Kristin and Jeff Lockhart spent untold hours cruising Colorado Springs in search of the perfect location for their startup craft brewery, in arguably imperfect craft brewing times.

The spot they ultimately settled on for Armillary Brewing Co., in the end cap of a three-unit shopping plaza off Austin Bluffs Parkway, felt like it was located in a “beer desert” that could use the pub boost, Kristen said.

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A cool building with a peaked roof that bucked the stereotypical plaza vibe, and a back-of-house bearing upgrades made by previous restaurant-minded tenants, sealed the deal.

“It’s not going to be large, but it will be very open,” she said.

A retired elementary school teacher, Kristin joins her husband — award-winning Springs brewer Jeff Lockhart — in the labor of love and longtime shared dream. The couple is currently ushering the project through permitting hurdles, ahead of a planned renovation that will transform the former coffee shop into “our little mom-and-pop brewery.”

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“Jeff has always wanted to be his own boss and do his own thing in his brewery, and I’ve always thought it would be fun to do it at well … and here we are,” Kristin said in July.

The Lockharts are well aware of the challenging tides into which they wade, at the cross-currents of chaotic economic times and shifting generational tastes, spending and social habits. So far in 2025, the Springs has bid a fond farewell to Metric Brewing Co., which closed in June, and to downtown’s Brass Brewing Co., which closed later that same month after selling to Gunslinger Brewing Co., whose grand opening is imminent. Meanwhile, two other well-established and celebrated local brewing operations, Cogstone and Cerberus brewing companies, are on the market but still pouring at their respective locations in the city.

“I go swinging from excitement to absolute terror …. but mostly we’re excited, and we’re excited that we’re progressing,” Kristin said.

When it opens, Armillary will serve a range of beer styles focusing on “simple, basic, but really good” recipes, she said. Food-wise, a small pizza kitchen will turn out pies made in-house. 

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Attention to details will be key at the couple’s brewery, which takes its name from the globe-like model depicting celestial elements and movement.

“We’re kind of fussy about seating,” Kristin said. “That’s always one of our things when we visit a place. Are the seats comfortable?”

Patrons won’t be able to put Armillary’s chairs to the test for at least a few more months. But keep an eye on the brewery’s social media for updates, and — if the stars and planets perfectly align — a grand opening off Old Farm Drive this fall.