COLORADO’S BEER AND MICROBREWERIES

Toasting to Colorado’s top-notch beer - Photo courtesy of Denver Metro CVB

Information on
History of Microbrewing in Colorado
What is Microbrewing?
A Sampling of the Colorado’s Brewery Tours
Facts About Denver Beer
Beer Festivals
Basic Beer Vocabulary
Altitude and Alcohol

History of Microbrewing in Colorado

Beer brewing in Colorado is by no means a new thing. Established breweries date back as far as the 1800s and have found a devoted following throughout the years. Even prohibition, which lasted longer in Colorado than in most other states, could not permanently stem the flow of beer.

Today, Colorado is among the nation’s top beer producers and claims one of the largest concentrations of microbeweries in America. In a nod to the state’s beer prowess, the Great American Beer Festival, the largest domestic beer festival in the United States, is held annually in Denver — the epicenter of Colorado’s beer empire.

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What is Microbrewing?

Microbrewing is an age-old tradition of brewing specialty beer in small batches by small breweries. Plainly stated, it’s brewing beer with big taste in limited quantity.

Working with smaller batches allows brewers to experiment with various flavor and ingredient ratios — a process that usually creates more full-bodied and creative products. Some brewers add fruit or chocolate to their creations to coerce a novel taste from their batches.

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A Sampling of Colorado’s Brewery Tours

Boulder Beer Company
Colorado's first microbrewery, Boulder Beer Company in Boulder, was established in 1979 by two University of Colorado professors. This one-of-a-kind brewhouse handcrafts many award-winning beers, including the well-known Buffalo Gold ("Buff Gold" to those in the know). Tours are given Monday through Friday, or you can call to set up an appointment. The free tour lasts approximately one hour.

Bristol Brewing
Since 1994, Bristol Brewing in Colorado Springs has been formulating one-of-a-kind ales for microbrew lovers. Laughing Lab, one of its most popular beers, took a silver medal at the 2002 Great American Beer Festival in the Best Scottish Ales category. Call to set up a tour with the brewmaster. Tours are free and last about 30 minutes.

Breckenridge Brewery
Over the past 10 years, Breckenridge Brewery has grown from a small 3,000-barrels-per-year brewpub to one of the most successful craft beer companies in the nation. Breckenridge now handcrafts nearly 30,000 barrels of beer each year and sells its popular brews throughout Colorado and 13 other states. Call in advance to set up a free tour of the brewery and sampling.

New Belgium Brewing Company
This state-of-the-art brewery in Fort Collins was the first wind-powered brewery in the U.S. and is one of the largest eco-friendly breweries in the world. New Belgium Brewing prides itself on having an innovative and environmentally friendly production process and boasts 11 brands, including Fat Tire Amber Ale, a Colorado favorite. The brewery also conducts its own research and provides brewery visitors with never-before-released brews before unveiling them to the general public. Guided tours are given daily, and self-guided tours are also accommodated. Brewery tours are free of charge and include a tasting.

Find a list of Colorado’s breweries and wineries

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Facts About Denver Beers

• Denver ranks first in the nation in per capita beer production.
• Denver is second in the nation in number of total breweries in a city.
• Denver is third the nation in volume of brewpubs and microbreweries.
• In all, there are roughly 100 breweries statewide, the majority of which are found in Denver.
• As a state, Colorado produced more than 21 million barrels of beer in 2005, placing them second in the nation for total beer production.

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Beer Festivals

Great American Beer Festival
The Great American Beer Festival in Denver is the largest domestic beer festival in the United States. Every September thousands of people descend on the Mile High City for tastings and entertainment. Throughout the event, hundreds of brewmasters compete for coveted medals in more than 58 categories.

Colorado Brewers’ Festival
In Fort Collins, visitors enjoy the Annual Colorado Brewers' Festival held every June. Enjoy music, food, games, entertainment and beer sampling.

Blues and Brews Festival
Don't miss the Annual Telluride Blues and Brews Festival every September. This Colorado favorite combines the best brews with the finest in traditional blues music.

Search the calendar of events for the next beer festival

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Basic Beer Vocabulary

Turbidity: The clarity or cloudiness of a particular beer. The more turbid the beer, the cloudier it is.
Bouquet: The certain smell of a beer, used to describe the beer’s positive aspects. “Woody” or “chocolatey” are common examples.
Odor: Used when referring to an unpleasant smell of beer.
“Skunky” is a common word used to describe odor.
Finish: The last bit of taste a beer leaves.
Malty: Describes a beer with a sweeter or heavier taste.
Hoppy: Used to describe a more bitter or light taste.

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The Effects of Altitude on Alcohol Consumption

You’ll certainly notice the effects of alcohol faster at a higher altitude, and experts have noted that consumption of alcohol and smoking can drastically increase the intensity of altitude sickness. To counteract the effects of alcohol on your system, drink slowly and try to ingest a pint of water between every pint of beer — staying hydrated is paramount.

Always use sound judgment when imbibing and never abuse alcohol. Never drink and drive.

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