1
Bierstadt Lagerhaus
Denver
German-style lagers only — the Slow Pour Pils is a Denver institution.
4.4· 1474 reviews
Regional beer trail
The craft beer road trip through Colorado
Colorado is the densest craft beer state in America — over 400 breweries for six million people, and the home of the Great American Beer Festival. This trail links the four beer capitals of the Front Range plus a Rocky Mountain detour in one drivable loop: Denver, Fort Collins (New Belgium, Odell), Boulder & Longmont (Avery, Left Hand, Oskar Blues), Frisco (Outer Range) and Colorado Springs. Four to six days, roughly 550 km of driving, 19 breweries worth the detour.
19 stops · 5 stages · ~550 km · Updated September 2026
Drink responsibly — never drive after drinking.Drink responsibly — never drive after drinking.Drink responsibly — never drive after drinking.Drink responsibly — never drive after drinking.
The trail on the map
Five stages from Colorado Springs up to Fort Collins, with a mountain detour through Frisco.
The five stages
Base yourself in Denver, then radiate out — every stage is a day trip.
Stage 1 — Denver
The base campStart here · DEN airport 40 min
Denver alone has more than 100 breweries. Start with the German lagers of Bierstadt, the wild ales of Crooked Stave and the hazy IPAs of Cerebral, then dive into the full city guide for the RiNo and Baker crawls.
The A-Line train links the airport to Union Station in 37 min — no car needed for the Denver day.
2
Crooked Stave Brewing Company
Denver
Barrel-aged wild ales and sours, one of the US pioneers of the style.
4.8· 209 reviews
3
Cerebral Brewing - Congress Park
Denver
Neighborhood taproom in Congress Park, sharp hazy IPAs and pastry stouts.
4.7· 997 reviews
Stage 2 — Fort Collins
The birthplace1h north of Denver on I-25
Fort Collins is the historic heart of Colorado brewing: New Belgium (Fat Tire) and Odell both started here in the late 80s, and the Old Town district is packed with taprooms you can walk between.
Book the free New Belgium tour a few weeks ahead — it sells out, especially in summer.
4
New Belgium Brewing Company
Fort Collins
The Fat Tire brewery — free tours, huge taproom, a Colorado pilgrimage.
4.8· 2112 reviews
5
Odell Brewing Company
Fort Collins
Founded 1989, home of 90 Shilling, one of the best beer gardens in the state.
4.8· 1693 reviews
6
Purpose Brewing and Cellars
Fort Collins
Independent cellar brewery: farmhouse and mixed-fermentation beers in a small taproom.
4.8· 282 reviews
7
Horse & Dragon Brewing Company
Fort Collins
Community-first brewery on the east side, famous for Sad Panda coffee stout.
4.8· 531 reviews
8
Equinox Brewing
Fort Collins
Old Town brewery with a cellar bar and a sunny patio, walkable from everything.
4.7· 424 reviews
9
CooperSmith's Brewpub
Fort Collins
Old Town brewpub since 1989 — pub food, house lagers and a pool hall.
4.3· 1166 reviews
Stage 3 — Boulder & Longmont
Foothills & innovators45 min from Denver, 1h from Fort Collins
Boulder mixes mountain-town energy with serious beer: Avery's barrel program, Upslope's trail cans, Mountain Sun's Pearl Street pub. Fifteen minutes north, Longmont is home to Left Hand (Milk Stout Nitro) and Wibby's crisp lagers — and Oskar Blues in Lyons, the brewery that made canned craft beer respectable.
Lyons is the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park — pair the brewery with a morning hike.
10
Avery Brewing Company
Boulder
Boulder's biggest brewery: barrel program, restaurant and rooftop views.
4.6· 2217 reviews
11
Upslope Brewing Company
Boulder
Flatiron Park taproom, cans built for hikes and ski days.
4.7· 559 reviews
12
Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery
Boulder
Pearl Street brewpub since 1993 — house ales in a laid-back neighbourhood pub.
4.6· 2507 reviews
13
Left Hand Brewing Company
Longmont
Milk Stout Nitro made this brewery famous worldwide — the taproom is on the St. Vrain river.
4.6· 1161 reviews
14
Wibby Brewing
Longmont
American lagers done right, in a bright Longmont taproom.
4.7· 774 reviews
15
Oskar Blues Grill & Brew - Lyons
Lyons
The brewery that made canned craft beer respectable, at the gateway to the Rockies.
4.4· 2935 reviews
Stage 4 — Frisco & the Rockies
Mountain detour2h west of Boulder via I-70
Climb into the Rockies to Frisco, a compact mountain town on Dillon Reservoir. Outer Range Brewing has built a cult following for its hazy IPAs and mountain-inspired taproom — the perfect high-altitude beer stop between the Front Range and Colorado Springs.
Stop at the Sapphire Point overlook on the way down for a panoramic view of Dillon Reservoir.
16
Outer Range Brewing Company
Frisco
Cult mountain brewery in Frisco, famous for juicy hazy IPAs and a laid-back alpine taproom.
4.7· 1101 reviews
Stage 5 — Colorado Springs
Pikes Peak finish2h30 east of Frisco, 1h10 south of Denver
The fastest-growing scene in the state, at the foot of Pikes Peak. Cerberus and Goat Patch anchor the modern side, while Phantom Canyon has been brewing in a 1901 downtown building since 1993.
Perfect final stage before flying home from Denver — or before heading back into the mountains.
17
Cerberus Brewing Company
Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs favorite — great kitchen, wide range on tap.
4.5· 2756 reviews
18
Goat Patch Brewing Company
Colorado Springs
Community brewery in a converted Lincoln Center school building.
4.7· 871 reviews
19
Phantom Canyon Brewing Company
Colorado Springs
Historic downtown brewpub in a 1901 building, brewing since 1993.
4.2· 2390 reviews
Denver, in detail
Denver has its own full guide with 10 hand-picked breweries, opening hours and transit tips.
Open the Denver city guideDoing the trail during GABF?
The Great American Beer Festival takes over Denver every autumn. Arrive two days early, do Fort Collins, Boulder and Frisco before the festival, then finish in Denver — most of the breweries on this trail pour at GABF.
Read the GABF 2026 guideColorado beer trail — FAQ
- How many days do you need for the Colorado beer trail?
- Three days is the minimum (Denver, Fort Collins, Boulder). Five or six days lets you add Frisco and Colorado Springs without rushing.
- Do you need a car?
- Yes for the full trail — the stages are 45 min to 2h30 apart. Inside each city you can walk or use ride-shares, and Denver is fully doable by train and on foot.
- What is the best time of year?
- Late September and early October: mild weather, aspen colours and the Great American Beer Festival in Denver. Summer is great too, winter works if you pair it with skiing.
- Which breweries are unmissable?
- New Belgium and Odell in Fort Collins, Left Hand and Oskar Blues around Longmont, Bierstadt and Crooked Stave in Denver, and Outer Range in Frisco. Those six explain most of modern American craft beer.
- How much does it cost?
- Pints run $6-9, flights $10-16, most tours are free. Budget roughly $60-90 a day per person including food.
Regional beer trail
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