The Big Brew Theory #002: Alan Simons | Dry Dock Brewing

DRY DOCK BREWING - AURORA, CO   ALAN SIMONS - Managing Brewer   Interviewed at the South Dock Location.     ORIGIN STORY   Started out as a home brew store called BREW HUT, which has been around for more than 20 years.  Founders moved to town from Iowa and purchased the brew store.   The brewery was born in the back of the Brew Hut.  Dry Dock is now 12 years old.   22,000 barrels produced each year between the two "Docks."   Largest brewery sold exclusively in Colorado.  The rest of the big breweries have regional and national distribution.     THE NAME   Kevin, one of the owners was a history major in college and has a general fascination with boats, historical travel and commerce.     WHAT IS DRY DOCK KNOWN FOR?   "Most people know the apricot blonde, which is our flagship due to it unique qualities and broad appeal."   Authentic beers to style, both English and German styles.     WHERE CAN DRY DOCK BE FOUND?   Most liquor stores around the state (Colorado doesn't have alcohol sales in grocery retail stores).  Broad market availability on draft and in retail locations.     WHERE DOES DRY DOCK LAND IN SIZE IN COLORADO?   Dry Dock just missed the "Ten Biggest Breweries in Colorado" list recently published in the Denver Post.  "We're number 11!."   "Regional-sized brewery" in the Brewer's Association classification kicks in around 15,000 barrels.  Dry Dock passed that a few years ago, but live in between "small" and "large" breweries.       HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH DRY DOCK?   Alan has been with Dry Dock for 2.5 years.     CURRENT MARKET TRENDS IN THE INDUSTRY   People are more interested in LOCAL beer.  As is the demand these days, people in Colorado are fanatical about Colorado beers.  In states like this, it's getting increasingly hard to compete because there are so many breweries in general as well as some major national favorites that are based in the Boulder and Fort Collins area.   Small brewpubs are popular as people continue to "hyper-localize." HOURS OF OPERATION   South Dock is open seven days a week.   North Dock is the major production.  Brewing and packaging generally 5-6 days/week. The north tasting room, The Canoe Room, is open Wednesday-Saturday.