Walking into the high-ceilinged dining room along Pueblo’s Historic Arkansas Riverwalk, heavy iron grillwork and industrial concrete columns give away the building’s previous life.
Before craft beer taps and scratch pizza ovens lined the floor, this site operated as Pueblo’s municipal police station and holding facility.
Rather than tearing down the blighted structure, founder Tony Garcia spent two years repurposing its jail cells and interrogation rooms into a multi-level brewery, bakery, and live music venue that has redefined the city’s riverfront dining scene.
Quick Bite – Brues Alehouse, Pueblo, CO 🍺
Opening in 2015, the brewpub set out to build a comprehensive hospitality experience under one roof.
Garcia kept original police department jail bars and heavy structural doors, weaving them directly into the brewery’s interior design and bar seating.
The kitchen bakes its own breads and pretzels daily while the brewhouse cranks out traditional European lagers and hop-forward IPAs.
That creative adaptive-reuse project earned high praise from regional travel writers and local reader polls for best brewery, best patio, and best music venue. Operating independently on the Riverwalk, the establishment remains a proud mom and pops and hole in the wall success story.
The Local Atmosphere – Brues Alehouse, Pueblo, CO 🎵
Overlooking the river, the multi-story complex includes a main dining hall, an upstairs bakery and espresso bar, and a rooftop beer garden.
Downtown Pueblo workers and residents from nearby Mesa Junction, Aberdeen, and Belmont fill the patio tables on sunny afternoons.
The flow of the venue is energetic and open: grab a house-brewed lager at the main bar, order a round of scratch-made burgers for the table, and catch live music on the riverside concert stage as boats pass along the water.
Signature Bites – Brues Alehouse, Pueblo, CO 😋
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Brues Alehouse Burger: A smash patty topped with caramelized onions, bacon, fresh arugula, aged white cheddar, and lemon garlic aioli on a brioche bun.
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German-Style Pretzel Sticks: Soft, house-baked pretzel spears served warm alongside house beer cheese and spicy mustard.
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Pueblo Slopper Burger: An open-faced burger patty smothered in melted cheddar cheese and spicy local Pueblo green chile.
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Bacon Chile Cheddar Burger: A seared beef patty topped with aged cheddar, crispy bacon, and roasted Big Jim green chiles.
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Probation Cream Ale: A smooth, light-bodied house ale brewed on-site and served fresh on tap.
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House-Smoked Wings: Jumbo chicken wings slow-smoked over hardwood, tossed in house barbecue or buffalo sauce.
Takeaway Bite – Brues Alehouse, Pueblo, CO 😎
Drinking a fresh lager inside a converted police station jail block is an experience unique to Southern Colorado.
Tony Garcia’s vision turned an abandoned municipal building into a vibrant community gathering hub that balances historic preservation with great beer and live entertainment.
📍: 120 Riverwalk Pl, Pueblo, CO 81003
🕒: Mon-Thu: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Fri-Sat: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM; Sun: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM