Informational Press Kit

Our Story
A gathering place for good food and drink, where conversation flows freely.
The history of the Mountain Sun Pubs and Breweries in Boulder and
Denver, Colo. actually began in Portland, Ore, in the early 1990s.
Mountain Sun founding proprietor Kevin Daly was attending law
school there, which (luckily for the brewing world) he would soon
give up for a greater love of craft beer. Kevin tasted his first smallbatch brew at his favorite Portland haunt, the Fulton Pub, which
forever redirected his career path. Little did he know, craft brewing
was a ground-breaking industry waiting to take shape. Over the next
ten years, the industry would grow into a revolution that would spiral
out from the Pacific Northwest across the country. Today small and
independent craft brewers account for more than 5 percent volume
share of the total beer industry, a number that shows continued
growth when large brewer volumes are in decline*.
With a six-barrel brewery, the Mountain Sun opened its
doors on Pearl Street in October of 1993. The Colorado
Kind Ale, an ESB-style beer, was their first brew, which
they still brew today. The pub’s mission was to create an
environment that was as comfortable as your living
room, where great food, craft beers, and conversation
flowed freely. With a commitment to high-quality
ingredients, community engagement, environmental
stewardship, and employee equity, the uniquely eclectic
atmosphere of Mountain Sun came to be. It was decided that the pub would never have
televisions so guests would interact without distraction, listen to live music or simply play
Scrabble.
With the same unique business philosophies, a larger
version of the original pub opened in South Boulder in
September 2002. Designed with a ten-barrel brewery, the
Southern Sun boasted a living room, an expansive patio
and greater seating capacity. Just like the Mountain Sun,
there were no televisions and instead book shelves filled
with novels and board games.
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Six years later, in April, 2008, the Mountain Sun
restaurant group took its concept to the Uptown
neighborhood of Denver, opening the Vine Street Pub.
The surrounding neighborhoods embraced the pub
immediately, naming it Denver’s best brewpub in its
first year in Westword magazine. In April of 2012, the
pub opened its flagship brewery with the capacity to
produce 5,000 barrels annually, outnumbering the
current brewing capacity of both Boulder locations combined, and reducing beer
transportation miles between the pubs. The new brewery allowed for partnerships with
other Colorado-based establishments. Restaurants such as The Kitchen Denver and Ace
Restaurant now keep Mountain Sun beer on tap regularly.
A fourth restaurant and tap house will open in Boulder
in late 2012. Designed to be a different room in the
same Mountain Sun community-focused house, the new
restaurant will feature affordable, fresh, local food, with
twenty-one Mountain Sun brews on tap—a record
number for a Colorado craft brewery. As well as eight to
10 rotating guest craft beers, wine on-tap, and a new
cocktail program.
Today Mountain Sun brews over 55 different beers a year, a
substantial number for a craft brewery of its size (which doesn’t
even bottle its beer). With special events that each support a local
non-profit, such as Stout Month (which coincides with the ever
popular Chop Month) in February, Belgian Month in September, and
their annual community block parties, the Mountain Sun Family
continues to engage the community and provide over-the-top
quality craft beer.
Over the years, Mountain Sun brews and food have received
numerous accolades. Please see the Awards page for a robust list.
*According to a 2011 study by the Brewers Association of America, U.S. craft breweries (breweries that
produce less than 6 million barrels annually, with no more than 25% of their ownership being held by a non-craft
brewery operation) now make up 5.68% of the total volume of the beer Market. In the same year, large
breweries decline 1.32% in market volume.
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Our Leaders
Kevin J. Daly, Founding Proprietor
Drawing on his love of live music, simple great food, and well-crafted
beers, Kevin founded the Mountain Sun Pub and Brewery in 1993
with Ian Blackford, his college friend and first business partner. Since
that time, Kevin has opened two more Mountain Sun brewpubs, the
Southern Sun in South Boulder in 2002 and the Vine Street Pub in
Denver in 2008. He is now onto his fourth restaurant, which will open
in fall 2012 in Boulder.
Kevin learned his business prowess from the ground up, selling
burritos outside of concerts while following the Grateful Dead in the
early 1990s. After a year on the road, he enrolled in Lewis and Clark Law School. It soon
became clear that law wasn’t his calling, but during that time, he frequented the Fulton Pub
in Portland, Ore. While debating his future over pints of micro-brewed beer—at the time a
growing phenomenon in the Pacific Northwest—Kevin developed a love for craft beers as
he simultaneously realized the intangible importance of community gathering spaces. In
1990 Kevin moved to Boulder, Colo. to open his own brewpub. The rest is Boulder folklore.
Kevin has served on the board of directors for the Boulder County Aids Project since 1994.
He earned graduated from Boston University in 1990.
Favorite brew (and why): Number One – “We're really proud of the work we're doing with
Belgian Beers. My favorite beers are the Belgian Goldens and the Trippels. The Number One
is my current favorite beer!”
Thomas Daly, Proprietor
After attempting to retire, Tom became an active partner in
all three Mountain Sun pubs due to his persuasive son
Kevin’s urging. In 1991, after 15 years of running his own
construction and development business in Poughkeepsie,
N.Y., Tom moved to Boulder to enjoy retirement alongside
his children, Kevin and Elizabeth, not knowing at the time he
was soon to be emerged in the craft brewing world. Tom
graduated from the Renssaeler Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. in 1964 as a civil engineer
and received his MBA in 1971 from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of
Finance.
Favorite brew (and why): Pater's Pale Ale – “It is fresh and crisp and has just the right
amount of hops.”
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Timothy M. McMurray, Managing Partner & Talent Buyer
Tim came to his current position in the company by way of every other
job in the restaurant. After coming to Boulder in 1995 to attend the
University of Colorado, Tim started at the original Mountain Sun as a
line cook in 1996. Tim moved into the talent buyer role when Ian
Blackford left the company in 2001. That same year he was appointed
to the City of Boulder Beverage Licensing Authority (BLA) and is
currently the chair of the BLA. In 2008, Tim was named managing
partner as the Vine Street Pub opened. In 2011, Tim was honored as one
of the “Best business leaders under age 40,” by the Boulder County
Business Report. He attributes his life successes to his time in the boy
scouts as a child, where is became an Eagle Scout.
Favorite brew (and why): Number One – “When it comes to beer I am a mood drinker. For
me, so much depends on season and weather. I can go from very light when mowing lawns
to very dark or hoppy when snow is falling. However, I fall back on dry, clean, Belgian style
beers. The first beer brewed at of Vine Street, dubbed 'Number One' is my favorite Belgian
that has come out of our breweries.”
Paul Nashak, Managing Partner
Paul was originally hired as a cook at Mountain Sun in 1995
after relocating to Boulder from Washington, D.C. Quickly
rising through the ranks, Paul was named general manager in
2002 and played an integral role in opening the Southern Sun
Pub and Brewery. Along with Tim McMurray in 2008, Paul
was named a managing partner of the company at the
opening of Vine Street Pub. Today he heads all marketing and
partnership efforts for the Sun Family of restaurants. Upon graduating from Georgetown
University in 1995, Paul worked as assistant to the finance director of the Democratic
National Committee during the Clinton Administration. After riding out the turmoil of
campaign finance reform, he decided to move to Boulder for a change of pace, and alas the
Beer gods welcomed him into their temple.
Favorite brew (and why): FYIPA – “When it comes to aggressive American IPAs- go huge!”
John Fiorilli, Director of Brewing Operations
John started his career in the beer business in the front-of-the-house at
the original Mountain Sun Pub. As a manger he helped open Southern
Sun in 2002, and was inspired by then Mountain Sun brewers Mike
Altman, Chris Fish, Kurt Meyer and Dave Chichura to start home brewing.
John’s home brews led him to take his first professional brewing job in
2004 at Stewart’s Brewing Company, in Bear, Del. He spent three years as
Assistant Brewer under the tutelage of Ric Hoffman. In 2007, John
moved on to Flying Fish Brewing Company, in Cherry Hill, N.J., working
closely with Head Brewer Casey Hughes to learn the ends-and-outs of a
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12,000 barrel-per-year packaging brewery. John returned to the Mountain Sun family in
2009, this time as a brewer. Before moving into the Director of Brewing position at the new
Vine Street Brewery, he brewed at both Boulder locations. John received a Bachelor’s
Degree in Business Operations Management from the University of Delaware.
Favorite brew (and why): Primetime Pilsner – “This Pre-Prohibition Style Pilsner is lightbodied, crisp, refreshing and has more hop bitterness, flavor and aroma than people
realize. This style was brewed by German immigrants in the Mid-west in the late 1800's to
emulate the beer they had grown up with in Germany. After most small breweries became
defunct during the Prohibition, this style disappeared for 100+ years until small craft
breweries helped renew the popularity of this style of beer.”
Annabelle Forrestal, Executive Kitchen Manager
Annabelle joined the Mountain Sun staff in 2006, cutting her teeth as a
server, but soon picking up skills in the kitchen. Building on her Sun
Family experience, as well as a love for fine cuisine honed during 4 years
living in New York City, Annabelle enrolled in the Culinary School of the
Rockies in Boulder, Colo., and that same year was named Kitchen
Manager of all three Sun Pubs. Today, Annabelle is Executive Kitchen
Manager for Mountain Sun and Southern Sun in Boulder, and Vine Street
Pub in Denver. Belle completed her degree in Architectural Design at
Parsons School of Design in New York City in 2006. During her time in the
city, she developed a love for craft beer and indie music that continues today.
Favorite brew (and why): Bombshell Blonde – “It’s a great cooking and drinking beer!”
Owners (from Left) Paul Nashak, Kevin J. Daly, and Tim McMurray
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the Mountain Sun Restaurant Family?
There are three pubs in the Mountain Sun family of Pubs and Breweries:
o The original Mountain Sun Pub and Brewery was founded in 1993, and is located in
Downtown Boulder, Colo. at 1535 Pearl Street.
o The second pub, Southern Sun, opened in 2002 and is located in South Boulder at 627
South Broadway in Boulder, Colo.
o Vine Street Pub is the third establishment in The Sun family, opened in April of 2008
at 1700 Vine Street in Denver, Colo. The Brewery at Vine Street Pub opened in April
2012.
In the fall of 2012, a new Mountain Sun concept will open its doors directly underneath
Southern Sun at 627 South Broadway. This will be the fourth establishment in the Mountain
Sun family of pubs and breweries.
What is Mountain Sun’s philosophy?
Mountain Sun Pub and Breweries were founded on the simple concept of creating a
gathering place for good food and drink, where conversation flows freely. Kevin Daly
founded the company with a mission of community engagement, employee equity,
environmental stewardship, and love of good food and beer. Today, managing partners Paul
Nashak and Timothy McMurray, along with their committed staff of brewers and pub
employees, put these ideals into practice every day.
How much beer does Mountain Sun brew?
o Mountain Sun Pub: 300 square feet, 6 barrel brewery, capable of brewing 1200/
barrels per year.
o Southern Sun Pub: 2000 square feet, 10 barrel brewery, capable of brewing 2500/
barrels per year.
o Vine Street Pub: 3,500 square feet, 12 barrel brewery, capable of brewing 5,000
barrels per year. In its first year Vine Street Pub expects to produce 2,500 barrels.
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What makes Mountain Sun beer so good?
To put it simply our beer is good because of the effort we put into it. The Mountain Sun beer
philosophy is that smaller batches are better. Honestly, there are many ways we could make
our beer process more efficient—but we wouldn’t think of doing anything differently. We
believe that when it comes to our expert brewers, experimentation and creative license are
key.
Under the leadership of Director of Brewing Operations John Fiorilli, the three Mountain Sun
Breweries brew over 60 different seasonal beers annually, in addition to nine house beers,
totaling over 4000 barrels of craft beer a year. With 21 revolving beers on tap at each of the
three pubs, the largest in-house tap wall selection of any craft brewery in Colo., allows the
eight Mountain Sun brewers a constant opportunity to be creative. Using a proprietary yeast
strain ensures a constant selection of high-quality ales with origins in America, England and
Belgium on tap. From German Lagers and barrel aged brews, to extra-hopped and sour
beers— the goal is always the highest quality beer, vast customer choice and happiness.
Mountain Sun beer is never filtered (only a few beers use vegan fining agents to achieve
clarity) so it still contains a very small amount of yeast when it goes in the keg. This yeast
continues the conditioning process (meaning the beer continues to age and gain flavor)
even after the beer is finished, making our beer a LIVING PRODUCT. IT IS BEER WITH A
PULSE!!
What does community engagement mean to Mountain Sun?
From the raucous fun of Chop Month to their annual community block parties, every
Mountain Sun event supports a non-profit organization. Annually, Mountain Sun Pubs &
Breweries give approximately $35,000 to local charities. Mountain Sun supports
organizations such as Boulder County Aids Project (BCAP (http://www.bcap.org/ )), local
Boulder community radio station KGNU (http://www.kgnu.org/ ), Denver’s Judi’s House
(http://www.judishouse.org/ ) and New Era Colorado (http://www.neweracolorado.org/ ).
A pillar of the Mountain Sun identity is its commitment to offering free, local music every
week. Talent buyer Timothy McMurray works to seek out and book superb live music from
throughout Colorado and the country, so that Mountain Sun patrons can enjoy great – and
always free – music. Bands such as Leftover Salmon, String Cheese Incident, and Yonder
Mountain String Band have collaborated and played at Mountain Sun events.
What does it mean to be a Mountain Sun employee (and why you should care)?
The Mountain Sun Pubs & Breweries put the highest value on their employees. Employee
equity means that every Mountain Sun pub staff member does every job. That’s right, EVERY
JOB. Every employee works the floor and the kitchen in order to provide them with the
fullest understanding of the food, beer, and customer base. Mountain Sun believes this
unique method of employment has ensured distinct employee happiness over the years and
lent to incredible employee retention. In fact, of the managing staff and owners today,
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every person has moved up the ranks from floor staff. Founder Kevin J. Daly will tell you,
when everyone does everything, there will always be someone there to extend excellent
service to the loyal Mountain Sun customer base.
What does environmental stewardship mean to the Mountain Sun?
From the solar panels on top of the Mountain Sun building on Pearl Street, to the organic,
local soap that is stocked in every pub restroom, being eco-conscious is not so much a
choice as it is a way of doing business. Kevin, Paul and Tim believe that running a business
doesn’t mean you ‘run’ the planet to the max. While going zero-waste can be very difficult in
breweries due to the high demand on utilities, Mountain Sun makes a strong effort toward
this goal. All three breweries’ spent grain and hops go to local Walter Farms, in Fort Lupton,
Colo., where it’s used as cattle feed. The breweries also re-use and reclaim the water from
the beer making process.
What about the pub’s food?
Just as tasty as its award winning beers, Mountain Sun’s pub food stretches the boundaries
of ordinary pub fare. Every dish is an original Sun creation, made from scratch, in-house daily
from the freshest ingredients. Mountain Sun’s menu includes 12 different award-winning
burger combinations, including the local favorite Junk Burger, all made with local meat from
Steele Meats in Lafayette, Colo. Vegetarians rejoice in plenty of options, from the Boom
Boom Sandwich with grilled balsamic-marinated Portobello mushrooms to the Tempeh
Rueben. Mountain Sun uses seasonal, local ingredients whenever possible. Weekly specials
highlight the height of the harvest. Local food partners include Growing Gardens, Long
Family Farm, Munson’s Farm and Cure Organic Farm. Under the watchful eye (and keen
taste buds) of executive kitchen manager, Annabelle Forrestal, great local food
accompanies Mountain Sun’s terrific line-up of beers and ales.
Contact and more information:
Website: www.mountainsunpub.com.
Sales inquiries: Paul Nashak at [email protected].
Media inquiries: Cassidy Tawse-Garcia at [email protected].
www.mountainsunpub.com
Awards We’re Proud Of…
Great American Beer Festival
Over 3,000 beers are judged at the world’s largest beer festival held annually
in Denver, Colo. We are proud to have won over 13 awards since or first brew
in 1993.
Medal
Beer
Year(s)
Silver
Kind Ale
‘11
Silver
Illusion Dweller I.P.A.
‘10
Silver
Addiction Coffee Imperial Stout
‘10 (World Beer Cup)
“Alpha King”*
Hop Vivant Imperial IPA
‘09
Bronze
Temperance
‘09
Gold
Pearl Street Porter
‘06
Bronze
Hummingbird
‘06
Gold
Doppelbock
‘98, ‘99, ‘00
Gold
Hummingbird
‘95
Gold
Arctic Wheat
‘95
Best of Boulder Awards
Best of Denver Awards
Best Beer Selection ‘12, ‘11, ‘10, ‘09,
‘04
Best Brewpub at Mountain Sun
‘12
Best Microbrewery ‘12- ‘05
Best Burger ‘10, ‘09, ‘08, ‘07, ‘06,
‘04
Best Bar ‘11, ‘10
Best Restaurant Service ‘12
Best Chili ‘08
Best Inexpensive Dinner ‘08
5280’s Top of the Town
2012
Best Craft Beer– Colorado
Kind Ale
“The best part? You can’t buy it
at the liquor store. You have to
visit...which means its more
than just a beer— it’s an
outing.”
Best wings at Vine Street ‘12, ‘11
Best Beer Karma ‘11
Best Beer Prices at Vine Street ‘10
Beer Advocate ‘Must Try’
Craft Brew— 94 points (out
of 100)
* Awarded to Former Head Brewer– and lifelong Mountain Sun friend— Brian Hutchinson. The Alpha King Challenge is named in
honor of Three Floyd's Alpha King Pale Ale, and is an annual competition held during the Great American Beer Festival. Mountain
Sun Pub and Breweries is the first and only Colorado brewery to take the title.