One of the intriguing things about our valley is the existence of successful small businesses that operate under the radar while being successful outside of our Aspen bubble.
Casey Brewing and Blending in Glenwood is a fascinating example of just such a business. Founder Troy Casey comes from a family of beer makers and started his brewing career with a major beer company in the Denver area. Troy and his wife Emily discovered our valley when Emily was transferred to the area by her employer and they quickly realized that this was a place they wanted to settle.
Troy set up shop in Glenwood with a custom brewing facility and began his craft beer business. His passion is oak barrel fermentations using saccharomyces, brettanomyces and lactic acid bacteria, all while using local Colorado ingredients. He prides himself on quality, limited batch brewing with one of a kind flavors. I was surprised to learn that he has a cult following of beer connoisseurs that come from all over the country to visit his brewery and he also sells to outlets in Europe and China. Maybe these folks find saccharomyces, brettanomyces and lactic acid bacteria important or maybe they just like the flavor of Troy’s beer. Speaking of credentials, Casey Brewing has won numerous awards including Rate Beer's Best New Brewer in the world.
I love his business model, an exclusive one of a kind brand that is only available in limited quantities and sold at a premium. If your timing is right, you may be lucky enough to join his exclusive VIP club that gets first shot at a monthly inventory list along with private storage at the brewery. I attempted to join but the list is currently closed.
Interested in a taste? They have recently opened a tasting room in Glenwood Springs on Grand Avenue. This is a great way to sample the talents of Mr. Casey to be part of his following! In this case, it is safe to drink the Kool Aid.
