The new owners pose behind the bar during Fiction Beer’s reopening party: (left to right) Elise Sjostedt, Ali Hoskins-Kelly, Derek Boyce, John
Ragole, Kyle Rosen, Anna Bromberg, and Ted Menendez.

It sounds like the premise of a sitcom: Seven friends pool their money to buy the neighborhood brewery where they play trivia after the owners decide to shut it down. But this isn’t some fiction. This is the real-life story of Fiction Beer Company on east Colfax Ave.

Last December, Christa and Ryan Kilpatrick shuttered the doors on the book-themed bar that they created 10 years ago. But the seven friends, who had been running the brewery’s Thursday night trivia games for many years, couldn’t bear to see it close. That’s when they developed a plan to buy the establishment—even though none of them had business experience, they all had day jobs, and only one had ever home-brewed beer before. Still, they were excited by the prospect.

“I’ve always been completely opposed to owning businesses or much of anything with anybody else, but this group is different,” says Ted Menendez. “We know we work well together and we know our goals are the same.”

The Pie Queen created an elaborate cake to celebrate Fiction Beer’s reopening.

The overarching goal is to continue to be a welcoming space for the community. “We didn’t come to this thinking we’re going to make a bunch of money selling beer. We did this because we want to keep it open,” says Kyle Rosen. “We love coming here and so many people we know love coming here. The goal is to sustain that.”

It took almost four months to get the paperwork done, do some renovating, and learn how to make beer. “There were a million things we hadn’t thought of. Like Google Maps said the business was permanently closed. How do we change that?” recalls Jon Ragole.

Derek Boyce, the former homebrewer, admits it was stressful at times. “Many of us have kids. Sometimes we’d have to bring them here after work. Sometimes we’d be here until 11pm trying to get things done. It was a lot.” Boyce says the transition was greatly helped by the previous owners teaching them the ropes, having access to all the Fiction Beer recipes, and the fact that the long-time manager of the brewery came back to run the place.

On April 5, the new owners held an all-day grand reopening party that was packed with loyal customers. The seven partners looked happy, if a bit exhausted, as they talked about their hopes for the future. First up, they want to expand on the literary theme. Fiction Beer has long had a monthly book club, but the new owners would like to add a night where writers come to share their works.

They will also be revamping the iconic bar front, which is built from hardcover books. “After 10 years, it’s getting a little worn out,” says Rosen. “If anyone has a favorite hardcover book that they’d like to contribute, we’d love to have them bring it in.”

But while some things are changing, many things are remaining the same. Food trucks will still be onsite Thursday through Sunday nights. And yes, on Thursday nights customers will still find some combination of the new owners leading a competitive game of trivia.

For up-to-date information about events, follow Fiction Beer on social media or go to www.FictionBeer.com.

Photos by Mary Jo Brooks