Colorado’s craft beer scene is all about variety: from bold IPAs and rich stouts to refreshing lagers and experimental brews, there’s something for every palate. It’s the kind of place where I can spend the afternoon hopping between breweries and the evening enjoying the local flavors.
I’ve got a cold pint in hand, the Rocky Mountains in the distance, and the crisp mountain air—all just minutes from downtown Denver. Who knew the Centennial State could pack so many unique brews into such a small space?
"Colorado beer culture with a side of mountain views and laid-back vibes? Yes, please!"
Unique Colorado Breweries:
1. Run, Sip, and Repeat at the Fun-Fueled 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
2. Raise a Glass to Authentic German Flavors at 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
3. If Bold Brews and Music Vibes Call You, Head to 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
4. Toast to Patriotism and Craft Excellence at 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
5. Sip Award-Winning Brews With a Rebel Spirit at 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
6. Experience Legendary Colorado Craftsmanship at 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
7. Climb to New Flavor Heights at 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
8. Embrace Big Beers and Big Beards at 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
9. If You Love Hop-Forward Beers and Garden Settings, Chill at 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
📔 I get asked this a lot so I decided to include it:
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How many craft breweries are in Colorado?
- Colorado is home to over 200 established craft breweries, making it one of the top states for craft beer production in the U.S.
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Did Colorado invent craft beer?
- While Coloradoans did not invent the concept of craft beer, they have perfected the art, creating high-quality and innovative brews.
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What types of craft beer are made in Colorado?
- Colorado breweries produce every kind of beer imaginable, from traditional styles to modern innovations such as gluten-free beers.
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Do Colorado craft breweries have tasting rooms?
- Yes, most craft breweries have attached taprooms or tasting rooms, where visitors can sample fresh brews and enjoy the local atmosphere.
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Why are craft breweries important to Colorado’s social life?
- Many of these taprooms serve as popular local gathering places and are considered the centers of social life in their respective neighborhoods.
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