The string of brewery closures in Denver continues, with another highly-rated brewery announcing their closure in an October 8 press release titled ‘To our Community: Adiós y Gracias.’

Rated 4.7 stars on Google Reviews, Raices Brewing on West Colfax Avenue is set to close after six years in the craft beer business.

“Since 2024, Raíces Brewing Co. has faced a series of unexpected charges from the City of Denver’s Department of Taxation, related to a tax known as the Personal Property Tax,” reads the press release on the matter. “This tax — which is not imposed in all cities and of which we had never been previously notified — taxes the furniture and equipment located inside a business.”

Denverite reports that the taxes faced by the brewery are around $100,000, including $10,800 in personal property taxes and $98,703.48 in unpaid sales taxes per a spokesperson from the city’s Department of Finance.

“In December 2024, a biweekly payment plan was established to meet these obligations,” reads the press release from Raices Brewing. “However, the financial impact was considerable, severely affecting our cash flow during the low season — at a time when our industry is still recovering from the global economic challenges of recent years.”

Unfortunately, the payment plan wasn’t enough to keep the brewery afloat.

“Our team sought to clarify the amounts paid, request detailed documentation (itemized statements), and explore possible alternatives or adjustments for other local taxes — including sales tax — as the economic situation made it unsustainable to meet all payment obligations simultaneously,” explained the brewery. “Unfortunately, no reasonable payment solution was reached that realistically would allow us to continue operating sustainably. On the contrary, we encountered resistance and additional audits that felt retaliatory in response to our requests for information and our complaint about the department’s behavior.”

Fans of Raices Brewing will undoubtedly cherish memories of the spot.

“Raíces Brewing Co. has always been more than a business — it has been a space of community, culture, and human connection,” reads a press release from the brewery. “A meeting place where thousands of people celebrated their roots, their identity, and their diversity. We are profoundly proud to have built a place that served our people and the city of Denver with love, respect, and purpose.”

The press release continues to read:

“In times when the world often feels increasingly divided, spaces like this become essential. Raíces was a bridge — between cultures, generations, and hearts. It was a place where people from different backgrounds gathered not just to enjoy a beer, but to share stories, traditions, and hope. We created a space where unity triumphed over division, where empathy overcame chaos, and where the best of humanity flourished in community. We would have loved to continue offering this much-needed space, especially in these challenging sociopolitical times. Yet what we have planted goes beyond any closure — because we are Raíces, and what we have sown is love. To all our employees, visitors, collaborators, artists, sponsors, and allies, we express our deepest gratitude. Thank you for every shared event, every conversation, every embrace, and for believing in this dream and making it your own. Your support and energy have been the driving force that sustained us even through the hardest moments. Raíces will live on — in every connection created, every smile shared, and every heart that felt seen, celebrated, and loved here.”

The last couple of years have proven to be rough for small businesses in Colorado’s craft beer industry. Numerous closures have taken place around the state, including Denver.

A September 15 report from Denver Gazette asks a important question: “Is Colorado’s craft brew industry on the ropes?”

A total of 494 craft breweries are operating or have operated in Colorado in 2025. This places Colorado among states with the highest number of breweries in the nation, with data from 2024 indicating that Colorado had the 4th-most breweries nationwide behind only California, New York, and Pennsylvania.

In 2025, Centennial State brewery closings have been happening faster than openings (net -3%). The gap between brewery openings and closings has widened since 2024, when 5% of the state’s total breweries opened and 6% of the state’s total breweries closed (net -1%).

Read a full report on Colorado’s craft beer scene here.