By David Young
It was a cool rainy spring day in Fort Collins that marked the grand opening of the beer-centric city’s newest brewery. Dubbed Salt Road Brewing, it is tucked away off of Walnut Street in the bustling downtown area and is located in an alleyway once home to Prost Brewing Co.
Salt Road brewer and co-owner Scott Ficarra
For those who’ve been, the smell of tacos from Illegal Pete’s lingers in the air. Brewer and co-owner Scott Ficarra can be found behind the bar while patrons sip beers. Outside, a food truck serves up bites and outdoor seating is available. Large flat-screen televisions dot the walls and a garage-door-style door allows easy access to and from the food truck. A new large blue and white sign out front announces to anyone confused about the change that Salt Road Brewing is now here to stay.
The popular space at 321 Old Firehouse Alley features an array of farmhouse-inspired brews from the old world.
The brewery's name is derived from a throughway in Europe known as the Alte Salzstraße, or Salt Road. During the Middle Ages, salt was a hot commodity and was used in preserving food. Today it is used in not just the brewery’s name but also in its beers.
From the Mad Thoughts Hazy Saison to the Fights Like a Woman Strawberry Blonde, the brewery divides its beer menu into regions including North America, Britain, France, Belgium, Germany, and Colorado farmhouse. There’s also a section reserved for experimental beers, such as a Kalt German Pilsner.
In addition to the nod to the Middle Ages brewing history, Ficarra focuses on local ingredients for his modern-day beers, similar to the way farmers used to brew. In fact, the brewery boasts on its website that, “If we felt we could not make great beer from local ingredients, we wouldn’t do it.”
The logo of the brewery includes the tagline, “live, grow, craft, farm, love” aligned vertically to spell out the word “local” highlighting its commitment to local brewing.
The “local tastes better” mantra that the brewery lives by finds a home in a brewery-rich community. Just a stone’s throw from the alleyway now home to Salt Road is New Belgium Brewing, 500 Linden St., one of the forerunners in the craft brewing industry. Just down the road at 405 Linden St. is another new brewery in Fort Collins: Hello Brewing Co.
Joining the likes of old and new Fort Collins breweries, Salt Road is hoping to make its own history in the Choice City with a fresh take on brewing.
David Young is a freelance writer based in Fort Collins, who specializes in beer, whiskey and outdoor writing. David has been published in SKI Magazine, GearJunkie, 5280 Magazine, USA Today, and The Denver Post.