Sometimes, despite your best-laid travel plans, the airport finds a way to wreck your day. Maybe it’s a missed connection, a delayed flight, or the slow-moving security line that felt like it would never end. Whatever the reason, there’s one near-universal fix: finding a great beer and letting the stress melt away.
That’s exactly the experience Capital One set out to create when it partnered with Denver’s Cervecería Colorado to brew the perfect airport beer for its Denver lounge — a crisp, flavorful IPA that feels like a small victory in the middle of travel chaos. Or at least it did to me, after a particularly harrowing travel experience.
When Capital One started imagining the perfect beer for its airport lounges, it didn’t turn to a giant brewery. Instead, it tapped smaller, local breweries local to the airports where its lounges are located. So you’ll get one beer at its Denver lounge and something entirely different Dallas and DC.
For Nick Swingler, sales manager for both Cervecería Colorado and Denver Beer Co., the opportunity was humbling. “When Capital One first approached us, we were obviously kind of humbled and like, wait, why are they reaching out to us? Like we’re a small little niche craft brewery in Denver,” he tells me over Zoom. But the team didn’t hesitate. They dove into the challenge with enthusiasm.
Building the Perfect Airport Beer
Early brainstorming sessions showed just how subjective the idea of a “perfect airport beer” could be.
“Immediately I was like, oh, I would think a high ABV Double IPA,” Swingler said.
Meanwhile, others on the team pushed for something lighter and more sessionable — something you could drink more than one of without missing your flight.
“The actual perfect airport beer is a beer that you sit down, you have one, be like, ‘Oh, that went down really, really easily.’ It was flavorful but approachable. I’m gonna have one more and then forget that you are almost about ready to board and nearly miss your flight,” he explained.
After multiple tasting rounds, the brewery landed on a beer that felt like a true representation of Colorado itself — an IPA that blended old-school piney West Coast hops with new-school tropical fruit notes.
“We wanted something kind of West Coast meets East Coast, you meet in the middle and that’s Colorado,” Swingler said. “So we ended up deciding to do kind of the best of both worlds.”
The final recipe used traditional hops like Cascade paired with modern hops for bright citrus and tropical flavors.
“The most interesting ingredient we’re using is the cryo mosaic from Loza Hop Farms,” Swingler said. Located at the south end of Washington’s Yakima Valley, Loza is the only Latino-owned hop farm in the country — a partnership that fit perfectly with Cerveza Colorado’s inclusive ethos.
Not Just a Beer, but a Story
Cervecería Colorado’s roots make it a fitting partner for Capital One’s vision.
The brewery was originally the brainchild of late head brewer Jason Buehler, who drew inspiration from Mexico’s craft beer culture after traveling to Cupa de la Cerveza, the Mexican equivalent of the Great American Beer Festival. His idea: combine American craft brewing techniques with the flavors, culture, and hospitality of Mexico.
Even after Buehler’s tragic death in 2020, Cerveza Colorado and Denver Beer Co. have continued to honor his legacy — supporting his family and staying true to the spirit he envisioned.
“He was such an inspiration, and we want to make sure that his wife and his kids are still looked after and part of the Denver Beer Co. slash Cerveza Colorado family,” Swingler said.
One of the unique appeals of the Capital One lounge beer? You can’t get it just anywhere.
Currently, Cervecería Colorado produces around 5,000 barrels annually, all within the state.
“Turns out people like to imbibe well at the Capital One lounge,” Swingler laughed. “So that has been a nice little bit of wind in our sails, so to speak.”
Looking Ahead
Beyond the lounge IPA, Cervecería Colorado continues to experiment. The taproom typically offers 10 to 12 beers on tap, including three year-round offerings:
- Venga, a Mexican lager and the brewery’s flagship beer,
- Salted Lime Lager, brewed with key lime and sea salt,
- Señor Piña, a bright and refreshing pineapple blonde.
The team also hosts the Great Mexican Beer Fiesta each year during the Great American Beer Festival (GABF), celebrating Mexican craft brewing with street vendors, lucha libre wrestling, and collaborative beers brewed with partners from Mexico and Central and South America.
“It’s literally just a giant celebration of Mexican culture. It is one of the coolest, if not the best, events in town that entire week,” Swingler said.
And with the success of the Capital One lounge beer, there’s talk of even bigger ideas — like collaborations between the breweries creating the different Capital One “perfect airport beers” across the country.
“It would be really, really fun,” Swingler said.
Until then, travelers passing through Denver International Airport can get a true taste of Colorado — pine, citrus, and all — one easy-drinking IPA at a time.