Old 121 Brewhouse

At what point did you realize that you wanted to pursue the craft beer business?
It has been a longtime dream of ours to own a brewery. We homebrewed together for over 10 years and slowly became more involved in the craft beer community until we had the opportunity to take over Old 121 Brewhouse.

What motivated you to open your brewery?
We were not the original owners of Old 121, but worked there (Sam brewing and Katie bartending and volunteering) since the brewery opened. The previous owners approached us about selling the brewery and we were happy to jump at the opportunity.

What aspects of the local beer industry do you wish were more widely understood by those outside the industry?
All of the hard work that goes into every glass of beer — creating recipes, cleaning, rising production costs, and all of that to get to a great end product in a very competitive market. That and because of the hard work, there is a great community in the beer industry where we often are supporting one another and not just competitors.

What makes your brewery unique in your words?
Approachable beers and sodas with our community at the heart of everything. We like to consider ourselves Lakewood’s Living Room and want to have something for everyone.

How did you go about choosing the design and aesthetic for your taproom? Who is responsible for your artwork and furniture?
The big beautiful wooden bar is the center of the taproom and was built by a local patron who used to own a brewery in Denver and is a frequent regular at Old 121. The overall aesthetic is approachable with almost a dive bar feel to it.

Among the various risks your brewery faces, which one tends to keep you awake at night, and why?
Rising costs, increased competition, and seeing so many established breweries close. We want to continue to serve our community as it becomes harder to run a small business in this industry.

What advice would you offer to a new brewery owner regarding effective risk management to safe guard their brewery and business?
Owning a brewery is so much more than making good beer. Keeping up with trends, marketing, and customer relationships are so important to keep people coming back for more, so make sure you spend enough time (and money) to keep all aspects of your business strong and fresh.