A Guide to Colorado’s Greatest Breweries
According to Colorado Brewery List, there are 408 breweries currently operating in the Centennial State, meaning it’s near the top of the list when it comes to states leading the craft beer revolution. The breweries of Colorado range from big names you’ve definitely heard of to tiny operations that serve as small-town watering holes, but one thing they’ve all got in common is their love for great beer. Some brewpubs have great menus to go with their beers, many allow dogs, and plenty has great patios where you can sit outside on a sunny day as you enjoy a pint and some great company. Next time you plan a vacation in Colorado, no matter the season, check out a few of these fantastic Colorado breweries for a real taste of our great state. We couldn’t possibly list them all, but spring and summer in Colorado are an especially great time to go on a walking brewery tour of our towns and cities, so we’ve included a few extra suggestions as well.
Front Range Breweries
The Front Range, undoubtedly, has the highest concentration of breweries in the state, spread out across cities like Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs, and everywhere in between. As the weather warms up and the snow melts, patios are opening up and crowded with people playing games, relaxing with friends, and enjoying a pint of beer on a summer day. There are hundreds of breweries in the Front Range where you can wet your whistle with a refreshing taste of seasonal craft beer, and these are only a few:
Great Divide, Denver - Since 1994, Great Divide has grown steadily into one of the best-known breweries in the state, with two Denver locations and a long list of excellent beers like Yeti Imperial Stout, Colette Farmhouse Ale, and Titan IPA. Their downtown Denver location offers brewery tours, and their products can be found wherever beer is sold, all over Colorado and far beyond.
Other Denver Breweries: Crazy Mountain, Denver Beer Company, Dry Dock (Aurora), Cerebral, TRVE, Spangalang
Oskar Blues, Longmont/Lyons - This Longmont brewery was founded in Lyons in 1997, and it is the biggest craft brewery in Colorado. Oskar Blues is probably best known for Dale’s Pale Ale, but they also make well-known brews like Mama’s Little Yella Pils, Old Chub, and G’Night. They’ve also recently broken into the hard seltzer market with their Wild Basin line.
Other Longmont Breweries - Left Hand Brewing, Bootstrap Brewing, Pumphouse Brewery
New Belgium, Fort Collins - You probably know New Belgium as the maker of Fat Tire, but they also have many other beers. The 2019 sale of New Belgium to Japanese company Kirin made huge waves in the beer world, but nevertheless, they’re one of the most iconic Colorado beers. If you’re looking to take a brewery tour, there is no better option than New Belgium, whose Fort Collins facilities were built for leading tours. The brewery is gorgeous, with a massive picnic area, tasting room, and space for food trucks, games, and live performances, and the beers aren’t half bad, either!
Other Fort Collins Breweries - Odell, Horse & Dragon, Equinox, Zwei
Upslope Brewing Company, Boulder - This Boulder brewery was one of the first to embrace the environmental benefits of canning rather than bottling. Their simple labels aren’t as flashy as some other breweries out there, but the beer inside speaks for itself.
Other Great Boulder Breweries: Avery, Sanitas, Finkel & Garf, Twisted Pine, Mountain Sun Pub & Brewing
Trinity Brewing, Colorado Springs - Colorado Springs is home to TRiNiTY Brew & Evoke Fermentations, a cool brewpub whose space is decked out in recycled materials. TRiNiTY has won many awards throughout the years, including Best Brewpub in Colorado six times between 2012 and 2017 by ratebeer.com.
Other Colorado Springs Breweries - Bristol, Pikes Peak Brewing, Fossil Craft Beer Company, Cerberus
Rock Cut Brewing Company, Estes Park - This small brewery in Estes Park is a great place to stop for a drink after a long hike in Rocky Mountain National. With a small patio complete with food truck, and a unique chalkboard on the back wall where you can buy a drink for a friend to stop by later, or even for a stranger who fits your requirements (teachers, firefighters, Americorps alumni, people whose birthdays are in May, etc.), Rock Cut is relaxed, friendly, and unpretentious.
Other Estes Park Breweries - Estes Park Brewery, Lumpy Ridge Brewing Co.
Central Mountains Breweries
The I-70 corridor and the ski towns of the central mountains have great places to sit back on a patio or in a cozy brewery taproom and enjoy the unbeatable views of some of the highest peaks in the Rockies. Play it safe with your group and check out the Summit County Brewery and Bud Tour. A hassle-free party on wheels.
Tommyknocker, Idaho Springs - The accessible little mountain town of Idaho Springs is worth a visit anyway, but why not stop and enjoy Tommyknocker while you’re at it? This local brewpub on Miner Street has been serving great food, beer, and homemade sodas since 1994.
Other Nearby Breweries - Westbound & Down Brewing Company, Guanella Pass Brewing Company (Georgetown)
Broken Compass Brewing Company, Breckenridge - Is there anything better than finishing off a day on the slopes with a pint of Ginger Pale Ale or Coconut Porter? Nah, we didn’t think so, either.
Dillon Dam Brewery, Dillon - This large brewpub has two stories of seating, and serves their awesome beer paired with great food for all ages.
Summit County Brewery Tour - You could build your own brewery tour in Summit County pretty easily, or you could let the experts at Summit County Brewery Tour do it for you. They’ll drive you from brewery to brewery and hook you up with free beers and food as they show you all the best spots in Summit County for local craft beer. Some of the breweries included in the Summit County Brewery Tour include Outer Range Brewing Co. (Frisco), Angry James Brewery (Silverthorne), and Breckenridge Brewery (Breckenridge)
Southwestern Colorado Breweries
Carver Brewing, Durango - Environmentalism and beer go hand in hand at Carver Brewing, which is operated by solar and wind energy, and where food and cocktails feature ingredients grown fresh and on-site at their very own Carver Farm. Carver Brewing offers free tours of the brewing facilities and a comfy, welcoming atmosphere where you can sit back and enjoy a pint of Colorado Trail Nut Brown Ale or Lightner Creek Lager with friends or family.
Steamworks Brewing Co., Durango - Steamworks is probably best known for its Colorado Kolsch, Steam Engine Lager, Third-Eye Pale Ale, and Backside Stout, but they also have a wide variety of seasonal and rotating beers on tap as well. Steamworks is also a restaurant, serving great food with something on the menu for everyone.
Other Durango Breweries include Ska Brewing Co., Animas Brewing Company, Chainless Brewing
World’s End Brewing Company, Canon City - Located right in historic downtown Canon City, World’s End Brewing Company brews all their beers on-site as well as their local hard ciders for those who are gluten-free or prefer not to drink beer. They also have a full-service restaurant. Or check out the wine-tasting room at the Winery at Holy Cross Abbey.
Other Breweries in Canon City - C&S Brewery and Bistro, Florence Brewing Company (Florence)
Telluride Brewing Company, Telluride - All the beer at Telluride is made from fresh, pure Rocky Mountain snowmelt as well as premium grains, malts, hops, and other ingredients. It’s one of the highest microbreweries in the world, and is probably best known for its Face-Down Brown Ale, which has won two gold medals at the Great American Beer Festival and a Gold Cup in the World Beer Cup of 2012.
Western Slope Breweries
Bonfire Brewing, Eagle - Bonfire Brewing is a central hub for the community in Eagle. With over twenty beers in their comfortable taproom and rustic, enclosed patio, it’s a great place to sit back with a pint of Firestarter IPA, Brush Creek Blonde, or Kilt Dropper Scotch Ale.
Copper Club Brewing Company, Grand Junction - With eleven beers on tap that are constantly rotating between seasonal specialties as well as flagship varieties like Slap & Tickle ESB, F-Town Amber, and Hoocheweizen, Copper Club Brewing Company is a small, neighborhood brewery that also serves gluten-free beer and homemade fruity hard seltzers, so there’s something for everyone.
Aspen Tap, Aspen - Aspen Tap has been around for over 10 years and was formerly known as the Aspen Brewing Company. Open 7 days a week with all award-winning beers on tap they now serve wine & cocktails alongside a complete gastropub food menu.
Other Breweries in Grand Junction - The Rockslide Brewery and Restaurant, Kannah Creek Brewing Company, Edgewater Brewery, Monumental Beer Works
Colorado: The Centennial Brewery State
Look, the truth is that this list barely scratches the surface of the breweries in Colorado. We’ve missed entire towns and regions because if we listed all the great breweries in the state, this list would be about twenty times longer than it is. What does that mean for you? It means we’ve provided a great resource to get you started, but you should keep in mind there are hundreds of other breweries in Colorado, and it’s going to be up to you to explore them all, so you’d better go ahead and get started.
