Boulder Beer Company
Boulder Beer Company is a Colorado craft brewery founded in 1979 and recognized as the state's first microbrewery.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Boulder Beer Company is a Colorado craft-beer brand founded in Boulder on September 25, 1979 by David Hummer, Alvin Nelson, and Randolf Ware. Hummer and Ware were University of Colorado Boulder physics professors and home brewers, while Nelson was involved in the founding group. The company emerged after changes to United States home-brewing laws made small-scale commercial brewing more practical. Its earliest operation was based on a farm in a small structure popularly associated with goats, giving rise to the later Goatshed identity and festival. The brewery was originally incorporated as Boulder Brewing Company. In 1980 it became a publicly traded company and raised more than $1.7 million, an unusual early financing step for a small American brewery. In 1990, Gina Day took the business private and the company adopted the Boulder Beer Company name. It changed names again in 1993 to Rockies Brewing Company, before returning to Boulder Beer Company in 2005. These changes reflected shifts in ownership and corporate structure rather than a departure from its Colorado brewing identity. Boulder Beer developed a portfolio associated with the American craft-beer movement, including Mojo, Shake, and Hazed and Infused. In 2002, Rockies Brewing Company entered a strategic arrangement with Rock Bottom Breweries under which Rock Bottom brewed and sold Singletrack Ale. The arrangement illustrated the production and distribution challenges faced by independent breweries as demand grew beyond the capacity of their original facilities. The company also operated a brewpub at Wilderness Place in Boulder. In January 2020 it announced that it would sell the brewpub and concentrate on contract brewing; the pub closed on January 18, 2020, and the property was offered for sale. Later in 2020, Denver-based Sleeping Giant Brewing Company took over the rights to Boulder Beer. The transition retained involvement from original owners and brewmasters in brand decisions while moving production toward a contract-brewing model. At the beginning of 2021, Boulder Beer introduced a redesigned visual identity, including a new logo and packaging system. The relaunch restored established beers such as Mojo, Shake, and Hazed and Infused, while adding SKO, formerly known as Buffalo Gold Beer, and newer sparkling-oriented concepts including Bubbly By Nature and Bubbly IPA. The post-2020 business therefore combined heritage branding with production support from Sleeping Giant and a narrower operating model than the former brewpub-centered business. Boulder Beer has also presented itself as a civic and environmentally conscious local business. Its reported activities included participation in Boulder's 10 for a Change Challenge, use of biodiesel, recycled or compostable takeaway materials, recycling programs, recycled six-pack carriers, and non-petroleum-based inks. It supported the Beer 4 Boobs fundraising program for breast-cancer causes and organized the Goatshed Revival beer festival, whose proceeds were directed to Community Food Share. The brand's history links early Colorado microbrewing, local identity, contract production, and an effort to preserve legacy beers after the closure of its brewpub.
History
Boulder Beer Company began in Boulder, Colorado, on September 25, 1979. Its founders were David Hummer, Alvin Nelson, and Randolf Ware; Hummer and Ware were University of Colorado Boulder physics professors who also brewed at home. Regulatory changes affecting home brewing helped create the conditions for the venture. The first brewery operated on a farm in a modest building popularly remembered as a goat shed, an origin story that later became central to the company's local mythology. The business initially operated under the name Boulder Brewing Company. In 1980 it went public and raised more than $1.7 million. This early public financing distinguished it from many small breweries of the period, although the company subsequently returned to private ownership. In 1990 Gina Day took the company private, and the brewery adopted the Boulder Beer Company name. In 1993 it became Rockies Brewing Company, then reverted to Boulder Beer Company in 2005. During the 1990s and 2000s, Boulder Beer developed beers associated with Colorado's expanding craft-brewing culture. Its portfolio included Mojo, Shake, and Hazed and Infused. In 2002, while operating as Rockies Brewing Company, it entered an agreement with Rock Bottom Breweries concerning the brewing and sale of Singletrack Ale. The relationship provided an external production and sales channel as the brand navigated the scale limitations of a smaller brewery. The company operated a brewpub at Wilderness Place in Boulder and maintained a visible local presence through environmental projects, charity events, and its Goatshed Revival beer festival. In 2008 it participated as a sponsoring partner in Boulder's 10 for a Change Challenge, which promoted a ten-percent reduction in energy use. Reported operational measures included biodiesel fuel, recycling, recycled or compostable takeaway containers, recycled six-pack carriers, and non-petroleum-based inks. The company also participated in Beer 4 Boobs, a nationwide fundraising program connected with breast-cancer charitable work. Its Goatshed Revival festival included a homebrew competition, with proceeds directed to Community Food Share. A major structural change came in January 2020. Boulder Beer announced that it intended to sell the brewpub and move toward contract brewing. The Wilderness Place location closed on January 18, 2020, and the property was offered for sale. Later that year, Sleeping Giant Brewing Company of Denver took over the rights to the Boulder Beer brand. The arrangement allowed the historic name and selected beers to continue without maintaining the former brewpub operation, while original owners and brewers remained involved in decision-making. In early 2021 the brand presented a new identity created by Boulder-area designers. The relaunch combined legacy products with new or refreshed offerings. Mojo, Shake, and Hazed and Infused returned, Buffalo Gold Beer was associated with the new name SKO, and the company introduced Bubbly By Nature and Bubbly IPA. The modern Boulder Beer model consequently rests on heritage recognition, brand-led product development, and production through a broader brewing partner rather than on the original brewpub and facility structure.
- 2021
Brand redesign and portfolio relaunch
[1]Boulder Beer launches a new identity, revives legacy beers, and introduces products including SKO and Bubbly IPA.
- 2020
Brewpub closes and rights move to Sleeping Giant
[1]The Wilderness Place brewpub closes, the business shifts toward contract brewing, and Sleeping Giant Brewing Company takes over the brand rights.
- 2005
The Boulder Beer name returns
[1]The company changes its name back to Boulder Beer Company.
- 2002
Rock Bottom brewing agreement
[1]Rockies Brewing Company enters an arrangement allowing Rock Bottom Breweries to brew and sell Singletrack Ale.
- 1993
The company becomes Rockies Brewing Company
[1]The brewery changes its corporate name to Rockies Brewing Company.
- 1990
Gina Day takes the company private
[1]The company returns to private ownership and adopts the Boulder Beer Company name.
- 1980
The company goes public
[1]Boulder Brewing Company becomes publicly traded and raises more than $1.7 million.
- 1979
Boulder Brewing Company is founded
[1]David Hummer, Alvin Nelson, and Randolf Ware establish the brewery in Boulder, Colorado, making it one of the early licensed American microbreweries.
Products and positioning
A pioneering Colorado craft-beer brand built around local Boulder heritage, recognizable legacy beers, independent brewing history, and contemporary contract production.
Craft beer
Mojo
Mojo is one of Boulder Beer's established legacy offerings and was among the beers brought back during the brand relaunch after Sleeping Giant assumed the rights. It represents the company's effort to maintain continuity with its earlier Colorado craft-brewing portfolio.
Craft beer
Shake
Shake is a longstanding Boulder Beer product that was restored as part of the early-2021 identity and portfolio refresh. Detailed style specifications are not established in the supplied reference material.
Craft beer
Hazed and Infused
Hazed and Infused is a recognized Boulder Beer legacy product. Its return in the 2021 relaunch connected the refreshed brand to beers associated with the company's earlier craft-brewery era.
Ale · 2002
Singletrack Ale
Singletrack Ale was associated with a 2002 strategic production and sales arrangement under which Rock Bottom Breweries brewed and sold the beer for Rockies Brewing Company, the then-current corporate name of Boulder Beer.
Craft beer · 2021
SKO
SKO was introduced as part of the 2021 product and identity refresh. The reference material states that it was formerly known as Buffalo Gold Beer, making the product a direct example of the brand's post-transition renaming and modernization.
Sparkling beer product · 2021
Bubbly By Nature
Bubbly By Nature was one of the newer concepts introduced after Sleeping Giant took over Boulder Beer's rights. It expanded the portfolio beyond the company's best-known legacy beers into a more sparkling-oriented product concept.
India pale ale · 2021
Bubbly IPA
Bubbly IPA was presented as a new product concept in the 2021 relaunch. The supplied reference identifies it as a distinctive sparkling-oriented IPA but does not provide further technical or packaging details.
Marketing campaigns
- 200810 for a Change Challenge
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder Beer became a sponsoring partner in a local initiative designed to reduce energy consumption by ten percent through efficiency improvements.
Outcome. The brewery used the partnership to reinforce its local and environmental positioning; the supplied material does not quantify a company-specific reduction.
- Beer 4 Boobs
United States
The company participated annually in Beer 4 Boobs, a nationwide charity program raising money for breast-cancer-related charitable work.
Outcome. The supplied material confirms recurring participation but does not state a Boulder Beer-specific fundraising total.
- Goatshed Revival Beer Festival
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder Beer organized an annual festival named after the goat shed associated with its earliest brewery. The event included a homebrew competition whose winning beer could be brewed and distributed by the company.
Outcome. Festival proceeds were donated to Community Food Share.
Brand decisions
2021
Heritage portfolio and new-product relaunchProduct launchBackground
Following the transfer of rights to Sleeping Giant, Boulder Beer sought to preserve recognition for its historic products while presenting a refreshed brand.
Action taken
The company introduced a new logo and visual identity, brought back Mojo, Shake, and Hazed and Infused, and added or renamed products including SKO, Bubbly By Nature, and Bubbly IPA.
Aftermath
The relaunch repositioned Boulder Beer as a heritage Colorado brand with a contemporary portfolio and partner-supported production.
2020
Shift from brewpub operations to contract brewingStrategyBackground
The company operated a brewpub at Wilderness Place but announced that it would sell the site and concentrate on contract brewing.
Action taken
Boulder Beer announced the plan on January 6, 2020, closed the brewpub on January 18, and placed the property on the market.
Aftermath
The operating model moved away from direct brewpub operations and later became linked to Sleeping Giant Brewing Company's production capabilities.
2020
Transfer of Boulder Beer rights to Sleeping GiantM&ABackground
After the brewpub closure and strategic shift, Boulder Beer needed a production and operating structure capable of supporting the brand without its former facility.
Action taken
Sleeping Giant Brewing Company of Denver took over the rights to Boulder Beer, with original owners and brewers continuing to participate in decisions.
Aftermath
The brand continued through a partner-led and contract-oriented model and subsequently relaunched its identity and product portfolio.
Sources1 sources
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