Nestled right in the middle of Mountain Avenue in downtown Berthoud, City Star Brewing is the kind of place that feels welcoming before you even walk in the doors.
Constructed in an old, rehabbed brick building that once upon a time was the City Star Livery (thus the name and the logo) its floor to ceiling windows, sidewalk patio, and small-town vibe make a person stop and think, “Maybe we should step inside here for a beer.”
Indeed you should.
Now in its 9th year of operation, City Star has become a Berthoud mainstay, a gathering place not just for a craft brew after work, but for a whole laundry list of community events ranging from an annual Winter Solstice celebration to a summer Flapjack Day extravaganza, complete with a ladies-only eating contest and breakfast-themed beer flights. (As a note, the 4-time reigning Flapjack Queen can down five flapjacks with butter and syrup in less than 45 seconds.) The brewery regularly hosts community meetups for hobby groups as well as workshops via partnerships with small businesses. There’s live music on the weekends and good company on a daily basis.
A husband-and-wife duo, John and Whitney Way own and manage City Star, backed by a stellar team of brewers and beer slingers. When asked what sets City Star apart, Whitney replies without hesitation that it’s the staff. “City Star is known for its super-friendly beer slingers,” she says. “Good people, good beer, and good community.”
The Ways’ commitment to their local community is what ties them to us here at Root Shoot and that commitment runs through every beer they pour. Almost six years ago, when Root Shoot was just beginning and Todd and Emily were pounding the pavement seeking out craft breweries to try our malts, City Star was the first to sign on. Today, City Star is Craft Malt Certified and uses Root Shoot as the base malt for all of their ales.
“Working with Root Shoot is incredibly special,” says Whitney. “Not only are we able to have both local ingredients and a great economic impact on our immediate region, but we have also developed an amazing partnership and long-lasting friendships. The Olanders are truly some of the finest folk in Northern Colorado.”
Aww, we’re blushing!
This summer, City Star will celebrate its 10th year in operation, and if you haven’t made it to NoCo to check them out yet, we highly recommend that you do.
We’ve even made a little cheat sheet to help you.
Brewery:
City Star Brewing
321 Mountain Ave, Berthoud Colorado
Beers to Try:
All of their ales made with Root Shoot, obviously!
But in the Get It Before Its Gone category, hustle in and get the Winter Solstice release of Widow Maker, an imperial stout that comes in three variants: vanilla, orange, and original.
Also check out Sweater Weather, a dunkel made with Root Shoot’s M-10 malt. And be sure to ask to see the label artwork on the Sweater Weather cans. It’s killer!
While You’re There:
Check out the details of the space, one of the prettiest around! Of special note: the whiskey barrel chandelier hand-crafted by John Way, and the stunning mural on the back patio by artist Gamma Acosta.
Looking ahead:
Follow City Star on social media to make sure you get updates for some of their best events of the year!
March: Lucky Charms! Taste the Rainbow Beer Flights and all things Irish!
May: City Star’s 10-year anniversary Hootenanny! Wear your best sh*t kickers!
September: Flapjack Day: a 1950s flapjack-themed party, complete with breakfast-inspired beer flights and a flapjack eating contest
December: Winter Solstice celebration and the annual release of Widow Maker.
Cheers, fellow beer lovers! We’ll see you in Berthoud!
All photos provided courtesy of City Star Brewing.
