USA, CO: Never Summer Brewery hosting a goodbye party on October 18

Never Summer Brewery in Granby is hosting a goodbye party on Oct. 18 before closing its doors indefinitely, Sky-Hi News reported on October 15.

Kirk Main has owned and run the business at 62 E. Agate Ave. for more than a decade. Now, he plans to retire and take a much-anticipated solo roadtrip across the nation in his camper with no return date or itinerary.

“There is no guarantee that I will reopen in a few years but I’m keeping my options open, so don’t hold your breath,” Main wrote in a Facebook post announcing the closing.

Never Summer has become notorious for its unique locally-focused brews, such as the Kill Dozer E.S.B., a strong English pale ale inspired by Granby history. In the nearly 40 years he has lived in Grand County, Main said he has built countless strong connections with his patrons and neighboring business owners. He partners with neighbors such as Maverick’s Grille, occasionally providing them with kegs to serve his brews at their restaurant.

“Kirk’s been an important part of the community, bringing great beer to Granby for years, and he will be sorely missed,” said Sean Richardson, owner of Maverick’s Grille.

As both the owner and only employee at Never Summer, Main has dedicated his time to the brewery nearly every day since its opening, spending 12 to 14 hours at a time crafting and brewing his beer at its Granby location. While he loved it for many years, he said, the work has become tedious, and now he wants to explore outside the place he has called home for the majority of his life.

“I’m a slave to the beer when it’s fermenting,” he said. “I have to babysit it.”

He admitted he will miss Grand County as much as the community will miss his beer, but he also looks forward to the freedom of the open road.

“I’m glad I did this,” he said. “It’s allowed me to retire early, and get a feel for the locals in town and county. A lot of friendships were made.”

Never Summer Brewery will host a free retirement party starting at 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 18 with live jazz and funk music. The brewery will offer $4 pints all day long in celebration of its final day.

As he prepares to move on, Main is also thinking about what comes next for the space he will leave behind. He hopes someone new will step in to keep Granby’s craft beer spirit alive — perhaps with a fresh concept or a new twist that reflects the town’s personality.

“I hope someone takes advantage of the lack of a brewery in Granby and opens one up,” he said.