Ratio Beerworks has received the RiNo Art District’s inaugural Creative Business Award, a new honor recognizing companies that invest in Denver’s creative economy. The district presented the award during Art RiNo’s 20th anniversary celebration on Nov. 8. Big congrats! From the press release:
“We know that supporting and collaborating with local musicians and artists helps make Denver a place we love to spend time,” said Jason zumBrunnen, co-founder of Ratio Beerworks. “RiNo shaped who we are. We want to keep it a place that keeps people coming out and doing the things they love.”
The Creative Business Award highlights organizations that show long-term commitment to Colorado artists, musicians, venues and cultural groups. Ratio earned the distinction after a decade of community support through its Ratio Core program. The brewery donates at least 3% of its annual beer production to nonprofits that serve the state’s arts and music communities. The award also included a custom trophy designed by Tracey Weil, co-founder of the RiNo Art District. Weil received the district’s Lifetime Achievement Award during the same event.
What the Creative Business Award recognizes
The RiNo Art District created the Creative Business Award to highlight companies that strengthen the neighborhood’s cultural ecosystem. The organization wanted an annual recognition for businesses that invest time, resources and programming into the arts. Ratio stood out because it built community giving into its operations from day one. The brewery supports a wide range of partners, including arts districts, local venues, musicians and visual artists. Its beer donations help fund shows, festivals, fundraisers and education programs. The district noted Ratio’s consistency, reach and decade-long track record. From the press release:
“Beer is community,” said Scott Kaplan, Ratio Beerworks co-founder. “It’s our way of connecting people to what they love–music, art, comedy. When you visit RiNo or order a Ratio beer anywhere in Colorado, you’re supporting the ecosystem that keeps the city creative.”
Ratio’s role in the RiNo community
Ratio opened in 2015 on Larimer Street in the heart of the RiNo Art District. The brewery quickly embedded itself in the neighborhood’s creative identity. The founders came from Denver’s punk and DIY music scene and built a space where beer, culture and collaboration intersect. As the district transformed from an industrial corridor into a national arts destination, Ratio contributed to that momentum. It hosted events, supported local organizations and embraced the creative community that shaped it. Those efforts helped establish the brewery as a cultural fixture in RiNo.
Expansion across Denver and Colorado
Ratio expanded its footprint in 2022 with a second taproom and production facility in Denver’s Overland neighborhood. The move increased its capacity and widened its community programming. In 2024, the brewery reached statewide distribution, allowing its beers to appear in more retail accounts across Colorado. Despite the growth, Ratio continues to prioritize the Ratio Core program. The brewery aims to extend support to creative partners outside Denver and build long-term relationships across the state.
Background on Ratio Beerworks
Ratio Beerworks traces its origins to the late-1990s punk scene, where its founders learned DIY values that later carried into brewing. After training in Germany and working in Colorado breweries, the team launched Ratio in RiNo in 2015. The brewery focuses on modern interpretations of classic styles. Ratio has earned recognition at major competitions, including gold medals at the Great American Beer Festival and wins at the World Beer Cup. Notable beers include Cityscapes Mexican lager, King of Carrot Flowers carrot elderflower saison, Domestica American golden ale, Dear You French saison and Antidote West Coast IPA.
Ratio now operates two Denver taprooms located in RiNo and Overland. The brewery continues to center its work around beer, music and community — the same values that led to its new recognition from the RiNo Art District. For more information, visit ratiobeerworks.com.
