Another one of Colorado’s legacy craft beer makers has sold to the rapidly growing beverage conglomerate Wilding Brands.
On Thursday, Wilding announced it has acquired Boulder-based Upslope Brewing Co. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
Opened in 2008 by Matt Cutter, Henry Wood and Dany Page, Upslope is one of the state’s largest craft breweries and arguably one of the most successful retail brands. Drinkers can find cans of its Citra Pale Ale and Craft Lager at virtually any liquor store, and it’s also a major player in the hard seltzer space with its Spiked Snow Melt.
The acquisition moves production of all of Upslope’s beverages to Wilding’s so-called “Canworks” brewing facility in Denver’s Sunnyside neighborhood, according to a statement. That includes the brewery’s newer innovations like alcoholic yerba mate, and “hop boosted” IPAs that feature a bittering widget in the can, as well as its non-alcoholic beers.
Upslope’s three taprooms – two in Boulder and one in Silverthorne – will remain open, though they are not part of the Wilding deal and will “remain under the management of the previous owner/operator,” the announcement says.
“Seventeen years in, you want to know the brand you built will keep thriving with people who care as much as you do,” Cutter, Upslope’s founder and president, said in a statement. “Eric (Foster) and the Wilding team share that same passion for quality and community, and we really appreciate their vision for the future and their plan to keep evolving Colorado’s craft beverage industry. I’m also glad our taprooms will continue to be part of that story.”
Wilding Brands is a new company that formed in early 2025 through the merger of local beverage makers Stem Ciders, Denver Beer Co. and Funkwerks brewery. Its portfolio includes the founding companies plus Howdy Beer, Easy Living sparkling hop water, ¡Venga! Mexican lager and Formation Brewing, a new concept in Phoenix.
Throughout the year, Wilding has been consistently growing its footprint on the Front Range by acquiring local beer makers. In April, it purchased Great Divide Brewing Co., followed by Station 26 Brewing Co. in June.
Now, with Upslope under its umbrella, Wilding expects to produce more than 80,000 barrels of beer, cider and other beverages per year. For context, Odell Brewing Co. in Fort Collins brewed 98,212 barrels in 2024, according to the Brewers Association.
“Since day one, our goal with Wilding has been to create an incredible family of Colorado craft beverage companies that retain their individuality and the quality beverages and experiences that made them who they are, all backed by our team – among the most talented professionals in the industry,” Eric Foster, Wilding’s CEO and co-founder of Stem Ciders, said in a statement. “Upslope is a perfect fit.”