BREWERIES IN NORTHERN COLORADO
Do you need a new craft brewery to try?
Check out all the great breweries in Northern Colorado...CHEERS TO NEW BEERS!
Fort Collins, Greely, Loveland, Sterling
BREWERIES IN FORT COLLINS
ODELL BREWING COMPANY
800 E Lincoln Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80524
Founders: Doug Odell, his wife Wynne and his sister Corkie in 1989
Owners: 100% employee owned
Opened at current location in 1994
Description: This large craft brewery is located in a large, beautiful brick building with ample seating indoors and a large, beautiful beer garden. Many of their flagship beers are always on tap and they have a great selection of their seasonal rotators. Right next door, is the OBC wine project where wine is made and you can get wines on tap. Fun fact: In 2015, the Odell family founders sold the majority of the company to its co-workers (now co-owners) in a combined management buyout and an Employee Stock Ownership Program. The 28th largest independent craft brewery in the U.S.
Unique qualities:
Daily food trucks, live music, outdoor patio
Review:
This is a must visit when in Fort Collins. We love sitting on their beautifully decorated outside patio & enjoying some tasty grub from their food truck. I had the Friek, a cherry, raspberry sour, which has a light & refreshing taste; even though it is a sour, it does not come across too powerful; subtle flavors blend well and finish smooth.
SWEETWATER BREWING COMPANY
1020 E Lincoln Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80524
https://www.sweetwaterbrew.com/taproom/fort-collins/
Owner: Chuck Surack
Opened in 1997 (based in Atlanta) and opened Fort Collins location in 2021
Description: This large brewery and tap house has a clean, modern industrial feel with lots of seating inside and a large patio. Their kitchen serves appetizers, salads, burgers and sandwiches.
NEW BELGIUM BREWING COMPANY
500 Linden Street
Fort Collins, Colorado 80524
Founded by Kim Jordan and Jeff Lebesch in 1991
Owner: Acquired by Lion Little World Beverages in 2019
Opened in 1991
Description: This large microbrewery and tasting room is located in a beautiful brick building and has a huge beer garden which is often full of people drinking beer, playing yard games and eating food from food trucks. The biegarten has become a gathering place for college students and visitors to Fort Collins.
Unique qualities:
Provides tours of the brewery, food trucks, events and activities throughout the year
Review:
Brewery tours are SUPER fun! We loved hanging out in the huge beer garden which is a great place to have a beer, enjoy food from a food truck and play some yard games. Worth a visit for sure, but do make sure you sign up for a tour in advance (it is worth it)!
CROOKED STAVE FORT COLLINS TAPROOM
225 Pine St, Fort Collins, CO 80524
Owners: Chad Yakobson
Opened in 2010
Description: This brewery, which specializes in sours, has the perfect location in Old Town Square, Fort Collins. The tap room has a modern, open concept, industrial vibe with plenty of seating. You can also sit outside on the patio which multiple businesses share.
Unique Qualities:
Specializes in barrel aged beers, Events: trivia, bingo
Review:
We enjoyed sitting at the bar, chatting with the beer tender, Shannon, and sipping our beer. I sipped on the Nightmare On Stout, a Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Sour Stout - 6 words that I've never used at once, but after this beer...will be in my top 5 choices for sure; thick, rich, smooth, chocolatey heaven in a glass. Warning: 13.5 ABV hits hard and fast
EQUINOX BREWING
133 Remington St, Fort Collins, CO 80524
Owners: Colin and Shannon Westcot
Opened in 2010
Description: This smaller brewery has a pub vibe with plenty of seating inside and a smaller biergarten. They have 18 beers on tap and host live music on Fridays and Saturdays.
GILDED GOAT BREWING COMPANY
Two locations:
132 W Mountain Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80524
3500 S College Ave #194, Fort Collins, CO 80525
https://www.gildedgoatbrewing.com/downtown
Owners: Charlie Hoxmeier
Opened in 2017
Description:
Downtown: This small taproom is located in a great location downtown and has a modern industrial vibe with beautiful brick walls.
College Ave: This small, laid back, two story brewery and taproom is located in a strip mall. It has a modern industrial vibe with plenty of seating inside and a small patio out front.
Unique Qualities:
11 beers on tap. Serves pretzels & chips/salsa, peanuts.
Review:
It was relaxing sitting in the bar area, at the College Ave location, enjoying a beer and a pretzel with cheese dip. I had the Plumicious, a sour brown ale with plums. With this beer, the plum flavor comes in quietly and leaves a soft mark on the pallet; a welcome variation to a brown ale that would make me drink another.
PROST BREWING CO. & BIERGARTEN - FORT COLLINS
1510 S College Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80524 Fort Collins, CO 80524
Owner: Joe DeLine
Opened in 2017 see
Description: This German inspired brewery is like Oktoberfest every day. They are currently in the process of moving to their new location in Fort Collins. Date of new opening to be determined...
BLACK BOTTLE BREWERY
1611 S College Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80525
https://blackbottlebrewery.com/
Owner: Sean Nook
Opened in 2010
Description: Black Bottle Brewery is a brewpub located in a strip mall, but has a brewery feeling with a large brewing tank and patio out front. Inside, you will find a large bar and plenty of seating. With 40 beers on tap, as well as wine and cocktails, everyone is sure to be happy. They serve a full menu of appetizers, sliders, tacos, pizza and more which makes this place a good choice for lunch or dinner.
MAXLINE BREWING
2724 McClelland Dr #190, Fort Collins, CO 80525
Owner: Kevin Gearhardt and Cathy Morgan
Opened in 2016
Description: This taproom has a large bar, plenty of seating and garage doors that open to a patio, bringing the outside in. They often have food trucks and host live music on Thursdays and Sundays.
PURPOSE BREWING AND CELLARS
4025 S Mason St unit c, Fort Collins, CO 80525
Owners: Peter Bouckaert, Frezi Bouckaert and Mike Hiatt
Opened in 2018
Description: This very small brewery has beautiful wood walls and a wood, live edge bar, embracing the feeling of nature. Fun fact: Prior to opening Purpose Brewing, owner, Peter Bouckaert, worked at New Belgium Brewing Co., where he aged beers like La Folie. In 2016, he & co-author, Dick Cantwell wrote a book on barrel-aging—“Wood and Beer: A Brewer’s Guide.”
Unique Qualities:
6 beers on tap
Review:
We enjoyed having a beer in this very small, very relaxing brewery and tap room while visiting with the beer tender, Tim. I enjoyed the Mahalepi, a Red Rye Ale which was finished on Mahleb cherry pits that presents with some almond, vanilla and soft cinnamon notes. Yum.
OBSTACLE BREWING AND GRILL
4613 S Mason St Ste D1, Fort Collins, CO 80525
https://www.obstaclebrewing.com/
Owner: Chris Mulligan
Opened in 2020
Description: This moderate size brewery serves beer, wine, and has a full menu of apps, burgers & sandwiches. They brew their beer in Loveland. They have plenty of seating inside as well as a small patio out front. It is a relaxing atmosphere for a drink and a meal.
Unique Qualities:
Beer is brewed in Loveland. Serves 10 beers on tap & wine.
Review:
We enjoyed sitting at the bar enjoying our beer and dinner while making new friends. I enjoyed the Trademark, a Coconut Chocolate Milk Stout, one of the best coconut stouts I have had in a while; sweet, smooth and velvety goodness in a glass.
ZWEI BREWING CO.
4612 S Mason St #120, Fort Collins, CO 80525
https://www.zweibrewing.com/default.aspx
Owners: Kirk and Eric Lombardi
Opened in 2014
Description: This taproom has a cool industrial vibe inside with picnic tables to sit at and garage doors that open to their patio. They are dog friendly, have live music and host food trucks - who could want anything more?!
BREWERIES IN LOVELAND, LONGMONT, FREDERICK
VERBOTEN BREWING & BARREL PROJECT
127 E 5th St, Loveland, CO 80537
Owners: Josh & Angie Grenz and Jason Bowser Opened in 2013
Description: Located in downtown Loveland, Verboten (German for forbidden) is a small craft brewery with a nice variety of 16 beers on tap. There is plenty of seating and a garage door that opens to a small patio.
Review:
We enjoyed having a beer on a relaxing afternoon at the bar while visiting with the very friendly beer tender. I tried the Thinking of Something Orange, an American Pale Wheat with a sweet orange and honey flavor which was very refreshing.
MOUNTAIN COWBOY BREWING
318 Fifth St, Frederick, CO 80530
https://mountaincowboybrewing.com/
Owners: Ron & Michelle Yovich
Opened in 2017
Description: This brewery, as reflected in their name, has a mountainy feel for sure. With a wood bar, leather couches, a fire place and a beer garden with picnic tables, you can't help but feel relaxed in this craft brewery.
Unique qualities:
Trivia and Porker Nights, hosts food trucks, dog friendly
MIRROR IMAGE BREWING
5969 Iris Pkwy, Frederick, CO 80504
https://www.mirrorimagebrewco.com/
Owners: Theresa Schirner, Steve Schirner, Dennis Richards and Daniel Richards
Opened in 2019 (Formerly known as Echo Brewing Company)
Description: This small brew pub has 13 beers on tap and serves wine and food - appetizers, salads and pizza. You can enjoy your pizza and beer inside while watching a game or on the nice deck.
Unique qualities:
Dog friendly on the patio, family friendly
BREWERIES IN STERLING
PARTS AND LABOR BREWING COMPANY
402 Main St b, Sterling, CO 80751
https://www.partsandlaborbrewing.com/
Owners: Dylan & Kimberly Harford
Opened in 2016
Description: Located in a renovated, century-old Cadillac dealership repair shop, this brewery pays homage to the car repair shop it once was with it's vintage shop vibe. They have a full food menu of apps, steaks, burgers, sandwiches, flat breads, salads.
Unique qualities:
Lots of indoor seating and small patio out front, dogs welcome on patio
Review:
Good beer, friendly staff and good food.
