LOVELAND — Another group of homebrewing buddies is getting ready to roll out the barrel in Loveland, joining a craft brewing scene that’s already a barrel of fun.

Four partners hope to open Crow Hop Brewing Co. downtown by the second half of September.

They have their alcohol licenses and are in the middle of remodeling an old brick building at 217 E. Third St.

Crow Hop will make English-American beer, according to Mike Noonan, head brewer.

“We’re taking traditional English beers and making them American,” he said – “a bit more hops and nontraditional hops.”

Added partner Dustin Kennard, “We’ll have IPAs, stouts, browns and a lager. We’ve been working on them for quite a while.”

Brewing Buddies

Noonan, Kennard and Nate Corlett live in Loveland and have been making beer in Kennard’s back garage for several years. The fourth partner, Adam Harris, lives in the Denver area.

Initially they will have a five-barrel system with three one-barrel tanks for specialty brews.

Their taproom will have six beers on tap, including a “nitro” tap, and will seat 35 people. It will be open seven days a week.

Kennard said Crow Hop brews will be available by the glass in the taproom and in barrels and 22-ounce bomber bottles – filled on their homemade bottling machine.

Crow Hop’s entry on Loveland’s brewing scene will give the city seven craft brewers and one cidery, with rumors of at least two more in the works – raising the question: How many is too many?

“I don’t think it’s anywhere close to saturated,” said Nick Callaway, who as owner of the year-old Loveland Aleworks downtown could be considered a competitor.

A Destination

“With Crow Hop a block and half away from Aleworks, that’s only going to strengthen downtown Loveland as a destination to come for entertainment and food and drink,” he said.

Marcie Erion, a business development specialist with the city of Loveland, said Loveland “absolutely” is becoming a craft brew destination.

“There more there are, the better,” she said. “It works for everybody. People know that we’re branded for that.

“I definitely think it’s that up-and-coming trend,” she said.

Erion said the city’s Economic Development Department printed up thousands of cards listing Loveland’s breweries and distilleries “that they pass out like crazy at the Visitor Center.”

“That’s what people like to do,” she said.

New brewers frequently comment that the local craft brewing community feels more like a family than a competitive business, with established brewers lending advice, expertise and equipment to the newcomers.

“Any brewer that comes in here with a question or needs any sort of help, I’m always down to share my experience,” Callaway said, adding, “I’m still really new to this game; I learn stuff every day.

“I’m excited that I’ll be able to cruise around the corner and have their beer,” he said. “I hope they make damn good beer, because I’m going to be over there, drinking.”

Craig Young can be reached at 970-635-3634 or cyoung@reporter-herald.com. Follow him on Twitter: @CraigYoungRH.