beer, Now & Forever, a 6.2% ABV IPA that radiates hop freshness from Cashmere hops sourced from Hop Head Farms in Michigan.
The Empourium has invited seven of its brewery friends to serve their fresh hop creations at Fresh-toberfest. The $25 presale ticket scores each guest a pour of each featured beer from Barquentine Brewing, Call to Arms Brewing, Comrade Brewing, De Steeg Brewing, FlyteCo Brewing, Goldspot Brewing and Joyride Brewing. The ticket price increases to $30 the day before the festival. Day-of, guests can purchase additional full pours for $6 each.
This alternative Oktoberfest celebration will also feature eats from Little Red’s Kitchen and Pho King Rapidos, and live music. The event benefits the St. Francis Center, a refuge for men and women who are homeless in the metro Denver area. Fresh-tober Fest will include a jean drive again for this organization, for which guests are encouraged to bring a new or gently used pair of jeans to donate.
Don’t miss Fresh-tober Fest on Saturday, October 9 from 12 to 6pm in front of The Empourium, located at 4385 W 42nd Ave, Denver, Colorado 80212.
Contact Emily Hutto at hutto@radcraftbeer for the complete Fresh-tober Fest beer list and to connect with The Empourium for an interview about this second annual festival.
ABOUT THE EMPOURIUM
Located in the heart of Denver’s Berkeley Neighborhood, The Empourium is a gathering place for all— patrons and beer styles alike. Armed with true to style recipes and local pride, owners Greg and Sara Fetzer, Mike Cugini, and Justin Vallely focus their efforts to craft a warm, lively community hub centered around balanced, sessionable beers guaranteed to bring people together. Visit The Empourium at 4385 W. 42nd Avenue or online at theempourium.com
The Empourium To Release A Plethora of Piñatas Mexican Lager For First Friday in May
Would you say you have “ A Plethora of Piñatas”?
DENVER, CO— Coronavirus can’t stop The Empourium from their First Friday beer release tradition. The Berkeley neighborhood brewery will release A Plethora of Piñatas Mexican Lager on Friday, May 1— just in time for Cinco de Mayo (Zoom) celebrations.
This Mexican Lager is crafted with flaked corn in its grain bill that imparts soft mouthfeel and a tinge of malt sweetness on the finish. True to its style, A Plethora of Piñatas is light, clean, and crisp— and a sessionable 4.9% ABV.
The Empourium hits another home run on 80’s pop culture-inspired beer names, this one a reference to the western comedy Three Amigos circa 1986. “This movie always makes us giggle!” says Head Brewer and Co-Owner Greg Fetzer.
The Little Red's Kitchen food truck will be available for takeaway orders and The Empourium will have beer available to-go from 2 to 6pm on Friday, May 1.
Contact Erin Hamrick at erin@radcraftbeer.com for more information The Empourium Brewing Company.
ABOUT THE EMPOURIUM BREWING COMPANY
Located in the heart of Denver’s Berkeley Neighborhood, The Empourium is a gathering place for all— patrons and beer styles alike. Armed with true to style recipes and local pride, owners Greg and Sara Fetzer, Mike Cugini, and Justin Vallely focus their efforts to craft a warm, lively community hub centered around balanced, sessionable beers guaranteed to bring people together. Visit The Empourium at 4385 W. 42nd Avenue or online at theempourium.com.
The Empourium To Release Obey Session IPA For First Friday in March
The Empourium will release Obey Session IPA on Friday, March 6 as part of the Tennyson neighborhood’s First Friday activities. Come by, take your #POURtrait, and taste this beer as fresh as it gets.
WHAT: The Empourium will release Obey Session IPA on Friday, March 6 as part of the Tennyson neighborhood’s First Friday activities. The evening will include a photography session by Holly Gerard for the brewery #POURtrait challenge.
Ever seen Shepard Fairey's Obey Giant street art? It was the inspiration behind Obey Session IPA, a 4.5% ABV IPA that’s a harmonious mix of old school and new school. Strong malt backbone holds up to copious amounts of late hopping goodness of Centennial and Chinook hops. This IPA is bursting with flavors and aromas of pineapple, grapefruit, and a hint of pine.
Enjoy an Obey Session IPA as you strike a pose in front of the brewery’s original Drew Button mural. Customers are encouraged to post their photos on instagram tagging The Empourium and the artist @dbuttonink, with the #POURtrait hashtag. Submissions are due by April 10, with the winner announced at the first anniversary party on April 18. The winner scores free beer for a year from The Empourium, brewery swag, a framed print of the original hand-drawn mural concept, and a fresh RadCraft t-shirt.
Holly Gerard of Aperture and Ales Photography (@apertureofales) will be onsite from 5 to 7pm to capture #POURtrait photos. Find an album of images on The Empourium’s Facebook page after the event.
Little Red’s Kitchen will be onsite serving up some delicious grub. Find more details in this Facebook event.
WHEN: Friday, March 6 from 12 to 11pm; Aperture of Ales #POURtrait Session from 5 to 7pm
WHERE: The Empourium Brewing Company, 4385 W. 42nd Ave, Denver, Colorado 80212
Contact Erin Hamrick at erin@radcraftbeer.com for more information about this First Friday release, the #POURtrait challenge, or with any other inquiries about The Empourium Brewing Company.
ABOUT THE EMPOURIUM BREWING COMPANY
Located in the heart of Denver’s Berkeley Neighborhood, The Empourium is a gathering place for all— patrons and beer styles alike. Armed with true to style recipes and local pride, owners Greg and Sara Fetzer, Mike Cugini, and Justin Vallely focus their efforts to craft a warm, lively community hub centered around balanced, sessionable beers guaranteed to bring people together. Visit The Empourium at 4385 W. 42nd Avenue or online at theempourium.com.
The Empourium Releases The Nightman Cometh Schwarzbier for Tennyson First Friday
The Nightman Cometh Schwarzbier was inspired by the show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
WHAT: The Empourium will release The Nightman Cometh Schwarzbier on Friday, February 7 as part of the Tennyson neighborhood’s First Friday activities.
The Nightman Cometh Schwarzbier was inspired by the show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Whether you are a champion of the sun or a master of karate, this smooth, sessionable black lager is the perfect way to round out the winter season. It rocks hints of dark chocolate and roast that finish clean and dry. At only 4.9%, you should probably have another for good measure.
Little Red’s Kitchen will serve a special Philly-themed menu for this First Friday tapping. Find more details in this Facebook event.
WHEN: Friday, February 7 from 12pm to 11pm
WHERE: The Empourium Brewing Company, 4385 W 42nd Ave, Denver, Colorado 80212
Contact Erin Hamrick at erin@radcraftbeer.com for more information about The Nightman Cometh or The Empourium Brewing Company.
ABOUT THE EMPOURIUM BREWING COMPANY
Located in the heart of Denver’s Berkeley Neighborhood, The Empourium is a gathering place for all— patrons and beer styles alike. Armed with true to style recipes and local pride, owners Greg and Sara Fetzer, Mike Cugini, and Justin Vallely focus their efforts to craft a warm, lively community hub centered around balanced, sessionable beers guaranteed to bring people together. Visit The Empourium at 4385 W. 42nd Avenue or online at theempourium.com
The Empourium To Host First-Ever Fresh-tober Fest in Denver’s Berkeley Neighborhood
Fresh-tober Fest is The Empourium’s alternative for the traditional Oktoberfest celebration.
WHAT: Denver’s Berkeley neighborhood gets fresh this fall season with Fresh-tober Fest hosted by The Empourium Brewing Company and accompanied by Call to Arms Brewing Company, The Grateful Gnome Sandwich Shoppe & Brewery, De Steeg Brewing and FlyteCo Brewing!
The Empourium’s fresh hop beer is Now & Forever, a 6.2% ABV IPA with seven pounds per barrel of fresh hops. It’s extra fresh and not so bitter.
Fresh-tober Fest is The Empourium’s alternative for the traditional Oktoberfest celebration— in this rendition each brewery will feature their own fresh hop beer creations! Little Red’s Kitchen will sling German-themed eats and three local bands will perform live throughout the day. Rose Finn will play from 1 to 3pm, The Blowholes from 3:30 to 5:30pm, and Show and Tell from 6 to 8pm. Bring your dancing shoes!
This festival will benefit the St. Francis Center, a refuge for men and women who are homeless in the metro Denver area. Fresh-toberfest will include a jean drive for St. Francis Center. Guests are encouraged to bring a new or gently used pair of jeans to donate.
Tickets are not required for this event. Each 12oz pour will cost $5. Guests can purchase custom festival glassware for $10, which includes a first free beer.
WHEN: Saturday, October 12 from noon to 8pm
WHERE: The Empourium Brewing Company, 4385 W 42nd Ave, Denver, Colorado 80212
Contact Erin Hamrick at erin@radcraftbeer.com for the complete Fresh-tober Fest beer list and to connect with The Empourium for an interview about this inaugural festival.
ABOUT THE EMPOURIUM
Located in the heart of Denver’s Berkeley Neighborhood, The Empourium is a gathering place for all— patrons and beer styles alike. Armed with true to style recipes and local pride, owners Greg and Sara Fetzer, Mike Cugini, and Justin Vallely focus their efforts to craft a warm, lively community hub centered around balanced, sessionable beers guaranteed to bring people together. Visit The Empourium at 4385 W. 42nd Avenue or online at theempourium.com
