Meet Our Stop | Bootstrap Brewing
Bootstrap Brewing is a Longmont brewery that offers fantastic live music and events in the heart of our amazing city. Read on to learn more about how they started, what to expect when you visit, and their tasty brews!
We know you have two locations, one in Niwot and one here in Longmont. Tell us a little bit about how Bootstrap Brewing started.
Bootstrap Brewing was founded on June 20th, 2012 by local Niwot residents Steve and Leslie Kaczeus, who left the high tech storage industry to start an adventurous, independent craft brewery in their hometown. They are the sole owners with no other partners or investors, and because they used their own limited resources, they fully embrace the “Bootstrap” Startup philosophy that is our namesake.
Steve always wanted to start his own business, and after a series of mergers and acquisitions which left us wondering if we would have jobs, we set out on a quest to find a business that we were both equally passionate about. We spent numerous hours in breweries and biergartens pondering different ideas until one day we had an “AHA moment” of Duh!, we both love beer, and could we take Steve’s home brewing hobby and turn it into a business?
After 5 years of research and recipe refinement with many blind taste panels in our basement with friends, we took the leap of faith and took out an equity loan on the house to buy a 3.5 BBL copper brewpub style brewhouse from our friends at Eddlyline Brewery in Buena Vista. We put it in storage while we looked for the perfect location. One day, Leslie was reading the local newspaper and saw that Crossfit was moving out of their Niwot location so we drove over, fell in love with the quirky building, signed a lease and started building our dream.
The Niwot building was built in 1972 as a Plumbing Supply business. It is a pole barn structure, and we have been told that over the years it has been home to other businesses such as a Sidewalk Chalk Manufacturer, an Auction House, a furniture restoration business and a Crossfit facility. Some of the first signatures on one of the support poles were from Crossfit for their “Muscle Up Wall” and we continued that tradition by letting our friends, contractors and patrons of the building also add to the signatures.
We originally opened in 1200 SF in the Southeast corner and the back door was our front door. With our initial configuration, we brewed the equivalent of 110 gallons (or 14 kegs) per batch, hand stirred without any automation for several years.
We slowly bought more fermenters, took over the entire building and upgraded to a 15 BBL brewhouse along with our current fermenter configuration of two 7 BBL and two 15 BBL. We sold our original brewhouse to Ska Brewing, who is using it to brew their pilot R&D beers in Durango.
In 2018, we produced 6,400 BBLs of beer, and this year are aiming for 8,000 BBLs. We brew beer in both locations full-time, but all canning happens in Longmont and our smaller batches that aren’t packaged plus new R&D brews happen in Niwot.
What does your name mean?
boot·strap noun, adjective, verb
1. a means of advancing oneself or accomplishing something.
2. relying entirely on one’s efforts and resources.
3. self-generating or self-sustaining; a bootstrap process.
4. to help (oneself) without the aid of others.
5. a kick @$$ brewery in Boulder County, CO!
What makes what you do unique?
Are beers are highly drinkable – our goal is for customers to want to re-order.
Our can art is amazing
Our staff is amazing.
What are the drinks that you are most known for?
Insane Rush IPA, Lush Puppy Juicy IPA, Chillax Pineapple Gold, Wreak Havoc Imperial Red, Stick’s Pale Ale, Backfire Chili.
What are three words that describe Bootstrap Brewing?
1. Over-achievers
2. Consistent
3. Fun
Why should our hoppers stop in to visit you?
We’re fun, have amazingly talented bands, and highly drinkable beer.
Do you offer take-home beer?
Yes- 6 packs, 32 oz. crowlers and 64 oz. glass growlers.
If someone new walks in, what do you suggest they order?
I always ask the what they usually drink.
If light beer/lagers – 1956 Golden Ale, Chillax Pineapple Gold or Cabana Boy
Amber or red – Flagstaff or Wreak Havoc
Pale Ale – Stick’s
IPAs – Insane Rush or Lush Puppy
Darks – Worthog (or Schwarzbier or NutStrap if seasonally on tap)
Sours (Cherry Gose when on tap)
What days and hours are you open to the public?
At our Longmont location:
Monday-Friday 3:00 – 9:00
Saturday – 12:00 – 9:30
Sunday – 12:00 – 6:00
Is your establishment family and dog friendly?
Yes, if controlled. Children must be seated at all times and dogs must be non-aggressive and quiet. Patio preferred for dogs for people are afraid of and allergic to dogs.
Schedule for food trucks, entertainment, and events:
Thank you to Bootstrap Brewing for letting us know more about them! Be sure to hop on our Longmont Loop on Saturdays + Sundays so you can pay them a visit! For more information, you can visit them here: