The annual Colorado Brewers Festival showcases the state of the state's suds on the last weekend in June. The oldest annual brewfest in Colorado, the Old Town event is open solely to Colorado breweries, including our local hosts. To get a taste of award-winning lagers, pilsners and ales year round, take our Foam on the Range tour.
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Foam on the Range Tour
From downtown, head north on I-25 about 5 miles to the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Co. Embark on a comprehensive tour of the Budweiser brewing and bottling process, visit the world-famous Clydesdale horses. Pick up some souvenirs in the extensive gift shop.
From there, head back south on I-25 to the Mulberry Street/Highway 14 exit. Turn right on Timberline Road, then left on Lincoln Street. In about a half mile, you'll see Fort Collins Brewery on your right. Here you'll sample a variety of beers, from the smoky Z Lager to the unusual (and bestselling) Major Tom's Pomegranate Wheat.
Next stop: the first microbrewery in Fort Collins. Head right on Lincoln Street about 1 mile to Odell Brewing Co., on your right. Homebrewer Doug Odell opened his craft brewery in November 1989. In addition to the original 90 Shilling, a rich amber ale, Odell's popular brews include Easy
Street Wheat, a Gold Medal Winner at the 2005 Great American Beer Festival; 5 Barrel Pale Ale; Levity Golden Amber and Isolation Ale, available from November to March.
The last three stops are all in and around Old Town.
From Odell's, head right on Lincoln Street to Jefferson Street and turn right, then take another right onto Linden Street. New Belgium Brewing Co. is north 2 blocks on the right. In 1991, Jeff Lebesch and Kim Jordan homebrewed a version of ales Jeff had sampled while mountain biking in Belgium. The brewery now has a capacity of 150,000 barrels a year and Fat Tire Ale continues to sweep the nation. On top of six regular brews and five limited release beers, New Belgium is also known for its environmental stewardship.
Finish up your tour at Cooper-Smith's Pub and Brewing for a bite to eat with your brews. Take a left out of New Belgium's parking lot onto Linden Street.
CooperSmith's specialty beers such as Albert Damm Bitter and Punjabi India Ale are served in the English tradition, dispensed from "Beer Engines" that draw in nitrogen from the atmosphere to give the beer a nice creamy head.
A little off the beaten brewery path is C.B. & Potts, an award-winning brewpub with great burgers and even better brews. On the west side of the CSU campus, Potts is a favorite on game-day.
No Smoking, Please
Since October 1, 2003, smoking has been prohibited in all Fort Collins restaurants and bars and 75% of all hotel/ motel guest rooms. The no-smoking zone extends to a 20-foot perimeter outside the entrance of smoke-free areas, which include all places of employment in the city. Exceptions are made for designated smoking areas and private clubs and functions not open to the public.
