Microbreweries in Fort Collins, Colorado
As a beer drinker, you might feel cornered by the neighborhood bullies, Budweiser and Miller. Their aggressive advertising and ubiquity in liquor stores across the nation leave few opportunities for beer connoisseurs to experiment with new brands and tastes. If you know to keep your eyes, ears, and taste buds open, however, you can find delicious and unique microbrews throughout the country. If you happen to live in the West or find yourself traveling through the state of
Colorado
in particular, you can experience some of greatest beers in the country, either by finding them at a local liquor store, or even better, sampling them at the breweries themselves in
Fort Collins, Colorado
, the
Napa
Valley
of microbrews.
Unfortunately for those of us who live east of the
Mississippi River
, it is extremely difficult to find any of the following companies’ beers in a nearby liquor store. Enjoying them in
Fort Collins
or while traveling elsewhere in the West is often the only option, which admittedly is not a bad one! So whether you are a western resident or just a visitor, here is a thorough guide to the top
Fort Collins
breweries with which you should familiarize yourself. Since each company also offers a revolving series of seasonal brews, the following descriptions focus on the standards and classics from each brewery.
The most well-known
Fort Collins
microbrewery, and the one whose beers are easiest to find in other locales, is the New Belgium Brewing Company, located at 500 Linden St. in the far north section of town. If you’re in the neighborhood and want to take part in a brewery tour or just need more information, call 888-NBB-4044. Their flagship beer is Fat Tire, an amber ale that balances hops and malt incredibly evenly. It has a full-bodied and tangy taste that will appeal to almost everyone. This beer is usually the introductory microbrew for novices, and while it’s popular for a reason and is quite enjoyable, it is by no means the finest beer that New Belgium has to offer. For those who like a lighter beer, Sunshine Wheat makes a great choice. This beer is fruity and slightly tart with citrus undertones. All wheat beers should be drank with a slice of lemon or orange to enhance the citrus flavors inherent in them, and Sunshine is best when enjoyed with an orange because orange peel is actually an ingredient. Another option for the light beer lover is Blue Paddle, which is a pilsner. The market giant Budweiser is a pilsner, so here you can see how much difference careful crafting can make in a beer. Don’t assume that Blue Paddle will taste like Budweiser! Thankfully it’s quite different, since Blue Paddle has a hoppy, full-bodied taste, unlike the watery and bland behemoth. Another New Belgium classic is Abbey, which is a “dubbel” ale. In English, this is a double ale, which refers to an intricacy of the fermentation process. This beer is darker than Fat Tire, and it is filled with spicy and fruity tones. In the same vein is Trippel, which is a “triple” ale like Abbey is “double.” Although Trippel is lighter than Abbey, the increased fermentation process results in a higher alcohol content, so don’t think that just because a beer looks lighter that it packs less of a punch! Containing a noticeable bite, Trippel distinguishes itself with a very tangy taste. Lastly, perhaps the most unique New Belgium beer, (and my personal favorite), is 1554, a black ale unlike anything else you’ve ever tasted. Based upon a sixteenth-century recipe, 1554 is thick and has strong chocolate and coffee undertones. Amazingly, though, this beer goes down easier than it sounds and leaves very little aftertaste. Do not be intimidated by its dark appearance; this beer is one of the best-tasting in the nation and a true original!
Another excellent local brewery in
Fort Collins
in Big Horn Brewery in C.B. & Potts Restaurant, located at 1415 W. Elizabeth St. Big Horn has choices for all different beer palates; from very light to dark, they have options to please everyone. Their lightest beer, the Blonde, is the weakest choice on the menu, so skip it unless really prefer a very light taste. The brewery itself recommends this for “novices,” for which you can read those who don’t really care for full-bodied, uniquely tasting beers. Their Big Horn Hefeweizen, however, is a light beer replete with fruity undertones. If you enjoy wheat beers, give the Hefeweizen a try. A definite winner in any bizarre-name contest would be Buttface Amber Ale, and it’s got a unique taste as well! Rich in flavor with spicy undertones, Buttface Amber overcomes its unbecoming name and remains one of Big Horn’s best. Big Red Ale is much like an India Pale Ale, so when trying it expect a very hoppy taste with a tangy kick. Finally, Total Disorder Porter stands out as one of this brewery’s finest choices: Its chocolate undertones give it a deep, smooth flavor that will appeal to dark beer drinkers. For more information about Big Horn Brewery, call 970-221-1139.
On the other side of town, in the heart of
Fort Collins
‘ Old Town Square, is CooperSmith’s. Arguably the most popular beer from this brewery, and my preferred choice, is Punjabi, a richly flavored India Pale Ale. This very full-bodied beer has a strong hoppy flavor and a distinct aftertaste. It also has a very high alcohol content, which might help explain its popularity! For a lighter ale, try Poudre Pale Ale, named after the river north of
Fort Collins
that runs from the mountains. Lighter and sweeter than Punjabi, this ale is a definite crowd pleaser. Another CooperSmith’s classic is Not Brown Ale, which, despite its name, is actually a brown ale. The clever moniker refers to how this beer is lighter than most brown ales; it’s lightly hopped and has tasty coffee undertones, but it’s not thick or overwhelming. Lastly, Horsetooth Stout, named for Horsetooth Rock, a popular local hiking destination, does border on overwhelming. This beer has a heavy taste and texture; dark beer drinkers will surely enjoy it, but if you prefer a lighter taste, this is not the beer for you. In addition to the brewery and bar, CooperSmith’s offers a restaurant with an inviting patio during warmer months, so if you can, enjoy a good meal with their fine brews. Call 970-498-0483 for more information.
I have saved the best for last: Some may not agree with me, but I would be remiss if I didn’t say that the final brewery on this virtual tour, Odell Brewing Company, offers the best beers in town, and by extension, certainly some of the best in the country. Located at 800 E. Lincoln Ave., Odell is a must-see if you’re in
Fort Collins
and looking for brewery tours, and you can get more information by calling 970-498-9070. One of their darkest selections is Cutthroat Porter. This rich, full-bodied porter will be beloved by dark beer enthusiasts, but once again, the light beer fans should abstain. Odell’s lightest beer is Easy Street Wheat, and its tangy taste can be enjoyable for dark beer drinkers too. Don’t forget the lemon to enhance the citrus undertones! Slightly sweet, this beer finishes clean. In between those two opposites are the medium ales, Levity Amber and 90 Shilling, which is like a dark amber ale. Levity has softly spicy undertones and a well-balanced flavor. 90 Shilling, however, is the true masterpiece from this brewery. Abundant tastes and aromas combine to create a truly unique, remarkable flavor in this beer. Its hoppy characteristic is complemented by the rich coffee undertones; it has a tangy kick at first sip but doesn’t leave a heavy aftertaste. Its spicy bitterness is softened by sweet undertones. If you are fortunate enough to find this in six-pack form at a liquor store outside of
Fort Collins
, be sure to pick it up! If you’re in “The Fort,” enjoy this gem of a beer as often as you can!
In short, the variety of microbreweries and beers in
Fort Collins, Colorado
, is truly analogous to
Napa
Valley
and its wines. If you consider yourself to be a beer aficionado, or you just like to try new tastes, seek out these breweries or keep you eyes open for their products in your home town. If you’re passing by
Fort Collins
on your way to the ski resorts of the high country, take a detour and try these beers where they’re created: Any way, any place you drink them, you’re sure to find one that you like!
