Lyons-based MainStage Brewing Company has expanded its footprint by acquiring the former Beyond the Mountain brewery space in Gunbarrel. The move marks a significant step forward for the craft brewery, which had previously been brewing at the location through a contract arrangement.
Founders Sam Scruby and Eric Kean had collaborated with Beyond the Mountain since 2021, using the facility for contract brewing. That partnership laid the foundation for the recent acquisition after discussions with Beyond the Mountain’s owners, Morgan Way and Chuck Hixon, about the future of the space.
“We did a collaboration with the guys at Beyond the Mountain,” said Scruby, who previously worked at Upslope Brewing and is a decorated brewer with multiple Great American Beer Festival medals and a World Beer Cup award. “We started talking with them and just said, ‘Hey, do you guys have room to get some extra contract brewing for your spot?’ And they did.”
Kean brings experience in events management, having worked with Left Hand Brewing and Planet Bluegrass, as well as leading the Left Hand Brewing Foundation. The pair originally planned to open a larger venue in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to scale back their ambitions.
Instead, they launched MainStage Brewing in the former Lyons Fork restaurant space, where they integrated live music and an outdoor beer garden. Construction costs prevented them from building a brewery onsite in Lyons. Scruby noted that volatile lumber prices and other economic pressures made building from scratch unfeasible.
MainStage’s move into the Gunbarrel location comes as several small breweries in the area have shuttered in recent years. Beyond the Mountain, which opened in 2017, did not announce an official reason for its closure, but the transition presents an opportunity to maintain the venue’s presence as a community hub.
MainStage is currently operating in a transitional phase, pouring both its own beer and remaining kegs from Beyond the Mountain while finalizing licensing and regulatory approvals. Scruby anticipates that by the end of the month, the taps will exclusively feature MainStage offerings.
Once fully operational, the brewery plans to expand its menu beyond its current offerings of pizzas, pretzels, and empanadas. Under its new liquor license, MainStage will also introduce wine and canned cocktails to cater to a broader customer base.
“Our liquor license will allow us to offer wine and some canned cocktails as well, which I think is a nice addition for people who maybe aren’t beer drinkers,” Scruby said.
Live music will remain a central focus. The new venue’s stage and existing infrastructure align well with MainStage’s brand identity, and Scruby expressed enthusiasm for enhancing Boulder’s live music scene, especially during the winter months.
“It’s definitely an interesting time in the industry, and this was an opportunity — I think especially for the community,” Scruby added. “It’s nice that it isn’t just another brewery closing. We’re excited to continue what they had done really well here.”
MainStage aims to have the transition fully completed by fall.
You Might Be Interested In:
