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City Star Releases 50th Specialty Beer of the Year

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City Star Cans by Emily SierraCity Star Brewing, a small town craft brewery, had a big year of beer! Their New Years Eve beer release marks their 50th specialty beer of the year. Aegir (pronounced eye-ear) is a hazy IPA brewed with Norwegian Kveik yeast and double dry hopped with Citra and Galaxy hops. The Berthoud, Colorado brewery released 50 specialty beers in the year 2021 in addition to their mainstay beers available year round. City Star packaged 570 barrels (17,670 gallons) of beers throughout the year, brewed 100 gallons at a time on a humble 3.5 barrel brew system.

Inspiration for recipes comes from past experiences, staff ideas, culinary influence, industry trends, unique flavors, and available local ingredients.  The majority of City Star’s grain is grown and malted right up the road at Root Shoot Malting. Specialties released were made with a variety of yeasts: German lager and American, Norwegian and Belgian ale yeasts. The 2021 beer line-up featured classic hops as well as new varieties, including Sabro, Cashmere, Talus, Strata, El Dorado.  The most noteworthy hops though are the Centennial hops grown right in the City Star beer garden. They’re handpicked and added fresh to City Star’s Homegrown IPA each fall. City Star’s 2021 specialty beers incorporated many fruit adjuncts: pineapple, cherry, passionfruit, orange, strawberry, tangerine, peach, blackberry, soursop, raspberry, blueberry, watermelon, lime and mango. Vegetables made an appearance too: cucumber, carrot, pumpkin, sandia hot chili peppers, and even locally grown rhubarb.

These fifty specialty beers brewed at City Star Brewing throughout the year included a handful with philanthropic backgrounds. Honey Graham, brewed in memory of Jason Buehler, raised $1,200 for his family. Black is Beautiful blackberry stout was brewed to support equality and justice for people of color and raised $1,000 donated to NAACP. Harley’s Honey Wheat is brewed in honor of Harley’s Dream, a non profit who’s mission is to educate and spread awareness about puppy mills.

The greater Berthoud community has reinforced City Star’s expression, “You keep drinking it, we’ll keep brewing it”. Community support has enabled City Star to keep the fermenters full, and encouraged creativity in brewing. In 2022 City Star Brewing will continue creating craft beers you can hang your hat on.

City Star Celebrates Anniversary and Colorado Manufacturing Award Win

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City Star Brewing celebrates 9 years in business this week, a milestone after an unprecedented year. In advance of this weekend’s celebration the Berthoud craft brewery is honored to be recognized as the 2021 Colorado Manufacturing Awards Outstanding Craft Brewer, selected from a trio of finalists including Denver Beer Company and Holidaily Brewing Company. City Star Brewing joins a reputable group of past CMA craft brewer winners including Dry Dock Brewing, WeldWerks Brewing, Left Hand Brewing, Crooked Stave and Ska Brewing Company.

CMA founder and CompanyWeek publisher Bart Taylor said, “As it is every year, this was a very competitive category, with three companies representing distinct tiers in Colorado’s incredible craft brewing industry. Congratulations to the City Star team and the city of Berthoud.”


City Star Brewing’s 9th anniversary comes with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Berthoud, Northern Colorado and the greater craft beer community have been incredibly supportive since before the doors opened in 2012. The past year City Star has received generosity beyond words: from propane tanks and heaters to volunteer efforts and private donations. In appreciation of the community, City Star Brewing will be giving away 500 crowlers to-go (a glass growler aluminum can combination) during this Saturday’s celebration.

“City Star’s Hootenanny” anniversary celebration will span all day Saturday starting at noon with two new beers on tap: Salud wheat with watermelon, sea salt and lime and Easy Does It session pale ale featuring Sabro hops. Nacho Mama’s Tacos and Sweaty Moose food trucks will be out front all day. Live music on the beer garden stage will feature Dave Frediani and Joe Kuckla & Irons in the Fire. The Hootenanny is also defined by the annual relaunch of the Deputy mug club program, $10 commemorative t-shirts…and a cupcake toast courtesy B Sweet Cupcakes.

The downtown Berthoud brewery has remained open the past year as a staple in the community, pivoting as required, maintaining staff, and “keeping it flowing”. At the onset of the pandemic City Star Brewing launched crowler sales, online ordering, local deliveries, and canning. Annual events like Flap Jack Day and Lucky Charms Beer Flights adapted to be to-go friendly. City Star has worked hard to be a friendly, safe space for everyone the past year. The next year will be all about embracing local growth, stabilizing, and bringing a new 7 barrel brewhouse online for more efficient brew days.

Shoutout Colorado Features Whitney Way

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Meet Whitney Way: Jill of All Trades at City Star Brewing

December 15th, 2020
Shoutout Colorado Interview

We had the good fortune of connecting with Whitney Way and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Whitney, how do you think about risk?

I haven’t gotten to this point in my life without taking risks. Smart, calculated risk taking is integral to growth and decision making. Amid the pandemic this year my partner and I made quick, pivotal decisions. We promised our staff continued employment without guaranteed income and later in spring we purchased a canning line, our most expensive piece of equipment purchased to date. Looking back some risks we took were probably more foolish, but good intuition and luck prevailed. For example, diving all in to open City Star Brewing in 2011 without a business plan or understanding of the demands of the local community was probably a foolish risk. Fortunately we took that risk and Berthoud proved thirsty.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
City Star is a taproom centric brewery with a focus on community and producing quality craft beer. We have become a keystone business in our downtown. The community believes us; they believe in what we’ve created and our messaging. Subsequently they’ve really shown up in strong support throughout 2020. Almost 9 years since opening our doors, we’ve gotten where we are by embracing organic growth, sticking to our principles, and doing what we love. Breweries are really passion pursuits, not money-making ventures (though there are notable exceptions). It is not easy to operate a brewery, balancing business finances and navigating the nuances of the industry. Many challenges along the way I’ve overcome by learning to be a better partner – in marriage and business. John Way and I opened City Star Brewing together in 2012 (before we were even married). Our most difficult times have been during big construction projects, in times of being overworked while understaffed, balancing having young children, and of course 2020 has thrown challenge after challenge our way. Relying on one another and working as a team in crisis has gotten John and I through. Being introspective, reviewing the data and facts, and boldly making hard decisions has been integral in times of struggle.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

Berthoud is a big, small town full of character and quirks. A tour of the town would have to include insider information on Berthoud, including the fixtures of the area. Headed to Berthoud from I-25, notice the 12-foot-tall silhouette of a camel who has stood near the Berthoud exit for 20 years (Bert is his name). Before entering downtown Berthoud pass Chewy the dinosaur, often dressed in the spirit of any upcoming holiday. Downtown Berthoud undoubtedly requires a stop at City Star Brewing. Retail shopping features Wishful Living, Simply Shabulous, The Rancher’s Wife and more. An afternoon at the Little Thompson Valley Pioneer Museum translates to a new appreciation for the area and all of the historic buildings throughout town. An entire day could be spent walking among old brick buildings, the iconic grain elevator, and through old neighborhoods. The Wildfire Arts Center of Berthoud hosts regular classes and events. Even if they aren’t open check out the mosaic dragon bench out front, affectionally named FireHeart. There is one copper penny hidden on him. Can you find it? Stop at Kofe House for a beverage, grab a fresh baked loaf of bread at Rise, enjoy a breakfast burrito at a different joint each day (share your favorite!), enjoy a Berthoud Pizza to-go, and be sure to pick up City Star beer brats at Hays Market if you are grilling. Larimer County’s Carter Lake and Pinewood Reservoir are great spots for fishing (Bennet’s Bait and Tackle in Berthoud is legit), camping, boating, and solo time on a SUP Board. Back in town you can enjoy some fresh air in Berthoud’s Fickel Park and a stroll through the hidden Hillsdale Park. The new TPC Colorado golf course is a must for golfers, and the beautiful club house boasts a fantastic restaurant…. plan on a sunset happy hour! Berthoud is the Garden Spot so be sure to take in and appreciate all the agricultural beauty in the area. In the spirit of beer, be sure to drive by the Root Shoot Malt House north of town and the Coors Grain Storage facility south of town (just admire both from the road please!). Did you grab your City Star cans to go?!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

So many have influenced who I am today: naturally my parents Dan and Rudi Taylor, my little sister and biggest advocate Emily Taylor, my partner in everything John Way, and Eric Adams who has taught me so much through martial arts and CrossFit.

Image Credit: all photos by Emily Sierra emilysierra.com

Original article source: https://shoutoutcolorado.com/meet-whitney-way-jill-of-all-trades-at-city-star-brewing/

Winter Solstice at City Star

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Widow MakerA celebration of the shortest day and the darkest beer. 
This weekend, City Star Brewing celebrates the Winter Solstice, the darkest day of the year with the release of our darkest beer of the year. Widow Maker is a colossal Imperial Stout, to be released on draft and in bottles alongside toasted coconut and vanilla variants. This nod to the Winter Solstice boasts a big, bold and complex flavor profile. Smooth, rich and ready to sip and savor. Not for the faint hearted.

Celebrate the Solstice in style with a flower crowns handmade by local florist, The Flower Gypsy. Pre-order yours online here and pickup at the taproom. We’re also adding a little magic to all bottle orders for the weekend! When you purchase any bottle of Widow Maker we’ll add in Flying Wish Paper. In spirit of looking forward to the changing of seasons and the return of the light we invite you to write down your hopes and wishes for the coming year and light the paper to watch it fly and disappear into the air!

The Solstice is a celebration of the return of the Light. It is indeed the twenty four hour period when the day-time or light is shortest and the night is longest, but the very next day is when the daytime starts to become longer! This brings hope and light for better things to come, along with our dreams, and hopes for love and all good things “coming to light”. Bringing out, love, inspiration and joy are always the basis of my readings, with positive insights, blessings and wisdom thrown in for good measure.

We look forward to welcoming the return of the light with good friends and great beer!

City Star Oompa Loompa – Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket

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Willy Wonka’s Oompa Loompas have been busy packaging beer and hiding GOLDEN TICKETS at City Star Brewing! Golden Tickets have been tucked under the caps of select City Star 4-packs. If you’re the lucky winner bring your ticket into the taproom to redeem for a FREE 4-pack! Order your cans at citystarpickup.com

WATCH the City Star Oompa Loompa in action….

Flapjack Day – 2020 Style

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Flapjack Day Crowler and 4-PackCity Star Brewing’s 2020 Flapjack Day will look a little different from past years. Even in these unprecedented times the Berthoud tradition of flapjacks and breakfast beers with 50’s flair will carry on. In lieu of a community pancake breakfast, crowlers of Diane Levy’s famous flapjack dry mix will be available in the taproom so folks can flip flapjacks at home. Breakfast beers will be sold in 16oz can mix 4-packs. This year’s flavors include Morning Coffee Stout, Maple Brown, Fruit Cup IPA, and Jasmine Green Tea Pale Ale. Flapjack mix crowlers and breakfast beer 4-pack sales launch Friday, September 4th… available for purchase all Labor Day weekend!

100% of the proceeds from crowler sales will benefit the Berthoud Historical Society. Flapjack dry mix is packaged in 32oz crowlers with an innovative, resealable twist lid. A crowler is a large can that can be filled with draft beer and seamed right at the source; they are cheaper, lighter and keep craft beer fresher longer than conventional glass growlers. At the COVID-19 shutdown, City Star immediately began filling crowlers with to-go beer with the help of Crowler Nation.

Flapjack Day 4-PackOn Flapjack Day, Labor Day, Monday, September 7th, the taproom will be open 11am-5pm with flights of five breakfast beers and the waffle lab food truck serving out front. Vintage cars and 50’s dress encouraged all weekend long.
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A bit of flapjack history courtesy of the Berthoud Historical Society… from 1948 to 1958 the local Lions Club and Chamber of Commerce hosted a Flapjack Day in Berthoud Town Park that drew hordes of people to “The Garden Spot.” On the first Flapjack Day (1948) an estimated 1,000 persons descended on Berthoud to devour 5,000 free pancakes. By 1949, The Berthoud Bulletin announced that 3,700 visitors from 21 states downed a whopping 7,400 flap jacks. Over its eleven-year span, Flapjack Day grew to include the crowning of a Flapjack Queen, spike-driving, swimming and diving contests, a baton twirling competition, pet-and-doll parades, a pig catching scramble, and a tractor driving challenge. The last Flapjack Day was held in 1959 when the Chamber of Commerce decided to cancel the event due to the high cost of hosting such a spectacle. City Star Brewing brought this annual tradition back to life in 2015: giving away 1,000 flap jacks, raising $1,000 for the Berthoud Historical Society, and crowning the first Flapjack Queen in 50 years.

Black is Beautiful Supports Justice and Equality for People of Color

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City Star Black is BeautifulAlongside nearly 1,000 breweries worldwide City Star Brewing is participating in the Black is Beautiful collaboration. This initiative launched by Weathered Souls Brewing in San Antonio, Texas is a collaborative effort to support justice and equality for people of color. Today City Star releases its version of Black is Beautiful, a blackberry chocolate stout, on draft and in 16oz cans.

City Star co-owner Whitney Way says, “We lack diversity. Our community lacks diversity. It’s no secret the craft beer industry lacks diversity. Berthoud is a predominantly white community, where we are often blind to racial injustice and the challenges that people of color face daily.  Because of our location we feel even more compelled to brew this beer in support of justice and equality for people of color.”

20% of sales of City Star’s Black is Beautiful will be donated to NAACP Denver.  The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination. The NAACP is a long-established, reputable organization, a leader in advancing justice and equality for people of color.

City Star Brewing strives to be a destination that promotes inclusion and equality. Our business is committed to maintaining a welcoming and safe environment for all people- regardless of age, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion or disability.

More about the Black is Beautiful Initiative:

“The Black is Beautiful initiative is a collaborative effort amongst the brewing community and its customers, in an attempt to bring awareness to the injustices that many people of color face daily. Our mission is to bridge the gap that’s been around for ages and provide a platform to show that the brewing community is an inclusive place for everyone of any color. We are asking for all breweries and brewers far and wide to raise a glass with us in unison and participate in this collaboration.” – https://blackisbeautiful.beer/

Black is Beautiful asks breweries to brew a unique stout, commit to the long-term work of equality and choose their own local organizations to donate to that support equality and inclusion. Weathered Souls says, “As much as we want this to be about raising money, the real issue is bringing education and information, which will bring forth change to a system that has fractured so many families and has been broken for decades. This platform and collaboration is about understanding and supporting people of color and inclusion. We ask that you please stand with us to create something that has never been seen before and show the world the brewing community is one of a kind.”

City Star Brewing Launches Craft Beer in Cans

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Cans were not in the plans for City Star Brewing in 2020. Whenever asked over the past eight years when the Berthoud brewery’s beer would be available in cans the answer was always similar, “Quality canning is a big investment. It’s not part of our current model, and we’re waiting for the saturated craft beer scene to stabilize.” Then COVID-19 ushered in a demand for to-go beer with the mandatory taproom shutdown, and improved packaging became critical. Launching beer in 25oz aluminum crowlers the first week of the shutdown improved City Star’s ability to satisfy curbside customers. Amazing volunteers, affectionately dubbed “the crowler crew”, spent hours weekly pre-filling crowlers to offer the best quality beer in that particular package. It quickly became apparent pre-filling hundreds of crowlers weekly was inefficient and unsustainable in the long run. The search for the right canning line began.

In May City Star purchased a canning line built by Michigan-based MicroCanner from Grand River Brewing Company in Jackson, Michigan. The MC-Flex canning line fills up to 24 cans per minute, including a 6-head filler, automatic pre-rinse, CO2 purge in the can and under the cap, and post-rinse.  Installation and operation at City Star has been smooth, allowing for 4-packs of 16oz cans to roll off the line and sell off the shelves earlier this month.

Cowboy’s Golden Lager and All American IPA are both currently available in 16oz cans, with Bandit Brown, Sim’s Red, and Black is Beautiful launching in cans this Friday, July 3rd. 4-packs are currently only sold through the downtown Berthoud taproom, with no immediate plans to distribute. Cans are a superior packaging option, perfect for camping or summit celebrations. They have a smaller environmental impact than bottles, and most importantly, they limit oxygen and light exposure, ideal for keeping beer fresher and flavorful longer.

As this rollercoaster of a year progresses and concerns of another wave of COVID-19 in Colorado hover, City Star is poised to keep it flowing. The independent small town brewery entered 2020 as a strong, healthy business with incredible community support. The pandemic closed the taproom doors and business declined, but City Star pivoted business models. “We doubled-down on what we love, making and sharing quality craft beer” – Whitney Way, City Star Co-Owner.

Brewing Community article in Loveland and South Lifestyle

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Flourish Branding PhotographyBrewing Community
by Brady Stewart
originally published in Loveland and South Lifestyle

In a state famed for its microbreweries and long-standing brewing tradition, how does one standout? Better yet, what does it even mean to stand out? Is it the quality and variety of unique products? Is it the location? According to co-owner Whitney Way, what really separates Berthoud’s City Star Brewing is a sense of community. While many brewing outfits push to innovate and make a name for themselves, above anything else City Star Brewing is focused on community.

“I think what differentiates us is our approachability. We are definitely a taproom oriented brewery,” Whitney says.

The brewery just hit their 8th anniversary, but their facility has much older beginnings. According to Whitney, their location has deep roots in the community due to its location in the 100-year-old City Star barn livery stable in Berthoud. Much of their branding imagery is based on Berthoud’s history as the “old west” and the free spirit of Colorado’s earlier days. Product names like Bandit Brown, Outlaw, Deadwood, and Cowboy’s Golden Lager tie the theme together. If you close your eyes while taking a sip, you can almost imagine whetting your whistle at the livery all those years ago. Whitney says that they have a strong passion for upholding the Colorado lifestyle. They’re all about easy-drinking brews, spending time outdoors, and living the good life. Just like most businesses, City Star has adjusted their business for “to-go” orders during the COVID-19 crisis. All of their products are currently available through online or call-in orders that are available for pick-up on site. As for their favorite “to-go” items, Whitney recommends Crowlers large canned beers filled directly from the tap. Due to their size and convenience, these are the perfect companion for a cookout or time outdoors.

When it comes to their beers, City Star aims to focus on accessible, enjoyable products. They are a great companion for your choice of any Colorado summer activity. When it comes to cookouts, Sim’s Red-American Ale and Cowboy’s Golden Lager are excellent choices. Both products are refreshing while embodying a complex flavor palette that can hold up to the heartiest of barbecue fare. Beers like Bandit Brown, a smooth, English style brown, and Night Watchman, an American stout, are the perfect campfire sipper for a cool evening camping out in the mountains. Above all, what really separates City Star Brewing is actually what connects it. City Star brings together community, Colorado, history, and an opportunity to enjoy the simple things in life– which are often the best things.

 

 

COVID-19 Chronicles of a Small Business

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MARCH 11: WHO declares Coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. Colorado Governor Jared Polis declares state of emergency.
MARCH 12: Coronavirus related policies posted for City Star staff.
MARCH 13: Increased taproom sanitizing procedures – regular disinfecting of tablets, phone, door handles, etc. United States declares national emergency. JD jokingly suggests we ordered branded face masks.
MARCH 14: Added mid-day bathroom cleaning. Served 158 flight th s of Lucky Charms beers to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. A lot of customers expressed happiness to see people in City Star.
MARCH 15: All unnecessary items handled by multiple people removed from taproom (games, menus, coasters, etc).
MARCH 16: I established communication with our loan officer at Independent Bank. Designed and ordered new blank City Star bottle labels. Governor Polis passes Colorado Health Order, effectively closing our business. I create staff Slack channel #keepitflowing, opted to remain positive and refrain from instead using #fuckcovid. Brainstormed virtual events with staff and instructed them to file unemployment claims expecting a reduction of hours.
MARCH 17: New day, new business model. Our brewery moved from on-premise sales to “to go” sales only. Less than five people are permitted in the taproom at a time, spaced six feet apart. New hours (2-7pm daily), new schedule, invested in a crowler machine and crowlers for improved “to go” packaging. Thank you Oskar Blues, Crowler Nation and Jeremy Rudolph. Instructed staff to remove seating, keep doors open, and continue heightened sanitizing procedures. Plan for taproom staff to work in teams of two for safety in light of higher public anxiety levels.
MARCH 18: New hours again (3-7pm daily). U.S. Congress passes Families First Coronavirus Response Act. We decide to postpone our annual Hops and Harley festival (originally scheduled for June 20th).
MARCH 19: Launched crowler sales and online ordering via Square + curbside pick-up.
MARCH 20: E-mailed Town of Berthoud staff and board members, encouraging communication and leadership. Governor Polis approves brewery deliveries.

If that virus has got you down
Take a drive into town
Support your local community bar We’ve got what you need at City Star
Society is in bit of a panic
And everyone is a little manic
So drop in quick and pick up a crowler
Find comfort in the fresh fill of a growler
City Star is ready in any condition
Good people and quality beer is our mission
Whether its a virus or the weather
Adversity and hardship brings us together
We love our Berthoud community
So we raise our glasses to immunity
Be patient, be loving, and please be kind
Let’s always keep our neighbors in mind

by Benjamin deLeeuwerk

MARCH 22: Designed and ordered Outlaw bottle labels. Fast tracking our next barrel aged beer in an effort to move as much packaged beer as possible. We originally had a Meet the Distiller event planned with Deerhammer that will no longer be possible. We anticipate being soon shut down completely.
MARCH 23: Launch “Beer it Forward” campaign where people can purchase a beer for someone to enjoy once the taproom re-opens. Note + recipient name will go on sticky notes in taproom window. Westword publishes a little press on City Star and Crowlers. Shared 15% off coupon for Deputy mug club members (they’re missing out on their main membership perk right now… $1/off pints). Designed and ordered new blank City Star crowler labels. City of Denver issues a shelter-in-place order, which briefly includes the complete closing of breweries. Alas, with lobbying help from the Colorado Brewers Guild breweries are deemed essential and may continue with to go orders.
MARCH 24: Our taproom has been shut down for 1 full week. With our pivot to ‘to go’ beer only our revenue is down 32% compared to the same week in 2019. This business impact doesn’t account for the considerably lower profit margin selling ‘to go’ beer.
MARCH 25: Larimer County and then Governor Polis issue a stay-at-home orders for the State of Colorado. Colorado Brewers Guild confirms that breweries are essential and thus exempt.
MARCH 26: Launch Virtual Tip Jar for anyone to tip City Star staff via Venmo. Promote free crowler promo for medical professionals and first responders. Applied for EIDL (Economic Injury Disaster Loan) via SBA.gov. Nacho Mama’s Tacos food truck serves out front with phone ordering and a large sign instructing customers to space six feet apart. They are the first food truck we’ve hosted since closing.
MARCH 27: We bottle and release Outlaw Whiskey Barrel Aged Imperial Stout. United States Congress passes and President Trump signs CARES Act (Coronavirus Aird, Relief and Economic Security Act). With respect to the CARES Act, City Star could receive assistance with an EIDL Loan advance grant, PPP Program, and Debt Relief Program.
MARCH 28: Six foot lines installed on the taproom floor.
MARCH 30: Apply for EIDL loan via SBA.gov again with request for advance grant up to $10,000 (new form is available). Independent Bank turns off auto-payment on our existing SBA 7(a) loan.
MARCH 31: Galaxy IPA released in crowlers. Made the decision to continue maintaining staff employment at pre-COVID levels (no furlough for our crew). Attended multiple webinars on CARES Act provisions. In hopes of qualifying for a PPP Loan (and having it forgiven) we made the decision to pay our staff’s wages at their January/February 2020 levels, including what taproom staff were averaging in tips. Our loan officer at Independent Bank confirmed that our existing SBA 7(a) loan would benefit from 6 months of payments by SBA.
APRIL 1: Covid-19 is unfortunately not an April Fools Joke. Our taproom has been shut down for 2 full weeks. With our pivot to ‘to go’ beer only our revenue is down 35% compared to the same week in 2019. Covid Compliance Officer (maybe a Larimer County Sheriff?) verified that we are operating in compliance with all health orders. She recommended we remove more seating from our taproom and add chalk lines six feet apart out front for food truck customers.
APRIL 2: Independent Bank issues a draft of the PPP Loan Application and requirements, though lenders are still awaiting final guidance from SBA. I submit the draft application and requirements.
APRIL 3: Independent Bank issues new PPP Loan Application and requirements. I submit the revised application and requirements again. We are requesting a loan of $42,261.16 that could be forgivable if employment conditions are met and 75% of this amount is used for qualified payroll expenses. Any funds not forgiven are subject to 1% interest rate and two year term loan. PPP Loan conditions changed at least three times since the signing of the CARES Act. Governor Polis urges everyone to wear face masks when they have to leave the home (guess we should have ordered those branded face masks JD joked about). Receive World Beer Cup Competition $720 Refund. Covid Compliance Officer visits City Star again, confirms we are in compliance, suggests moving patio seating out front (done!).
APRIL 4: Loan officer at Independent Bank confirms receipt and application is in approval queue. First day of Colorado Craft Beer Week. City Star staff polled on comfort and safety level with current sales model. No EIDL cash advance as of the end of the week.
APRIL 5: Governor Polis requests everyone wear face masks when they leave the house.
APRIL 6: Move to curbside and patio beer ‘to go’ pick-up only. We are no longer refilling customers growlers. Still no EIDL cash advance. Ran bi-weekly payroll High Point, including 90 ’empty’ hours to maintain our staff at their Jan/Feb employment levels.
APRIL 7: Our taproom has been shut down for 3 full weeks. With our pivot to ‘to go’ beer only our revenue is down 44% compared to the same week in 2019. We are fortunate to be able to sell beer.
APRIL 8: No sign of promised deposit from the EIDL advance we applied for over a week before. Bank says our PPP application is still in the queue and awaiting approval by SBA.
APRIL 10: Salted Lime Kolsch release day. Customers get in the spirit, showing up for curbside pick-up in beach/island attire. We sell 80+ crowlers, John has to return to the brewery to fill more before we close.
APRIL 13: Despite uncertainty we hope to celebrate City Star’s 8 year anniversary this May with our community. Ordered 2020 glassware for City Star Deputy mug club members. Researching how we can make our bathroom doors “touchless” for customers. Whitney has turned the Great Room into her “home gym”.
APRIL 14: Our taproom has been shut down for 4 full weeks. With our pivot to ‘to go’ beer only our revenue is down 45% compared to the same week in 2019. The Brewers Association’s annual Craft Brewers Conference launches online today with five weeks of free seminars. JD received a toilet paper tip today. Our loan officer emailed to let us know our PPP loan is approved and documents will soon follow. We don’t know the loan amount yet, but this is promising. Still no EIDL cash advance.
APRIL 15: First daily City Star staff beer cheers (aka “Go Team”) on Zoom 5pm.
APRIL 16: Colorado Brewers Guild Town Hall on Zoom. Berthoud businesses meeting on Zoom. It’s reported that the SBA has exhausted all funds for the PPP loans.
APRIL 17: Beer celeb Julia Herz picks up crowlers at City Star! Still no EIDL funds or information on our PPP loan. We were told we were approved for a PPP loan, but we have not received any documents, nor do we know the loan amount. Staff are required to wear face masks when interacting with customers (no longer an option).
APRIL 18: Great day to test out beer deliveries! We’ve built a second website for online delivery orders. Planning for City Star crowler and bottle delivery to Lyons, Colorado + 10 mile radius (20 orders!). City Star tent we’ve been using for curbside pick-up is broken and now in need of repair.
APRIL 20: Our loan officer tells us our PPP loan documents should arrive within a few days. Governor Polis announces plans for an upcoming ‘Safer at Home’ period for Colorado; based on his plan our taproom will not open before May 15th. We are making plans to make home deliveries this weekend (Thursday – Berthoud, Friday – Johnstown/Milliken, Saturday – Lyons).
APRIL 21: Surprise…. $10,000 EIDL Advance deposited into our account! Our taproom has been shut down for 5 full weeks. With our pivot to ‘to go’ beer only our revenue is down 45% compared to the same week in 2019. Ran bi-weekly payroll, including 65 ’empty’ hours to maintain our staff at their Jan/Feb employment levels.
APRIL 22: Signed PPP loan documents today! We have been approved for a $42,200 loan (1% interest rate, 2 year term, payments start November 2020). Purchased web domains citystarpickup.com and citystardelivery.com to more easily direct customers for online ordering. We are planning to make deliveries Thursday-Saturday this week. Today we joined the Colorado Strong Beer campaign, launched by the Left Hand Brewing Foundation. In coordination with other Colorado breweries we’ll brew the Colorado Strong Pale Ale, in support of our supply chain and breweries. We will be donating 20% of beer sales back to LHB (“funds raised will be donated to the community to support Healthcare, Hospitality, Service Industry, and Gig Economy Workers affected by Covid-19”). City Star’s Colorado Strong Pale Ale will release mid-May.
APRIL 23: John runs Berthoud deliveries.
APRIL 24: “Keep it Flowing”… City Star Beer, Community, Kindness T-Shirts NOW available for sale. Our PPP Loan has been funded for $42,000; SBA still hasn’t issued clear guidance on how to achieve forgiveness for some or all of the funds, so we plan to be very conservative. JD and Whitney run deliveries to Johnstown and Milliken.
APRIL 25: Whitney runs deliveries to Lyons + Summit Tacos.
APRIL 27: Colorado’s Stay-At-Home order converts to Safer-At-Home order. Our taproom has been shut down for 6 full weeks. With adding deliveries and new t-shirts our revenue is down 13% compared to the same week in 2019. This is a major improvement over the previous weeks. Costs of goods sold are substantially higher with our “new to-go” model so our overall business picture is unclear, but we are optimistic.
APRIL 28: Town of Berthoud launches a generous sales tax rebate program to support small, local businesses during this time.
APRIL 30: Loveland deliveries.
MAY 1: Raspberry Saison release. Johnstown and Milliken deliveries. Some businesses are allowed to re-open today, but brewery taprooms do not have a re-opening date. We expect May 15th or later. April 2020 revenue was down 35% from April 2019.
MAY 4: Cheers to 8 Years of Beers! This day in 2012 City Star opened its doors. We launch City Star Deputy Mug Club membership sales, and hosted a Virtual Toast from the beer garden at 7pm. Ran bi-weekly payroll, including 90 ’empty’ hours to maintain our staff at their Jan/Feb employment levels.
MAY 5: We’ve been shut down for 7 weeks, revenue was down 40% last week compared to the same week in 2019. Ran bi-weekly payroll, including 48 ’empty’ hours to maintain our staff at their pre-COVID employment levels.
MAY 8: Dead or Alive Imperial IPA release.
MAY 11: John hits the road for the mid-west to purchase a canning machine. We still don’t have a date for re-opening, but Governor Polis plans to review data and make an announcement on May 25th.
MAY 12: We’ve been shut down for 8 weeks, revenue was down 25% last week compared to the same week in 2019. City Star Colorado Strong Beer release today, the first Colorado release with 125+ breweries on board (coloradostrongbeer.org).
MAY 13: John purchases and loads up a MicroCanner canning line from Grand River Brewing in Michigan.
MAY 15: Chili The Kid release. Unload canner and we begin re-designing the taproom to allow for safe table spacing, including placing barrel stacks between all tables. A restaurant in town opens today against the county and state health orders; they encourage us and other businesses to follow suit. SBA finally published the PPP forgiveness application, giving businesses guidance on how to plan for and achieve partial or total loan forgiveness. Larimer County applied for a variance to relax Safer-At-Home rules.
MAY 16: As part of re-designing our taproom, we move our twelve foot community “Kings” table to storage at Root Shoot Malting’s malt house. We move our ‘to go’ order pick-up station inside the taproom with a table + crowler fridge near the front door. Customers are able to enter though our front door and exit through the hall door. Our staff is ELATED to no longer setup our tent out front daily. We’ve continued running deliveries to Johnstown and Milliken on Fridays and Lyons on Saturdays.
MAY 18: Ran bi-weekly payroll, including 47 ’empty’ hours to maintain our staff at their pre-COVID employment levels.
MAY 19: We’ve been shut down for 9 weeks, revenue was down 14% last week compared to the same week in 2019. Reviewed guidelines for breweries to open in Larimer County’s variance request sent to the State of Colorado. Most notably including: 30% capacity indoors, up to 60% capacity outdoors, no bar seating, reservations only. Larimer County no longer requires customers to wear masks.
MAY 20: State of Colorado releases a draft of guidelines for restaurants to re-open (breweries may or may not be included). Most notably including: no service after 10pm, 8 foot spacing between tables, gloves and masks for employees, plastic cups, party. We order food service plastic gloves and plastic cups to have in hand in anticipation of opening rules.
MAY 22: We learn that there is a very real possibility that breweries will not be permitted to open alongside restaurants in Colorado. I submit feedback on the proposed guidelines, email Governor Polis, Representative Perry Buck, and Senator Rob Woodward. Larimer County’s variance application is still under review.
MAY 23: The State of Colorado approved some of Larimer County’s variance application, including the opening of restaurants but excluded breweries. This is devastating. There is a lot of confusion with some news sources publishing inaccurate information. Local officials help with contacting county and state officials to find out more information on why breweries were excluded. Understanding the State’s reasoning will help the Colorado Brewers Guild advocate for breweries before Monday’s announcement.
MAY 25: The State of Colorado announced the process for restaurants to re-open, including breweries able to allow for on-site consumption of food. Larimer County adjust their variance in accordance with the State’s new regulations.
MAY 28: We re-open our taproom! All table service, complete sanitizing between parties, check-in at the front door, hourly bathroom sanitizing, face masks, pre-formed parties of 8 or less, occupancy limits, and 6′ spacing between patrons.

After 2+ months of chronicling the shutdown of City Star Brewing, we are working hard to ‘keep it flowing’ for on-site consumption and to-go orders. The future is unclear (for everyone), but we are incredibly fortunate to be a part of such an amazing community in Colorado. Thank you for following along and for your support!