When Edward W. Wynkoop came to this area in 1858, it was called Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory. The governor of the territory, James Denver, named Wynkoop to be its first sheriff. When the city was organized here Wynkoop proposed that it be named for the Kansas governor.
In 1860, a local newspaper published these nice words about Ned Wynkoop (as he was called): "Ned is considered by his personal friends a warm and genial companion, true as steel." Ned Wynkoop was also an actor. In 1861, the Rocky Mountain News reviewed his performance at the Apollo: "His rendition of the Drunkard was given with most thrilling effect and in the scenes of delirium... he exhibited more than an ordinary histrionic ability." Let this be a lesson to us all.
Wynkoop spent five years as an officer in the army, rising to the rank of colonel. (In 1864, he was an unwilling party to an act of betrayal and treachery, Colorado’s Sand Creek massacre. The event haunted him for the rest of his life).
From our start in 1988, we’ve worked to be good environmental stewards in our community. We began recycling glass and cardboard almost from the start, today those measures are joined by extensive composting, recycling, and water and energy conservation efforts.
Our biodegradable waste is composted, our spent brewing grains feed local livestock, and our used cooking oils are recycled into biodiesel. We use a range of biodegradable paper and carry-out supplies, and continue to seek new ways to operate as an environmentally friendly enterprise.
Our menu features a wealth of Colorado-produced meats and vegetables, Redbird Farms chicken, and wild salmon certified by the Marine Stewardship Counsel as a renewable resource. We use premium malts and hops in our beer and trans fat-free oil in our fryers, and we source a large number of staples and condiments from local producers.
Our goal with these collective measures? To reduce our environmental impact and increase our support of local entrepreneurs. While giving you the best food and beer your dollars can buy. If you have suggestions for other steps we can take toward that goal, please let us know about them.
