Colorado libations locations with an artistic edge
By Jay McKinney
Making great beer is a part science, part art. But the creativity on the craft beer scene doesn’t end in the pint glasses, or even the sometimes ornate tap handles.
Many Colorado breweries also are part of the local visual arts scene. They have become galleries, wall spaces and even sales venues for artists of all kinds.
Here are the artists and ideas behind some of our favorite murals, sculptures and showcases on the craft beer scene. We hope we also inspire you to look up from the cascading bubbles in your nitro pub ale to appreciate the artistry around you as well.
If a brewery is going to be in the Denver Art District on Santa Fe, it’s only fitting to have it decorated with vibrant art. Those who have visited Wah Gwaan Brewing Company can easily fall in love with the amazing beer and the colorful artwork decorating the interior and exterior of the building.
The brewery was founded in 2020 by the husband-and-wife team of Jesse Brown and Harsha Maragh. Before opening the brewery, they considered themselves avid craft beer enthusiasts and homebrewers as well. When COVID-19 threw a wrench in their career paths, they decided to open Colorado’s first Jamaican-themed brewery in the heart of Denver’s thriving Art District.
The brewery didn’t officially open to the public until June of 2021, but from the beginning, the couple felt the need to make it an inviting atmosphere with conversation-starting artwork. Not knowing exactly where to start, they went on Instagram and started contacting talented artists to see if they would be interested in decorating their new business.
The artist they hired to paint the interior of the taproom was Chelsea Lewinski, who was recommended to them by their close friends at Lady Justice Brewing, where Lewinski had also done some mural art.
In the taproom, guests will feel transported to Jamaica as they sit among the vibrant portraits of popular reggae artists painted by Lewinski. The three Reggae artists painted are Koffee, an up-and-coming female musician, Damian Marley, son of reggae legend Bob Marley and a talented musician in his own right, and the ever-popular Shaggy.
For the brewery’s exterior, there were four different artists who collaborated to contribute mural art. Maragh and Brown originally reached out to Austin Zucchini-Fowler, who has done many works of art across Denver. The couple liked his style. After sharing their vision, he suggested that they include some other artists as well, and he put them in contact with Lindz and Lamb, a husband-and-wife artist duo who also have ties to Jamaica. Lindz and Lamb then reached out to their friend Jake Klone, an artist from England, and he painted a crocodile on one side of the building bordering the alley.
When passing by, it’s a building that catches your eye in a neighborhood where there are more murals than blank walls. Aside from the artwork, the brewery is a great addition to the Art District on Santa Fe as they incorporate Jamaican culture through the different beers, partnerships, educational events and pop-ups in the taproom.
UPDATE: After publishing this story in our magazine, we learned that Wah Gwaan is closing this month. We hope the amazing artwork will be a lasting legacy of this welcoming and fun brewery. The Wah Gwaan closing party will be on Friday, January 28.
Ironton Distillery & Crafthouse
Denver’s RiNo neighborhood has gone through quite the transformation in the last decade, thanks to an influx of new businesses and stunning artwork lining almost every street. Nearly five years after opening, it’s safe to say that Ironton Distillery & Crafthouse fits right in. The distillery embodies the Colorado lifestyle and has embraced the nature of the RiNo Arts District. From the interior art gallery featuring rotating artists’ work to the colorful murals decorating the exterior, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail and some artwork. Patrick Kane McGregor is the artist behind arguably the most prominent of the murals, a vibrant painting on the side of the tasting room showing Ludo, one of the distillery’s friendly dogs. The other two murals that line the property were painted by Alex Pangburn and DB Ink.
Located in the gorgeous Paonia Valley on the Western Slope, Azura Cellars and Gallery offers guests amazing wine, unbeatable views and an impressive gallery of art. The founders, Ty and Helen Gillespie, have a fascinating story and an extensive background in art. They found their way to Colorado in 1996 when they opened an art and design studio in Minturn, which they operated for nearly 10 years. By 2006, the couple felt they had outgrown their modest studio space in Minturn and came across an abandoned miniature-burro farm in Paonia. They purchased the property overlooking the North Fork Valley and began constructing their dream studio/gallery. After meeting one of the original winemakers in the valley, Steve Rhodes, one thing led to another, and the property evolved into a winery as well. Rhodes helped immensely by sharing his knowledge and winemaking equipment and in 2007, Azura Cellars and Gallery opened to the public. Almost 15 years later, the winery/art gallery is still one of the valley’s most attractive destinations to enjoy wine, great views and a love for art.
Azura Cellars and Gallery is open daily from May through October. Bret Neal took over from Ty Gillespie as head winemaker in 2016. He has been named Colorado Winemaker of the Year, and the winery produces 10 varietals, including malbec, pinot noir, syrah, pinot gris and riesling.
Jay McKinney grew up in Sedalia and graduated from the Metropolitan State University of Denver with a bachelor’s degree in communications. During his free time, he enjoys playing golf, shooting pool and hiking throughout Colorado and neighboring Utah.
This article appeared in the January-February issue of our print magazine. Click here to read the full magazine online.