Thirst Colorado

What Thirst Colorado does

Thirst Colorado is a Colorado-focused lifestyle publication operating as a division of Colorado Word Works, Inc., headquartered at 7380 Lowell Blvd., Westminster, CO. The company publishes a print magazine six times per year covering Colorado's craft beverage scene (breweries, distilleries, wineries, cideries, and meaderies), complemented by editorial coverage of food, performing arts, music, outdoor recreation, events, destinations, and local personalities. The magazine serves Colorado craft beverage enthusiasts, outdoor and lifestyle adventurers, and food/culinary followers, with directory features (brewery list, distillery list, winery/cidery/meadery list) functioning as reference resources.

The company's technology stack is entirely non-proprietary and built on third-party platforms: the website runs on Squarespace, email newsletters are delivered through Constant Contact, and print issue archives are hosted on Issuu. Products include the print magazine, the thirstcolorado.com digital content platform with directory listings, a weekly email newsletter, and advertising placements across both print and digital surfaces. Key personnel include Publisher Paul Johnson, Associate Publisher and Editor Joe Ross, Marketing Manager and Digital Media Steve Graham, Design and Layout lead Sandy Birkey, and Ad Sales Manager Scott Kaplan.

The business model combines consumer subscription revenue with B2B advertising sales. Annual print subscriptions and free newsletter signups form a long-tail consumer base, while advertising sold through a media kit (full-page, half-page, and specialty placements) drives revenue from Colorado craft beverage producers, restaurants, event organizers, and tourism boards. Distribution combines direct subscriptions with placement at breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and other partner locations across Colorado. The company has no disclosed external funding and is privately held within the Colorado Word Works, Inc. corporate parent.

Name

Thirst Colorado

Legal name

Colorado Word Works, Inc.

Website

https://thirstcolorado.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Thirst Colorado is a privately held Colorado lifestyle publication that prints a magazine six times yearly and operates a companion digital platform covering craft beverages, food, arts, outdoor recreation, and events for Colorado readers and advertisers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Westminster, CO

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Print Magazine Sales: Subscription revenue from printed magazine published six times per year, distributed to readers across Colorado interested in craft beverages, food, arts, and outdoor lifestyle.
2. Digital Advertising: Banner advertisements and digital marketing services on thirstcolorado.com, including sponsored content, event listings, and promotional features for Colorado businesses.
3. Print Advertising: Full-page, half-page, and specialty placements in the print magazine sold through their media kit to breweries, distilleries, wineries, restaurants, event organizers, and tourism boards.
4. Newsletter Marketing: Email newsletter subscriptions (Constant Contact) providing weekly updates on Colorado events, new stories, and featured businesses.
5. Sponsored Content: Editorial coverage purchased by Colorado tourism boards, beverage producers, and event organizers seeking visibility in front of engaged Colorado lifestyle audience.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Thirst Colorado publishes a six-times-yearly print magazine and a companion digital website covering Colorado craft beverages (beer, spirits, wine, cider, mead), food, music, arts, events, destinations, and people. The publication serves as a comprehensive directory and editorial guide to the Colorado craft libations and lifestyle scene, monetized through consumer subscriptions and B2B advertising sold to breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and event organizers.

Product overview

Thirst Colorado is a Colorado lifestyle publication consisting of a print magazine (published six times yearly) and an associated digital website. The core offering centers on coverage of Colorado's craft beverage scene, including brewery, distillery, winery, cidery, and meadery directories, complemented by food, music, arts, people profiles, events, and destination content. Additional services include newsletter subscription delivery and a media kit for advertising inquiries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Thirst Colorado Print Magazine A printed magazine published six times per year that serves as a comprehensive guide to Colorado's craft beverage scene, food, music, arts, events, destinations, and people. Targeted at Colorado craft beverage enthusiasts, outdoor lifestyle followers, and culinary readers; available via subscription and at distribution locations across Colorado.
• Thirst Colorado Website An online publication providing daily editorial content on Colorado beverages, food, arts, music, outdoor activities, and events, including comprehensive brewery, distillery, winery, cidery, and meadery directories. Free to access for readers, with newsletter signup and content archives.
• Newsletter Subscription Service A weekly email newsletter delivered through Constant Contact that provides subscribers with updates on new stories, Colorado events, food, drinks, arts, and featured businesses. Free signup available to readers.
• Colorado Libations Directory A comprehensive online reference database listing Colorado craft beverage producers, including separate directories for breweries, distilleries, wineries, cideries, and meaderies, available through thirstcolorado.com.
• Advertising Services Print advertising (full-page, half-page, and specialty placements in the print magazine) and digital advertising (banner ads, sponsored content, event listings, and promotional features on thirstcolorado.com and the newsletter), sold to Colorado breweries, distilleries, wineries, cideries, restaurants, event organizers, and tourism boards.

Named customers17 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Seed and SmithminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanner advertiser on Thirst Colorado website homepage. Colorado craft company promoting products through display advertising.
• Overland ExpominorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanner advertiser promoting Overland Expo Mountain West event in Loveland. Cross-promotional relationship with outdoor lifestyle audience.
• Balistreri VineyardsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanner advertiser and event sponsor. Denver vineyard featured in event coverage and advertising.
• Ned Jazz Wine / Nederland Jazz & Wine FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanner advertiser on homepage. Festival proceeds support Teens Inc. outdoor leadership programs in Nederland area.
• Affordable Arts FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanner advertiser. Juried art festival at Arapahoe Community College in Littleton.
• Denver Golf (City of Denver)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanner advertiser promoting Denver-area golf courses.
• Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Highland FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanner advertiser for annual Highland festival in Estes Park.
• Colorado Word Works, Inc.coreOthersParent company of The Publishing House division that produces Thirst Colorado and Colorado Performing Arts Publications serving arts venues around Colorado.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• VinePair: Digital beverage media outlet covering beer, wine, and spirits news and reviews. Comparable online peer in the beverage content publishing space.
• Imbibe Magazine: National beverage culture magazine covering cocktails, beer, wine, and spirits. Closest peer in the beverage-focused media niche at a national scale.
• Westword: Denver alternative weekly covering local news, food, arts, music, and events. Comparable regional media outlet competing for the same local advertisers and audience attention.
• Edible Front Range: Colorado edition of the Edible magazine network covering local food, beverage, and culinary culture. Closest peer in the food and beverage media niche with directly comparable editorial focus.
• Denver Life Magazine: Regional lifestyle magazine serving the Denver metro area with content on food, culture, and local experiences. Comparable peer magazine in the same region and content vertical.
• 5280 Magazine: Denver's flagship regional lifestyle magazine covering dining, culture, and the Colorado lifestyle. Directly comparable regional publication serving an overlapping advertiser and reader base in Colorado.
• Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine: National craft beer publication providing editorial content, beer reviews, and brewing resources. Strongly comparable peer in the craft beer media niche.
• BeerAdvocate: Online beer review and rating community covering craft beer culture. Comparable digital peer in the craft beer content and consumer engagement space.

Regional players

• Yellow Scene Magazine: Boulder-area regional lifestyle magazine covering food, arts, events, and local culture. Comparable regional lifestyle publication with similar mid-sized market profile.
• Colorado Parent: Regional parenting magazine covering family activities and events in Colorado. Comparable regional publication model with overlapping local advertiser base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thirst-colorado

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Thirst Colorado