Denver

This place looks awesome. I will bookmark that spot. Any other spots closer to downtown?

 

I was being serious about the exotic meat hot dogs. This place is in LoDo and open until 3 AM, and is on of my favorites for post-beer snacks. As with many drunk foods, I pray you aren't prone to heartburn, but everything is tasty.


http://www.bikerjimsdogs.com

 

3 AM on Fridays and Saturdays, that is.

 

So I'll be in Colorado in mid to late August 8/18-8/23, and yes I've skimmed a good amount of this thread, still have some general questions that I'm sure have probably been answered elsewhere, sorry in advance...

I'll be dividing my time in different areas based on things we are planning: Fort Collins (1.5 days), Denver (Remainder), Boulder, Colorado Springs

Based on my own research and reading some other threads, I've whittled down the list of breweries I'd like to visit to the following, I'm open to other options, if I weren't traveling with the wife I could easily hit them all:

1. Odell
   
2. Avery
   
3. Crooked Stave
4. Oskar Blues
   
5. WeldWerks
   
6. New Belgium
7. Cerebral
8. Great Divide
9. Epic

In regards to Fort Collins, the first half of our day is more or less shot from flying/logistics, is the trip somewhat out of the way but still toward FC to WeldWerks worth it? I've heard great things...is their stuff easily found on tap elsewhere? Also, if you had to choose, New Belgium or Odell? (Considering all factors; tour, beer, food)

I'm thinking I'll get one day of all beer-related activities, would you hit Avery or Oskar Blues? I'd like to hit both, but worst case, which? As far as spots in Denver, it seems like there is a lot in close proximity that I'll be able to jump around, any I should prioritize?

Last, any breweries in DT Denver with legit food? This more or less guarantees I'm going there for another reason than myself

Thanks! If any of those 9 I listed aren't worth my time let me know, or if you have a suggestion I'm open. In some cases I might just have to keep an eye on beers on tap at these locations, there are some things I want to try but are likely seasonal.

 

Personally, I'd go with New Belgium. I think their tour is one of the best around thanks to their size, their pioneering barrel program, their attention to logistics, etc.
With NB you choose individual items you want large (4oz) samples of while Odell tends to focus on smaller samples and flights. You can get full pours at both if you want, too. I prefer NB's variety, but again, that's entirely up to your palate. Odell is better with heavy hopped beers, but I prefer NB for everything else.

Food-wise, you're looking at food trucks, but you're only a few blocks from downtown. Might as well just eat elsewhere.

 

Depends on what you like. If you are more into hops and like the NE style stuff that is out right now I would say Weldwerks is worth the 30-45 min detour. You can find kegs of juicy bits around town like Tap N Handle if you want to just try the base IPA. I prefer Odells to NB because I like hops and they are a lot better on that front then NB. I would take Avery over OB just because the new Avery brewery is amazing and OB is not as nice to look at. OB Liquids and Solids "the restaurant" has a good tap list both OB and guest and good BBQ. Pretty much on the way to Boulder. Denver breweries, not many have food just find food trucks. There are good beer bars with food or places like the source (Crooked Stave is located) has food options provided by other companies in the same space. I think your list is pretty solid, everyone will have other opinions but there is no way to hit all your options in one trip to Denver.

 

If you're flying into Denver and heading to Fort Collins from there, depending on what time it is I'd swing through Greeley and go to Weldwerks on the way to Fort Collins. Weldwerks did just extend their daily hours. It's always worth a ride to Weldwerks either way. I'm making a two hour trip there tomorrow. I'd definitely go to Avery over OB, mainly due to their amazing new brewery as someone else said. There's also an Oskar Blues burger place in RINO where you can get food and OB beers along with other taps from Cigar City, Perrin, etc., and it's right near Crooked Stave. I'd also recommend Odd 13 Brewing in Lafayette if you like hops. It's just east of Boulder and my favorite brewery in Colorado. I've never done it but I've heard the New Belgium tour is amazing. You may want to check into making reservations for it but I'm not positive.

 

Is it worth doing a day trip to Fort Collins? Is there some sort of public trans to get there?

 

Yes, and...not really. Lots of good beer in FoCo, but I don't know if there is a public transit option (unless you consider a private shuttle to be public transit).

 

There's some bus options from Union Station in Denver to FoCo but it's about a 2.5 hour trip. Not worth it imo.

 

Ft. Collins is about as densely packed with breweries as anywhere you're going to find. We're not talking all small upstarts learning what they're doing, either. I'd say it's definitely worth a trip if you can. Ideally I'd rent a car and get a hotel for the night as there's just about no way you're going to be able to drive back after visiting more than a couple places.

 

Ft Collins is a great spot to check out.

But if your window in Colorado is small, I'd probably just stick with the Denver area, so much to choose from there and Ft. Collins is a bit of a trek.

Going to Lafayette (for Odd 13) or Boulder (for Avery, amongst others) is an easier day trip if you want to get outside of Denver.

...and this is coming from someone whose 2 favorite breweries in Colorado are located in Fort Collins.

 

Thank you everyone for answering. So we are going to be in Denver next Wednesday night and will be there until the following monday late afternoon. (4/19-4/24) I figured 4 full days in Denver would give us a free day to check out Fort Collins. That's why I ask. I heard its awesome.

 

The tour is better at New Belgium, everything else, imo, is better at Odells. Granted, i am biased as odell is my favorite Colorado brewery.

 

I personally think both Odell and New Belgium are absolute musts. I can't imagine visiting Fort Collins and picking one over the other.

 

Especially because they so close to each other!

 

The fact that two large/successful/good breweries are that close to one another is pretty amazing. Both are pioneers, especially Odell. They're both in their original locations, too. I can't think of any other place (Europe included) where you encounter that. You see places like Bamberg where the breweries are next door to one another, but Odell and NB dwarf all of those breweries except maybe Kaiserdom.

 

New Belgium's original location is up Linden Street where Mawson Lumber is located, and Odell's original spot is up Lincoln where Smokestack Pottery is now located FYI

As far as I know, they both moved a few blocks down their same respective streets and have been in those locations since the 90s. I never made that 'staying on the same street' connection before

 

You learn something new every day - I didn't know that! I knew both had expanded a lot, but had no idea they had moved.

 

One great thing about New Belgium is that they tend to have a lot of new/interesting stuff on tap that never makes it to package. Odell does too, but for some reason I've never been impressed by the small-batch stuff from Odell. Odell's Patio is pretty killer.

For Fort Collins though, Funkwerks is my favorite place. Black Bottle is my dark horse (haha). Equinox has some surprising offerings. I haven't been to Zwei or Snowbank yet.

It's way far out of the way, but I suggest you make it out to Weldwerks. Check their facebook page to see when they are tapping new stuff.