Colorado Breweries

With ample supplies of fresh, clear mountain water, sunny weather, and an abundance of creative residents, Colorado is a state where breweries flourish. With a combination of familiar names and one-of-a-kind microbreweries, Colorado's beer scene is thriving. In every corner of the state, beer connoisseurs and others past of the age of 21 can taste locally made brews. Many of the operations offer some combination of tours, brewpubs, restaurants, and special events.

In Golden, visitors can see where Coors had its start with a Colorado brewery tour on the itinerary. From its humble beginnings in 1873, this Miller-Coors operation has grown into one of the biggest operations in the world, with 22 million barrels brewed every year. Along the way, tour participants can see this brewery in Colorado at work, as they tour the stills, malt house, and packaging facility. The tour concludes at the hospitality lounge, where adults can sample the brews, and everyone can visit the gift shop.

Another one of the large-scale Colorado breweries is open for tours in Fort Collins. When visiting the Anheuser-Busch Brewery, visitors have a chance to learn how the beer is made and packaged in this state-of-the-art facility. They can visit the Clydesdale Hamlet and get up close to the gentle giants often seen in Budweiser ads. This tour also ends with a chance to sample and shop.

Fort Collins has become a hotspot for Colorado breweries. Guided tours and tastings are available at the Odell Brewing Company, and the New Belgium Brewery. One of the largest craft brewers in America, New Belgium is blazing trails in energy conservation, and running on wind power. About an hour outside of town, Boulder Beer is another option for a Colorado brewery tour in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains.

Based in Durango, the Steamworks Brewing Company crafts ales, lagers, and stouts that have garnered award after award. This brewery in Colorado operates two pubs, where patrons can watch the brew masters at work, taste the fruits of their labor, and enjoy a great meal. The nearby Ska Brewing Company is another place to embark on a Colorado brewery tour.

When spending time in the Pikes Peak region, visitors can add a visit to Colorado Springs breweries to their list of fun things to do. Bristol Springs crafts ales from quality local ingredients, as does the Phantom Springs Brewing Company, which occupies a historic building right in the center of town.

For many a brewery in Colorado, the Great American Beer Festival is the highlight of the year. This annual special event brings together breweries and beer connoisseurs all in celebration of American brews. This festival is one of the most popular things to do in Denver in mid-September. Denver's Great Divide Brewing Company has won many awards at the festival. Its taproom, tours, and shop are open during the festival and all year.

In addition to all of the Colorado breweries, the state is becoming an increasingly popular place to make wine. More than 60 wineries, many centered around the Colorado River Valley just outside Grand Junction, produce merlot, cabernet, shiraz, and mead crafted from locally gathered honey.