Delaware brewery opening in former Mockery space

A small but popular Delaware craft brewery is taking the unusual step of opening a third location across the country — in Denver’s River North Art District.

Dewey Beer Co., which was founded in Dewey Beach in 2015, plans to start pouring beer in Mockery Brewing’s former space at 3501 Delgany St. Mockery closed last August, and Dewey later held a popup even there during the Great American Beer Festival in October.

A Delaware fan favorite, according to the beer-rating app Untappd, Dewey plans to open on Thursday, Jan. 25, and serve its full lineup of IPAS, lagers and fruit smoothie beers. Eventually, owners Scot Kaufman, Mike Reilly and Brandon Smith plan to “begin brewing on-premise and releasing Colorado taproom exclusive beers,” according to a statement.

They will host a grand opening party on Saturday, Feb. 24.

“We love Colorado and we’re beer nerds who admire the craft beer culture [there],” said Dewey’s Matt Lindy in an email. “Additionally we’re a group of outdoor adventurers and we love the community that the mountains bring.” In addition, the brewery has been longtime friends of Mockery’s owners, which is how the connection was made, he added.

Dewey has two locations in Delaware: its flagship brewpub in Dewey Beach and a production facility and taproom in Harbeson, which opened in 2021, allowing the company to make 12,000 barrels a year.

Some of its beers include El Trono Mexican Lager, Swishy Pants Hazy IPA, Sun Camp West Coast IPA, and the Thrills smoothie beer series.

It’s rare for small U. S. breweries to open taprooms far from their home bases. In the past, Mobcraft Beer Co. from Wisconsin, and the Thirsty Monk, from North Carolina, have tried their hands in Denver. Both locations are now closed.