USA, CO: Green Earth Brewing Co. hoping to launch in November or December this year

Scott Pell's love for brewing beer sparked more than 20 years ago when his wife, Patty, bought him a home brewing kit.

He tried it out, mixed the ingredients accordingly and followed the instructions step by step. After he made his first batch, his initial reaction was, honestly, shock.

"I thought, 'Oh my god, this is actually drinkable,'" Pell said with a laugh.

Now Pell creates his own original recipes for the ales he makes, and he'll open his first brewery, Green Earth Brewing Co., in downtown Greeley sometime later this year. November or December is the part-time school counselor's wishful goal for the location to open in the square, brick building at 725 10th St., next to Zoe's Café and Events. Pell and his business partner and brother-in-law, Doug Hansen, signed their lease in March, the Greeley Tribune reported on October 7.

Pell, a longtime Greeley resident, said there will be about four or five brews on tap when he first opens, including a selection of brown, black, white and red ales, plus an IPA. That number eventually will reach eight taps as he starts experimenting with what customers want and like, he said.

His first successful brew, which will be Green Earth's signature beer, will be his Barbed Wire Black Ale. Pell said the brew comes in at about a 6.2 percent ABV and is a smooth ale that is "black as night." It's the beer that inspired Hansen, who is a major craft beer fanatic, to open a business with Pell.

"After that, he really thought we could sell this," Pell said.

Now, about six years in the making, they're opening the business. The brewery will have dartboards, table seating, a bar, and its capacity will be about 45 people, Pell said.

"We want to bring a unique brewery experience with a traditional pub feel," Pell said. "All of our ales reflect an English or German style."

Green Earth Brewing's primary focus is on sustainability, and Pell hopes to eventually find a way to use solar or wind energy when brewing his beer on site. The products in his beer, ranging from the barley to the hops, are from in state and mainly northern Colorado, leaving a minimal carbon footprint, he said.

Also, nearly everything in the building is refurbished or reclaimed. Pell fixed up and refurbished the bar stools, which are from a thrift store, and the actual bar used to be in the old Kress building downtown, Pell said.

"Our focus was to capture the spirit of conservation," Pell said.

Hansen lives in Montrose with his wife, Suzanne, but he plans to visit the brewery once per month to help Pell with everyday duties. As Pell puts it, Hansen is the business guy and he's is the beer guy.

Pell said the duo also wants to capitalize on the growth downtown Greeley is experiencing, and they hope to add a sense of community on the south end of the historic downtown's stretch on 10th Street. Pell said he believes in Greeley, and thinks it will one day reach the status of cities like Fort Collins. It's already on its way there, and he wants to be part of it.

"I was dreaming that I would own a brewery someday and that I'd be able to brew," Pell said. "I love the craft, and I love the variety and creation in beer. I like the community that it builds. People can come together and talk about it, visit over it and even reminisce about it."

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