The Colorado Brewery Guide – a complete list

According to the Colorado Brewery List, 408 breweries are operating as part of this Brewery Guide. Colorado is near the top of the list regarding states leading the craft beer revolution. The breweries of Colorado range from big names you’ve 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 list them all, but spring and summer in Colorado are especially great times to go on a walking brewery tour of our towns and cities, so we’ve also included a few extra suggestions. (Click here for the interactive Brewery Guide Map)

Front Range Brewery Guide

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 open up and are 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 Brewery, 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, it offers brewery guided tours in downtown Denver. Its 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 Brewery, Longmont/Lyons 

This Longmont brewery, founded in Lyons in 1997, 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 broken into the hard seltzer market.

Other Longmont Breweries – Left Hand Brewing, Bootstrap Brewing, Pumphouse Brewery

New Belgium Brewery Guide, 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. Ratebeer.com has awarded TRiNiTY six times as Best Brewpub in Colorado between 2012 and 2017.

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 Park. With a small patio complete with a 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 Brewery Guide

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 served 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 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 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 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 Brewery Guide

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 and 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 and premium grains, malts, hops, and other ingredients. It’s one of the highest microbreweries in the world and is probably best known for its award-winning Face-Down Brown Ale.

Western Slope Brewery Guide

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 Brewing Company, Aspen

Aspen Brewing Company opened in 2008 and had the simple goal of making world-class beer downstream from nobody. They are deeply committed to their local community and environment while embodied in the great outdoors spirit.

Other Breweries in Grand Junction – The Rockslide Brewery and Restaurant, Kannah Creek Brewing Company, Edgewater Brewery, Monumental Beer Works

Colorado: The Centennial Brewery State – Brewery Guide

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.