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 p.m.and 4:00 p.m.Monday thru Friday. Saturday and Sunday tours take place between the hours of 2:30 and 5:00 pm, running regularly every 30 to 45 minutes. Tours meet in theTap Room where an announcement is made as tours begin. Average tour time is 25 – 30 minutes. Tours are open to the public and are free. No reservation required.
Breckenridge Brewery
471 Kalamath St., Denver
303-573-0431
www.breckbrew.com
Take a tour of the entire Breckenridge Brewery facility. You'll be walked through the whole brewing process, and see from start to finish how we get the beer to your hands. Everything from the brew kettle, to the fermenting tanks, to the bottling line, you'll see it all...and all with a complimentary beer in your hand! We'll taste and talk about our different beers and how they're made. You'll actually get to hold, smell, and even taste if you're brave enough, the different ingredients we're using. So come on down and see where that Breckenridge beer you're drinking is coming from! Tours are free! Groups will meet in the Breckenridge Brewery & BBQ restaurant that's connected to the brewery. There's no need to sign up. Just come on in! The tours will start every hour on the hour, so be sure to arrive a little early.
When: Free tours are offered every Saturday at the brewery and production facility at 471 Kalamath Street. Tours usually last about 30 minutes, and are offered at 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. Meet in the Tasting Room, where you can also enjoy some delicious, in-house smoked BBQ. No need to sign up. Just be sure to arrive early to grab your free pint!
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.
Culinary Connectors Craft Beer Tour
Make no mistake, Denver is known for the finest breweries, brew pubs and tap houses, and Culinary Connectors' expert beer guides know them all! Join an exciting craft beer tours with other like-minded beer lovers, enjoying tastings at two different tap rooms and one local brewery. All Craft Beer Tours are every Wednesday afternoon from 3:30-5:30pm. Tours include: Three stops – two different tap rooms & one local brewery; 2-3 beer tastings at each stop; Two hour walking tour led by seasoned craft beer expert. $29 per person.
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