Growing brewery relocating to site of former tavern at 21st & Sheldon

Growing brewery relocating to site of former tavern at 21st & Sheldon

Oct. 15, 2018
A family-owned Cheyenne-area brewery/tap room is relocating to a building that formerly housed a bar at South 21st Street and Sheldon Avenue.
This will be the third location for the Smiling Toad, which started small on the east side five years ago and increased in size after moving to its current location at

The former Thirsty's Tavern, soon to become the Smiling Toad brewery and tap room, is shown at the northeast corner of 21st Street and Sheldon Avenue. When this photo was taken in September, Thirsty's signs were still present on the exterior walls.

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1757 S. Eighth St. It will grow again when it finishes relocating to the former home of Thirsty's Tavern at 2028 Sheldon, potentially as early as December.
Initially a home brewer, Biff Morehead originated and runs the business with his wife Patti and head brewer Fred Davis. In an interview, Morehead said he couldn't be more sure of an opening date because a certain amount of remodeling is necessary and plans were still being finalized with engineers and local government.
As to why the Sheldon site was picked, “we like Old Colorado City, and it's a bigger building,” Morehead explained. “There's not a lot of buildings available

Smiling Toad owner Biff Morehead was spotted recently looking out from the second-floor deck of his brewery's future home.

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right now. The marijuana growers got everything else.”
       The Eighth Street site has about 2,700 square feet, while Sheldon offers close to 6,000 square feet, he pointed out.
       He believes this will give his business the capacity to eventually move to a 10-barrel brewing operation. Right now it has three.
       “We're selling all the beer we can make, so we're going to make more,” Morehead cheerfully summarized his plan. “We're hoping it works.”
       He envisions the Sheldon tap room having 50 to 60 seats. People will be able to order various Smiling Toad brews, and he also hopes to have a “tiny kitchen” to cook up “comfort food.” At the Cheyenne locale, food trucks handle such cravings, he noted.
       Thirsty's had operated at 2028 Sheldon for a number of years, but closed several months ago.

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