New Belgium Brewing Company

New Belgium Brewing CompanyNew Belgium Brewing Company
New Belgium Brewing CompanyNew Belgium Brewing Company
Brewery, Bar, Beer-to-go

500 Linden Street
Fort Collins, Colorado, 80524
United States

(970) 221-0524 | map
newbelgium.com

New Belgium is owned by Lion in Sydney, which is a subsidiary of Kirin in Japan. It was acquired at the end of 2019, after transfer to an employee stock ownership program in 2000. Lion has rolled it up into a group called Little World Beverages, which includes New Belgium, Magic Rock, and Little Creatures.
BEER STATS
Average:
3.8
Beers:
102
Ratings:
27,735
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.35
Reviews:
49
Ratings:
386
pDev:
12.64%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BryantForestry:
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Rated by BryantForestry from Texas

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%

May 10, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.36 by DownyIsHungry from Minnesota

Oct 14, 2023
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Reviewed by snaotheus from Washington

4.03/5  rDev -7.4%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4
Visited on a weekday with my family. Had a few little samples, talked a bit with staff, took the free tour (it was really cool). I enjoyed the place a lot, would definitely recommend it.
Dec 24, 2022
 
Rated: 4.16 by jacobk1997 from Georgia

Jun 17, 2022
 
Rated: 4.49 by not2quick from Missouri

Jan 21, 2022
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Reviewed by slander from New York

4.53/5  rDev +4.1%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.75
My previous visits here have all coincided with attending the GABF. First in ’04, and then ’07, ’08, & ‘09. At least two of those times, it was a straight from the airport run up to grab La Folie; back when it was a two bottle per person limit, non-pasteurized cork & caged were they. So, yeah, I’m due. Remember that sick super cool kids tour we got from the QA guy that year? Yeah, right, and when we got back over from the bottling side, and Vinnie Cilurzo was just standing there suspiciously at the bottom of that spiral slide? WTF that was about we’ll never know. Thems were some days, now ten years gone. My first observation as we come rolling up this visit is that it’s kind of funny, but completely unsurprising, to find that Glenn having permanently relocated out here from Jersey, lives a big 0.3 miles from New Belgium…

Big arched entranceway with a large swag/merch corner. Large block tiling floors, phat beam rafters & uprights, and windows looking outside (as they often do) over the scene out front. Wonky skate key shaped gray concrete topped bar, panel base and no foot bar on the back wall; seating for 18 or so on steel framed wood chairs. Bottom sheared 22’s lamps tracing the bar. A couple of triple wide glass front coolers, an angled double wide, and another triple wrapped around running behind half the length of the bar with bombers, six packs, 12 packs, cases, and even a few kegs feeding a half dozen tap handles off the end of it. Surprise (special) beers posted on the barback blackboard space corner over what looks like a crowler crimper. A couple a tables here and there.

A pair of periscope 12 logo handled tap towers 6 & 6 along the bar +6 more taps off the side of the end cooler. Best as I can tell, there are 30 beers up just now; a mix of Year Round (Fat Tire Amber Ale, 5.2%; Fat Tire Belgian White, 5.2%; Mountain Time Lager, 4.4%; Dayblazer Easygoing Ale, 4.8%; Old Aggie Superior Lager, 4.7%; Bohemian Style Pilsener, 4.8%; Mural Agua Fresca Cerveza, 4%; Glutiny Pale Ale, 6%; Citradelic Tangerine IPA, 6%; The Hemperor HPA, 7%), Voodoo Ranger Series (Voodoo Ranger IPA, 7%; Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA, 7.5%; Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA, 9%; Voodoo Ranger Hop Avenger, 7.7%; Voodoo Ranger Jucifer IPA, 7.7%; Voodoo Ranger Atomic Pumpkin, 6.4%), Belgian Collection (1554 Black Lager, 6%; Abbey Belgian Style Dubbel, 7%; Trippel Belgian Style Ale, 8.5%; Honey Original Tripel, 10%), Innovation (Passion Fruit Kolsch, 4.3%; Peach Kick, 4.3%; Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale, 9%), Wood Aged Sours (La Folie, 7%; Le Terroir, 7.5%), Sour Surprise; wood cellar reserve offering (Felix Golden Sour aged in Apple Whiskey Barrels), and Liquid Center Surprises; small batch & Denver Pilot system brews (Nuance Milk Chocolate Milk Stout, American IPA, Denver Pilots Mexican Lager, Denver Pilots California Common), these last 4 annoyingly showing no indication of ABV. And then add in a few wood aged sour bottles and Carnie Blood (strawberry Hibiscus sour) in cans.

The printed list shows beer, description, ABV, IBU, and pricing for drafts served in 5oz shortys and then full (12oz or 16oz) pours, depending on which beer it be. I started with the 1554 Black Lager (roast, chocolate) and then the Peach Kick (light & easy peachy), did a shorty of La Folie (because I would be remiss otherwise), and then got to the Abbey Belgian Style Dubbel (Dubbelly love) because yes please. The beers were very good.

We may have gone on walkabout some. I will neither confirm or deny that we jumped on tours in progress and saw the most Foeders in one place outside of Rodenbach and that cool upstairs space with the mad mosaic tile work and bar. And that new (to me, anyway) side room with windows forward & rear and a straight concrete topped bar seating 8ish on the far end. Arched ceiling with a center spinny fan, and a high up mural drawn. A single barbell pouring 8 beers, reasonably dupes from the front room. Tables riddled about; 7 lows and hightops, a bit of bar counter space, and a couch and cushy chair set up. Lot of room to play out front, too. Garden space with table & chair set ups umbrella’d up, fire pit, and food truck action.

Environmentally hip for Earth’s sake, having moved to being 100% employee owned through an ESOP, anniversary bikes, the intricate beer art, and a thousand other little things that make them much cooler than you are, they’re a class act and not for show. And that barrel program… madness. This is why you drove up to Fort Collins.
Oct 13, 2020
 
Rated: 4.33 by BeerBucks from New York

Oct 04, 2020
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Rated by Augy from California

3.5/5  rDev -19.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5
Smooth tasting amber ale.
Aug 25, 2020
 
Rated: 4.15 by slasich from Pennsylvania

May 16, 2020
 
Rated: 4.94 by NV87 from Florida

Feb 23, 2020
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Rated by Moonsparks

1/5  rDev -77%
vibe: 1 | quality: 1 | service: 1 | selection: 1
I like the brewery but the beer seems so unspecial. Tried it again if i was missing something...still below average
Feb 15, 2020
 
Rated: 3.4 by Kolb from Montana

Jan 16, 2020
 
Rated: 4.15 by EBdos

Nov 19, 2019
 
Rated: 4.83 by hafchicken

Oct 27, 2019
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Reviewed by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

4.22/5  rDev -3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5
Let's call it a shrine of the craft beer era, huge facility north of town (parking is a challenge.) It seems like there are 7 different ways into the tasting room ( for this review I need to qualify 2 things: I did not explore all of the place, and I've been drinking) 6 sided bar seats maybe 20... tables, patio, food truck... 20 plus beers on tap, I had the Oakshire and Single Hop Citra... really really nice...(I'm starting to believe draft is the way to go). Friendly knowledgeable bartenders. Definitely pilgramage worthy.
Sep 30, 2019
 
Rated: 4.75 by atlbravsrno1 from Maine

Aug 02, 2019
 
Rated: 5 by Davit from California

Jul 27, 2019
 
Rated: 4.42 by cd34 from Illinois

Jul 25, 2019
 
Rated: 4.32 by jbarry3000 from North Carolina

Jul 21, 2019
 
Rated: 5 by Butchnasty from Louisiana

Jul 14, 2019
 
Rated: 3.93 by zotzot from Vermont

May 28, 2019
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Reviewed by West_Chester_Ale_Tester from Ohio

4.17/5  rDev -4.1%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25
I'm trying not to let their takeover influence my review. To see my totally unbiased opinion, check out my review from the Asheville location a few years ago. Anyways, the spot is great. Big, open, totally Colorado. Looks can be deceiving, because from the outside, it looks huuuuge. Inside, the bar is actually pretty small. I didn't mind. I was able to snag a seat and get one of their pilot kit beers. It was really good. For the most part, I've always really enjoyed this brewery and wish I still could. I'm not sure that if I went to Denver again, I'd make the drive, knowing what I do now. Shame.
May 26, 2019
 
Rated: 3.81 by Dalbeast from Wyoming

May 11, 2019
 
Rated: 3.93 by Cole_Harris from Colorado

Feb 12, 2019
 
Rated: 3.58 by kidzord from Illinois

Nov 10, 2018
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Reviewed by Luckydog91 from Texas

4.33/5  rDev -0.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.25
Stopped in during GABF 2018 and participated in one of the special semi-private tours they were offering.

As one would expect given our timing the taproom was packed to the gills. Bartenders at the main bar were a bit overwhelmed but a separate bar off to the side was less crowded and seemed to have more unique beers pouring anyways.

Taproom and grounds were nice on their own but the tour really made the trip. Over 2 hours of behind the scenes acccess, one on one face time with brewers/employees and numerous free samples. Even got to pull a bottle fresh of the line toward the end.

Other than Fat Tire back when I first got into craft beer I’ve never been a huge New Belgium fan and wasn’t sure what to expect given the size of the company. Came away impressed though. Big company but felt much smaller and very approachable during our time there.
Sep 22, 2018
 
Rated: 4.29 by Knobs303 from Colorado

Aug 31, 2018
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Reviewed by mynie from Maryland

4.82/5  rDev +10.8%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 5 | selection: 4.75
Large craft breweries don't usually make for the best taproom experiences. I mean, sure, they're still fun, but it's a scrubbed and hurried sort of fun, like an afternoon at an amusement park. While you can't begrudge a brewery's success and expansion, there's nothing wrong with missing the old days, back when a place was new and relatively small and had more an intimate feel. Russian River's beers may be better on the whole than, say, Millstream, but I'd take Millstream's quaint taproom over RR's industrial maze.

New Belgium is a rare exception to this rule, joining the ranks of New Glarus as the most pleasant large-ish craft brewery experience. Both facilites make great use of the surrounding natural beauty; both provide ample, friendly staff; both offer a broad selection of top-tier beers at reasonable prices; and both just exude friendliness. (Also NB pays their staff a living wage, and that is really goddamn important).

All of the annoying design cilches that have befallen most recently opened breweries are absent at New Belgium. They really, genuinely do their own thing, they do it sustainably and responsibly, and if you are in area you absolutely must stop by.
Aug 21, 2018
 
Rated: 4.14 by tjstrat from Wisconsin

Aug 20, 2018
 
Rated: 4.24 by Tuna_Sempai from Indiana

Jul 11, 2018
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Reviewed by Harrison8 from Missouri

4.43/5  rDev +1.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.5
Interior of New Belgium is a little tight and small, especially when considering the weekend crowds. The bar spans the length of the space offering a half dozen to dozen attendants pouring beer, filling growlers, or selling 6 packs from the coolers behind the bar. Staff is all friendly, out going, and helpful. It's a very kind bunch of folks. Beer on tap is all New Belgium's offering their flagships as well as a few Lips of Faith specials and tap-room only beers. The outdoor patio was filled with people on the cloudy, summer day we were there. Yard games were available while a local band played. Seating was offered all around the patio in form of the landscape rocks and tables. A few food trucks were driven in offering on-site food, otherwise there is no food available. Great spot with a fantastic tour. The tour features a sample in every room, even occasionally pouring pre-aged La Folie.
Apr 03, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by Shy_Traveler45 from Montana

Feb 19, 2018
 
Rated: 4.13 by Futbolmanby from Michigan

Feb 19, 2018
 
Rated: 3.86 by Iwanttheonewithhops from Belgium

Jan 19, 2018
 
Rated: 4.07 by Pittsburgh-Redneck from Pennsylvania

Dec 06, 2017
 
Rated: 4.56 by nate1985 from Maryland

Dec 06, 2017
 
Rated: 4.49 by C_Pel from Pennsylvania

Oct 16, 2017
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Rated by Shawn28art from Texas

5/5  rDev +14.9%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5
It is now my favorite Brewing company
Oct 13, 2017
 
Rated: 4.28 by Beerhemoth from Illinois

Sep 06, 2017
 
Rated: 4.29 by superfriend from Wisconsin

Aug 25, 2017
New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins, CO
Brewery rating: 3.8 out of 5 with 27735 ratings