Omayra Acevedo, Peak to Peak. Every once in a while, you have the honor of working with some amazing people. While working for Gilpin County, I had that honor. All of my colleagues were great to work with, but there are always a few that stand out. Today, I want to talk about Gwen and the interesting things I learned about her family.
In the late fifties, Buddy Schmalz’s (Gwen’s husband) grandparents moved to Central City to open a Rock Shop on Main Street. By 1972, his parents moved the family up and took over the business. In the fall of 1991, the family opened a casino in the basement of the rock shop. Seven years later, the casino expanded to the upper floor and the brewery was born. Why a brewery? Why not?! They were looking for a unique angle to differentiate their business from all others; so, they decided to brew their own beer. From what I can find in my research, they continue to be the only casino in the area to brew and supply their own beer. Yes, they offer food too. It’s delicious!
Like so many other businesses, the pandemic has turned their world upside down. State ordered closures has forced them to furlough 19 employees and are struggling to survive with their to-go pizza and beer sales. However, with the help of the entire family and a tightknit community, they remain optimistic. They opened as a family run business and continue to operate as one. Buddy says they were raised here; they’re raising their children here and are not going anywhere anytime soon! They will survive this! Indeed, Buddy, we all will!
In the meantime, I recommend you try one of their porters, IPAs or stouts. They are all brewed with local wild hops. I’m eager to taste the summer seasonal: Summer Wheat, with orange peels, chamomile and Coriander. Yum! When you go for your beer, consider also grabbing a pizza to-go. Perhaps even take a moment to thank them for being a strong pillar of their community and inspiring us all to hang on. You see, it’s easy for anyone to say they live and work with honor and integrity, but as we all know, actions speak louder than words. Meet Buddy and Gwen Schmalz, along with their two children Tyrus and Rachel – who help out when home from college – and welcome to Dostal Alley, Brewpub and Casino.
For more information call 303.582.1610, stop by 116 Main St., Central City, CO, 80427, or see their website at http://dostalalley.com/ or http://dostalalley.com/food-menu/.
(Originally published in the May 21, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)
