How Fort Collins Became Colorado’s Craft Beer
Capital
Fort Collins is the fourth most populous city in Colorado and located about 56 miles north of Denver. It is located on the Cache La Poudre River and is considered a medium sized college town, since Colorado State University and a community college campus are located there.
But how did Fort Collins become known for its craft brews? When thinking about great craft brew scenes, bigger cities in the US might come to mind, and when thinking of Colorado, bigger cities in the state come to mind. So how did this medium sized college town claim the title of craft beer capital of Colorado?
Number of Breweries
One of the things that qualifies Fort Collins as Colorado’s Craft Beer Capital is the sheer number of breweries in the city. There are twenty craft breweries currently located in Fort Collins, plus the renowned (though non-craft) Anheuser-Busch brewery.
Not only are these twenty breweries located in Fort Collins, but many of them are award-winning. In addition, more breweries are expected to open in the city in the coming years. If you want to be surrounded by twenty amazing craft breweries, there are plenty of Fort Collins apartments for rent in the area.
Historic and Award-Winning Breweries
As noted, it is not enough that Fort Collins is home to a massive number of craft breweries, but many of these breweries also have many awards to their name, and several have long histories. For example, Anheuser-Busch is famous for making Budweiser and is known as one of the oldest beer companies in the country.
Another notable brewery in Fort Collins with a long history and award-winning craft brews is Odell Brewing Company. This brewery is the first to open in Fort Collins and has several award-winning brews, including 90 Shilling Ale and 5 Barrel Pale Ale.
Brewery Tours, Tastings, and More
It is all well and good that there are twenty breweries in Fort Collins, and it is obviously a bonus to enjoy the resulting beers to purchase from the breweries or on tap at local bars and restaurants. However, what really puts Fort Collins over the top as the Craft Beer Capital of Colorado is all the bonuses offered by the breweries.
Most of the craft breweries in the area offer tastings of their beers, and several offer tours of their brewing premises. Some offer even more. At Anheuser-Busch, you can visit with the Clydesdales, and at Odell Brewing Company, you can try new beers that haven’t even been released yet. At CB & Potts and Cooper Smith’s Pub & Brewing, you can enjoy a meal with your brews. At Equinox Brewing, you can take home a recipe to try and make your own craft brews.
If you are a fan of craft beers, Fort Collins is truly the place for you. From trying historic and award-winning beers to experimenting with your own, there is so much to take in and enjoy of the craft brew scene in Fort Collins. It has earned the title of Craft Beer Capital of Colorado.
