10 Essential Breweries to Visit in Colorado

Commercial brewing dates back to at least 2500 B.C. in Mesopotamia where it was known to elevate one’s social status and said to grant protection from the goddess Ninkasi. Initially, the brewing of beer was done at home, but by the ninth century, beer was produced on a larger scale on at monasteries and on farms.

Established in 1829, Yuengling is the oldest operating brewing company in the United States.

Colorado became a state on August 1, 1876. It was the first state to grant women the right to vote based on a popular election. Colorado’s history is rich in mining, Native Americans, skiing, and even beer.

Beer was introduced in Colorado about the same time as the gold rush. The Rocky Mountain Brewery, Colorado’s first, was opened in the fall of 1859 in Denver.

By the 1880s, the Rocky Mountain Brewery had become the largest brewery between the cities of St. Louis and San Francisco. However, it became a victim of Prohibition.

Today, Colorado is the top beer-producing state and is home to approximately 161 breweries, including four of the top 50 breweries in America.

These breweries are unique in that they produce a variety of beers in different styles. These beers are not only marketed to locals but also to people all across the nation and the globe.

If this has now piqued your interest in visiting Colorado, enter your ZIP code above first and make sure you are fully covered before hitting the road!

Avoid Drinking and Driving

If you plan to visit one or more of Colorado’s popular breweries, be sure not to drink and drive. Plan ahead and have a designated driver.

Not only do you risk injury to yourself and other parties by drinking and driving, but you can also face stiff penalties in this state for driving under the influence.

The blood alcohol content (BAC) limit in Colorado is 0.08 percent. If you are driving with a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher you could be convicted of a DUI even if there was no other evidence that you were driving while impaired such as reckless driving or causing an accident.

If you have a BAC of 0.17 percent or higher you could be charged with an aggravated DUI which comes with even more penalties.

If you are charged with a DUI, you could lose your license for as little as nine months or as long as two years. You may also be required to take mandatory alcohol education classes as well as go to treatment. A second DUI charge in Colorado will require an ignition interlock device.

Top 10 Breweries in Colorado

With so many well-known breweries in this state, it can be hard to sort out the top 10 breweries in Colorado. Here’s a detailed list to help you plan your brewery road trip in Colorado.

#1 – New Belgium Brewing Co.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYUBzX4brb0

Established: 1991
Recommended Beer: Fat Tire

Located in Fort Collins, the New Belgium Brewing Company runs tours daily every half-hour between 1:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

People of all ages are welcome on these 90-minute tours. If you want to avoid crowds, it is best to come on a Tuesday.

Tours fill up quickly, so the brewery recommends making a reservation online. Well-behaved dogs are welcome in the tasting room but not on tours.

#2 – Oskar Blues Brewing Holding Co.

Established: 2002
Recommended Beer: Dale’s Pale Ale

Oskar Blues Brewery can be found in the city of Longmont. You can book a tour Monday through Friday at 4 p.m. or at 2, 3, and 5 p.m. on Saturday or Sunday.

Be sure to check out the Tasty Weasel Taproom while you are there for the music, fresh beer, a possible sighting of Oskar the dog or even a basketball game.

#3 – Odell Brewing Co.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qqoDLISbfM

Established: 1989
Recommended Beer: Fresh Grind Ale

Also located in Fort Collins, the Odell Brewing Company provides free daily tours at 12, 1, 2, and 3 p.m. Tour guests must be at least 12 years of age.

Reservations can be made online the day before your planned tour. Tours are approximately 30 minutes in length, and you are required to check in 20 minutes before your scheduled tour time.

#4 – Left Hand Brewing Co.

Established: 1993
Recommended Beer: Sawtooth Ale

You will find Left Hand Brewing off the banks of the St. Vrain River in Longmont. Their brewery tour will give you a glimpse of the brew house, as well as the bottling hall and cellar.

Tours are led by knowledgeable and enthusiastic beer-tenders. Plan on your tour taking approximately one hour. Tour participants must be at least 12 years of age and reservations are recommended.

However, you do not need a reservation to enjoy one of the more than 20 types of beers in the tasting room.

#5 – Avery Brewing Co.

Established: 1993
Recommended Beer: White Rascal

With a full menu and 30 beers on tap, you won’t want to miss the Avery Brewing Company in Boulder. The tap room is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day except Mondays; on Mondays, they are only open 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Brewery tours are conducted daily during the week at 4 p.m. On Saturdays tours are at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. These tours are free to the public.

#6 – Coors Brewery

Established: 1873
Recommended Beer: Blue Moon

One of the most famous American breweries, Coors Brewing Company, is located in Golden.

Coors Brewery is the world’s largest single-site brewery.

A free self-paced tour is offered to show you the malting, brewing, and packaging process of Coors products. Tour guests under the age of 18 are required to be accompanied by an adult. At the completion of your tour, you can sample the different beer with a valid ID.

Please visit the website for season specific hours and more detailed tour information.

#7 – Phantom Canyon Brewing Co.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-18Fj2X3opI

Established: 1993
Recommended Beer: The Ryan Game

Colorado Springs is home to the Phantom Canyon Brewing Company which is known for its thoughtfully crafted beers and award-winning food.

Here you can try a variety of unique beers such as the bold and spicy Ring of Fire Green Chili Ale or the Johnson’s Farm Sour Mash Raspberry Ale; soups, sandwiches, fish, and chicken can be found on the menu.

Monday-Saturday hours are 11 a.m. to last call while Sunday hours are 10 a.m. to last call.

#8 – Broken Compass Brewery & Tap House

Established: 2013
Recommended Beer: Coconut Porter

Broken Compass Brewing Company is located in the Colorado Mountains in the town of Breckenridge. It is one of the newer breweries in this state yet still delivers the uniqueness that Colorado beer lovers have come to expect.

They are open 11 a.m. to last call every day, and you can bring your own food. With over 10 quality craft beers on tap, you might discover your new favorite here. There is even a shuttle service, so you don’t have to worry about how much beer you have enjoyed.

#9 – Breckenridge Brewery

Established: 1990
Recommended Beer: Avalanche Ale

Breckenridge Brewery is the third-oldest craft brewery in the state.

Its lively atmosphere, incredible food, and one-of-a-kind beer selection bring both locals and visitors to through their doors; several different kinds of brews promise to delight the taste buds of even the pickiest brew critic.

There are locations in both Breckenridge and Littleton. Happy hour specials and hours can be found on their website. While no official tours are offered, you are invited up to the bar to watch the magic happen and test the bartenders’ knowledge.

#10 – Aspen Brewing Company

Established: 2008
Recommended Beer: Brown Bearale

The Aspen Brewing Company is located in none other than the mountain town of Aspen. This brewery offers three different series of mountain-made beers:

• Silver Queen
• Seasonal
• Temerity

The tap room is open from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. every day of the week. Tours are offered of the brewing facility for $20 per person. Reservations are required and groups of five or more are recommended.

5 Safety Tips Before Hitting the Road

Before you hit the road on your taste-testing tour, be sure to follow these tips for a safe and enjoyable trip.

• Map your trip ahead of time — Do some research and plan your trip ahead of time. You can make the most of your trip by planning which breweries you want to visit and what routes you will take.
• Tune-up your car — Take care of any work that needs to be done on your car before leaving. This will likely save you time and money.
• Travel with an emergency kit — An emergency kit should include extra water, high-protein snacks, road flares, a flash light, and jumper cables. If you will be traveling during the winter months, you should also bring a blanket and extra clothing.
• Don’t drink and drive — You should have fun and enjoy your trip. However, whatever you do, do not drink and drive. It simply is not worth the risk.
• If you are too intoxicated to drive — Avoid drinking and driving. Arrange for an Uber, have a designated driver with you, or have handy the names and numbers of the local taxi services. If you are staying in a local hotel, see if they offer any kind of shuttle service.

Also important prior to going on any trip is to make sure you have the right car insurance. To ensure the right policy at the best rate, do some comparison shopping. You should compare at least three to four different policies and quotes.

While it may be tempting to simply choose the cheapest one, your decision should also be based on factors like the reputation and customer service of the auto insurance carrier.

Start comparison shopping today for better auto insurance by entering your ZIP code below!