Breweries in the U.S. state of Colorado produce a wide range of beers in different styles that are marketed locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. In 2012 Colorado's 161 breweries and brewpubs and 3 wholesalers employed 5,000 people directly, and more than 22,000 others in related jobs such as wholesaling and retailing.[1][2] Including people directly employed in brewing, as well as those who supply Colorado's breweries with everything from ingredients to machinery, the total business and personal tax revenue generated by Colorado's breweries and related industries was more than $2.5 billion.[2] Consumer purchases of Colorado's brewery products generated another $118 million in tax revenue.[3] In 2012, according to the Brewers Association, Colorado ranked 3rd in the number of craft breweries, and 6th per capita with 154.[4]
According to the Beer Institute, the state ranked number one in terms of gross beer production, producing over 23,370,848 barrels in 2006. Colorado is home to 4 of the top-50 brewing companies in the nation.
For context, at the end of 2013 there were 2,822 breweries in the United States, including 2,768 craft breweries subdivided into 1,237 brewpubs, 1,412 microbreweries and 119 regional craft breweries.[5] In that same year, according to the Beer Institute, the brewing industry employed around 43,000 Americans in brewing and distribution and had a combined economic impact of more than $246 billion.[6]
Breweries[edit]
- 3 Freaks Brewery[7] – Highlands Ranch
- 300 Suns[8] – Longmont
- Adolph Coors Company – Golden; the largest single brewery in the world, producing up to 22 million barrels of beer each year
- Anheuser-Busch InBev – Ft. Collins
- Asher Brewing Company[9] – Boulder
- Avery Brewing Company – Boulder
- Beyond The Mountain Brewing- Boulder [10]
- Black Bottle Brewery[11] – Fort Collins
- Bootstrap Brewing Company [12] - Longmont
- Boulder Beer Company – Boulder
- Breckenridge Brewery – Littleton; acquired by Anheuser-Busch in 2015[13]
- Brewability - Englewood
- Call to Arms Brewing Company, Denver[14]
- Camber Brewing Company - Fraser
- Cannonball Creek Brewing Company[15] – Golden
- Collision Brewing Company[16] - Longmont
- Crabtree Brewing Company – Greeley
- Declaration Brewing Company[17] – Denver
- DeSteeg Brewing, Denver[18]
- Dillon Dam Brewery – Dillon
- Dry Dock Brewing Co. – Aurora
- Eddyline Brewery, Salida[19]
- Elk Mountain Brewing Company – Parker
- Flyeco Craft Brewing - Denver[20]
- Fort Collins Brewery – Fort Collins
- Front Range Brewing Co.[21] - Lafayette
- Great Divide Brewing Company – Denver
- Grossen Bart Brewery[22] - Longmont
- Hogshead Brewery - Denver[23]
- Kokopelli Beer Company - Westminster
- Left Hand Brewing Company – Longmont
- Living the Dream Brewing[24] – Littleton – taproom, opened in 2014
- Little Machine Beer, Denver[25]
- Locavore Beer Works[26] – Littleton – taproom, opened in 2014
- Mad Jack's Mountain Brewery[27] – Bailey taproom, opened in 2016
- Mountain Toad Brewing[28] - Golden
- New Belgium Brewing – Fort Collins; the first wind-powered brewery in the U.S. and is currently the largest of its kind in the world
- Oasis Brewing Company, Denver[29]
- Odell Brewing Company – Fort Collins
- Oskar Blues Brewery – Lyons and Longmont
- Paonia United Brewing Company[30] – Paonia
- Paradox Beer Company[31] – Divide
- The Post Brewing Company[32] – Lafayette
- Seestock Brewery, Denver[33]
- Rails End Beer Company[34] - Broomfield
- Ska Brewing – Durango
- South Park Brewing, Fairplay[35]
- Snowbank Brewing[36] – Fort Collins
- Three Barrel Brewing Co, Del Norte[37]
- Tommyknocker Brewery – Idaho Springs
- Upslope Brewing Company – Boulder
- Walnut Brewery – Boulder
- WestFax Brewing Company, Denver[38]
- Wibby Brewing[39] - Longmont
- Wiley Roots Brewing Company – Greeley[40]
- Wonderland Brewing[41] - Broomfield
- Wynkoop Brewing Company – Denver
Pop culture[edit]
In Dumb and Dumber, Lloyd refers to Aspen, Colorado as "a place where the beer flows like wine".
Denver has been nicknamed "the Napa valley of beer," but it is unclear how this nickname came to be. Referenced by the Denver Business Journal,[42] it's rumored that the nickname was created by the Sheraton Hotel chain as part of their "Chief Beer Officer" promotion in 2008.[43]
According to legend, Denver's first permanent structure was a saloon.[44] While there is evidence of a saloon and brothel at 2009 Market Street[45] of historical significance, it seems likely that the true location of the first permanent structure is forever unknown. According to The City and The Saloon, Denver 1858-1916,[46] there were numerous saloons in the Denver area during the city's early days.
See also[edit]
- Beer in the United States
- List of breweries in the United States
- List of microbreweries
- Bibliography of Colorado
- Geography of Colorado
- History of Colorado
- Index of Colorado-related articles
- List of Colorado-related lists
- Outline of Colorado
References[edit]
- ^ "Brewer's Almanac--Active Brewer Permits, 2004 - 2012". The Beer Institute. Archived from the original on 16 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
- ^ a b "The Economic Impact of the Beer Industry--State Legislative & Congressional District Data, Colorado". The Beer Institute. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
- ^ "The Economic Impact of the Beer Industry--2012 Data, Colorado". The Beer Institute. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
- ^ a b "Capita per Brewery" (PDF). Brewers Association. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
- ^ "Brewers Association Announces 2013 Craft Brewer Growth". 13 March 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ "Beer Serves America". The Beer Institute. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ Shikes, Jonathan (June 17, 2014). "3 Freaks Brewery Is Now Pouring in Highlands Ranch". Westword. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
- ^ Wilmes, Tom (February 27, 2014). "300 Suns owners might have a hit on their hands". Times-Call. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
- ^ Casey, Michael J. (December 1, 2016). "Tour de Brew: Asher Brewing Co". Boulder Weekly. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- ^ "Tour-de-brew". 24 May 2018.
- ^ Erickson, Alec (October 15, 2017). "Black Bottle Brewery Brings Back Chocolate Cereal Beer". The Rocky Mountain Collegian. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
- ^ Sutak, Tyra (April 17, 2017). "Opening Alert: Bootstrap Brewing Company". 5280. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
- ^ Wallace, Alicia (December 22, 2015). "Breckenridge Brewery Sold to Giant Anheuser-Busch's "High End"". The Denver Post. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- ^ Shikes, Jonathan (Jul 20, 2015). "Call to Arms Brewing Opens With Its Own Twist on Beer Culture". Westword. Retrieved Jun 2, 2021.
- ^ Gorski, Eric (January 21, 2013). "Thirsty Golden Welcomes Cannonball Creek Brewing, Run by Mountain Sun Alums". The Denver Post. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- ^ High, Lucas (August 15, 2018). "New brewery, restaurant coming to east Longmont". Daily Camera. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
- ^ "Business Q&A: Declaration Brewing, Denver". The Denver Post. April 21, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- ^ Shikes, Jonathan (Oct 20, 2017). "DeSteeg Brewing Has Been Sold; New Owners Will Make Changes". Westword. Retrieved Jun 2, 2021.
- ^ Shikes, Jonathan (Nov 26, 2018). "Buena Vista's Growing Eddyline Brewery Sells to Family and Friends". Westword. Retrieved Jun 2, 2021.
- ^ Shikes, Jonathan (Feb 11, 2019). "FlyteCo Brewing Will Take Off on Tennyson Street This Month". Westword. Retrieved Jun 2, 2021.
- ^ Meyer, Jeremy (August 13, 2013). "Tiny Lafayette suddenly becoming a craft beer haven". The Denver Post. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
- ^ "Grossen Bart Brewery signs lease on new Longmont space". Times-Call. June 3, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
- ^ Hutto, Emily (Apr 9, 2013). "Hogshead Brewery on 54 Imperial Gallons of Beer". Eater Denver. Retrieved Jun 2, 2021.
- ^ Shikes, Jonathan (July 9, 2014). "Living the Dream Brewing Opening Saturday in Highlands Ranch". Westword. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
- ^ "Little Machine Beer". Westword. Retrieved Jun 2, 2021.
- ^ Shikes, Jonathan (November 14, 2014). "Locavore Beer Works Opens in Littleton Tomorrow". Westword. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
- ^ James, Lynda (February 26, 2016). "Commissioners Approve Mad Jack's Mountain Brewery Liquor License". The Flume. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ^ Shikes, Jonathan (May 22, 2013). "Mountain Toad Brewing opens in Golden as the town's third craft brewery". Westword. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
- ^ Shikes, Jonathan (Apr 19, 2018). "Oasis Brewing Brings Back Old-School Beers in a New Location". Westword. Retrieved Jun 2, 2021.
- ^ Shehan, Patrick (January 22, 2020). "Paonia Is a Western Slope Gem". Telluride News. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ Roberts, Dionne (July 23, 2016). "Paradox Beer Co. Is Reborn in Divide". Rocky Mountain Food Report. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- ^ Porter, William (May 13, 2014). "Dining Review: Post Brewing Co. Delivers Comfort Food in Lafayette". The Denver Post. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- ^ Shikes, Jonathan (Jul 8, 2019). "How One Denver Brewery Has Avoided the Haze Craze". Westword. Retrieved Jun 2, 2021.
- ^ Rios, Jennifer (September 8, 2016). "Rails End brewery is beginning of the line for group". Broomfield Enterprise. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
- ^ "South Park Brewing". Westword. Retrieved Jun 2, 2021.
- ^ Sexton, Josie (August 15, 2014). "Snowbank Brewing Becomes Fort Collins' 16th Brewery". Coloradoan. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
- ^ "Three Barrel Brewing Company". Colorado Brewery List. Retrieved Jun 2, 2021.
- ^ Haitz, Brian (May 31, 2018). "Westfax Brewing Co. Launches New Crowlers Inspired by Local Artist". CraftBeer.com. Retrieved Jun 2, 2021.
- ^ Winkel, Vince (May 18, 2015). "Wibby Brewing bringing craft lager to Longmont". Times-Call. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
- ^ Weaver, Bridgett (August 13, 2016). "Wiley Roots Brews Fresh Hop Beer with Greeley-Grown Hops". The Tribune. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
- ^ Wallace, Alicia (July 8, 2013). "Wonderland Brewing set to open in Broomfield". Daily Camera. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
- ^ Sealover, Ed (April 25, 2010). "Craft Brewers' Time Has Come". Denver Business Journal. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
- ^ Kirk Siegler (February 20, 2008). "Chief Beer Officer Does Best Work Before Lunch". NPR. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
- ^ "Beer Facts for Sharing". Spork Marketing, LLC. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
- ^ "Denver's Characters". Archived from the original on May 22, 2006. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
- ^ Noel, Thomas Jacob (1996). The City and the Saloon: Denver, 1858-1916. University Press of Colorado. ISBN 9780870814266. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
External links[edit]
- Colorado Brewery List
- Colorado Breweries Directory
- Colorado Breweries
- Boulder, Colorado Craft Brewery Guide