Kyle Busey wasn’t a born brewer, like his dad and brother, who have both been home brewing for a decade or more. However, he came into the trade with a plethora of knowledge from his 25 years of experience in food service management and his time behind the bar.
Busey also holds a degree in Food & Beverage Management. He knew he always wanted to own something like this and worked many jobs prior to buying the downtown restaurant that used to house Wild Mountain Smokehouse & Brewery, and more recently James Peak Smokehouse & Brewery. Busey Brews officially opened their doors on October 1, 2019.
Busey says that what makes the venue different from others in the region is that they strive for consistency and to have the best food of all time. He credits his brewer, his management team, prep team, and front and back of house staff.
Busey currently has 32 employees; he offers health insurance, a 401K and fulltime positions. These benefits help with employee retention, unlike many area venues.
Currently Busey has live music on Sunday afternoons, as well as an Après Ski. On Thursday they offer “Waxing & Relaxing, and they have happy hour specials on weekdays. They are bringing back Trivia Night on Thursday nights.
Looking forward to 2022, Busey is focused on the new patio; they are almost ready to start (as soon as permits come in). And the outdoor dog biergarten they started last year has been a big hit with locals who enjoy the opportunity to have a beer with their pooch. The biergarten offers live music in the summer.
They’ll be bringing back Gold Dirt spirits when the distillery reopens in Rollinsville. And they offer kombucha and other tasty beverages now.
They continue their charity beer program, which donates money to various charities in Colorado. The most recent is the Boulder Community Fire Foundation, to support people impacted by the Marshall Fire. The charity beer program has raised over $8,800 since its inception.
Busey is grateful for the support from the community. He says Covid has taught him many things, including how to be better at takeout food (which wasn’t their specialty when the pandemic hit). They have implemented new procedures and standards, codified in their employee handbook.
For now, Busey is focused on his next project: feeding hungry locals a delectable Valentine’s dinner. The dinner will include smoked jerk-style pork tenderloin, butter-smoked scallops, candied walnut salad, strawberry cheesecake dessert, and a bottle of Prosecco. Reserve your spot online at buseybrews.com (click Order Online) before February 6 to join the team for dinner on Valentine’s weekend, February 11 to 14.
Busey Brews is located at 70 E. 1st Street in Nederland. You can find out more by checking their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BuseyBrews/ or website at buseybrews.com/. Or contact them by phone at 855-633-2739.
Sponsored by the Town of Nederland, with funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.
