10 Must-Do BEER & BREWERY experiences in Colorado
Coloradoans LOVE their craft beer! There are so many breweries and so many options of craft beers to try. We love visiting new breweries and tasting new beers. We have created a list of some must-do beer experiences and breweries to visit in Colorado that we encourage you to check out.
Colorado brewing history...
Brewing beer has a long history in Colorado. The first locally brewed keg of beer was tapped in Denver in 1859. Frederick Salomon & John Good opened the first Denver brewery in December, 1859 called Rocky Mountain Brewery which was located in Auraria at 10th and St. Louis (Larimer) Streets, where Auraria Campus now sits - which eventually became Tivoli Brewery. In 1873, Adolph Coors and Jacob Schueler immigrated from Germany to the United States and opened Golden Brewery, which was renamed Coors in 1880. By 1982, there were 23 breweries in operation in Colorado. Obviously, during prohibition, the brewing industry waned, however, in 1945 an advertising campaign stating “Beer Belongs” supported the revival of beer among Coloradans. In the early 1970s, Charlie Papazian, a teacher living in Boulder started teaching homebrewing from his home and soon after he founded the American Homebrewers Association and started the Great American Beer Festival in 1982. The first brewpub in Colorado, the Wynkoop Brewing Company opened in 1988 by John Hickenlooper. It quickly became clear that Coloradans loved 'microbrews', now called 'craft breweries.' Today, Colorado boasts more than 400 craft breweries.
10 Must do BEER experiences in Colorado
In the Denver Area...
#1 -- Relax at the Beer Spa
3004 N Downing St, Denver, CO 80205https://thebeerspa.com/
WHAT a BEER SPA!?!? When we first heard about the beer spa, we thought, 'no way, crazy' then we thought 'cool, of course!' This is, obviously, NOT your ordinary spa! If you like beer and you like spas, well, why not try the beer spa.
We LOVED this place. FUN & RELAXING!
Spend a relaxing afternoon sipping your craft beer (they host a different craft beer each month) while you sweat off all your stress in an infrared sauna and soak in a bubbly beer bath steeped with hops, barley, and medicinal herbs.
The Beer Spa offers a few additional services to make your afternoon the perfect and most relaxing experience -- enjoy some snacks with your beer spa or add on the Zero Gravity Massage Chairs.
https://www.tivolibrewingco.com/
Before the craft beer scene emerged in Denver...there was just one...Way back in 1859, John Good, a German immigrant, opened Tivoli Brewing Company, selling beer to the gold miners!
From 1916 to 1933, the prohibition forced Tivoli to reduce their production and their ABV, however, in 1933 they were up and running again resulting in one of the largest breweries in the nation in 1950. In 1965, record floods in Denver caused the brewery to close. In 2012, with state of the art equipment, Tivoli was brought back to life.
The history of this brewery alone should bring you in the doors. When you get here, you will want to stay for a beer in the beautiful taproom on the downtown Auraria campus. Enjoy one of their 8 craft beers and a burger from Bad Daddy's Burger Bar.
The Beer Spa offers a few additional services to make your afternoon the perfect and most relaxing experience -- enjoy some snacks with your beer spa or add on the Zero Gravity Massage Chairs.
#2 -- Have a beer at Denver's oldest brewery
Tivoli Brewing Company
900 Auraria Pkwy Suite 240, Denver, CO 80204https://www.tivolibrewingco.com/
Before the craft beer scene emerged in Denver...there was just one...Way back in 1859, John Good, a German immigrant, opened Tivoli Brewing Company, selling beer to the gold miners!
From 1916 to 1933, the prohibition forced Tivoli to reduce their production and their ABV, however, in 1933 they were up and running again resulting in one of the largest breweries in the nation in 1950. In 1965, record floods in Denver caused the brewery to close. In 2012, with state of the art equipment, Tivoli was brought back to life.
The history of this brewery alone should bring you in the doors. When you get here, you will want to stay for a beer in the beautiful taproom on the downtown Auraria campus. Enjoy one of their 8 craft beers and a burger from Bad Daddy's Burger Bar.
#3 -- Have a beer at Denver's oldest brewpub!
Wynkoop Brewing Company
1634 18th St, Denver, CO 80202https://wynkoop.com/
Grab a beer and a bite to eat at Denver's oldest brewpub - Wynkoop Brewing Company.
Though Wynkoop Holdings, Inc. is now led by Lee Driscoll, its CEO and controlling shareholder, Wynkoop Brewing was the brainchild of John Hickenlooper, Jerry Williams, Mark Schiffler and Russell Schehrer. Wynkoop Brewing Company opened in 1988 in Denver on Skid Row in the century old J.S. Brown Mercantile Building.
This large brewpub and restaurant with a rustic décor and a tin ceiling, has something for everyone...you can sit on the patio on Wynkoop Street, at the bar, at a table or in the pool hall upstairs. Enjoy apps, a burger, a sandwich or an entrée. They have 11 Wynkoop beers on tap and an additional 6 guest beers, as well as, wine and cocktails.
#4 -- Enjoy your beer while supporting a great cause at Brewability
Brewability Lab
3445 S Broadway, Englewood, CO 80113https://brew-ability.com/
Located on Broadway, a bit south of the city, this brewery, taproom and restaurant has a large bar and sitting area inside and a comfortable patio to enjoy a beer. The thing that sets this place apart from all others is the intentional decision to employ and welcome people with disabilities.
Tiffany Fixter, a former special education teacher, had both a passion and a vision when she founded Brewability lab in 2016. Her vision was to open a business which the general public would enjoy and adults with disabilities could work and feel welcome. Tiffany ensures that her employees will be successful by having brail tap handles, using color coded ordering options and more. She provides guests with a vibrating dance floor, noise canceling head phones, a large light bright board to support those with sensory needs.
At Brewability, you can choose from 5 craft beers and a seltzer on tap, as well as, a menu of appetizers, salads, pizza and macaroni & cheese skillets.
Come check out this bright, open, incredibly welcoming brewery!
In the Fort Collins Area...
#5 - Take a tour at New Belgium Brewing
500 Linden Street Fort Collins, Colorado 80524https://www.newbelgium.com/
What a fantastic brewery tour with multiple beer tastings along the way! We strongly encourage you to book a tour at New Belgium (book early, tours fill up quickly). See how the magic is done, taste several beers and, of course, slide down the spiral slide!
New Belgium was founded by Kim Jordan & Jeff Lebesch in 1991 and acquired by Lion Little World Beverages in 2019. This large craft brewery and tasting room is located in a beautiful brick building and has a huge biergarten. With many events and live music visiting this brewery is quite the experience!
#6 - Have a beer in the biergarten at Odell Brewing Company
Odell Brewing Company
800 E Lincoln Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80524https://www.odellbrewing.com/
The most colorful, relaxing, beautiful biergarten we have found in Colorado is at the Odell Brewing Company! This craft brewery and tap house is located in a large brick building and has ample seating inside and out, but we strongly recommend enjoying your beer in the gorgeous biergarten - relax with the view of the trees, colorful flower pots, rocks, tables and umbrellas - a picture perfect place to enjoy a beer! Many of Odell's flagship beers are always on tap and they have a great selection of their seasonal rotators to taste. You can even grab a glass of wine from Odell Wine Project right next door and food from the onsite food truck!
Doug Odell, his wife Wynne and his sister Corkie founded Odell Brewing in 1989 and opened at the current location in 1994. In 2015, the Odell family launched an employee stock ownership program, therefore, Odell Brewing is 100% employee owned!
#7 -- Sip a sour beer...at Purpose Brewing or Crooked Stave Brewing
Having a sour beer at one of these two breweries is truly a special treat.At Purpose Brewing...
the knowledge of brewing sours is evident in this very small brewery which specializes in small batches and sours. The tap house has 6 beers on tap and has beautiful wood walls and a wood, live edge bar, embracing the feeling of nature. Prior to opening Purpose Brewing, co-owner Peter Bouckaert, worked at New Belgium Brewing Co., where he aged beers like La Folie (before sours were cool). In 2016, he & co-author, Dick Cantwell, wrote a book on barrel-aging—“Wood and Beer: A Brewer’s Guide.”
4025 S Mason St unit c, Fort Collins, CO 80525
https://purposebrewing.com/
4025 S Mason St unit c, Fort Collins, CO 80525
https://purposebrewing.com/
Crooked Stave Brewing...
specializes in barreled aged beers, mostly serving sours. The tap room, located at the perfect location in Old Town Square, Fort Collins has a modern, open concept, industrial vibe with plenty of seating. You can sit outside on the shared patio or relax inside on a couch or at a table with your sour.
Owner Chad Yakobson opened Crooked Stave in 2010.
225 Pine St, Fort Collins, CO 80524
Also in Denver at 1441 W 46th Ave Unit 19, Denver, CO 80211
https://www.crookedstave.com/
https://www.goatpatchbrewing.com/
Owners Justin & Jen Grant, Darren Baze & Cate Baze, Pete King opened Goat Patch Brewing in 2017.
This brewery is located in the Lincoln Center, a retail space of a strip mall that was originally an elementary school building. Lincoln Elementary School opened in Colorado Springs in 1948 and was educating 168 young minds in kindergarten - 5th grade when it closed in 2015.
If you walk the back halls, you can imagine the halls filled with kids on their way to their classrooms - you can even see some old pictures and the old school office. There are currently 12 merchants using the space in the old elementary school.
The large tap room allows you to visit with new or old friends. A garage door opens to a patio and and additional beer garden provides amble seating. They have 13 beers on tap and often have food trucks providing meal options. Just for fun, you can enjoy a trivia night, game night or adult coloring night!
https://www.cerberusbrewingco.com/
Located a bit west of downtown Colorado Springs, Joshua Adamski and Mark LeFebvr opened Cerberus Brewing in 2016. This brewpub, with a modern industrial vibe, has 24 taps and serves cocktails and wine in addition to their amazing beers.
Their BBQ menu is mouth watering. You can enjoy your lunch and beer at the bar, at a table inside or on the biergarten. Some craft breweries, as you walk up to them, you can smell the aromas of the brewing process. As you walk up to this brewery, all you can smell is the amazing BBQ smoking aromas. If you come here, plan on having some of their food, it is amazing. We strongly recommend the smoked brisket grilled cheese with your beer.
https://www.partsandlaborbrewing.com/
Owners Dylan & Kimberly Harford opened Parts and Labor Brewing Company in 2016. This brewery and tap house is located in a renovated, century-old Cadillac dealership repair shop. They pay homage to the car repair shop it once was with a vintage shop vibe and décor. They have a full (and tasty) food menu of apps, steaks, burgers, sandwiches, flat breads, and salads. There is lots of indoor seating and small patio out front. It is well worth stopping here for a meal and a beer! Yummy!
Owner Chad Yakobson opened Crooked Stave in 2010.
225 Pine St, Fort Collins, CO 80524
Also in Denver at 1441 W 46th Ave Unit 19, Denver, CO 80211
https://www.crookedstave.com/
In the Colorado Springs area...
#8 -- Drink a beer in an old elementary school!
Goat Patch Brewing
2727 N Cascade Ave #123, Colorado Springs, CO 80907https://www.goatpatchbrewing.com/
Owners Justin & Jen Grant, Darren Baze & Cate Baze, Pete King opened Goat Patch Brewing in 2017.
This brewery is located in the Lincoln Center, a retail space of a strip mall that was originally an elementary school building. Lincoln Elementary School opened in Colorado Springs in 1948 and was educating 168 young minds in kindergarten - 5th grade when it closed in 2015.
If you walk the back halls, you can imagine the halls filled with kids on their way to their classrooms - you can even see some old pictures and the old school office. There are currently 12 merchants using the space in the old elementary school.
The large tap room allows you to visit with new or old friends. A garage door opens to a patio and and additional beer garden provides amble seating. They have 13 beers on tap and often have food trucks providing meal options. Just for fun, you can enjoy a trivia night, game night or adult coloring night!
#9 -- Have a mouthwatering BBQ meal with a beer (of course)!!
Cerberus Brewing
702 W Colorado Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80905https://www.cerberusbrewingco.com/
Located a bit west of downtown Colorado Springs, Joshua Adamski and Mark LeFebvr opened Cerberus Brewing in 2016. This brewpub, with a modern industrial vibe, has 24 taps and serves cocktails and wine in addition to their amazing beers.
Their BBQ menu is mouth watering. You can enjoy your lunch and beer at the bar, at a table inside or on the biergarten. Some craft breweries, as you walk up to them, you can smell the aromas of the brewing process. As you walk up to this brewery, all you can smell is the amazing BBQ smoking aromas. If you come here, plan on having some of their food, it is amazing. We strongly recommend the smoked brisket grilled cheese with your beer.
In Sterling, North-east Colorado area...
#10 -- Enjoy your beer in a century-old Cadillac repair shop
Parts and Labor Brewing Company
402 Main St b, Sterling, CO 80751https://www.partsandlaborbrewing.com/
Owners Dylan & Kimberly Harford opened Parts and Labor Brewing Company in 2016. This brewery and tap house is located in a renovated, century-old Cadillac dealership repair shop. They pay homage to the car repair shop it once was with a vintage shop vibe and décor. They have a full (and tasty) food menu of apps, steaks, burgers, sandwiches, flat breads, and salads. There is lots of indoor seating and small patio out front. It is well worth stopping here for a meal and a beer! Yummy!
“On victory, you deserve beer, in defeat, you need it.”
-- Napoleon
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