We’re excited to have you brewing for this year’s Bootstrapped Brews! Did you participate last year?

Yes

Please introduce yourself…

Honored as a 2015 Colorado Company to Watch, a DBJ Best Place to Work, and Colorado Women’s Chamber’s Small Company of the Year, Commerce Kitchen is an integrated web and mobile app consultancy that develops software for high security industries, such as eCommerce, finance, and healthcare. Our nimble team of talented technologists are committed to partnering with clients that want to explore and create. We transform our clients’ businesses by identifying technology opportunities and catalyzing organizational change. Simply put, we get you to go.

How long has your startup been in Colorado?

12 years

How many people from your team are helping to brew your competition beer?

One (entire team is involved in naming and label design)

What beer(s) are you brewing?

Building on the success of last year’s Star Wars-themed, Arch Nemesis Black IPA, this year we are brewing Ruby Red Rebel Pale Ale in honor of Princess Leia.

It’s an American pale ale (style 10a) that uses the typical Centennial hops for bittering, and Cascade hops for aroma, but we added in the less common Pacific Jade hops for additional citrus aroma and slight peppery flavor. Ruby Red Rebel has distinctive floral and grapefruit notes, hence its name. The anticipated ABV is a bit lower at 5.3%, making it a refreshing sessionable sipper with less of a bite.

Have you brewed your own beer before?

Yes

If you have brewed before, how long have you been brewing?

5 years

How did the brewing process go?

This year’s beer was a bit of a sprint…we were brewing at the 11th hour in order for our 5 gallon batch to be ready by the competition. This was the first batch in which Leslie and Peter’s daughter was able to “help”. She helped stir the boil, and later sat on her dad’s lap and played with the bottles while he was filling them.

Where did you brew your competition beer?

On the back patio and in the dingy basement of Leslie and Peter’s 1898 Denver square.

Why were you interested in participating in this year’s event?

We had a great time last year, and we want to improve our standing from 3rd place to 1st place this year! We were impressed by the level of competition, and the all around quality and drinkability of the beers last year. We cannot wait to taste this year’s entries!

Where is your favorite place to grab a beer with your coworkers?

Historians Ale House

Any additional comments?

Thanks for putting on the event!