Floating Lotus Brewery is RACC September 2025 Member of the Month
The Ridgway Area Chamber of Commerce is recognizing Floating Lotus Brewery as our September 2025 Member of the Month. The Member of the Month program is an ongoing effort by the Chamber of Commerce to provide residents and visitors with information about businesses and organizations in the area and promote the patronage of our local resources and our small, independent companies. We had the opportunity to talk to Kenny Conley, owner of the Floating Lotus Brewery, about the quest for a more quiet life that led him to opening the brewery of his dreams.
Q: Please introduce yourself and your business?
A: My name is Kenny Conley and I opened Floating Lotus Brewery in August 2024. After spending over twenty years in the workforce I decided it was time to make a big move and invest my savings and time into a big new idea: doing something I am truly passionate about. Good beer, good music, good people, and good times.
Q: What inspired you to open the Floating Lotus in Ridgway?
A: When my son was born back in 2020 I moved my family from the front range to Montrose with the intention of settling into a quieter, more peaceful life. After moving to Montrose, my wife and I discovered Ridgway, and we fell in love with it immediately. It’s a beautiful place with a thriving culture, a highly reputable school system, and a passion for the arts.
I wanted to be part of the growiing community here and do my part to help Ridgway realize its full potential as a classic, yet progressive Colorado mountian town, with a tight-knit communtity and plenty of opportunity for fun, connection, creativity, and craft.
Q: What can guests expect when visiting Floating Lotus?
A: At the Lotus, we strive to keep things real, exciting, novel, and a bit unpredictable. On any given day guests can expect something new; whether it’s tasting a new beer, discovering a new band or food truck, or taking part in a fundraising event for local charities. Past events have included live music and open mic nights, comedy acts, trivia night, yoga classes, kid’s birthday parties, live streams of concerts and sporting events. We have even hosted a pottery class, which was a lot of fun.
Q: What has been the most rewarding part of owning a business in Ridgway?
A: Well, as the owner/operator, manager, brewmaster, and sometimes the bartender, it has kept me busier than I would like while trying to settle into a new town, but the people I have met here have been the biggest reward. It’s been highly gratifying to have genuine connections and conversations with the authentic folks here who are as passionate about living life to its fullest as I am. I think that is the common thread here in Ridgway. No matter who you talk to here at the Lotus, you are sure to have a great conversation and leave feeling connected, validated, and fulfilled.
Q: We know you host lots of events, such as live music and the Pints and Patches Night, do you have any special events coming up that you would like the community to know about?
A: We do host quite a few events here, and they are constantly in flux. We encourage the community to follow us on social media and check our website regularly for updates regarding events. We also like to keep patrons in the loop with postings and announcements in the taproom. In terms of specific happenings, as of this week we are launching an open mic every Wednesday from 6-8 that will be hosted by local musician DJ Strong. So whether you want to showcase your own work, meet and collaborate with other musicians, or just come sip some beers and check out the local talent that Ridgway has to offer, this is a significant community endeavor that you won’t want to miss! I would also like to encourage the town to stay tuned for exciting announcements regarding future collaborations at the historically significant and magical place known locally as “Tiny Town.”
Q: Current favorite beer on tap?
A: The “Blastoplast” Juicy IPA is always my favorite, but in the summer months I have really enjoyed the “Lemon Glow” Summer Shandy. I am also excited for the release of our Oktoberfest, which will be on tap shortly. Thank you Ridgway for all the love and support. We look forward to seeing you all at the Floating Lotus as our adventure continues to unfold.
