Aurora Brewery Closing, Planning to Relocate After Two Decades

In April, award-winning Aurora brewery Dry Dock announced its merger with a big player in the local beer scene, Longmont-based Left Hand Brewing. “After building the Dry Dock brand for twenty years, it was important to find a partner who shares our commitment to quality, independence and community,” Dry Dock co-founder Kevin DeLange told Westword at the time. “Together we have the opportunity to bring Dry Dock’s beers to more fans than ever before.”

As part of that deal, Dry Dock’s brewing operations immediately transitioned to Left Hand’s brewery in Longmont, but Dry Dock kept its original Aurora taproom at 15120 East Hampden Avenue open — for the time being.

Now, Dry Dock has announced that its taproom will close in January as it prepares to relocate. The brewery’s co-founder, Michelle Reding, is heading up the search for a new space, which will be branded as Dry Dock but will be operated by Left Hand. “We’re hard at work finding the right spot to open in the first half of 2026,” Reding says in an announcement of the news. “Our goal is to create a Dry Dock–themed brewpub that pairs great beer and elevated food in a craft beer-loving neighborhood.”

Reding and DeLange founded Dry Dock in 2005; three years earlier, they’d purchased the Brew Hut, which was started in 1995, from Scott Newcomb. Three decades later, the Brew Hut is the largest homebrew shop in Colorado; it’s located right next to the Aurora Dry Dock taproom. :But it’s for sale, too.

“We want to find the right person who loves the homebrew industry and is able to keep the Brew Hut going after thirty years.” DeLange notes.

“It was always the backbone of Dry Dock and the jumping off point for many brewers who have opened their own breweries around Colorado. It’s unbelievable how many brewers got their start by shopping at the Brew Hut,” Reding adds.

Overall, the merger with Left Hand has proven to be successful for the Dry Dock brand. “We’re overjoyed with our merger…we’ve already expanded the Dry Dock brand to seventeen states, the Netherlands and Mexico in 2025, with several more in the works for 2026,” says DeLange.

“We can’t thank our community enough for all the support over the years and look forward to sharing a beer, a laugh or memory with you these next two months,” he concludes. “We’re filled with gratitude for the past and also excited for the future.”

Dry Dock Brewing Company is located at 15120 East Hampden Avenue in Aurora and will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily through early January. For more information, visit drydockbrewing.com.

For information about the sale of the Brew Hut, contact brewmaster@thebrewhut.com.