In a town with no shortage of craft beer credentials, opening a new brewery in Boulder requires more than great beer. It requires a point of view.
That is precisely what co-owners Dean Eberhardt and Michael Memsic set out to create with Pattern Break Brewing, the new venture occupying the former Sanitas Brewing space. While Boulder’s brewing scene has long been one of the most respected in the country, Eberhardt saw an opportunity to challenge some of the assumptions that have quietly settled into the industry over the past decade.
The brewery’s name is a deliberate statement. “I think craft beer became more conservative over the last decade,” Eberhardt says. “Everyone got really good at repeating proven formulas, but somewhere along the way much of the curiosity, surprise, and fun disappeared.”
For Eberhardt, whose entrepreneurial background includes co-founding the innovative non-alcoholic beverage company Hoplark, Pattern Break is an attempt to bring that spirit of experimentation back to brewing. The goal is not to abandon tradition but to pair world-class execution with a willingness to take creative risks.
That philosophy is visible throughout the brewery’s beer program. Traditional styles, including pilsners, lagers, pale ales, and IPAs, form the foundation. But alongside them sits the brewery’s aptly named Mischief menu, a rotating collection of experimental offerings that serve as a laboratory for new ideas, including a Horchata Lager and a Negroni IPA.
“We’re willing to make beers that are polarizing,” Eberhardt says. “Not because we want shock value, but because exploration is inherently messy. If every beer appeals equally to everyone, you’re probably not taking enough real creative swings.” The approach reflects a broader belief that consumers are more adventurous than many breweries assume. That willingness to explore beyond established boundaries extends well beyond the beer itself.
One of Pattern Break’s most distinctive features is its robust low-alcohol and non-alcoholic beverage program. While many breweries offer a token alternative for non-drinkers, Pattern Break has made inclusivity a central part of its identity from day one.
“A lot of people want a more balanced relationship with alcohol, but they still want flavor, ritual, atmosphere, and connection,” Eberhardt says. “Most places still compromise heavily on that experience. We didn’t want to.” The result is a beverage menu designed to meet guests wherever they are, whether they want a full-strength IPA, a lower-alcohol beer, a sophisticated non-alcoholic option, or simply a great meal with friends.
Eberhardt believes the future of breweries depends as much on the experience surrounding the beer as the beer itself. “You can build the coolest space in the world, but if the beer is forgettable, people won’t come back,” he says. “On the other hand, you can make incredible beer, but if the environment feels cold, transactional, or generic, people won’t stay.”
Every aspect of Pattern Break reflects that thinking. The team invested heavily not only in brewing innovation but also in creating an atmosphere that encourages people to settle in and stay awhile. The expansive patio, formerly established by Sanitas Brewing, remains one of the most inviting outdoor gathering spaces in Boulder, while an elevated food program and thoughtfully designed interior help create an environment that feels equally welcoming to beer enthusiasts, families, cyclists, remote workers, and first-time visitors.
“The feeling we hope people have is honestly pretty simple: I want to stay,” Eberhardt says. It is a deceptively simple objective, but one that speaks to a larger vision. Five years from now, Eberhardt hopes Pattern Break will have contributed to a broader resurgence in Boulder’s beer culture. “Boulder should absolutely be one of the most exciting beer cities in the country,” he says. “The talent, creativity, outdoor culture, food culture, and adventurous consumer base are all here.”
Ultimately, Pattern Break is less interested in chasing trends than redefining what a brewery can be. It is a place where world-class beer coexists with experimentation, where non-drinkers are as welcome as hop aficionados, and where hospitality is taken as seriously as brewing. In a city known for innovation, that may be the most Boulder idea of all.
To learn more, visit PatternBreakBrewing.com.