One of the top local breweries, Call to Arms Brewing Company, has announced that it will shut down permanently on December 23. Located in the Berkeley neighborhood, the brewery earned a strong following for its creative use of hop varieties and seasonally inspired brews.
Highlights
- Call to Arms Brewing Company will close its doors on December 23.
- The brewery shared the news in a social media video, citing rising costs and shifting customer habits.
- Owner Chris Bell assured fans the taproom will still feature Halloween and Christmas décor and offer beer discounts.
Beloved Denver Brewery Call to Arms to Shut Down
Founded in 2014 by three industry veterans with two decades of combined brewing experience, Call to Arms quickly became a neighborhood favorite. It opened in 2015 and has since earned praise and recognition for its innovative drinks.
The brewery earned a 2018 World Beer Cup gold medal for its More Like Bore-O-Phyll wet-hopped IPA. The brewery also won a silver medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 2023.
The brewery’s beer names often nod to pop culture with a playful sense of irreverence. Some of the signature ones are Oats & Hose, Janet Reno’s Dance Party, and More Like Bore‑O‑Phyll, among others. Their taproom serves as a neighborhood gathering spot with food, outdoor seating, and pet‑friendly patios.
However, the brewery revealed its plans to close in a humorous social media video.
Brewery to Hold Farewell Parties and Beer Discounts
Owner Chris Bell wasn’t able to announce the closing himself in the video, so Yupi the Clown shared the final working date instead. After that, Bell appeared and explained that no single event led to the decision to close.
The video mixed playful references to pandemic headlines while hinting at the reasons behind the closure. “While there’s no single group to blame, or any single event running the brewery over the last couple of years has been, the least to say, a challenge,” he said.
“With so many alternative beverages and people just generally drinking less, not to mention some increasing costs, it’s just difficult to keep on going, but I don’t mean to complain. It’s been a hell of a run,” he pointed out. He concluded the video with some good news.
“But we’re not done yet. We’re gonna have lots of farewell parties, beer discounts, just so you guys can really see how bad it is. We’ll see you soon,” he said.
The announcement says that all scheduled events, which include Oktoberfest, Wiener Dog Races, the Grown-Up Book Fair, and the Halloween Pottery Workshop, will still take place as planned. Holiday decorations for Halloween and Christmas will also continue as originally scheduled.
Despite the challenges that led to this decision, owner Chris Bell and the team are choosing to go out with a celebration. Call to Arms Brewing Company’s closure marks the end of a beloved decade-long chapter in Denver’s craft beer scene.
