Broken Compass – 10 years of Brewing Up Beer & Family in Breckenridge
Broken Compass Achieves a Journey of Growth in Breckenridge
by Shauna Farnell
Broken Compass Brewing’s founder and owner can’t believe a whole decade has already passed. Reflecting on all that’s transpired since launching his brewery on Airport Road in May 2014, Jason Ford names highlights like winning medals, concocting experimental masterpieces during One Off Wednesdays, parties, potlucks and live music, opening a second taproom location on Main Street. His proudest achievement, however, is the brewery’s unique niche in Breckenridge.
“The best part by far is the community,” he says. “I think we’re part of the culture here. Being part of something that big is awesome.”
Formerly a chemical engineer, Ford began dabbling in homebrewing about 15 years ago after becoming bored in a management position.
“I needed to create,” he says. “That’s what made me open a brewery.”
The journey was not forged alone. Ford credits “the incredible group of friends and family who invested in the dream and who have been there since day one.” Ford’s wife, Jo, has backed him from the beginning and is the mastermind behind one of Broken Compass’ benchmark brews, the Coconut Porter, created in the couple’s homebrewing days and, along with another mainstay, the Ginger Pale Ale, winner of multiple awards at the Great American Beer Festival.
When the Fords opened Broken Compass, it was Summit County’s first new brewery in about 16 years. It quickly became a local’s hub, hosting weekly trivia, holiday potlucks and partnering with nonprofits for fundraising events, delivering live music on weekends and establishing itself as an anytime destination for adventurers stopping in after a bike ride or a ski day to chat over a pint and/or shoot some pinball.
After opening, the next wave of local craft breweries – Outer Range, Angry James and Highside – was soon to follow.
“It’s one of my favorite things about this industry. All everyone wants to do is make great beer and here in Summit County, it means supporting each other and helping each other out. It’s super refreshing and fun,” Ford says. “One of our mantras is small and crafty. Stay small and keep the level high. There’s over 400 breweries in Colorado. Staying small and crafty is what we want to do, do the best we can here in Breckenridge.”
Ford is also proud of the relationships he’s maintained with his staff. A few have been with him since the beginning and most who left did so to open their own businesses and breweries.
“If you take care of your employees, they’ll take care of you,” he says. “It blows my mind that it’s been 10 years already. What an amazing thing to be an integral part of an amazing place, surrounded by amazing people. We’re surrounded by people on vacation and all the locals who just want to live life and kick ass. We’re always surrounded by people that just want to have fun. We’re pretty lucky.”
Get lost at one of their two locations:
Broken Compass Brewery and Taproom – 68 Continental Ct. Unit B-12
Broken Compass Main St. – 520 S. Main St.
Open every day 11 AM-close
As Seen in Breckenridge Magazine and the Dine Local Guide – Colorado Mountain Towns
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