Colorado has over 200 established craft breweries. While Coloradoans did not invent the concept of craft beer, they did perfect the art. Today, they make every kind of beer imaginable and are coming up with the new ones (gluten-free, for example). Most craft breweries have attached tap or tasting rooms, which are usually popular local gathering places and the centers of social life for each neighborhood.
Shoes & Brews
Only in Colorado could a shoe store double as a craft brewery. Shoes & Brews is a specialty running shoe store with attached tap room/brewery that serves more than 20 of Colorado’s unique and most popular craft beers. Shoes and Brews extends this link between running shoes and brews by organizing group runs, the half-mile beer price challenge, and a few new local races. Their facility devotes the front to the shoes and the back to their beers. The shoe store assists customers in getting the best shoes for their needs and offers major shoe brands, apparel, accessories, sunglasses, and much more. They brew their own beer in the back using a single-barrel all-electric system. The spacious taproom has 20 taps, usually with two to four of their own beers. There are occasional live music events.
63 S Pratt Pkwy Unit B, Longmont, CO 80501, Phone: 720-340-4290
Prost Brewing
Prost Brewing is an award-winning Denver brewery, opened by Kevin Sheesley and Troy Johnston in 2012 as Colorado's only exclusively German-lager brewery. Today, the company is best known for its flagship year-round kolsch, altbier, dunkelbier, pilsner, weissbier, and helles lager variants and has received numerous accolades from the Great American Beer Festival, along with best beer designations from publications such as Men's Journal, CultureUp, and Westword. Two public tasting rooms are offered, including a Denver location offering a seasonal outdoor patio with skyline views. Brewing equipment on display at the tasting room including historic 19th-century equipment from the Brauerei Hümmer German brewery, which dates back to 1642.
2540 19th St, Denver, CO 80211, Phone: 303-729-1175
Black Shirt Brewing Co
Located in the heart of the RiNo Art District neighborhood north of downtown Denver, Black Shirt Brewing Co is a local craft brewery known for its range of interesting red ales. Their cozy, nicely decorated, music-themed tap room with lots of recycled wood and warm colors is a popular gathering place, either indoors, on their front patio, or in the beer garden in the back, which is also a venue for numerous live music events on their pallet stage. They have great kitchen serving brick-oven pizza, hearty salads, and delicious snacks. The patio is pet-friendly. Visitors are welcome to take a tour of the brewery and learn about the beer making process.
3719 Walnut St, Denver, CO 80205, Phone: 303-993-2799
Red Leg Brewing Company
Red Leg Brewing Company is a veteran-owned production brewery established in 2013 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They produce 620 gallons of craft beer using their 10-barrel two-vessel brewhouse and four 20-barrel fermentation vessels. They tap a new firkin every Saturday. The military theme in the decor of their tap room extends to the names of their brews. The tap room is not large but is a popular local gathering place and offers food from the different food trucks and occasionally there is live music. Customers are allowed to bring their own food. There is also a small patio outside. Pets are not allowed except service dogs.
4630 Forge Rd, Suite B, Colorado Springs, CO 80907, Phone: 719-598-3776
Comrade Brewing Company
Comrade Brewing Company is an award-winning Soviet-themed craft brewery located in Denver, in a strip mall off Iliff and Trenton/Rosemary, surrounded by auto shops. The centerpiece of the brewery is a 15-barrel brewhouse, and all their process vessels are made in the USA. They make a range of brews, from Yellow Card (blonde ale) to REDCON (red ale) to Superpower (IPA), which are available year round. The attached tap room is spacious, with a high ceiling and no-frills decor, separated from the production area by only a partition wall. The place is hopping on the weekend – there are board and card games and a food truck parked outside. Wednesdays is trivia night and holidays are marked by special events and special seasonal brews.
7667 E Iliff Ave, Denver, CO 80231-7014, Phone: 720-748-0700
Odell Brewing Company
Odell Brewing Company was founded in 1989 on the outskirts of downtown Fort Collins in a converted 1915 grain elevator. This old brewery was the second craft brewery to open in Colorado. The brewery is today the 34th largest craft brewery in the States, after their fourth expansion in 2010. The expansion added a wood-aging cellar, a 750 ml bottling line, and a 76 KW photovoltaic system. The brewery's tap room is open seven days a week and offers limited release test brews and daily tours of the production facility. There are different food trucks parked at the back of the brewery and live music once a week.
800 E Lincoln Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80524, Phone: 970-498-9070
Elevation Beer Company
Located in the heart of the Rockies in the charming rural town of Poncha Springs, Colorado, Elevation Beer Company is a microbrewery that focuses on specialty and barrel-aged beers destined for hardcore craft beer fans. The nice, cozy tap room attached to the brewery has a mountain cabin vibe and offers up to 16 beers on tap, beer to-go, and a nice outdoor patio where the guests can sample their brews with their dogs. There is free Wi-Fi, food trucks are parked in front of the brewery, and beers and kegs are available to-go. Elevation Company sells their beers to more than 800 liquor stores, bars, and restaurants all over Colorado.
115 Pahlone Pkwy, Poncha Springs, CO 81242, Phone: 719-539-5258
Grossen Bart Brewery
Grossen Bart Brewery is an award-winning craft brewery in Longmont, located behind the Safeway on Ken Pratt. Established officially in 2014, Grossen Bart is a 10-barrel brew house that makes a range of high-quality beers, from hoppy IPAs, creamy stouts, smoky, earthy porters, and tangy sours to strong Belgian dubbels. They serve only beer brewed on site. Folks behind Grossen Bart are passionate about the quality of their beer and about the rich facial hair: Grossen Bard means big beard, the name of each bear they make is some kind of beard, the merchandise they sell includes beard oil, and you will find a fair number of folks with lush beards behind the counter or perched on the other side. Their tap room is a popular local gathering spot with great industrial decor, and there is also a nice outdoor beer garden that offers fantastic views of the mountains. There is frequently live music, and various food trucks can be seen parked in front. Popcorn is always available for free.
1025 Delaware Ave, Longmont, CO 80501, Phone: 720-438-2060
High Hops Brewery
High Hops Brewery is a family craft brewery, hop farm, homebrew supply shop, and garden center in Windsor, Colorado. What started as a passion for beer and a home brewery grew in 2012 into a hop farm, for the hops used in their beers, and full-fledged craft brewery. Today, High Hops is a popular place for folks to spend the day. Their tap room has around 40 taps with a large variety of beer styles. They also have a great beer garden in the greenhouse overlooking miles of hops and spectacular sunsets. Food trucks offer snacks and local bands come often to provide live music.
6461 CO-392, Windsor, CO 80550, Phone: 970-674-2841
Hogshead Brewery
Hogshead Brewery is a Denver craft brewery that specializes in cask-conditioned English-style ales. They began their operation in 2012 in an old renovated '50s-style gas station in downtown Denver. The brewery has three to four cask-conditioned beers on tap at any time. They serve them in their cool tap room from kegs located in the attached 50°F cask room using hand pumps. Their tasting room is cozy and rustic and has a vibe of a neighborhood pub. They also have a spacious outdoor patio where guests can enjoy some fresh air with their brew. Dogs are allowed, too. There is no food but there are food trucks. Hogshead Brewery has frequent live events, movie and sports watching evenings, music, and more.
4460 W 29th Ave, Denver, CO 80212, Phone: 303-495-3105
Left Hand Brewing Company
One of the Colorado’s most recognized breweries, Left Hand Brewing Company is the recipient of nine European Beer Star awards, 28 Great American Beer Festival medals, and 11 World Beer Cup awards. This 20-years old brewery in Longmont is famous for its nitro series. With their popular Milk Stout Nitro, they established the original America’s Nitro bottle. Their cozy, rustic tasting room has a large range of Left Hand brews, including award-winning series like seasonal, year round, cask, and various limited releases. They offer tours of the brewery on weekends and a range of special events. Food trucks of all kinds park in front of the brewery, offering delicious food.
1265 Boston Ave, Longmont, CO 80501, Phone: 303-772-0258
Living The Dream Brewing
Living The Dream Brewing is a small 7-barrel craft brewery established in 2014 in Littleton, Colorado, in the Highlands Ranch area, hidden in the industrial park. Their fun tap room can get packed, so it is good that they have a large parking lot, and the place is easily bikeable on the Highline Canal Trail. The huge garage door on the tap room can be open on nice days to let the fresh air in and folks out onto the spacious outdoor patio. Food is offered by a variety of food trucks. Popular Pink Tank offers hotdogs, hamburgers, and chicken with waffles.
9150 Commerce Center Circle, Suite 300, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129, Phone: 303-284-9585
Locavore Beer Works
Locavore Beer Works is a craft brewery located in the Columbine neighborhood of Littleton in the Shoppes strip mall. It is the first brewery established in Littleton’s business zone. The popular microbrewery specializes in hand-crafted beers offered on tap in their fun tasting room and in select stores around Colorado. The tap room has 18 beers on tap and two classic beer engine hand-pumps. With its comfortable, cozy atmosphere, large range of beer styles, and great outdoor patio with a firepit, Locavore is a popular place for hanging out with friends. Dogs are allowed onto the patio too. Guests can order food from one of the three restaurants in the mall.
5950 S Platte Canyon Rd, Littleton, CO 80123, Phone: 720-476-4419
300 Suns Brewing
300 Suns Brewing is a small craft brewery established in 2014 in Longmont, Colorado, in an industrial strip across from the tracks. They have developed a solid following with their Belgian and English-style beers and occasional experimental seasonal beers. They have a spacious, nicely decorated tap room with industrial-chic decor and a large deck where you can bring your dog. They also offer delicious pub grub. Shareable meat and cheese plates are the most popular. The atmosphere is hip and comfortable and frequent live concerts and other events in addition to the great beer make 300 Suns Brewing a popular place to hang out with friends.
335 1st Ave, Longmont, CO 80501, Phone: 720-442-8292
Nano 108 Brewery
Located in Colorado Springs, Nano 108 Brewery is Colorado’s first seasonal brewery. They brew beer styles from all over the world on site. Eight of their beers are available on tap and two new beers are released each week on Friday. So, visitors to their charming tap room have a chance to sample up to 16 house beers at any one time as well as house cream soda and root beer. They consider themselves a pico-brewery, producing five to 30-gallon batches. The beers are not named; instead, they're listed by style on a large electronic beer board, which also provides details and a description of each beer, suggested glassware, and other interesting features. What “seasonal brewery” actually means is that they do not have flagship beers. All their beers are seasonal and rotate constantly. They brew them, serve them, and when they are gone, they are gone. But, there will always be another, even more interesting one.
2402 Waynoka Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80915, Phone: 719-596-2337
Odd13 Brewing
Odd13 Brewing is a popular microbrewery and tap room located in old-town Lafayette, Colorado, established in 2013. Their mission is to be the most innovative brewery in the country. They specialize in New England style IPAs and kettle sours. Their best seller is Superfan IPA, made with Simcoe, Amarillo, Citra, and Equinox hops and with an ABV of 6.5%. They also offer gluten-free beer. The food comes from the famous French Twist Food Truck parked in the back. Their indoor space has funky wall art and the outdoor deck allows dogs. They host frequent events and live music.
301 E Simpson St, Lafayette, CO 80026, Phone: 303-997-4164
Call to Arms
Located in northwest Denver, Colorado, in the historic Berkeley neighborhood, Call to Arms is a small craft brewery making eight kinds of house-made beers, from a cardamom-spiced, Belgian-style wit to a rich oatmeal porter. Call to Arms Brewing Company is the brainchild of three Avery Brewing alums who sell their beers in a lovely pub/tap room with a garage door that opens up on nice days to let the fresh air in and beer drinkers spill out. All beers they make are available on tap and the guests can sit along the long, gleaming bar, at the large communal tables, on a cozy banquettes in the lounge area, or outside in the spacious beer garden. Pizzas and tacos are available from nearby Mas Kos.
4526 Tennyson St, Denver, CO 80212, Phone: 720-328-8258
Crabtree Brewing Company
Located in Greeley, Colorado, Crabtree Brewing Company is a regional family brewery that started producing beer in 2006 as a homebrewing hobby. They turned their small operation into a commercial business in 2009, producing over 900 barrels of various labels. It is the only brewery in Greeley. Their year-round lineup is Serenity, Boxcar Brown, Greality Pilsner, Cucumber Ale, and Vanilla Bean Coconut Porter, but there are also frequent seasonal brews and special releases. They offer a tour of the brewery and weakly events, lot of games, a nice outdoor space where you can bring your dog, and a kids’ playground. It is the favorite place for the folks in Greeley to hang out together. There is no food but you can bring your own.
2961 29th St, Greeley, CO 80631, Phone: 970-356-0516
Atrevida Beer Company
Women brewers are rare in the world of craft beers, even in Colorado’s rich offering. But a woman Latina brewer, especially one who won an award on the Viceland Beerland show, is a true rarity. That does not stop Jessica Fierro, co-owner and head brewer of the Atrevida Beer Company , from surprising her followers with interesting brews such as The Tenth, a hazy cream ale with lemon, orange, and vanilla. Most of their beers are creative versions of classic, everyone’s favorite brews. The brewery is currently occupying a space in the former Great Storm Brewing and has a small bare-bones tap room and an outside patio for those warm, dry days.
204 Mt View Ln #3, Colorado Springs, CO 80907, Phone: 719-266-4200
Wiley Roots Brewing Company
Wiley Roots Brewing Company is a small craft brewery in Greely, Colorado, that produces a range of unique beers using local ingredients whenever possible. Established in 2013 in the industrial area between the train tracks and grain elevators, Wiley Roots offers award-winning, unique ales in their tap room attached to the brewery. The brewery was awarded gold and bronze medals at the Great American Beer Festival in 2017, 2015, and 2013. Their spacious tap room has a garage door that opens to the cozy outside beer garden. Food trucks come on weekends when new beers are released and the crowds thicken. Dogs are allowed on leash.
625 3rd St Unit D, Greeley, CO 80631, Phone: 970-515-7315
