Fiction Beer Company

What Fiction Beer Company does

Fiction Beer Company operates a single craft brewery and taproom at 7101 East Colfax Avenue in Denver's Park Hill neighborhood. Founded in September 2014 by Ryan and Christa Kilpatrick as Denver's first brewery on Colfax Avenue, the company brews craft beer whose recipes are themed around specific works of fiction — examples include "A Beer of Very Little Brain" (an amber wheat lager inspired by *Winnie the Pooh*) and "Paul" (a pilsner referencing *Lonesome Dove*). The company's beers have won medals at the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup. Following the founders' late-2024 announcement of their departure, ownership transitioned in early December 2024 to a community group of approximately 8-9 regular trivia hosts ("The Authors"), with Derek Boyce serving as Head Brewer and Megan Menendez as Taproom Manager.

The business model is a direct-to-consumer taproom operation with no off-premise distribution. Revenue streams consist of on-site draft beer sales, 4-pack to-go beer sales, branded merchandise (apparel, glassware), event rentals and private bookings, and an Ex Libris subscription membership for regular patrons. The go-to-market motion is event-driven: the taproom runs a dense recurring calendar including weekly trivia nights, multiple book clubs (general, Smutty Book Club, Miscreant Play-Reading), game nights, live music, drag shows, comedy open mics, writers groups, and makers markets. Customer segments include craft beer enthusiasts, book lovers and reading communities, tabletop gamers, the LGBTQ+ community, and local creatives and small businesses, served primarily within the Park Hill neighborhood and broader Denver Metro area. Operational technology is minimal — a Squarespace website, a Square-based e-commerce and gift-card system, and active Instagram and Facebook channels drive event promotion and community engagement. No AI/ML, no app, no public API, and no patents or trademarks are disclosed in the source material.

Name

Fiction Beer Company

Legal name

Fiction Beer Company

Website

https://fictionbeer.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fiction Beer Company operates a single craft brewery and literary-themed taproom in Denver's Park Hill neighborhood, serving local craft beer enthusiasts and reading communities through on-site draft sales, 4-pack to-go beer, events, and an Ex Libris membership program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Breweries (312120), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (7224)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Microbreweries & Craft Breweries (THAFALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA), Craft Beer Bars & Taprooms (THAFAEAG), Taprooms & Brewpubs (CRANACAF)

Keywords

• Craft brewery
• Literary themed beer
• Taproom experience
• Craft beer sales
• Community events venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. On-site beer sales: Direct taproom sales of craft beer for on-site consumption, including rotating tap list with literary-themed beers. Also sells 4-packs to go.
2. Food and merchandise: Sells merchandise including apparel, glassware, and other branded items. Partners with food trucks for food sales.
3. Event rentals and private bookings: Generates revenue through event rentals and reservations for private gatherings.
4. Ex Libris Membership: Subscription membership program offering perks and benefits to regular patrons.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Fiction Beer Company is a craft brewery and taproom in Denver's Park Hill neighborhood that produces literary-inspired craft beers — recipes themed around specific works of fiction (e.g., A Beer of Very Little Brain amber wheat lager inspired by Winnie the Pooh). The company operates a physical taproom with on-site beer service, a 4-pack to-go program, an Ex Libris subscription membership, recurring community events (trivia, book clubs, live music, drag shows, game nights), branded merchandise, and private event rentals.

Product overview

Fiction Beer Company is a craft brewery and taproom offering literary-inspired craft beers. Their core product is their rotating selection of beers inspired by works of fiction, complemented by the taproom experience. The company also offers an Ex Libris Membership program, hosts regular community events (trivia, book clubs, live music, game nights), and sells branded merchandise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Craft Beer (Taproom) Rotating selection of literary-themed craft beers brewed on-site, including signature and seasonal releases such as A Beer of Very Little Brain (amber wheat lager), Madame Psychosis, Paul (pilsner), Unsafe Shores (Summer Krusher), and white stout series (Lunas, White Steep, Steep Whiteout). Served on draft in the taproom and available in 4-pack cans to-go. Targets craft beer enthusiasts and book lovers in Denver Metro.
• Ex Libris Membership Recurring subscription membership program offering perks and benefits to regular patrons of Fiction Beer Company, including book and beer enthusiasts seeking discounts, exclusive access, and community connection.
• Taproom Events Regular and special events hosted at the Fiction taproom, including weekly Trivia Night (Thursdays at 7pm), Book Club, Smutty Book Club, Miscreant Play-Reading Book Club, Game Nights, Dungeons & Drafts, Play Test Tuesday, Live Music, Bards of the Bar, Writers Group, Poker Night, Crafturday, Music Video Bingo, Animal Trivia, Celtic Open Session with Denver Celtic Night, and Christmas in July with white stout releases.
• Merchandise Store Online and in-taproom store selling branded merchandise including apparel, glassware, and gift items related to the Fiction Beer Company brand.
• Event Rentals and Reservations Private gathering and event rental services at the Fiction taproom in Denver, available through direct booking via the events email address.
• Gift Cards

Quantifiable outcome

• Won medals at Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Second Star to the RightcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal bookstore partner for Grown-Up Book Fair events. Hosts author readings, book signings, and book sales at Fiction Beer Company.
• Spicy LibrarianminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRecommended bookstore for Smutty Book Club readers to purchase monthly book selections.
• Petals & Pages BookstoreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal bookstore providing book selections for Pride on Tap author panel events.
• Rocky Mountain Feline RescuecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit partner for annual Cat Day event. Hosts kitten adoptions on patio; Fiction donates $2 from each limited glassware sale to the organization.
• Denver Ten ForwardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Star Trek fan meetup group that holds regular gatherings at Fiction Beer Company.
• Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance (The Herd)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for Animal Trivia events, providing popup education and conservation information.
• Environment ColoradominorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnvironmental nonprofit partner for Animal Trivia events.
• Dungeons n DraftsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party event company that sells tickets and runs D&D one-shot sessions at the Fiction taproom.
• Miscreant Theatre CollectiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTheatre group that runs Miscreant Play-Reading Book Club at Fiction. Accepts donations to support programming.
• Denver Celtic NightminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal Celtic music group that holds monthly open sessions at Fiction Beer Company.
• QTs & Cuties ComedyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerQueer comedy collective hosting comedy open mic safe space events at Fiction for LGBTQ+ and women comedians.
• Audacious ImmersiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEntertainment company producing Drunk Christmas immersive experience during Christmas in July event.
• Terramia DenverminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal pizza food truck that sets up at Fiction Beer Company several days per week, providing food service.
• Local makers and vendorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVarious local artisans, craftspeople, and small businesses participate in seasonal makers markets and events at the taproom.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Ratio Beerworks: Denver craft brewery operating a taproom and limited distribution with a similarly small team and creative brand identity. Closely comparable in scale, location strategy, and reliance on neighborhood taproom traffic.
• Great Divide Brewing Company: Denver-based award-winning craft brewery with a taproom and broader distribution. Comparable in beer-quality awards profile and Denver craft positioning, though operating at meaningfully larger scale.
• Denver Beer Co. Denver craft brewery with neighborhood taprooms and outdoor patio culture, focused on approachable styles and community-driven identity. Direct competitor for discretionary Denver taproom visits.
• Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project: Denver craft brewery recognized for medal-winning specialty beer (wild/sour programs) and taproom presence in the same competitive set. Comparable on award credentials and Denver craft positioning.
• Jagged Mountain Brewery: Small Denver craft brewery and taproom operating in a similar neighborhood-pub model. Comparable in scale, single-site focus, and event/community-driven traffic.
• Black Shirt Brewing Co. Denver craft brewery emphasizing a focused portfolio (red ales) and taproom experience. Comparable neighborhood craft positioning and similar scale.

Broad incumbents

• Odell Brewing Co. Established Colorado craft brewery with broader distribution and multiple taproom locations. Comparable craft segment and Colorado geographic focus, but materially larger and more distributed.
• New Belgium Brewing Company: Fort Collins-based national craft brewery with a flagship Denver taproom. Comparable craft beer category and Colorado presence, but operates at vastly larger scale across wholesale and retail.
• Breckenridge Brewery: Colorado craft brewery with Denver-area taproom and broad distribution. Comparable craft segment and Colorado footprint, but with significantly larger production and distribution scale.
• Boston Beer Company: National craft brewer (Samuel Adams, Truly, Dogfish Head, etc.) competing across packaged and taproom channels. Comparable craft beer category, but operates as a publicly-traded national incumbent with materially broader scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/FictionBeerCompany
• Instagraminstagram.com/fictionbeer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fiction Beer Company