We had the good fortune of connecting with Laura Bruns and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Laura, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
“You are who you surround yourself with” I like this quote because it constantly reminds me that, I as individual, and my company as a brand, can only be as good as the work, people, and other businesses that we choose to engage with. It leads the way when I am unsure about aligning myself or brand with another entity. This quote gives me the power of choice and a solid reasoning to support the direction of our brand, events, and ethos.
What should our readers know about your business?
I own this business with my brother Chris. We’re hyper small and local and know the importance of supporting our surrounding community. Some people may say the thing that sets us apart is our concept; that we allow community members to come in and guest brew alongside us, on a recipe that they inspired. That beer is then put on tap for the public to enjoy. But after 5.5 years in the industry, I think the thing that sets us apart is that we we’re open to doing things that may be untraditional in the brewery industry. We welcome the “new-to-craft-beer” people with open arms. We love reaching demographics that are not usually associated with the craft beer scene and bringing them into the fold. We are proud of our beer, but understand that “it’s just beer” as well and that our product is not changing the world. We value philanthropy over hype. We keep our noses to the grindstone and churn out tasty products many times over. We are often met with surprise when we tell customers we’ve been open for as long as we have. “Why didn’t I know you were here?” is often said. We’re the quiet, full of quality, blue collar work ethic brewery that is literally sitting right under your nose 🙂 We may not make the hype radar, but we’re 110% sure if you walk in for a pint, with an open mind, you’re going to find your next favorite brewery to visit.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
This is a great question! I try to think of things that are very unique to the Denver metro area. Of course, some of these are seasonal and pre-COVID 😉 If they like beer, I love showcasing some of the other, small, hidden gems in Denver, including Grandma’s House (which has the BEST interior of any brewery ever), Baere, Banded Oak, and Mockery. That “tour” gives them a little taste of the variety, both beer and atmosphere, that the Denver beer scene offers. A new addition would be Waldschanke Cidery, which is just 4 blocks from our own brewery. Good people churning out good, tasty ciders! In keeping with the liquid theme, a stop at the Bear Creek Distillery taproom is a must. Their hand-crafted, often “out of the box” styled cocktails are both unique and delicious. Food-wise, a staple is a seat at Domo Japanese Country Food restaurant. Cozy in the winter, and downright gorgeous in the summer. And yes, their food is as top shelf and authentic as it gets. No stop to Denver is complete without a swing through Illegal Pete’s, an institution if you’re a CU-Boulder alumni like myself. And for fun, a swing through Union Station and their offerings, is always a unique experience. For places to visit, a must-stop is Red Rocks, even if there is not a show, it’s spectacular to see. Santa Fe Arts District First Fridays have always been so fun in the past, especially their Day of the Dead celebration. I also enjoy the bike-ability of Denver and often have guests hop on their own steed as we tool around town, along the Cherry Creek Path or the Platte River to fun little art pieces or parks. I have lived in Colorado since 1996 so there are still some hidden gems I keep to myself 🙂
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
As you may imagine, there are so many people to thank for their support and encouragement throughout the whole process of starting, and ultimately maintaining, a business. Factotum Brewhouse would’ve never gotten off the conceptual paper napkin business plan if it wasn’t for Denver’s SBDC Leading Edge class. The result of that class was a comprehensive and thorough business plan, which paved the way. Of course, our parents, spouses, families and friends have been instrumental in our success in every way imaginable. Outside of the obvious though, it’s been therapeutic for me to connect with other women owned breweries and businesses. We face a unique set of challenges that is not always present in other situations. Their insight and support has given me a lot of confidence in some of the business decisions I have made. Lastly, all our community of patrons. We’ve had so many turn from customer to friend. Every time they show us love on social media or recommend our space to a friend…That is invaluable.
Website: www.factotumbrewhouse.com
Instagram: @factotum_brewhouse
Facebook: @FactotumBrewhouse
Image Credits
Samantha Hines Photography Georgina Ford Photography