As the craft beer capital of Colorado, Fort Collins gets a lot of attention for its beer scene. It is, after all, the home of craft beer giants New Belgium Brewing and Odell Brewing along with more than 20 other small breweries. But it’s not the only Northern Colorado city that can boast award-winning, handcrafted brews.
To celebrate NoCo’s other craft beer rockstars, we rounded up the breweries (and one meadery!) from Greeley to Berthoud to Loveland and even down to Johnstown. Use our map to track down the one closest to you or create your own beer tour trail. Either way, you don’t want to miss any of these local gems. We also included a few that are set to open within the next year, so be on the lookout for those opening dates!
To see a similar guide for FoCo, check out The Ultimate Guide to Fort Collins Craft Breweries.
Berthoud Brewing Company | Berthoud
Photo courtesy of Berthoud Brewing Company
Powered by local beer lovers and grains from Fort Collins’ Troubadour Maltings, Berthoud Brewing Company offers a menu of ten original beers on tap every day. Inside the comfortable taproom, you can hear live music multiple times a week, so check out the calendar and head over!
Big Beaver Brewing Co. | Loveland
2707 W Eisenhower Blvd | Facebook
At Big Beaver, they believe their picturesque, awe-inspiring Loveland location deserves equally awesome beer. Since opening in 2010, the team has been cranking out good, clean brews while maintaining both sustainability and fun. Inside the taproom, you’ll find board games, a large screen TV and plenty of locals enjoying 16 taps, Big Beaver’s own Root Beer, a selection of Italian sodas, and mouth-watering German brats.
Big Thompson Brewery | Loveland
Photo courtesy of Big Thompson Brewery
Inspired by the gorgeous views of the powerful Big Thompson River, the motto at this Loveland original is “Let the beer flow”. And that’s exactly what they’ve been doing since opening their doors in 2015! The online tap list lets you preview what they have now and what’s coming up. Original brews can include anything from the classic Sunseeker Apricot Wheat to the sandwich-inspired SiriusLee Peanut Butter Rye Porter.
Brix Taphouse & Brewery | Greeley
At Brix, located in historic Downtown Greeley, you can taste Colorado beers from 60 taps that include a selection of beverages brewed in-house. We especially love it because you can pair those beers with a food menu that includes snacks like Bacon Wrapped Dates, Flatbread Pizzas and Paninis, and an amazing Sunday brunch!
Broken Plow Brewery | Greeley
Featured on Northern Colorado Speaks as a Great American Beer Festival winning brewery, Broken Plow is a must-visit in Greeley. The team’s experience begins with 30 years of growing organic greenhouse produce alongside 30 years of homebrewing. Now, you can taste that passion and experience which result in outstanding gluten-reduced beers. Stop by for a flagship anytime or taste the bronze medalist, India Spring Honey Cream Ale, seasonally!
Buckhorn Brewers | Loveland
4229 W Eisenhower Blvd | Facebook
This neighborhood nanobrewery is a hidden gem in Loveland. Their taproom features a lineup of ten original beers and friendly conversations with the very people who brewed them. With a casual, hyper-local feel, the spot features work from local artists, the occasional local food truck or eatery, and plenty of spontaneous events! Follow along on Facebook so you know what’s happening.
City Star Brewing | Berthoud
Photo courtesy of City Star Brewing and Emily Sierra Photography
Another GABF-winning brewery, this small town spot produces small-batch ales, handcrafted in the heart of downtown Berthoud for both the tasting room and for various restaurants and bars throughout the Front Range. In 2017, City Star brewed 693 barrels of beer on their mighty 3.5 barrel system — all of which are worth a taste. Stop by the taproom for food trucks, special events and live music.
Crabtree Brewing Company | Greeley
A favorite amongst Greeley locals and visitors alike, Crabtree offers weekly events, brewery tours, seasonal beers, special releases, craft soda, and a welcoming taproom and beer garden atmosphere. Amongst the flagship brews, we’re pretty crazy about Ginger Bee, but you do not want to miss seasonal selections like the Coconut Christmas Ale, the Berliner Weisse Sour Ale or the Vanilla Bean Coconut Porter!
Crow Hop Brewery and Taproom | Loveland
Crow Hop has been a Loveland favorite for years, bringing home medals from GABF while impressing the locals with every new brew. In 2018, they’re working on moving to a new downtown taproom that will feature two patios, the friendly faces we’ve come to love, and all the great beer Crow Hop fans can handle.
Green Earth Brewing Company | Greeley
Green Earth is about green practices and great beer. Their historic building in downtown Greeley was remodeled using reclaimed materials, and their beers feature as many Colorado ingredients as possible. As a result, they’re packed with flavor. From the classic New England Style IPA to the spiced Gingerbread Blonde Ale, this is a must-visit on any Greeley brewery tour.
Grimm Brothers Brewhouse | Loveland
Photo courtesy of Grimm Brothers Brewhouse
All of NoCo’s craft beer connoisseurs will travel for a Grimm Brothers brew. Their head brewer, Laura, isn’t just one of the best female brewers in Colorado; she’s one of the state’s best brewers! In addition to flagship favorites like Little Red Cap and Robber King, they release incredible seasonal brews, including an annual Valentine’s Day beer that is only available within Loveland during February.
Laughing Leprechaun Meadery | Loveland
This Loveland meadery would also fit on a list of NoCo’s best wineries, but we couldn’t leave it off this guide. Set to open in spring 2018, the word (and the mead) is already out amongst locals. Made by fermenting honey with water, Laughing Leprechaun has included ingredients like Cranberry Blossom honey, Mesquite honey and coffee. Follow on Facebook for grand opening updates.
Loveland Aleworks | Loveland
This Sweetheart City original is an independent, family-owned brewery offering a selection of small batch handcrafted beers. Driven by brewer and owner Nick Callaway, the beers are inspired by traditional European and American craft beer styles and can include anything from a classic Saison to Darkest Day, a robust porter aged on cocoa husks and packed with chocolate flavor and hand-toasted coconut.
Rock Coast Brewery | Loveland
Brewers Dave Murphy and Bob Shaffer teamed up to bring their brewery dream to life right here in Loveland. Named for the jaw-dropping Rocky Mountains, the brewery and taproom recently teamed up with AKA Kitchen and they’re slated to open together in spring 2018. The AKA Kitchen/Rock Coast Brewery experience will be the first to offer freshly brewed beers paired specifically with breakfast and lunch foods alongside an upscale pub fare menu during the evening. Follow Rock Coast and AKA on Facebook for grand opening details!
Storytime Brewing Co. | Loveland
TBA | Facebook
Storytime Brewing was born from the simple idea that when friends and beer come together, there’s always a story. Though they’re not open yet, the buzz has already arrived around this father/son team and, if things go as planned, they’ll open in early fall 2019. Follow their journey on Facebook!
Tilted Barrel Brew Pub | Loveland
Once operating under the name 40th Parallel Brewery, the team behind this much-anticipated project recently purchased the old Tilted Barrel restaurant. Beginning in March 2018, they’ll be brewing beer and cooking up delicious pub food under this beloved Loveland name. As a destination for families and beer lovers alike, we think it’ll quickly become a favorite in town.
Verboten Brewing and Barrel Project | Loveland
The old German Purity Law stated that beers could only be made with three ingredients: barley, water and hops. Later, yeast was added to the lineup. Verboten’s beers are driven both by this simplicity and the creativity that comes from breaking the rules. Their beers incorporate fruit and spice, barrel aging and other distinctive ingredients that were once “verboten”. Driven by the belief that there’s a beer out there for everyone, this is a must-visit in Loveland.
Veteran Brothers Brewing | Johnstown
Located about 20 minutes southeast of Loveland, Veteran Brothers is the first brewery to call Johnstown home. Offering pints in the taproom and growlers to go, the space is stunningly and simply designed in rustic style and, during the summer, they can open the garage door to let in the Colorado air. They pair it all with Tuesday evening trivia and Thursday night bingo!
Weldwerks Brewing Co. | Greeley
Photo courtesy of Weldwerks Brewing Co. and Neil Fisher
This humble little brewery in Greeley has been making headlines across the country for their outstanding beers. In 2017, they landed a gold medal in the Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout category at GABF for Medianoche. New creations in the Medianoche series are often available exclusively in the taproom along with their lineup of beloved brews like Juicy Bits and the Coffee Coconut Stout. In 2018, they’ve promised to release 100 new beers! Follow on Facebook so you don’t miss any of them.
Wiley Roots Brewing Company | Greeley
Photo courtesy of Wiley Roots Brewing Company
Wiley Roots was born from a dream and built from the ground up by Founders, Brewers and Operators Kyle and Miranda Carbaugh. When they opened in 2013, they were the only brewery in Greeley alongside Crabtree. Since then, they’ve been awarded Gold and Bronze medals at the Great American Beer Festival in 2015 and 2013. Stop by the taproom to try classics like a New England Style IPA, House That Beer Built, or Something Came In The Mail which is a chocolate porter brewed with hazelnut and almonds.
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Give your favorites a shout-out in the comments below and let us know if we missed anyone!
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