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It's an early morning when Eric Serani, cofounder and president of FlyteCo Tower—a Denver-based brewery and bar—sends a frustrating update: the clouds just won't clear. He'd planned to fly his four-seater RV-10 from Denver to Billy Goat Hop Farm in Montrose, Colorado, to pick up fresh hops, a tradition the brewery has upheld since opening in 2019. This annual trip usually happens in mid to late August and is something beer writers and aviation enthusiasts alike look forward to. But weather often plays spoilsport, postponing flights multiple times and underscoring how unpredictable and uncontrollable this whole fresh hop beer endeavor really is. Serani emphasizes the last-minute nature of it all, with the hop harvest timing uncertain until just weeks ahead and weather conditions only becoming clear on the day of the flight. Coordination with the FlyteCo brewing team is constant, ensuring the beer is ready to have the hops incorporated immediately upon return. Every successful flight and resulting beer is nothing short of a miracle.
FlyteCo’s Fresh Hop IPA is no easy feat to create, especially in an age dominated by hop pellets and extracts. Flying over the Rocky Mountains to fetch hops fresh from the farm might not exactly be the most efficient route, but it’s deeply ingrained in the FlyteCo brand ethos. Aviation is the heart of their identity, inspiring folks to push boundaries and attempt the improbable. Serani reflects on his own tough journey to earning his pilot’s license and how a supportive community helped him through. He aims to extend that spirit of encouragement to others, while also keeping his flying skills sharp and bonding with fellow pilots. This unique intersection of flight and brewing builds a tight-knit community united by a common mission—and, of course, the reward of a great beer.
On a rainy Wednesday, a much smaller group than usual gathers at Erie Municipal Airport for what turns out to be a grounded day. Among them is Serani’s dad, Scott, who shares stories and memorabilia that reveal a deep, multigenerational passion for aviation within their family. Eric’s flying roots run deep: his grandfather took him up for the first time at age three in a 1946 kit plane, and later, when Eric was 13, a flight instructor friend began teaching him seriously. He soloed at 16—the earliest age legally allowed—and got his full license at 17. Tragically, between those milestones, his grandfather passed away. The local Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) chapter rallied to support Serani, providing scholarships to help him advance his training. Ever since, Serani has paid it forward by joining the EAA’s Young Eagles program, introducing kids to flying and sparking their own passions for aviation.
FlyteCo’s Denver location connects deeply to both Serani’s personal history and the broader history of aviation in the region. Denver International Airport is now one of the world’s busiest, but aviation in the area dates back to the early 20th century, with milestones like Louis Paulhan’s first flight over the Mile High City in 1910. Nearby Aurora was home to the Stanley Aviation Manufacturing Plant, famed for innovations in airline ejection seats. Against this backdrop, Serani pursued his aerospace engineering studies at the University of Colorado Boulder alongside FlyteCo cofounder Jason Slingsby, who has a chemical engineering and aviation background. After working for Boeing and homebrewing as a hobby, Serani and Slingsby were encouraged by friends and investors to open a brewery. FlyteCo’s first location opened in February 2019 with a 15-barrel brewhouse, and a second location followed in 2020, all embodying their passion for flight and craft beer.
