Fritz Family Brewers opens Niwot taproom

After months of renovations, upgrades, and minor bureaucratic hassles, the beer is finally flowing at Fritz Family Brewers in Niwot. On July 23, owners Kelly and Cory Buenning opened their doors at 6778 79th St. for a grand opening celebration, and settled in to meet their new neighbors.

"We're excited to finally be open," Kelly Buenning said. "We thought it was a long time coming...but it was actually pretty fast considering the remodel that we did."

Indeed, the Buennings didn't just update the former home of Bootstrap Brewing Company, they transformed it. Gone are the dance floor and rock-and-roll vibe, replaced by a muted color scheme, more windows, and an open concept floor plan. There is more communal seating, and a large three-sided bar that encourages conversation.

"We wanted it to feel like an old school bar, but with a modern twist," Kelly said of the extensive interior renovations. "So, we brightened it up and brought in more light. And we wanted that wooden bar, to make it feel a little bit cozier than it did, even though it's an industrial space."

For the "old school" styling, the Buennings went with European pub accents, including cuckoo clocks and a chalet-style roof above the bar.

"Trying to build a roof inside an existing building did have a few challenges," Kelly said. "...but I think it turned out great."

There is still plenty of outdoor seating, both covered and uncovered, and a walk-up window gives easy access to the servers inside. But plans for more extensive landscaping and a play area for younger patrons was put on hold by Boulder County planners, Kelly said.

"We did have a hiccup with the county, and they wouldn't let us landscape our yard. So we're going to try to go through a special use review, which is like a minimum of six months. So in the meantime, we put mulch down, and my husband built a sandbox. And we also have crayons and chalk. We want people to know that they can bring their kids here. We're family-friendly."

Kelly said that Fritz is also pet-friendly, as long as that pet stays outside. "Not everyone loves dogs, and we want to make sure that everyone has a place. So if someone doesn't like dogs, they can come inside."

As for the main attraction, Cory is bringing more than two decades of brewmaster experience to Fritz, including long stops in Jackson Hole, Wyo., and Louisville, Ky., where he and Kelly co-owned Gravely Brewing. Along the way, he developed a talent for brewing German-style lagers, and has a long list of awards and medals to prove it.

For the opening, Cory had eight beers ready to pour, but more will follow in the coming weeks. True to form, and keeping with the brewery name and decor, the menu features a wide selection of German-style lagers that are perfect for summer drinking, according to Kelly.

"I love a German pilsner during the last week in July, and the helles is really refreshing," she said, referring to Dieter and The Boss, two of Fritz's latest selections. "But the hefeweizen is also very popular right now, which is another kind of summery drink."

Rounding out the menu are a couple of variations on the IPA theme, including the blood orange infused Fire Sun, as well as more familiar selections, such as the Hans & Fran pale ale and Prairie Dog porter. In the pipeline are another hazy IPA, and two more from Germany, a dunkel and a dortmunder

"He has won a lot of awards for his Dortmunder," Kelly said. "Those styles, the German-styles, are the ones he's really good at and the ones he loves to brew, but he does make all types."

At this point, the brewery does not offer food, but the Buennings plan to bring in a rotation of food trucks on weekends, and they are open to the possibility of a permanent food-service arrangement in the future.

But first, Kelly said, the two are concentrating on the launch of Fritz Family Brewers, reconnecting with family in Colorado, and finding their place in the local craft beer community.

"It's a different vibe here, and I love that," she said. "People go to a bunch of different craft breweries here-they don't just go to one, they like to check them all out. I love that we keep getting people in who say, 'I heard about a new brewery and I just had to come'."

Fritz Family Brewers is open Monday-Thursday from 3 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 12 to 10 p.m., and Sunday 12 to 9 p.m. For more information, visit them on Facebook or at fritzfamilybrewers.com.