MID-GILPIN/NEDERLAND - What better place to celebrate shared interests than at your local brewery? And while every community brewery is a place to share in the enjoyment of beer and of live music, at Very Nice Brewing Company (VNBC), many other interests are highlighted and celebrated.

At both locations, in Nederland and in Gilpin County, VNBC have hosted events that showcase more than the typical focus on beer, music, and whatever sports game is on the TV.

Enthusiasts of all kinds have visited both VNBC locations to attend informational discussions on a range of topics, from wildfire safety to town politics, to join group painting and pumpkin carving sessions, to learn how to tie fly fishing knots, to enjoy chocolate and beer pairings, to meet older dogs ready to be adopted, and to eat food from all over the world. 

And now, VNBC has introduced a new addition to their ever-expanding lineup of community-focused activities.

On Sunday, June 1, 2025, both VNBC locations held a Book and Plant Swap, giving the Nederland and Gilpin communities the opportunity to unload and trade in parts of their personal overflowing plant and/or book collections for something new to read or care for. 

Book and plant lovers were invited to participate from noon to 2 p.m., when they had the opportunity to sit and talk literature or horticulture with friends new and old while enjoying some of VNBC’s refreshing brews. 

Anyone leaving plants was asked to bring only plants in a container they were willing to part with, to label the plant species and include special care instructions, and to ensure that the plants are pest free.

Book lovers were asked to just bring a book, any book, fiction, self-help, or cookbook, in order to take a book. 

Though this event was the first of its kind, it’s sure not to be the last, as the community has shown a thirst for such things, matching their thirst for VNBC’s libations. Be sure to follow VNBC on Facebook, or continue to read the Cracker Barrel right here in The Mountain-Ear, to be notified of the next event. 

Very Nice Brewing Company: Nederland is located in the Caribou Village Shopping Center at 20 Lakeview Drive, suite 112. Very Nice Brewing Company: Gilpin is located at 180 Jankowski Drive, Black Hawk.

Both locations are open from 12 to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, from noon to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and from noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays.  The Nederland location is also open from 12 to 8 p.m. over the summer.

For more information call 303-258-3770 for Nederland, and 303-582-2015 for Gilpin, or go to: https://www.verynicebrewing.com.