Odell Brewing Celebrates 25th Anniversary
15 Sep 2014 --- This fall, Odell Brewing Company will turn 25 years old. On September 22, the brewery will kick off a week of events to celebrate its silver anniversary with friends and family.
The fun will include a Silver Lining soiree benefit for the Food Bank of Larimer County, throwback beers, special food pairings, live music, and more. The brewery will also release a special anniversary beer during the week. 180 Shilling, a double version of the brewery’s flagship 90 Shilling, boasts a hearty roasted malt base balanced by subtle earthy hops, and aged on oak to create notes of toffee, plum, vanilla and dried cherry.
Odell Brewing got its start in 1989, just after Doug and Wynne Odell made the move to Fort Collins from Seattle. Doug had been an active homebrewer, strongly influenced by the northwest brewing pioneers, so the two decided to take his passion commercial. Doug’s sister, Corkie, was living in Fort Collins and scoped out a location to start the brewery. Shortly after their move, Corkie joined Doug and Wynne in opening the brewery in an old converted grain elevator. It was just the second packaging craft brewery to open in the state of Colorado, and the first in Fort Collins.
During the first five years, the popularity of Odell’s hand-crafted draft only ales caught on. In fact, they became so popular that a larger facility was needed to handle the increasing demand. Thus a whole new brewery was built in 1994 at the current location. In 1996, a packaging line was installed, and the brewery introduced bottles for the first time. After many years, several brewery expansions, and a packaging re-brand, Odell Brewing expects to produce around 100,000 barrels of beer this year. It currently employs just over 100 people, and sells a diverse portfolio of delicious and innovative beers across eleven states.
Odell Brewing will also commemorate its 25th year with a special collaboration beer brewed with Boulevard Brewing later this fall. Boulevard also got its start 25 years ago (and just one day before Odell Brewing). The Boulevard/Odell collaboration will be released in mid-November with a series of events and celebrations across the breweries’ collective distribution areas.
