Boulder breweries have long been under the influence of Denver because of its status as a brewing mecca. But these hidden gems have started emerging and getting recognized for their quirky, unique, and award-winning brews in competitions like the Great American Beer Festival (GABF).
Besides its award-winning breweries, Boulder is famous amongst outdoor activity lovers such as bikers, with 300 miles of bike trails spread across mountains & plains, hikers, and more. Boulder has been aptly called “the bike racer capital of the U.S.”
So whenever you’re in Boulder for spoke brewery hopping, you will never be out of fun activities to chill.
Sadly, even though the locals’ favourite & oldest brewery in Boulder, Boulder Beer Co., has stopped production after 40 glorious years, there are many other well-known breweries too. Its last business day was on 18th January 2020, but Boulder Beer Co. has a partnership with a Denver brewing co. Sleeping Giant Brewing Company to keep its best brews in production.
Sleeping Giant will be producing this iconic brewery’s flagship beers, including Buffalo Gold, Shake Chocolate Porter, Mojo IPA, and Hazed Hoppy Session Ale.
So you will savor the finest offerings of this iconic brewery for many years to come in your favorite liquor stores & bars. Now for your beer vacation, here are the ten best breweries in Boulder, Colorado, you mustn’t miss.
List of 10 Best Breweries in Boulder
1. Avery Brewing Company
2nd of iconic breweries in Boulder after Boulder Beer Company, Avery Brewing Co. is well acknowledged even outside Colorado for its eccentric offerings & experimentation. Only a year after opening in 1993, their beer was called Out of Bound Stouts and won a Gold medal at GABF. Since then, its popularity has grown by leaps & bounds.
Whatever your favorite poison is, you will find it here. With 30 beers on tap, some of their best offerings are their flagship Belgian-style white ale White Rascal, Maharaja – imperial IPA, representing its namesake it is full hoppy & malty bounty, Elle’s Brown Ale – a chocolatey and malty delight named after owners beloved chocolate lab. There are more Stouts, Lagers, Porters, Wild Ales, and Sours.
Enjoy all these with their tasty food dine-in menu on their spacious patio & taproom.
2. Upslope Brewing Company
Beers of Upslope Brewery give you the same experience as the meaning of the brand name itself- it’s an exciting weather phenomenon that brings loads of snow and brings out all snow sports enthusiasts.
Their brews have won various awards in beer festivals like GABFs, World Beer Cup, Best of Craft Beer awards, and more.
Some of their best offerings are – Craft Lager, Indian Pale Ale, Brown Ale, and much more. Enjoy their excellent beer with the gorgeous view, live music, and delicious food truck menu.
This brewery has its taproom at two locations, Lee Hill & Flatiron Park, which means beer lovers have more options. Their beers are only available in cans, which you can enjoy wherever you want.
But their Lee Hill location is where they like experimenting. You can enjoy many pints of Barrel Aged Barleywine, Blue Hawaiian Sour Ale, Galaxy Dry-Hopped Wild Saison, and much more.
3. Oskar Blues, Taproom+Restaurant
Since its debut in Lyons, Colorado, in 1997 as a Grill and brew Restaurant, Oskar Blues has come very far away, spread its branches in Texas, North Carolina, and Colorado, and has an impressive range of beer.
Oskar Blues has many milestones under its belt. From 1st brewery to can its crafted beer in 2002 to the largest brewery by vol. to eschew using glass bottles in the U.S.A. In 2012, they were ranked 2nd largest brewery in Colorado and 27th in the country.
Their delectable craft beers have won several GABF awards. Some of their best beers are Dale’s Pale Ale, G’knight – American Imperial Red Ale, Guava Rodeo – American Session Sour, Mamma’s Little Yella Pils – a crisp, gently hopped German-style Pilsner, and more.
Enjoy fine dining with some of the best pub grub – pizzas, burgers, fries, wings, available in the whole of Boulder while admiring the majestic view of Flatirons in their taproom & outdoor patio. Or tap your feet with live music performances on Tuesdays, Fridays & Saturdays nights with your friends while sipping a pretty good drinkable pint of beer.
4. Sanitas Brewing Company
Opened in 2013, Sanitas Brewery company has 21 unique and award-winning beers on the tap.
Although they’re still growing up, a Silver medal at the Great American Beer Festival 2020 for their Deluge – in the mixed-culture Brett Beer Category and winning Colorado Ale Brewery of the Year 2021 at the Annual New York International Beer Competition has helped very much to spread their identity.
Their best beers are Passion Fruit Sour, Black IPA, Deluge – barrel-aged sour, and more. Enjoy a pint or a few of your favorite boulder beers at their huge outdoor patio, approx—8000 sq. feet, with acclaimed Heady Tacos from the food truck parked by the patio and live music.
5. Mountain Sun Pubs & Breweries
Having been in business since 1993, Mountain Sun Pubs & Breweries has four other branches between Boulder, Denver, and Longmont.
The original Mountain Sun Brewery is at Pearl St., Boulder; 2nd the Southern Sun Pub & Brewery at South Broadway, Boulder; 3rd one is at Vine St. Pub & Brewery, Denver, Colorado; 4th one is at Under The Sun Eatery & Pizzeria again, at South Broadway, Boulder; 5th one Longs Peak Pub at Longmont, Colorado.
All these branches serve brew from the original brewery. Some of their prized brews are F.Y.I.P.A – an American-style IPA, Colorado Kind Ale – an original hoppy amber ale of the Rocky Mountain, and Isadore Java Porter will tempt you to replace your coffee with this excellent offering.
Mountain Sun Pub also serves quality wine from wineries worldwide and some guest beers along with their craft beer.
You’re spoiled for the choice with their five brewpubs here. Don’t forget to grab their Ruben Sandwiches, Date Night Burgers, and wood-fired pizzas, but there are more tasty dining menus to entice you. Enjoy all these with your favorite poison while enjoying weekly events.
6. Asher Brewing Company
The only organic brewery in Colorado is well known for brewing high-quality brews. Located north of the town, some of the awards under their belt are 2 GABF silver medals, 2nd overall place at the National Organic Brewing Competition, and more.
Some of their best creations are Green Bullet IPA, brewed with the finest organic malted barley & hops; Green Lantern Kolsch, Greenade Double IPA, and Treehugger Amber.
Throw darts, play pool, or do other fun stuff available while enjoying the booze and grub of your choice in their taproom. You won’t only get to enjoy a unique variety of offerings but also help decrease your carbon footprint.
7. Wild Provisions Beer Project
Tommy Bibliowicz, the founder of the Wild Provisions Beer projects, has always been interested in traditional, old-world techniques of brewing & beers. He likes experimenting and always wanted to work with open-top fermentation, an ancient technique of fermenting beer.
He is also the founder of 4 Nose Brewing Company. But with Wild Provisions, he brings his idea & passion to fruition by diving into traditional brewing techniques.
Along with Czech-style lagers, they’re focused on experimenting with Sours, Farmhouse Ales, and American Wild Ales.
Enjoy some of their best offerings, Blauw Brett – a farmhouse-inspired sour, Premium Pale Lager – pale Czech-style lager, even oatmeal milk stout, and more with their delicious food truck bites options.
They always have various food trucks parked throughout the week. Enjoy Nordic-inspired cuisines by Grey Duck Eats tasty Southern food by The Southern Straw or cheezy pizzas with Lenin’s Wood-Fired Pizza
8. Beyond the Mountain Brewing Company
This 12-tapped award-winning Gunbarrel Boulder brewery has a few impressive ranges of beers, even though it’s a microbrewery. Known for their collaboration with live-performing bands to brew their beer, it shows the brewery owner’s passion for music & craft beer alike.
Mountain Brewery’s Klaus’s Kolsch – a classic German Kolsch has won a gold medal, Sour Shakedown Party – a Kettle sour with a heaping amount of blueberries has won a silver medal, and Prima Mexicana – a Vienna Lager has won a bronze medal at New York International Beer Competition 2021.
Enjoy a pint or a few of your favorite drinks while enjoying live performances and light grubs from the food truck.
9. Twisted Pine Brewing Company
Twisted Pine Brewing Company has been brewing beers in Boulder, Colorado, since 1993, with more than 20 excellent beers on the tap. It is well known for brewing traditional to twisted brews but in a good way. Winning 10 GABF awards and 3 World Beer Cups also doesn’t hurt!
With the best beers like Ghost Face, Killah – a chile beer peppered with infamous ghost pepper (not for the faint-hearted!), and flagship beer Hoppy Boy, beer lovers can enjoy great eats from the brewery’s chef-personalized tasty dining menu.
10. VisionQuest Brewery
Uniquely styled beers such as Lichtenhainer – Smokey Sour, brewed with beech smoked malt, Hallertau hops, and malted wheat, There’s a Cake in my Boot! An imperial pastry stout and Power Move DIPA, a double hazy IPA dry-hopped with Mosaic & Citra, made VisionQuest Brewery a true craft brewery.
Be adventurous and try these unique beers with good eats and some live music in their lively taproom!
Closing Thoughts
Boulder, Colorado, is a paradise for beer lovers, with various breweries offering unique and delicious creations. These ten breweries are considered the best in the city and are worth a visit on your next brewery tour with friends or family. They offer great beers and have a fantastic food menu, live music, and plenty of other activities to make your experience more fun and exciting.
This boulder beer bar is known for its vibrant craft beer scene, with a wide range of breweries producing diverse beers, from classic styles to experimental brews.
The city’s breweries are known for using locally sourced ingredients, and many have sustainable practices in place. They offer a variety of tours, tastings, and events that allow visitors to learn more about the brewing process and sample the beers in a unique and intimate setting.
For beer enthusiasts, visiting a brewery in Boulder is a must-do experience. These breweries offer a great selection of beers, a unique atmosphere, friendly staff, and a chance to meet other beer lovers. The city is also home to many beer festivals and events throughout the year, where you can sample various beers and enjoy live music.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need to make reservations to visit a brewery in Boulder?
A: Some breweries in Boulder may require reservations, especially during peak times such as weekends or special events. It’s best to check with the brewery beforehand to see if reservations are needed.
2. Are there any fees for visiting breweries in Boulder?
A: Some breweries may have a tasting fee or require a purchase to participate in a tour, but many are free to visit. It’s best to check with the brewery beforehand or look for any signs posted at the entrance.
3. Are there any age restrictions for visiting breweries in Boulder?
A: Most breweries or brewery tours have a minimum age requirement of 21 years to consume alcohol. IDs are typically checked at the entrance.
4. Are there any designated driver programs available at the breweries in Boulder?
A: Some breweries in Boulder may offer designated driver programs such as free non-alcoholic beverages or discounted tours. It’s best to check with the brewery beforehand to see if they offer designated driver programs.
5. Are pets allowed at breweries in Boulder?
A: Pet policies vary by the Boulder Co. Some may allow pets while others may not. Before visiting, it’s best to check with these breweries beforehand and ask about their pet policies.
Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology
