Each beer has a story. And we want to tell it.
The Jailhouse is a boutique craft beer & wine bar in the historic town jail in Buena Vista, Colorado.
At The Jailhouse, we focus on the experience of tasting beer. We only purchase kegs from small, independently owned producers, and we’re especially passionate about specialty or hard-to-find offerings. We regularly travel around the state to acquire kegs from breweries.
With 10 taps, we focus on quality over quantity, featuring an ever-rotating selection of specialty beers from independently owned breweries across Colorado, the US, and abroad.
Our knowledgeable staff is eager to guide you through our draught list and tell the story of grain to glass. In the end, we hope to teach you about what’s in your glass and leave your palate a little better than when you walked in.
The Space.
In the late 1880s the town of Buena Vista converted the stables on East Main Street into a temporary jail as the town prepared to form Chaffee County with neighboring Salida. Now, almost 150 years later, the Jailhouse seems pretty comfortable in its new role as the local watering hole for craft beer lovers.
Inside the bar, the wild west roots are evident. Cool stone walls of the original structure are balanced perfectly by warm lighting and a cheerful, cozy atmosphere. Share a high top table with your crew or tuck into a corner with a book or a bit of work, both of which pair perfectly with a beer or a glass of wine.
Outside, we have ample covered and uncovered patio space so you can spread out after your ride, hike, or day on the river. On chilly mountain evenings, we’ll light up the fire tables so you can enjoy the campfire vibes with friends, good beer, and some bar snacks.
The Jailhouse offers a relaxed pub atmosphere and a love of good beer in the heart of the Arkansas Headwaters and Sawatch Range. We encourage our patrons to explore the endless outdoor pursuits of our area—biking, fishing, hiking, rafting, skiing—then join us for a cold one on Buena Vista’s historic Main Street.
Our Story
The Jailhouse is a family-owned and operated business. Sarah and Shane Stewart have been in the beer industry for nearly a decade, working for various breweries and publications before landing at Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project in Denver, where they met. After realizing both a mutual love of quality beer and love for the outdoors, the pair made the move to Buena Vista in 2015. Following stints with local breweries, Elevation Beer Co. and Eddyline Brewery, Sarah and Shane started their next adventure with The Jailhouse.