It’s been a dramatic few months in the Colorado Springs-area craft-drink scene, to say the least.

In May, beer fans began mourning the imminent departure of Metric Brewing, which marks its final day of business Friday at 1213 N. Circle Drive.

On the heels of that news, came word that 1350 Distilling would be closing the doors at 520 Pikes Peak Ave. — which it did, on SundayJune 8.

The following day, Brass Brewing Co. announced that its 7-year-old, downtown operation had been sold to a new startup, Gunslinger Brewing. A final hurrah for Brass is planned for June 23, at 318 E. Colorado Ave.

The headlines weren’t all dire, though.

Falcon celebrated the grand opening Memorial Day weekend of a new craft spot, Ascent Brewery, on 13 acres refashioned from a tumble-down historic ranch into a farmhouse brew destination that focuses on traditional styles, good views and vibes.

Here’s a look at what we’ve lost, and gained, so far in 2025:

Metric bids farewell

Metric Brewing headlined the year’s early brewing drama with an announcement, in May, that its last day of operation will be Friday, June 13.

The landlord would not renew Metric’s lease, news which prompted an outpouring of community support for the brewery, which quickly morphed from a watering hole into a Knob Hill community hotspot after opening in 2018.

Metric’s owners initially said they held out hope of fighting to stay put or finding a new address for the brewery, hopefully nearby. Many took to social media to suggest locations.

On Monday, the community’s hopes for a stay or rebirth for Metric appeared to be dashed.

Four “government branches” are allegedly poised to move into the building Metric will be vacating, one owner said. Specific details remain murky, though a Metric owner added that their rent would have been much higher had they stayed.

Co-owner Chase Perry told The Gazette that there are no solid plans to reopen elsewhere.

“I just want to say thank you to this community; we could not have done this without them,” Perry said Tuesday. “There’s a lot of good beer here in the Springs, and I encourage everyone to keep supporting local.”

Two Metric patrons who stopped by the brewery last Friday, and who did not want to be named, said they’ve been coming there since it opened, and are sad to see it go.

“The bartenders here are amazing,” one said. “You could walk in by yourself and sit here for hours talking with someone you just met. It really draws great people.”

Brass passes the flag

Veteran-owned Brass Brewing opened in 2018, inside the remodeled and rebranded former site of Triple S Brewing.

The brewery’s closure announcement Monday took many fans by surprise.

“After more than 7 incredible years of brewing beers and building friendships in the heart of downtown Colorado Springs, it’s time for a new chapter,” wrote owners Woody and Kellee Briggs in a post to Facebook.

“This wasn’t an easy decision, but it’s the right time. We’re filled with gratitude for every moment, every pour, and every person who helped make Brass what it is.”

Before June 23, when Brass will officially pass the flag to Gunslinger, the owners encouraged the community to continue to “come by, share a story, grab a pint, and if you’re a ‘mug member,’ please don’t forget to pick up your mug!”

And when Brass is gone, they added, “we sincerely hope you’ll show Gunslinger Brewing the same love you’ve shown us all these years.”

Ascending east

Falcon’s brewery/craft taproom count doubled over Memorial Day weekend, with the grand opening of Ascent Brewing, at 6630 Chief Road in Peyton.

Steph Prue, who owns the brewery with her husband, Joe, said their brewing operation is as much an experience as a watering hole, and that is 100% by design.

“We’re kind of more ‘farmhouse destination brewery setup,’ which is very uncommon for Colorado,” said Steph Prue, adding that the couple’s long-game vision was inspired both by their military service overseas, in the beer motherland of Germany, as well as tenure in the northeast U.S.

Despite far-flung inspirations, the endeavor is anchored with local roots, both literally and figuratively, she said.

“Just staying very local, but at the same time bringing a traditional flavor to it,” Steph Prue said. “We’ve kind of come out of the gates with a lot of German-style lagers.”

The family-friendly brewery is open Thursdays through Sundays, and features a rotating roster of food trucks.

“We worked really hard to get this going, literally from the ground up,” Prue said. “Four-and-a-half years later, we’re just so grateful to have our doors open, and to have people appreciate it and like it.”