On August 1, Donovan Routsis received word that he was one step closer to making a long-time dream come true: the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners had approved his request for a liquor license to operate Black Forest Brewing Co.The bar will be located in a shopping center off Black Forest and Burgess roads, near local hangouts; including R&R CafÈ, the Chicken Coop and Descarís Roadside Bar and Grill.Tentatively scheduled to open this fall, Black Forest Brewing Co. will join more than 25 local breweries in the Pikeís Peak region ñ- but it will be the first of its kind in Black Forest.Routsis, a recently retired Air Force colonel who graduated from Arizona State University, began his foray into microbrewing more than 20 years ago. He became interested in the beer craft while stationed at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs.Since the 1990s when Routsis first began brewing, the number of microbreweries throughout the country has significantly increased. According to a March 13, 2014, article, ìBrewers Association Announces 2013 Craft Brewer Growth,î posted to the Brewerís Associationís official website, ìThe number of operating breweries in the U.S. in 2013 totaled 2,822. At the end of 2016, the Brewers Association reported a total of 5,203 breweries. With 334 breweries listed for Colorado, the state ranks No. 2 in the number of breweries nationwide.Jaks Brewing Co. in Falcon and Peaks N Pines Brewing Co. in Colorado Springs, as well as Descarís Roadside Bar and Grill and The Chicken Coop bar in Black Forest, have provided support and helped Routsis navigate the process of opening the brewery.ìYou would think that people would look at the (craft brew) industry as competitive, but itís not,î Routsis said. ìYou see the potential in Black Forest and thatís when you look to be part of that community. We want to provide a gathering place, really. We want people to come and stay for a while.îRoutsis said a survey, which is a county requirement for microbrews, showed a 100 percent residential approval rating for the business.Black Forest Brewing will take on a ìGerman flair,î Routsis said. He has partnered with Schnitzel Fritz, a Colorado Springs-based German restaurant and deli, to provide food for the pub ó which undoubtedly will complement one of his brews, a German chocolate cake stout.Part of the fun of the industry is the creativity combined with the technicality of the craft, Routsis said.ìBrewing is a very technical process and thereís a lot of science involved, but it also allows you to be creative,î he said. ìSome things work and others donít. Itís about finding out what works, while allowing me to express both my technical and creative sides.ìOverall, the one thing we are looking at is that we donít only want to create a place for people in the community to visit, but we also want to work with our local businesses. We are trying to be an additive to the community and not competitive. Our hope is that weíll become a destination and help draw people to the Black Forest.î
New brew pub in Black Forest
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