About
🍴 OPENING SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2026. Reservations are live now via OpenTable. Champagne Velvet Proper Kitchen & Bar is the new Castle Rock restaurant from Upland Brewing Company, replacing I.C. Brewhouse at the same 2355 Mercantile St location after a full remodel. The kitchen leans into an elevated American menu — house-made pâté, pork belly, Prince Edward Island mussels, Champagne Velvet–braised salmon, dry-aged steaks — paired with Upland's flagship Champagne Velvet pilsner, a pre-Prohibition recipe originally created in 1902 by Walter Bruhn at the Terre Haute Brewing Company and revived by Upland in 2013.
The Centennial I.C. Brewhouse closed the same day (Nov 10, 2025) and reopened as Champagne Velvet Tap House & Kitchen at 6460 S Syracuse Way, Centennial on Nov 16, 2025. The Castle Rock location is the second of the two to open.
What To Expect:
- 🍺 Champagne Velvet pilsner on tap (1902 pre-Prohibition recipe)
- 🥩 Entrées including Maple Leaf Duck, Champagne Velvet Braised Salmon, NY Strip Steak Frites, 12 oz T-Bone
- 🍔 1902 Burger, Million Dollar Reuben (CV-braised corned beef), Gorgonzola Burger
- 🥘 Bites: Blue Crab Cakes, Prince Edward Island Mussels, Chicken Liver Pâté, Pork Belly Bites
- 🪑 Refined interior: navy panel walls, Chesterfield-style banquettes, forest-toile wallpaper, curated gallery wall, marble bistro tables
Important Information:
- – Opening date TBD; menu and design have been previewed publicly
- – Operated by Upland Brewing Company (Bloomington, IN — Indiana's craft beer pioneer)
- – Hiring across 7 roles via Paycor as of May 2026
- – Sister concept opening simultaneously in Centennial as Champagne Velvet Tap House & Kitchen
📍 Local Insights
🍺 The Pilsner Has a Patent-Worthy Backstory: Champagne Velvet was first brewed in 1902 by Walter Bruhn, son of German immigrants, at the Terre Haute Brewing Company in Indiana. The recipe was dormant for decades before Upland Brewing revived it in 2013 for the brewery's 15th anniversary. It's the namesake beer of this entire restaurant concept.
🏛️ Same Building, Real Restaurant Operator This Time: The 2355 Mercantile St building was I.C. Brewhouse from opening through November 10, 2025. Per local writer Jenn Zuko (Substack, Nov 17, 2025), the new ownership is "an actual restaurant company, not a builder" — a notable upgrade in operator pedigree.
🥪 The Menu Has Champagne Velvet Built In: The Million Dollar Reuben uses Champagne Velvet–braised corned beef and CV sauce; the Petite Filet is served with CV beer mac and cheese; the salmon is braised in CV. The 1902 Burger nods to the beer's origin year.
🍽️ Centennial Sister Location Already Open: The sister Champagne Velvet Tap House & Kitchen opened at 6460 S Syracuse Way, Centennial on Nov 16, 2025 — six days after the I.C. Brewhouse closure. The Castle Rock Proper Kitchen & Bar is the second of the two to open (date TBD).
⏰ Hours
Opens Sunday, May 17, 2026. Hours will be published after open.
👉 Best For
- •Date nights
- •Group dinners
- •Local craft beer fans
- •Castle Rock residents
Also In
Best Restaurants in Castle Rock →Location
2355 Mercantile St, Castle Rock, CO 80109Review Sentiment
Based on recent Google reviews
"Not yet open — no public reviews. Anticipation is being driven by the rebrand from I.C. Brewhouse, the historic 1902 Champagne Velvet pilsner recipe, and a confirmed menu with mid-priced bites ($11-20), entrées ($25-39), and signature items like the Million Dollar Reuben and 1902 Burger."
What You'll Find
- •Champagne Velvet Pilsner
- •Million Dollar Reuben
- •1902 Burger
- •Champagne Velvet Braised Salmon
- •Maple Leaf Duck
- •NY Strip Steak Frites
- •12 oz T-Bone
- •Petite Filet
- •Brie Burger
- •Gorgonzola Burger
- •Prince Edward Island Mussels
- •Blue Crab Cakes
- •Chicken Liver Pâté
- •Pork Belly Bites
- •Spinach Artichoke Dip
- •Parmesan Truffle Fries
- •French Onion Soup
- •Baby Iceberg Wedge
- •Roasted Beet Salad
- •Salmon Niçoise
📆 Best Times to Visit
Not yet open. Watch the Instagram @cvproperkitchen for opening announcements.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
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