Tommyknocker in Idaho Springs is making some changes

By Jay McKinney

Since it was established in 1994, Tommyknocker Brewery & Pub has been an enjoyable Idaho Springs pit stop along Interstate 70. Whether coming back from a long day of skiing or kicking off a mountain camping trip, the brewery has welcomed travelers and locals alike.

While it is proud of its standing as an early independent craft producer in a state now dominated by them, brewery leaders realize the importance of staying relevant in the ever-changing market. That’s why they have decided to go all in with some big changes. Tommyknocker has expanded its lineup of beers, rolled out fresh re-branding and plans to spend more than $100,000 on renovations to its facility later this year.

Consumers can indulge in new flavors like the Off Leash Juicy IPA, Mother Lode Juicy Double IPA, Peach Dream Fruited Sour, Mountain West Modern West Coast IPA and Crispy Colorado Lager.

“To have come this far in the craft beer industry you need a rock-solid foundation and the willingness to innovate,” says Tommknocker President Steve Indrehus. “While our portfolio still has many of the beloved classics, we’re incredibly excited about these new beers and the fresh look and feel for the brand and the brewery. We’ve never had this many new year-round beers come out at once. We think it’s going to be game changing.”

Along with the new flavors, Tommyknocker will continue to brew popular classics like the Maple Nut Brown and its Blood Orange IPA. However, these beers are also getting some changes in the branding department.

Maple Nut Brown is going to be renamed “That 90’s Brown” and the cans will feature eye-catching graphics that will have the brewery’s fans doing a double take as they walk the beer aisle of the liquor store. The brewery teamed with Denver-based agency Ahead of The Curve (AOTC) Strategy and Ember Design to re-envision the brand while preserving the mining history associated with the brewery.

“Our goal was to update the Tommyknocker iconography while respecting the character and the institution that are so familiar to many craft beer drinkers,” says AOTC’s Creative Chief and Co-founder Dan Kiefer. “We wanted to celebrate the brewery’s mining town roots while giving their beers a fresh look that better reflects the dynamic nature of craft beer today.”

The renovations slated for later in the year are another way Tommyknocker aims to remain relevant in bustling downtown Idaho Springs. The town has shut down Main Street to auto traffic for the summer and features live music every Thursday evening. Tommyknocker’s renovation will “open up” the 30,000-square-foot location and make for a great place to share a beer with friends and enjoy the mountain lifestyle.

“We’ve tried to be a community hub throughout the pandemic,” Indrehus says. “Now that things are opening back up, it’s the perfect time to freshen our look and lineup. We couldn’t be more excited about these changes, and we believe our fans are going to be blown away as well.”