When Tivoli Tap House closed its doors in December 2024, there were whispers of Auraria becoming a dry campus altogether. With no other bars in the immediate area, students and staff were left to wander the nearby 14th and Market block for a beer. Places like the Celtic or Rhein Haus are the typical haunts for CU affiliated events, hosting after-hours events for students and professors alike. Quad Side Tavern is the new addition to campus, pairing the long legacy of restaurants and bars homed in the original brew house with a modern twist to appeal to the current pool of customers on Auraria’s campus.
The space, located on the Tivoli building’s east side, was originally home to the brewing operations of the Tivoli Brewing Company from its establishment in 1870. The building itself has a long and varied history, temporarily shutting down in the 1960s after severe flooding and a worker’s strike. Even so, the space has persisted, cementing its legacy as a community gathering place through the decades.
The most recent change to the space comes from a brand-new face in the game. Peak Beverages, founded by Andy Klosterman in 2023, started a lease in the brew house in early 2025. According to Peak Beverages, the plan is to revitalize the space while paying homage to the roots of the original tap houses.
“From day one, we’ve taken great care to honor the history of this landmark space,” said Addison Turner, Quad Side Tavern’s marketing representative “The design and décor highlight its original character, ensuring Quad Side Tavern feels like a natural continuation of the site’s legacy rather than a replacement of it.”
According to Turner, the menu and beverage items were carefully crafted with direct input from students following a pop-up bar in spring. The event offered various cocktails and other drinks with the potential to offer feedback for the official menu released this semester.
“We’ve built Quad Side with the Auraria community in mind—from affordable menu pricing and student-friendly happy hour specials to comfortable seating and inclusive options,” Turner said in an email; “Our menu focuses on cozy comfort food like Colorado Green Chile and a lineup of smash burgers, along with plenty of gluten-free and vegetarian options so everyone can find something they love.”
The ethos of Peak Beverage focuses on curating elevated hospitality settings while keeping prices affordable and relevant to the students and locals who will be enjoying the space.
“Our goal was to create a place that can be versatile and fluctuate with the campus and its needs,” Turner said. “This space has always needed to be many things to many people— at times a cozy space where students can connect, a celebratory space when you are done with a test, or a cohesive event-activated space joining forces with events on the Quad.”
Peak Beverages reiterated the importance of catering to the specific energy of a student union as opposed to a traditional store front. Whether it be a snack between classes or a drink before a game at Ball Arena, Quad Side Tavern aims to cater to all the unique needs of the community at Auraria and Denver.
The ribbon-cutting for Quad Side Tavern is scheduled for the afternoon of Oct. 15th and will be followed by an all-day open house. Find their Instagram here for updates.
