Denver’s Ratio Beerworks closed out its strongest year yet, but the story goes deeper than “statewide distribution equals growth.” Executive Editor Jon Sicotte sits down with co-founder Jason zumBrunnen to unpack what actually drove Ratio’s 2025 performance, including 25% growth in packaged beer, expanding draft presence, and the rise of Cityscapes, the brewery’s approachable Mexican-style lager that’s now anchoring growth across Colorado. We also dig into the other side of the portfolio: King of Carrot Flowers, the GABF Gold Medal–winning carrot and elderflower Saison. We share about why saisons remain beloved by brewers but elusive to many mainstream drinkers. Using two very different beers as lenses, the conversation explores what statewide distribution really changes … and what it doesn’t; whether nuanced styles like Saisons can scale beyond taprooms and how culture, community, and arts partnerships factor into long-term brand equity.
