Bike to Breweries in Colorado’s Own Brew-topia
Fort Collins, Colorado, is home to several micro-breweries and a Budweiser plant that offers tours. If there is one thing this Front Range town takes more seriously than beer, however, it’s bicycles. Here, the bike culture and beer culture collide to create an almost European vibe.
Located 50 miles north of Denver, Fort Collins has five microbreweries who call the brew-topia home. Many of breweries are an easy bike ride from each other which makes for the ultimate beer tasting tour via bicycle. No bike? No problem. Stop by the Bike Library in Old Town Square and check one out – for free. Then embark on this self-guided tour of beer bliss.
Start: Coopersmith’s Pub and Brewing, next to the Bike Library in Old Town at 5 Old Town Square, always has something tasty on tap including Not Brown Ale, Poudre Pale and Horsetooth Stout. Looking for something with a kick? Try a Sigda’s Green Chili. Coopersmith’s is also great place for lunch to provide the fuel you’ll need for your ride. Pints from $4.
Stop 2: Odell Brewing Company‘s flagship brew is 90 Shilling Scottish Ale. There are also a full range of flavorful beers from the light, crisp Easy Street Wheat to the dark, roasty Cutthroat Porter. Tasting trays and pints from $4. Brewery Tours offered Monday through Saturday at 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Directions: exit Old Town Square via Mountain Avenue, follow Mountain Avenue across Riverside where it turns into Lincoln, follow Lincoln across the scenic Poudre River for approx. five blocks. Odell’s is on the left at 800 East Lincoln Avenue. Distance: .7 miles.
Stop 3: Fort Collins Brewery, makers of the tart and tangy Major Tom’s Pomegranate Wheat as well as the smoky, complex Z Lager and dark, smooth Chocolate Stout. Tastings from $4. Directions: Follow Lincoln Avenue East for approx. one mile, Fort Collins Brewery is on the left at 1900 East Lincoln Avenue #B. Distance: 1.5 miles.
End: New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale, promotes biking nearly as much as it does beer. From the Tour de Fat every September, to Bike-In Cinema each summer, New Belgium is the trendsetter for beer and bike culture. Tours are afternoons, Tuesday through Saturday. Directions: Go back the way you came west on Lincoln, take a right on 1st street, follow 1st for approx. 1 block, left on Buckingham, right on Linden, brewery is on the right at 500 Linden Street. Distance: 2 miles.
Optional Extension: Big Horn Brewing Company offers a cornucopia of hops and malts with award-winning brews like Buttface Amber, Big Red I.P.A and Total Disorder Porter. Located inside of C.B. Potts restaurant, this diverse menu makes this a great last stop – for beer and dinner. Pints from $4. Directions: Follow Linden west, left on Walnut to go around Old Town Square, right on Mountain, follow Mountain to Shields, left Shields to Elizabeth, Right on Elizabeth to 1415 West Elizabeth. Distance: 3 miles.
This tour is provided for Road Trips for Foodies by the Fort Collins Convention and Visitors Bureau.
