Colorado Micro Breweries Are the Best of the Rockies

By Randall Blake Colorado may just be the Napa of beer breweries in the United States. What better way to get a Rocky Mountain high than to slurp some of the best suds the state can offer? Denver itself ranks first in the nation in beer production per capita and second in the number of breweries. Colorado is home to four of the top-50 brewing companies in the nation. Just about everywhere you go, there is a brew pub. With 92 breweries statewide, Colorado is ranked third in the country in volume of brewpubs and craft breweries. It is also ranked as the number two beer producing state in America, just behind California, producing over 21,000,000 barrels in 2005, according to the 2007 Brewer's Almanac Have a designated driver or hire a cab and enjoy beer heaven.

New Belgium Brewing of Fort Collins Colorado

Perhaps the best tasting and most famous micro brew is that of New Belgium Brewing. They produce the tasty Fat Tire Amber Ale. New Belgian has a cool brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado. They were the first wind-powered brewery in the U.S. and is currently the largest of its kind in the world. New Belgium Brewing (888-NBB-4044; www.newbelgium.com), prides itself on having an innovative and environmentally friendly production process, and boasts a total of 11 brands. I don't understand much about enviro-whacko stuff, but I sure love their suds. Guided tours are given daily at 2 and 4 p.m. Take a self-guided tour anytime, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Tours are free of charge and include a tasting. There are better Colorado micro brews. Read on.

Rockies Brewing Company of Boulder Colorado

Rockies Brewing's claim to fame, other than naming itself after Rockies.com (just kidding), is their award winning Buffalo Gold. Rockies Brewing Company (303-444-8448; www.boulderbeer.com), located in Boulder, was Colorado's first micro brewery. Established in 1979 by two University of Colorado professors, this brew house handcrafts many award-winning beers. Tours are given Monday through Friday at 2:00 p.m. or you can call to set up an appointment. The free tour lasts approximately one hour. You know Boulder is a cool college town when its the professors cranking out the great beer.

Breckenridge Brewery of Breckenridge Colorado

Breckenridge Brewery is responsible for a significant portion of my beer gut. One of the most drinkable hefes I have ever had is their Proper Hefeweizen. For those of you who enjoy a great Ale, Avalanche Ale is one of the best. Breckenridge Brewery (303-623-2739; www.breckenridgebrewery.com) has grown from a tiny 3,000-barrels-per-year brewpub to one of the most successful craft beer companies in the nation. Breckenridge handcrafts nearly 30,000 barrels of beer each year and sells its popular brews throughout Colorado and 13 other states. You have to call in advance to get a tour. Of course, if you are like me, you just want to drink great beer and you could care less about particulars.

Bristol Brewing

Since 1994, Bristol Brewing (719-633-2555; www.bristolbrewing.com) in Colorado Springs has been formulating some great ales for microbrew fans. 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 brew master. Tours are free and last about 30 minutes. Many beer slackers who wouldn't know quality beer from lead paint, go for the standard brew tours at Coors Brewery and Anheuser-Busch Brewery. The factories are big, huge, monstrous and very impressive until you drink their beer. If you can't tell the difference between a beat up Vega and a Mercedes, then Coors and Budweiser are probably just fine.

If you want to drink some Rocky Mountain water then call Coors Brewery (800-642-6116) or go to Fort Collins and grab some lemonade, I mean Bud. Call 800-DIAL-BUD for a tour and learn how they are losing market share on a daily basis to quality local breweries like the ones listed above. The kids will love the Clydesdales. Some of my other favorite brews include: Tommyknocker Brewery and Pub, located in Idaho Springs. Dillon Dam Brewery in Dillon is a great place to support your future hangover.

Durango lays claims to Ska Brewing which produces better micro brews than anyone else in The Rockies - just ask anyone with a beer gut in Durango. For those of you who like Pilsner Urquel and that type of beer, you will die for their True Blonde. Ska's Pinstripe Red Ale is better than New Belgium's products - and that is really saying something. A tasty True Blonde is a lot less expensive than marrying one. For a complete list of Colorado breweries, and their tours and tastings, visit www.beertown.org.

Beer Festivals

Visitors can also enjoy one of the state's many brew festivals. The Great American Beer Festival, in Denver (303-447-0816; www.beertown.org) hosts thousands of people every September for tastings, live music and entertainment. Brew masters compete for coveted medals in more than 58 categories. Farther north, visitors can enjoy the Annual Colorado Brewers' Festival, June, in Fort Collins (970-484-6500; www.downtownfortcollins.com). Enjoy music, food, games, entertainment and beer sampling. Don't miss the Annual Telluride Blues and Brews Festival, every September (970-728-8037; www.tellurideblues.com). This Colorado favorite combines the best brews with the finest in traditional blues music. Beer, music and people watching - how can it get any better?