MATT HESS, FOUNDER | RIVER NORTH Brewery | DENVER, CO
We sat down and chatted with Matt Hess at River North Brewery in Denver, Colorado. Matt has been around through the thick and thin of the Denver brewing industry. You may remember bumping into him at their original location near Coors field in Denver — OR even remember that old location used to be the home of Flying Dog Brewing way back in the day.
Fast forward 12 glorious years later from opening in 2012: River North has accumulated 32 international beer awards in just the last 2 years and has 2 locations in Denver that are a must stop on your next downtown beer tour!
Blake Street Taproom – 3400 Blake Street Denver, CO 80205
River North Brewing – 6021 Washington St, Denver, CO 80216
Any Fun taproom events coming up?
Aug 2 – Monthly Comedy Show with Rotating Comedy 8pm – Blake Street Taproom
Aug 10 – Off-Roaders Rendezvous – Our Monthly Car Meet Up 1pm – Washington Street Taproom
Aug 15 – Monthly Fundraiser supporting local non-profit 6:30pm – Blake Street Taproom
Aug 17 – Rescue Puppy Yoga 1pm – Washington Street Taproom
Aug 24 – Rescue Puppy Yoga 1pm – Blake Street Taproom
Sept 7 – DOGTOBERFEST! 1pm – Washington Street Taproom
Describe your company culture in 3 words:
Beer. Friends. Fun.
What's your favorite thing about working in a brewery?
Constantly improving the liquid. Brew. Taste. Enjoy. Repeat.
And all the friends we’ve made along the way!
What's your favorite beer on tap right now?
Barrel Aged Quandary. A Belgian Quad aged in local whiskey barrels. One of our first barrel aged beers and still one of the best.
did you really brew the strongest saison in the world?!
Yes we did. And we’ll do it again!
One of the original beers River North ever brewed was J. Marie Saison back in 2012. In a sense, it was already an imperial saison at 8-9% abv. We enjoy the challenge of pushing the limits on beers. But it’s not just about the challenge. It’s about intensifying flavors and enhancing long-term cellarability. How will the beer change and improve in the bottle over the years? We strive to make both beers that you can enjoy a couple pints of on hot afternoons, as well as beers that are so intense that they demand to be sipped and savored. That’s why we make so many strong brews, barrel aged beers, and push the boundaries on so many styles. It was only a matter of time before we decided to take the original J. Marie… and double it!
Yes! Come to our Washington Street taproom and you’ll get to meet ALL of the brewery pups! And definitely say hi to our brewery dog Hank, he holds down the fort and is the coolest dog in the world.
Tell us your story of how you got started.
I was an engineer and avid homebrewer prior to starting River North Brewery. I always knew that I wanted to take an entrepreneurial route with my career. My passion for brewing beer was the perfect fit.
How would you describe your brewing style?
We brew what’s exciting to us. It’s that simple. And we are always looking to hone our craft. A recipe is never perfect. I don’t care if it just won a gold medal. The next batch can always be better.
What does craft beer mean to you?
Craft beer is about friends, community, and most importantly, that tasty, tasty liquid that captivates beer fanatics everywhere and provides an outlet for endless creativity.
Are there any awards/recognitions you're particularly proud of?
In the past two years, we have won 4 World Beer Cup awards, 2 GABF medals, 6 Brussels Beer Challenge awards, 2 European Beer Star awards, 6 medals at the Australian International Beer Awards, 7 medals at the Japan International Beer Cup, and 5 US Beer Open medals. We’re just getting started.
What is your favorite Colorado Brewers Guild event and why?
Collab Fest, of course! Brewer’s Rendezvous is a close second, though.
