Colorado Springs brewery gets approved to re-open with food truck partnership

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- A variance for restaurants to reopen Wednesday was approved by El Paso County Public Health. Breweries were also given the green-light to reopen so long as they have a retail food license.

But for those breweries that don't have that food license -- like FH Beerworks in Colorado Springs -- they had to get creative.

The owner of FH Beerworks says they were able to get approval from the state by having a food truck on their property; one they had partnered with in previous months.

But on top of having food available, they also have to abide by strict social-distancing guidelines in order to remain open.

Fields says their indoor seating area and beer garden are operating at 50% capacity, with no more than eight people per table.

They've also integrated a new call-ahead system where guests can put in a reservation and wait to be called.

Fields says they are confident in their ability to remain open, but can only do so as long as the brewery's schedule is identical to the food truck's.

"Since we have to have guaranteed food availability, the food truck has to be open anytime we're open. Luckily, we have them here full-time," said Fields. "If the food truck was scheduled and they didn't show up, we wouldn't be able to open in that situation."

Fields says their in-house beer sales are down, but they have been able to stay afloat during the pandemic thanks to their canned beer sales to locally-owned liquor stores.

FH Beerworks is not requiring guests to wear a mask in their indoor or outdoor seating areas, though it is recommended by El Paso County Public Health.