About us

Cellar West founder & brewer Zach Nichols began his beer journey in 2009 while working at a small bottle shop in his native Madison, Wisconsin, and later took the brewing reins at a small brewpub in the midwest countryside. Here, he learned to craft traditional lager and eccentric Belgian farmhouse ales. In 2012 Zach's wife, Rachael, lead him to the Front Range where he spent several years working in the Colorado brewing industry, including a stint in the world of mead-making. In December of 2016, their longstanding dream of a small, artisanal beer company was brought to life in a little garage space in North Boulder. There, nestled at the base of the foothills, Rachael and Zach founded Cellar West Artisan Ales. After 2 years in Boulder, it was time to add more space for seating and barrels, along with an expanded brewhouse and packaging. An 11 mile move would land Cellar West in nearby Lafayette, Colorado. Opened in 2018, and still our home today.