A Denver brewery is calling it quits after a decade on Tennyson Street, but there is still plenty of time to belly up before the doors close.
Beloved beer maker Call to Arms Brewing Co. recently announced it would close at the end of the year. It did so with help from local entertainer Yupi the Clown, who made the announcement while juggling rainbow pins while riding a unicycle in a video posted to social media.
Its last day of business is slated for Dec. 23, so fans can stop by this fall to enjoy the brewery’s Oktoberfest pop-up, featuring communal beer tables, wiener dog races and festive decor. The brewery will also still deck the halls for its over-the-top Big Holiday Energy pop-up later this year.
In an interview with The Denver Post, co-owner Chris Bell said a confluence of factors — from increased costs to consumers drinking less to having a tough time rebounding after the COVID-19 pandemic — played into the decision to close. Revenue from both wholesale and retail sales is down, while property taxes, insurance and maintenance expenses continue to rise, said Bell, who frequently uses funny or off-kilter videos in his social media messaging.
Ultimately, the business’ lease at 4526 Tennyson St. is up at the end of the year and financially speaking, it didn’t make sense to continue.
“All told, we’re paying a small fortune for this rent,” Bell said, “and you can’t survive on selling $7-$8 pints.”
Opened in 2015, Call to Arms Brewing Co. is the brainchild of Bell and Jon Cross, who met while working together at Avery Brewing Co. Their goal was to pay homage to beer’s long heritage while also adding modern twists in recipes and taproom design.
As much as local drinkers love the beer, Call to Arms Brewing Co. has become a must-hit destination because of its events, such as Big Holiday Energy, which helped save the business following COVID-19 shutdowns. Bell said that’s the one aspect of the business that has steadily grown each year.
“That’s the biggest month of our year, and everyone absolutely loves it. It’s a shame we can’t keep it going,” he said. “Definitely throughout this process, I’ve thought about other ways to keep it going.”
Excitement for that pop-up is part of the reason Bell decided to unveil that Call to Arms would close with a couple of months ‘ runway. It’s an unusual move, but it also gives longtime supporters a chance to make plans to come, since many have moved away from the Berkeley neighborhood in the decade since it opened, he said.
“I don’t think we really go by the book on most of the things we’ve done in the last 10 years. It’s on brand for us to let people know and be transparent about where the business is at and hopefully that will allow more people to come out and support us. I know we could use it,” Bell said.
When he reflects on Call to Arms’ time in Denver, Bell thinks about all the relationships that he built along the way, not the least of which is with his wife. The two met while he was in the process of opening the brewery, and they now have one child with another on the way.
Bell isn’t sure what the future holds, but he expects to take time next year to focus on his family, including the new baby who is due to arrive in the next month. And in the meantime, he hopes to raise a pint with all the friendly faces he’s seen come through Call to Arms over the years.
“It’s hugely important to thank everybody who supported us,” Bell said. “No matter how much hard work it’s been or stress, the real credit goes to everybody who’s come out and bought pints over all the years.”
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