Check Out the Newest Sips Around Castle Rock

Jeff Adkins

Castle Rock’s drinking and dining scene is already enticing, and it just keeps gett ing more appealing with new coffee shops, breweries and restaurants joining the delicious fray on the regular. Here are two recently opened and expanded spots that are bringing their own distinctive approach to Castle Rock’s thirsty residents.

Coffee Klatch

For Sarah Haymon, launching Oo-de-Lally Coffee was the fulfillment of a childhood fantasy.

“I have always had a dream to open a coffee shop since I was little,” says Haymon, who grew up in Alaska and moved to Castle Rock in 2013. “We used to go to this little place in Anchorage called the Perfect Cup, and I remember thinking, ‘I’m going to open a coffee shop one day!’”

In September 2020, Haymon started selling steaming hot joe from a “coffee cabin” – a compact, 8-by-16-foot trailer parked in the Crystal Valley Ranch neighborhood on the south edge of the city. Three years later, the cabin was retired when the outfit moved into a newly built, expansive 1,700-square-foot cafe nearby.

The menu grew as well, offering not only beverages but also bites. The “big shop,” as Haymon describes it, has a full food and pastry menu along with coffee.

Jeff Adkins

“We also have a drive-thru and rooftop patio seating overlooking the mountains,” she says. And just last spring, Haymon expanded with a drinks-only location downtown inside The Emporium shopping and dining destination, where customers can browse goods from over 60 local businesses while they sip on one of Oo-de-Lally’s signature seasonal drinks.

Of the shop’s unusual name, Haymon says, “‘Oo-de-Lally’ means ‘yippee’ or ‘hooray,’ and I thought that was super cute. I think we all think hooray when we get a cup of coffee, so it just fits.”

She channels that enthusiasm into decadent flavor combos: “I’m known for my seasonal and holiday drink menu, which is over the top,” Haymon says. She also extends her maximalist flavor aesthetic into decor, aiming for an “over-the-top decorated, Jesus-loving coffee shop” vibe.

With practically every inch of space adorned with flowers, flags, throw pillows and seasonal decorations, Oo-de-Lally certainly hits the mark.

Brew Boss

Alidade Brewing, which launched in June 2025, was founded by Bo Bontrager, Evan Chamberlain and Derek Waner, all of whom have trickled into Colorado over the past 17 years, says general manager Bontrager. Head brewer Waner brings over a decade of experience, earning praise from Bontrager for his range and technical brewing ability. This expertise, combined with Chief Operating Officer Chamberlain’s background in developing and producing a wide variety of beverages – from IPAs to nonalcoholic and ready-to-drink options – ensures Alidade is uniquely positioned as a well-rounded community space in the city.

“Alidade Brewing is a fresh take on what a local brewery can be, intently focused on quality and customer service,” Bontrager says.

Courtesy of Alidade Brewing

That sense of purpose is reflected in the operation’s moniker: An alidade is a navigational tool used in astronomy, navigation and surveying. The symbol of intention, focus and forward momentum is a reminder to the trio of how to show up in brewing, customer interactions and forming community connections, Bontrager says.

To that end, the spot has taken a slightly unusual approach to serving its customers. The taproom pours its own creations, naturally, but after four months of operations, it hasn’t brought any beer to tap more than once, preferring to push the envelope with constantly evolving new brews. The result is an eclectic list that may include Belgian witbier, Baltic porter, pumpkin ale or cream
ale – or none of the above.

The brewery also serves wine, housemade cocktails, hard cider and seltzer, and nonalcoholic beers.

And unlike many craft breweries, Alidade provides table service. Add to that a game room and dog-friendly patio, and it’s hard to imagine why you’d go anywhere else for a drink.

What’s Brewing

Oo-de-Lally Coffee: If you hit up Oo-de-Lally, bring your sweet tooth! According to owner Sarah Haymon, the Maple Bar (a white chocolate mocha with maple syrup) and Red Rock Latte (a vanilla latte with a caramel drizzle) are top sellers, but her personal favorite is Nannie’s London Fog Latte, which is a cozy concoction of Earl Grey tea, honey and steamed milk. “I named it after my mother, who is from England,” she says.

Alidade Brewing: For Bo Bontrager, choosing a favorite beer at Alidade Brewing isn’t easy. There are simply too many to list, he says. Couple the wide range of styles the brewery turns out (light lagers, sours, wheat beers, porters, stouts, West Coast and hazy IPAs, and of course seasonal and festival beers) with the fact that the taproom has yet to serve more than one batch of a single recipe, and the task becomes near impossible. But he does point out a wildly popular brew: Fairways and Greens, an Arnold Palmer-inspired wheat beer with black tea and lemon. The moral of the story? If you see a good beer on tap, seize the day (and the pint glass)!