Hey all! I am planning a trip to Colorado for next week (May 27-31). I'll be in Denver/Fort Collins. I am going to hit up a bunch of breweries for sure, but I am curious which brewery has the best tour. What's your favorite and why? You folks in Colorado are lucky to have so many breweries, but it makes planning a short trip super tough. Too many choices! Thanks for the input. Cheers! PS. If you are interested in setting up an IP trade for some Minnesota/WI brews, send me a PM.
Hands down New Belgium. Regardless if you're a fan or not the place is a brewing marvel. All dem foudres are purdy too. Book your tour online early because they sell out pretty damn quick.
New Belgium hands down. Most breweries in CO are small, and "tour" probably isn't the best word. More like "take a peek around the corner" I did a Budweiser, New Belgium, Fort Collins Brewing, Funkwerks tour string. Interesting to see the massive scales at Bud and the drastic decrease in production on down the list.
New Belgium obviously, but I also enjoy the Coors brewery in Golden. Nice, long tour with free beer. Enjoy Fort Collins; in my opinion it's the best beer city in the country.
Another New Belgium vote. It's extremely easy to tour a half dozen other breweries close to NB, too...but none will have the same kind of spectacle. Most just involve taking a look at the equipment and brew space. You've seen one, you've seen most of them. The new Avery facility is also worth a trip if you're near Boulder. It's up there with NB as far as size and scope. On top of it, they have a ton of taps and great food in their in-house restaurant.
And by early, he means 5-1/2 months in advance (max is 6 months in advance). Typically if you wait 4-5 months in advance the tours will be booked. Although you can just hang out in the tap room and get on a waiting list to take 'no-shows' place, but doesn't work well for groups of more than 4.
Yea, I checked their website and they are booked for my entire stay in CO. I still will probably try to get on the waiting list. It's just me and one other person, so at least there's a chance, right? Thanks for the input everybody!
Oh yea, you'll be picked up within an hour or less I imagine (also there's 4 small tastings on the tour IIRC)
At least 4. I seem to remember six on my last visit. They also aren't that small really. Just don't plan on driving away from the tour right away. Walking is good...
