Hey CO BAs, Are breweries generally cool about impromptu bottleshares in their tasting rooms? Some buddies and I are coming in from So Cal this week and will be hitting a few of the breweries in Boulder & Fort Collins. We hang out at the Bruery tasting room a lot back home and it seems there are always Shares going on, especially on the weekends. The Bruery is cool with it and everyone has a great time. If shares seem to be going on, we'd like to be prepared in case we decide to join in. Otherwise, dont want to lug any beer from home if it's frowned upon. Thanks! Stay Classy.
I have lived in Ft. Collins for 6 years and work at a brewery in Loveland. Not sure of the rules, but just don't see it here so I'm guessing not encouraged. But we can share at my house
From the Colorado Department of Revenue Liquor Enforcement Division Licensee Handbook: Does it happen? Yeah, but not very often. Breweries have been fined for having other's breweries' beers on their premises, maybe not due to a bottle share. Find a BA that will host it or throw one in your hotel room.
Depends on the place. The situation dauss alluded to has tightened things, especially around Denver, but some still do. Avery is great about it. Just ask the staff when you get there and make sure you're buying their beer, too, and you won't have an issue. No idea about Ft. Collins spots.
Thanks for the info guys! We certainly dont want to be the tools that roll into a brewery and start poppin outside bottles and getting anyone in trouble or pissed off. There is more than enough for us to visit and drink while in the glorious state of Colorado so I dont think we need to try to put together a bottleshare in a private location. We just wont be carrying any extra Cali beers with us on the way out now. Good to know.
You can always contact a few of the smaller tap-rooms and see if they will let you do it, or let you use a back room. Of course, if you do, make sure you buy some pints or swag from them. Like you said, I wouldn't just roll in with cases of bottles and 100s of people expecting to do it. I also wouldn't bother with the bigger guys like NB or Odell, they are going to be a zoo all week anyway. But it never hurts to ask.
My understanding is that breweries actually have a weird exemption from the standard liquor licensing system, whereby they are authorized as a manufacturer to sell only their own beers manufactured on premises. I work for a municipal governmental entity, and I know the breweries in our jurisdiction don't have to be licensed at the local level for their tap rooms, but only have the manufacturer's license from the state. So that is one reason why you don't see things like guest taps, and I'm sure hosting formal bottle exchanges would be a little dicey.
