Popular craft breweries in Colorado: 6 places to know
Plan a Colorado brewery route through Fort Collins, Longmont, Greeley, Denver, Aurora, and Idaho Springs.
Colorado's craft beer reputation is broader than mountain branding and festival history. These six breweries trace a practical Front Range route through Fort Collins, Longmont, Greeley, Denver, Aurora, and Idaho Springs, with established producers beside newer hop and lager specialists.
The short answer is Odell Brewing Company, Left Hand Brewing Company, WeldWerks Brewing Co., Cerebral Brewing, River North Brewery, and Westbound & Down Brewing Company. They are not the only breweries worth visiting in Colorado. They are a curated starting point with active first-party locations and enough stylistic range to plan a useful trip.
1. Odell Brewing Company
Where: Fort Collins and Denver
Odell pairs a long-running Fort Collins brewery with additional Colorado taprooms. The current lineup moves beyond its familiar IPA names into lager, seasonal beer, and small-batch releases that are easiest to understand from the live tap list.
Visit Odell Brewing Company's official site
2. Left Hand Brewing Company
Where: Longmont
Left Hand is closely associated with Milk Stout Nitro, but its official lineup covers a wider range of ale and lager. The Longmont brewery gives visitors a clear place to compare nitro texture with standard carbonation.
Visit Left Hand Brewing Company's official site
3. WeldWerks Brewing Co.
Where: Greeley
WeldWerks became a destination through Juicy Bits and an active specialty-release program. Its Greeley taproom is the source to check for current pours, package availability, and release-specific rules.
Visit WeldWerks Brewing Co.'s official site
4. Cerebral Brewing
Where: Denver and Aurora
Cerebral is a modern Denver-area reference point for hop-forward beer, lager, and barrel-aged projects. Multiple locations make the brewery accessible, but the menus can differ, so choose the taproom based on the current list.
Visit Cerebral Brewing's official site
5. River North Brewery
Where: Denver
River North has built a following around strong dark beer, barrel-aged releases, and hop-forward options. The balance makes it useful for a group that does not want every stop to revolve around the same style.
Visit River North Brewery's official site
6. Westbound & Down Brewing Company
Where: Idaho Springs
Westbound & Down turns a drive west of Denver into a beer stop with a serious lager and hop program. Idaho Springs also gives the itinerary a different setting from the urban taprooms farther east.
Visit Westbound & Down Brewing Company's official site
How to plan a Colorado brewery trip
Follow the Front Range instead of zigzagging. Fort Collins, Greeley, and Longmont form a northern group. Cerebral and River North fit a Denver day. Westbound & Down works as a separate mountain-corridor stop when weather and traffic cooperate.
For cleaner comparisons, read pilsner vs lager and our guide to draft beer and freshness.
Before you go
Tap lists, hours, ticketing, food service, and release limits can change. Check every brewery's official site on the day of your visit. Bring a designated driver or arrange transportation, order smaller pours when comparing several beers, and skip any stop that makes the route rushed.
Related questions
What are some popular craft breweries in Colorado?
This guide includes Odell Brewing Company, Left Hand Brewing Company, WeldWerks Brewing Co., Cerebral Brewing, River North Brewery, and Westbound & Down Brewing Company. The list is a curated starting point, not a universal ranking.
Which Colorado city is best for a brewery trip?
Denver has the deepest concentration in this guide, while Fort Collins remains a major destination. The northern Front Range and Idaho Springs add enough distance that a multi-day plan works better.
Do Colorado breweries require reservations?
Policies vary by brewery, location, event, and release. Check each brewery's official hours and visit page before traveling, especially for tours, rural destinations, and limited releases.
Official brewery sources
- Odell Brewing Company
- Left Hand Brewing Company
- WeldWerks Brewing Co.
- Cerebral Brewing
- River North Brewery
- Westbound & Down Brewing Company
First-party visitor details were checked on September 18, 2026. Craft Beer Critics will check them again before publication.
