Very Nice Brewing has erected a second business brewing beer in mid-Gilpin County at 180 Jankowski Drive. Its parent, Very Nice Brewing in Nederland, has seen much success in its twelve years of business with its creative beer crafting and fun, family activities.
It is well known in Nederland that Very Nice Brewing has also been very nice to its community, and owners Jeffrey and Susan Green hope to have the same effect in Gilpin County, where they live.
The pair regularly hold fundraisers and events, like live music. The new location has a spacious wrap-around porch overlooking Golden Gate Canyon State Park, where they hope to have outdoor activities like lawn games and cornhole.
The brewpub-style brewery does not serve food, but will host potluck events and cooking contests. Jeffrey said he would like to have food trucks at the new location – he’s hoping for Kaleidoscope Kitchen and Boss Burgers.
The plumbing was installed on May 6 and the parking lot will be completed as the spring weather allows, with a projected grand opening this June. There will be some soft openings, with beer served from the Nederland facility. Look for announcements on social media for these occasional events.
Jeffrey stressed that choosing to expand to Gilpin meant they had access to vacant land on which to build, and more importantly, control over their business, since renting in Nederland carries with it so many variables.
Jeffrey serves on the Gilpin Planning Commission, giving him insight into the growth and management of the county. He feels that the regional demographic has changed in favor of promoting small businesses.
When asked about the availability of water, a pressing concern for nearby areas like Rollinsville, Jeffrey said that the area Very Nice occupies is part of the Gilpin Water District and shares commercial rights to a well. He treats the hard water, filters the sediment, and purifies the water with a UV filter.
Space-age towers of brewing equipment shine as you enter the large green warehouse set back from the Peak to Peak byway. Sophisticated controls on a computerized motherboard orchestrate the complex process.
“I want them to feel like they are where the beer is born,” gleamed Jeffrey, as his wife was putting finishing touches on the interior.
The Greens enlisted Shae Harrower, a talented local mural artist, to paint an epic scene on the wall of “beer through history,” beginning with the Sumerians and Egyptians, traveling through time, noting the Belgian monks, all the way to the present day.
Brewing at Very Nice in Gilpin could begin as early as next week. There will be ten more taps than at the Ned location, for a total of 20 taps, and better technology to play with flavors. The Greens will have cold brew coffee, kombucha, and non-alcoholic beer (brewed elsewhere) for those who do not imbibe.
The pair plan to spread interest through word of mouth, engaging with the local fire department, hosting cook-offs, supporting Little League, and even riding bicycles through local campgrounds with fliers.
“I might dance outside by the road like I did in Nederland, with a sign that says ‘Brewery,’ ” chuckled Jeffrey, who said the name “Very Nice” was inspired by Monty Python’s Holy Grail.
“The name just stuck with me and I thought it would be a great name for a bar,” he said, but he clarified that it morphed into a brewery when his passion for beer ignited.
“You bring liquor and wine into it, it really changes the environment. I’m not saying for good or for bad, it just really changes it,” he said.
The Greens encourage family-oriented and community-building activities like baking competitions and game nights. Darts, lawn games, and fire pits are the vibe for the summer. Tours and beer-making classes will be in the works.
When asked what his greatest challenge was in creating a second location, Jeffrey said, no pun intended, “My green-ness.”
He explained that if he did it all again, fewer mistakes would be made and he would have more knowledge of all the details that go into starting a business in the mountains.
The couple had ventured into unknown territory, purchasing land and building a new commercial structure, and said that this move is not a desire to expand, but a quest for security in the place they call home – “a place that is very nice.”
“This is my last adventure,” shared Jeffrey.
For information on upcoming events, visit Very Nice’s website at https://www.verynicebrewing.com/ and their social media pages on Instagram, Facebook, and X (Twitter).
