When they opened their doors in September 2019, the owners of Counter Culture Brewery & Grille hoped to bring something different to Denver’s craft scene — a casual restaurant that was equally as focused on good food as it was on classic and easy-drinking beer styles.
But then came the pandemic, followed by the exit of brewery co-founder Kevin McCrossin and of head chef James Bland. Then in March, Counter Culture, at 205 E. 7th Ave., closed for a month’s worth of maintenance, according to a sign on the door.
Two months later, the sign was still on the door, but the brewery’s social media pages are down, and the phone goes right to a generic voicemail.
Counter Culture’s remaining co-founder, Justin Martinez, didn’t respond to messages from The Denver Post, but local brewery tracker and beer writer Stephen Adams reported on his Colorado Beer Geek Facebook page that ownership told him the business is now closed for good.
Located on the corner of 7th and Sherman Street in a row of restaurants that seem to turn over fairly often, Counter Culture served up burgers and chicken sandwiches along with simple beers that paired easily with food. Both owners had worked in the industry for years.
Several other Denver breweries have also closed in the past few months, including MobCraft Beer, Wah Gwaan Brewing and Epic Brewing. Another, Dos Luces Brewing, announced in early June that it will close in July.