Plans in works for brewery on Remington in Fort Collins

FORT COLLINS — The owner of Freedonia Brewing Ltd. has drawn up plans to create a brewery and taproom in a building in downtown Fort Collins that previously housed a church.

Ralf Kracke-Berndorff, owner of Freedonia Ltd., wants to convert the building at 208 Remington St., into a 4,760-square-foot tap room and brewery with a beer garden that would be in close proximity to breweries Coopersmith’s on East Mountain Avenue and Equinox in the 100 block of Remington.

Freedonia will brew German-style lagers using an historic, 110-year-old, all-copper brew system shipped from Germany.

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“We have the brew system packed in crates right now,” Kracke-Berndorff said. “We are still working on details, and we hope to start soon, but we don’t have a definitive timetable.”

Documents submitted to the planning department explain that the brew system will allow for authentic brewing techniques following the ancient process of lager brewing and could attract beer tourists from around the world.

Plans indicate that all trees and existing lawn to the west of the building along Remington will remain, and hops vines will be planted to grow up the front of the two-story portion of the building.

The tap room will be in the two-story portion of the building, and the brewery will be located in the former chapel. The second floor of the old building is an apartment, and it will remain a separate entity.

The original two-story building was constructed using bricks in 1906, and a one-story chapel made of cinder block was added in 1969. The property is surrounded by apartments.

Kracke-Berndorff said he will lease the building from owner Edward K. Russell of Fort Collins.

Loveland-based Kenney Lee Architecture Group Inc. is consulting on the project.