BREWERY JOINS OTHER LOCALS IN CAN SALES

Broomfield’s Rails End Beer Company is expanding its reach outside the taphouse.

With the first cans on store shelves, Broomfield’s Rails End Beer Company recently joined Wonderland Brewing Company and 4Noses Brewing Company by expanding its reach outside the taphouse.

Sales representative Chris Percy said canning began in mid- August and currently the brewery’s Blood Orange Double IPA is at two liquor stores — Beverage Werks, 1285 E. First Ave., Unit A, in Broomfield and Sportsmen Discount Liquor, 1817 Main St., Unit 201, in Longmont.

The first canning day produced 120 cases, Percy said.

“We really wanted to just see how it went selling- wise in the tap room,” he said. “We had a couple connections with liquor stores. Bev Werks is selling like crazy.”

Beer buyers in Longmont may not be as familiar with Rails End, a Broomfield brewery that opened in August 2016, Percy said. Six- packs hit shelves in late August and early September.

One round of canning has taken place. A recent change in brewmasters interrupted the flow, but another round of canning is expected soon.

Nate Ternes, a former assistant brewer who has now taken the helm, has been with the company since September 2016, when he started volunteering about 20 hours per week and learning about brewing. He eventually became an assistant, and last May completed his certification program at Regis University.

On Thursday his first solo creation — a Marzen- style Oktober lager — came out.

The blood orange is a top seller, although eventually the brewery wants to can its other three core brews — the Honey Blonde Ale, Amber and Hazy IPA, Percy said.

Rails End produces 30 to 45 barrels per week, Ternes said, and usually 15 to 30 of those are blood orange.

The can’s design was handled by an outside marketing firm, but the inspiration came from a brewery patron who came in with visible tattoos and looking like “he came in after riding his Harley,” Ternes said.

The mostly red, black and white design includes an eagle with its talons

clutching a blood orange.

“The art is really cool and stands out,” Percy said. “I know sometimes I go into a store looking for the coolest thing.”

Ternes said the first canning went smoothly, with local patrons coming in for a beer and staying to help with stacking, snapping the cans into the rings and putting the six- packs into cases.

“It’s all about community,” Ternes said. “It’s basically a giant family.”

Owner Dale Reeder said the name came from a painting of railroad tracks that caught his eye. In the painting, the tracks crest over the top of the hill, looking like they stop. In reality it goes on farther, Reeder said, taking unforeseen turns.

“This is exactly like life. You fight so hard to get places, you fight so hard to achieve milestones, you fight so hard to believe in something,” Reeder said. “And, for whatever reason, life takes over and gives you a different direction.”

4Noses opened in May 2014 and started canning in February 2015. Wonderland opened later in May 2014 and started canning the following year.