Discovering Longmont Breweries: Collision Brewing Company

This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

We sat down with the Blythes and friends to talk about the newest addition to the Longmont brewing scene, Collision Brewing Company. Collision is a brewpub owned by the Blythes that caters to a variety of appetites, beer connoisseurs and of course, family. It’s located near Sandstone Ranch off 119 at 1436 Skyway Drive and provides uninterrupted views of the mountains from an expansive patio.

Collision Brewing Company is a four-and-a-half-year project started by the Blythe family whose father, Kent Blythe, also owns Nicolo’s Pizzeria in town. Truly a family business, it's owned and operated by dad, Kent Blythe, and his sons, Eric and Jason, with their wives, Rachel and Kim. Mathew Hemphill manages the bar and creates the drink menu, while Tom Grimmond runs the kitchen and designs the plates. Kent’s youngest son, Tobin, is a Longmont firefighter and diligently checks food and drink quality.

Kent Blythe reflects, “It was bigger than what we started out with, or what we had planned for.”

Collision is designed like a retro filling station, complete with vintage-inspired gas pumps out front. Inside is a racing themed restaurant with a full bar and complementing murals commissioned from local artist Gamma Acosta. The outdoor space is generous, as Jason described, “We wanted to have a little bit of something for everybody [. . .] The outdoor area we designed is just a great hang out area to go sit and watch the sunset by the fire pit.” Their architect worked from a photo of a gas station and the idea grew from there. Like the menu, much of the design and construction of Collision Brewing Company was locally sourced.

They offer vegetarian and vegan fare like the Impossible Burger and black bean burgers, and most of their carnivorous options are locally sourced, which is very important to the family. Eric Blythe explains, “We use local beef companies, they’re family owned, family operated. They take our spent grains and feed them to the pigs over there.” In addition to what they brew in-house, Collision has a variety of taps featuring local breweries. The cocktail menu caters to whatever you may seek, as any well-stocked bar would.

On tap are many craft beer options, including those they brew themselves. First Gear is a tropical pale ale that complements any meal at 5.5% ABV. The Pony Porter is a roasty, chocolaty, light-bodied porter that lives up to its style. Red Rambler is a Belgian red ale, balancing tropical notes with hops, and is one of the brewmasters’, Jason Blythe, favorites. They also brew an IPA called Road Rash, a German style prost, Screwed Weizen, a Crusin’ Cranberry Saison, and have much more to come. Jason stays true to himself and brews what he likes and continues to experiment with different styles.

Collision Brewing Company is a venue that lends itself well to events and activities and the Blythes are looking to take full advantage of that as they grow. There are few places that really epitomize family atmosphere and Collision is certainly one of them. In the short time we spent with them, it is clear how running a brewpub with family isn’t a chore, but an opportunity to spend time with the ones you love. The location alone is reason enough to visit, but the fresh, local food and a bar stocked with a full selection of beverages and house-brewed beer makes Collision a must-see in Longmont.

Cheers,

Tim Porter