Cerebral Brewing sprang to life in 2015 when two friends, Sean Buchan and Dan McGuire, turned a humble homebrew kit into a full-fledged brewery nestled on Denver’s legendary Colfax Avenue. From the start, Cerebral has been driven by a dual obsession: scientific precision and creative boldness. That devotion to craft was literal, right from day one; they set up an in-house QA/QC lab to guarantee consistency and quality, while never curbing their artistic appetite for inventive recipes and fermentation techniques.
Over time, Cerebral has become synonymous with foeder-fermented lagers, imaginative IPAs, and an ever-evolving barrel-aging program. In fact, their American Corn Lager was brewed as an affectionate nod to the avenue they called home, and their “Fuego!” chili beer earned a coveted gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 2021, an impressive feat that underscored their ability to take risks and deliver excellence.
Cerebral Brewing was born in 2015 when friends Sean Buchan and Dan McGuire turned their passion for homebrewing into a full-scale venture along Denver’s iconic Colfax Avenue. From the very beginning, the brewery embraced its name, combining a “scientific approach to beer” with artistic curiosity. They established an in-house QA/QC lab on day one to ensure quality and consistency, while also experimenting relentlessly with recipes and styles. This balance has fueled Cerebral’s reputation for imaginative IPAs, foeder-fermented lagers, and an extensive barrel-aging program that continues to evolve.
Cerebral’s beers are celebrated locally and nationally. Their chili beer, Fuego! earned a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 2021, and their hazy pale ale Muscle Memory captured silver at the 2023 World Beer Cup. More recently, Cerebral collected multiple medals at the Colorado Brewers Cup and has amassed over three dozen awards on Untappd, including 15 golds. With each recognition, they’ve demonstrated that innovation and excellence can thrive side by side.
But Cerebral Brewing is more than its beer. Deeply rooted in the community, the brewery has always seen craft beer as a platform for positive change. Each year, they dedicate a portion of profits to local nonprofits, focusing on causes like women’s rights, LGBTQ+ equality, anti-gun violence, and healthcare access. Their monthly Queer Beers events, created by queer staff for the queer community, donate proceeds from every pint to rotating nonprofit partners. During Pride month, they expand those efforts with special beer releases benefiting LGBTQ+ organizations. Beyond that, Cerebral partners with neighborhood groups to support social justice and human-centric causes, cultivating a sense of belonging within their taprooms and the wider craft beer community.
Sustainability is another cornerstone of their ethos. Cerebral is a certified Silver member of the Colorado Green Business Network and continues to reduce its environmental impact through innovative practices. They have cut brewhouse water and chemical use by more than a third, adopted real-time monitoring to reduce CO2 emissions by thousands of pounds annually, switched to recyclable and compostable packaging, and donate 100% of their spent grain to a local ranch. Even their delivery fleet reflects their commitment, with a third of it already converted to electric.
With an expanding footprint, including their original Congress Park location, a large Aurora Arts District facility, and a new West Highlands taproom, Cerebral Brewing continues to grow while staying true to its principles. They are a brewery that thrives on precision and creativity, but also on giving back, building community, and protecting the planet. For those who believe beer can be both a craft and a catalyst, Cerebral Brewing is proof that purpose and passion belong in every pint.
