Denver Brewery Tours
Get behind-the-scenes looks at Denver and Colorado's thriving beer world.
The Biggest in the World
Coors Brewery Tour
502 14th St., Golden
303-277-BEER
www.millercoors.com
The legendary Coors Brewery in Golden can brew up to 22 million barrels and package up to 16 million barrels annually, making it the biggest single-site brewer in the world. Take a free 30-minute, self-paced tour of the brewhouse, malthouse and packaging complex to view firsthand how more than 100 work teams make some of the most popular beer in the world.
When: Summer (June 1 to Labor Day): Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. Winter (Labor Day to May 31) Thursday-Monday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4 p.m., Closed Tues., Wed., and major holidays.
Downtown Denver's Brewery Tours
Wynkoop Brewing Co.
1634 18th St., Denver
303-297-2700
www.wynkoop.com
Denver's first brewpub, The Wynkoop Brewing Company – co-founded in 1988 by former Denver Mayor (and current Colorado Governor) John Hickenlooper – produced 4,330 barrels of fresh beer in 1997, earning it a place among the largest brewpubs in the world. The free brewer-led tour takes visitors through the painstaking process of brewing the Wynkoop's acclaimed beers, while strolling through the historic J.S. Brown Mercantile building, with its classic hardwood floors, thick timber pillars and pressed tin ceilings.
When: 1-5 p.m. on Saturdays. Please call ahead (303-297-2700) to verify a brewer is available.
Great Divide Brewing Co.
2201 Arapahoe St., Denver
303-296-9460, ext. 2
www.greatdivide.com
Great Divide's downtown Tap Room is the go-to locale for many of Denver's beer aficionados, where they can sample any of the beers on tap or in bottles, as well as the occasional Tap Room-only special release. The Tap Room is also the first stop on the Great Divide's free brewery tours, in which knowledgeable bartenders walk you through every step in the creation of their award-winning beers. If the tour merely whets your appetite, the Great Divide also hosts Hops Disciple nights, featuring riveting discussions on beer and all things beer related, every third Thursday night.
When: Tours take place at 3:00 pm and 4:00pm Monday thru Friday, and between the hours of 2:30 and 5:00 p.m., running regularly every 30 to 45 minutes, on Saturday and Sunday. Great Divide doesn't accept advance reservations, and space is limited.
Breckenridge Brewery
471 Kalamath St., Denver
303-573-0431
www.breckbrew.com
The Breckenridge Brewery Bar-B-Que is located in the Golden Triangle District, just five minutes from downtown Denver. This restaurant and tasting room is also the home of the microbrewery where Breckenridge brews and kegs all of its great fresh ales for off premise sales. Stop in for barbecue, fresh beer and a free tour of their brew house.
When: Open Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m. 'til at least 9 p.m. Call ahead for tour times.
Outside Denver
New Belgium Brewing Co.
500 Linden St., Fort Collins
970-221-0524
www.newbelgium.com
Fort Collins' New Belgium Brewing Co. is one of Colorado's first microbrewery success stories. Since its founding in 1991, New Belgium has grown into one of the biggest microbreweries in the world, producing more than 400,000 barrels of beer annually.
When: Register at www.newbelgium.com for a free tour of the wind-powered "Liquid Center." It's a 90-minute stroll around the brewery incorporating plenty of beer sampling.
Avery Brewing
5763 Arapahoe Dr., Boulder
303-440-4324
www.averybrewing.com
One of Boulder's most beloved brewers, Avery is rapidly making headway on the national beer scene, thanks to its blending of Old World beer tradition and expertise with ingenuity, creativity and a touch of eccentricity - check out the strange and wonderful labels on the bottles.
When: Tour the brewery Mon.-Fri. at 4 p.m. and Sat.-Sun. at 2 p.m. Friday is an especially good time to visit - the brewers tap an exclusive beer at 5 p.m.
Boulder Beer Co.
2880 Wilderness Pl., Boulder
303-444-8448
www.boulderbeer.com
Colorado's first microbrewery, located in its namesake Boulder, Colo., is beloved by beer connoisseurs for its Hazed & Infused American Pale Ale.
When: Tours are given Monday through Friday at 2 p.m., or call to set up an appointment. The free tour lasts approximately one hour.
Anheuser-Busch Brewery
2351 Busch Dr., Fort Collins
970-490-4691
www.budweisertours.com
Visit the home of Budweiser and discover how "the King of Beers" crafts its world-famous brews. See the famous Budweiser Clydesdales and sample a cold one in the Hospitality Room.
When: June 1- Sept. 30, daily 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Oct. 1-May 3; Thurs.-Mon., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
