{"id":807215,"date":"2020-05-07T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-07T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/?p=382745"},"modified":"2020-05-07T16:00:00","modified_gmt":"2020-05-07T22:00:00","slug":"empty-taprooms-full-cans-how-breweries-are-adjusting-to-the-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/local-news\/empty-taprooms-full-cans-how-breweries-are-adjusting-to-the-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Empty taprooms, full cans: How breweries are adjusting to the pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image p402_hide\">\n<div class=\"caption-container\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/05\/BreweriesCOVID-SDN-050620-1-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/05\/BreweriesCOVID-SDN-050620-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/05\/BreweriesCOVID-SDN-050620-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/05\/BreweriesCOVID-SDN-050620-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/05\/BreweriesCOVID-SDN-050620-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/05\/BreweriesCOVID-SDN-050620-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/p><figcaption><strong>Greg Cook sells a four-pack of to-go beer at Angry James Brewing Co. in Silverthorne on Wednesday, May 6.<\/strong><br \/><em>Liz Copan \/ ecopan@summitdaily.com<\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>FRISCO \u2014 Liquor sales are up across the country because of coronavirus-related stay-at-home orders. Yet the boost doesn\u2019t translate to every facet of the alcohol industry, as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brewersassociation.org\/insights\/brewery-sales-dropping-sharply-many-set-to-close\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">a recent Brewers Association poll<\/a> estimates 60% of breweries won\u2019t make it until June.<\/p>\n<p>Summit County breweries are optimistic they\u2019ll last through the summer, but the road ahead is challenging and uncertain. They\u2019ve pivoted to a to-go model of canned 16-ounce four-packs, 22-ounce bombers and 32-ounce glass growlers or aluminum crowlers in order to stay in business with closed taprooms. The packaged beer is mostly sold on-site, but the situation also has been an opportunity to expand into liquor stores. Frisco\u2019s Outer Range Brewing Co. has been distributing around the state and beyond, even going as far as Japan.<\/p>\n<p>However, without the traffic usually seen during slow days \u2014 let alone the busy spring break season \u2014 sales on food and beverage are extremely low. Breweries that rely on their kitchen for revenue are feeling the pinch in particular.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re doing 10% a day of what we used to do (last April),\u201d Dillon Dam Brewery General Manager Kim Nix said. \u201cWe\u2019re down at least 90% a day, if not more.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col\" readability=\"6\">\n<div class=\"row sd-donation sd-donation-mobile p-0\" readability=\"7\">\n<div class=\"col-xl-4 p-2\">\n<div data-bg=\"url(https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/03\/SDN-logo-white-1.png)\" class=\"p-0 mt-2 mb-2 h-75 text-center rocket-lazyload\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/03\/SDN-logo-white-1.png\" class=\"logo m-0 p-0 invisible\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><h3 class=\"d-inline mr-3\">Support Local Journalism<\/h3>\n<p><button class=\"btn d-inline\" type=\"button\" onclick=\"handleDonationButtonClickMidArticle()\">Donate<\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/restaurants-stop-offering-takeout-due-to-lack-of-viability-and-virus-concerns\/\">Similar to restaurants<\/a>, breweries have reduced staff, trimmed menus and cut operating hours in an attempt to break even, which would be a good day. The Dam, the largest brewpub in the region, is down to 14 people after laying off 74. Aside from two part-time workers, all that\u2019s left are management and brewers.<\/p>\n<p>The lack of sales means more beer is sitting in tanks. The Dam has brewed only three times since the shutdown, and recent releases were brewed before the pandemic in anticipation of higher volume. The Dam and other breweries have adjusted their prices and run specials to get as much beer out the door as possible. For example, a crowler can be purchased at the Dam for $4 during happy hour, which means its available for the low cost of $2 a pint.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt might have been $2 when (the Dam) opened, but it was $2.50 when I moved here and that was 20 years ago,\u201d Nix said.<\/p>\n<p>Likewise, Pug Ryan\u2019s Brewery is giving away pints with food purchases on Saturdays, and The Bakers\u2019 Brewery&nbsp;is doing the same for purchases over $10.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s hard to judge, but it\u2019s nothing compared to before,\u201d said Pug Ryan\u2019s Brewery co-owner and Brewmaster John Jordan, who estimates pint sales are 1% of what they used to be. \u201cOur busiest day now wouldn\u2019t even compare to our slowest day.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Pug Ryan\u2019s is open only Friday through Sunday and has laid off about 30 people. That leaves a head chef, a line cook, a manager and a Denver-based sales rep along with Jordan and his wife. The brewery previously would send about 30% of its beer to the Front Range, but Jordan said a rare recent order was roughly one-third of that.<\/p>\n<p>According to co-owner Cory&nbsp;Forster, Bakers\u2019 can sell 10 kegs of its Barking Dog Brown a week to local bars but has only sold three in six weeks to private parties.<\/p>\n<p>Like the Dillon breweries, Bakers\u2019 sees most of its revenue come from food. It\u2019s open only four hours a day, but without the nearby Silverthorne hotels occupied, Forster said he is doing from $300 to $800 in sales daily when a weekend in March typically sees sales between $6,000 and $9,000 daily.<\/p>\n<p>Though Angry James Brewing Co. doesn\u2019t have a restaurant like the other three, it isn\u2019t immune to the economic changes.<\/p>\n<div class=\"p402_hide\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\n<div class=\"caption-container\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/05\/BreweriesCOVID-SDN-050620-2-1024x683.jpg\" alt class=\"wp-image-382918\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/05\/BreweriesCOVID-SDN-050620-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/05\/BreweriesCOVID-SDN-050620-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/05\/BreweriesCOVID-SDN-050620-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/05\/BreweriesCOVID-SDN-050620-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.summitdaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/05\/BreweriesCOVID-SDN-050620-2-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/p><figcaption><strong>Angry James Brewing Co. in Silverthorne continues to brew and sell beer to-go as pictured Wednesday, May 6.<\/strong><br \/><em>Liz Copan \/ <a href=\"mailto:ecopan@summitdaily.com\">ecopan@summitdaily.com<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cWe posted our first loss ever in March, and I think we\u2019re going to break even in April,\u201d A.J. Brinckerhoff,&nbsp;owner and head brewer said. \u201cIt would be nice if we could turn a profit, but during these times, what we are trying to do is protect our business.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That means brewing only the popular beers twice a week on average instead of four times. Brinckerhoff laid off three and a half people out of seven and is working for free himself. Angry James received a grant from the town of Silverthorne and Brinckerhoff has applied for the Paycheck Protection Program but hasn\u2019t gotten it yet.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Adjusting to the new way of business has Angry James canning with the help of Outer Range and sending 35% of those four-packs to four Summit County liquor stores and one in Denver. Yet the profit margins are smaller on canned beer due to the extra components and labor.<\/p>\n<p>The brewery also has lowered its prices by 20% to 30% since Brinckerhoff understands customers also have been affected by the coronavirus.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey don\u2019t have as much money as they did two months ago,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>While its too early to tell what each brewery will need to do in terms of socially distant seating when it comes time to reopen, operations likely will shift due to the pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>Angry James will receive its own canning equipment in a couple of weeks and eventually hire two employees to package and distribute.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re trying to gear up to come out of this thing healthier than we were before, even though right now it\u2019s hard to see that because our numbers are so down,\u201d Brinckerhoff said. \u201cAs much as it hurts right now, and we\u2019re dipping into our cash reserves, it\u2019s an opportunity to make our business model stronger in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, the Dam might make curbside takeout a permanent addition to supplement the restaurant.<\/p>\n<p>Despite losing money, the breweries stay open to provide a sense of regularity for their patrons and to see a familiar face \u2014 even if it\u2019s behind a mask \u2014 while striking up a much-needed conversation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s worth it to keep going in the hopes that it helps up prepare for reopening and to provide some normalcy for the community,\u201d Nix said.<\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.summitdaily.com\/news\/empty-taprooms-full-cans-how-breweries-are-adjusting-to-the-pandemic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: Summit Daily<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Greg Cook sells a four-pack of to-go beer at Angry James Brewing Co. in Silverthorne on Wednesday, May 6.Liz Copan \/ ecopan@summitdaily.com FRISCO \u2014 Liquor sales are up across the country because of coronavirus-related stay-at-home orders. Yet the boost doesn\u2019t translate to every facet of the alcohol industry, as a recent Brewers Association poll estimates [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[99],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-807215","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-07-11 19:16:10","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSMT The Mountain","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/807215","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=807215"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/807215\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=807215"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=807215"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/ksmt\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=807215"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}