Colorado Added 42 Craft Breweries in 2016
The Colorado craft brewery industry continued its success in 2016 as 42 craft breweries opened. Some regions of the state got their first breweries, some breweries opened second locations, and some of us went back for third tastings. In this article, we will review the growth of Colorado craft breweries in 2016. We will also list each of the new breweries and share links to further PorchDrinking content.
Let’s get to it!
Total Breweries
To start with, this extensive list comes from Colorado Brewery List, an awesome resource for finding information about all Colorado breweries. This site also includes a list of the 92 upcoming breweries, breweries that are under construction or in planning. Colorado Brewery List is managed by our good friend the Colorado Beer Geek, who has visited every brewery in Colorado.
Now, counting all the newly opened breweries and subtracting closures over 2016, Colorado currently hosts 303 unique breweries. These unique breweries are defined as breweries with taprooms and brewpubs.
Furthermore, 29 brewery locations exist and we define as additional locations; this includes 15 chain brewery locations (e.g. C.B. & Potts or Rock Bottom Brewery). These additional locations are not included in our unique brewery count. However, two breweries that opened additional locations in 2016 were Blue Moon Brewing Company and Crazy Mountain Brewing Company. Both breweries opened new Denver locations. Adding on, White Labs opened a tasting room in Boulder which serves its San Diego brews.
Lastly, we estimate 14 breweries in Colorado are production-only facilities. These were not included in our unique brewery count.
Changes and Closings
2016 witnessed seven closures or brewery changes:
- Amicas Pizza & Microbrewery is now just Amicas Pizza. Amicas’s head brewer left to start Hubbub Brewing Company using the same recipes. Hubbub brews are served at Amicas.
- Arvada Beer Company closed.
- Caution Brewing Company sold its East Taproom which is now occupied by Brewability Lab.
- New Planet Beer still produces beer, but closed its taproom in Boulder.
- Former Future Brewing Company switched its name to Black Project Spontaneous and Wild Ales. The switch comes with a focus on wild and sour beers.
- Wild Mountain Smokehouse and Brewery closed in September. James Peak Brewery & Smokehouse now occupy the space.
- Zulu Brewing in Montrose opened August 12, and closed on December 28.
New Breweries
With 42 craft breweries opening in 2016, 40 of the 64 counties (62.5 percent!) in Colorado contain a brewery. Parts and Labor Brewing in Sterling became Logan County’s first brewery. Crestone Brewing Company became the first brewery in Saguache County.
Next, Denver County hosts just over 19 percent of all breweries in the state. Below is a list of Colorado counties with at least 10 breweries:
- Denver County: 58 breweries (6 new)
- Boulder County: 40 breweries (4 new)
- Larimer County: 33 breweries (5 new)
- Jefferson County: 26 breweries (6 new)
- El Paso County: 22 breweries (3 new)
- Arapahoe County: 13 breweries (3 new)
- Weld County: 10 breweries (0 new)
Eight breweries opened in August, the most of any month. February and December followed with 7 brewery openings each.
Colorado Craft Brewery Openings by Year
2016 marked the second year in a row of a decrease in the number of brewery openings compared to the previous year.
In examining the past few years, 2010 and 2011 consisted of 15 breweries opening each year. Then in 2012, 27 new breweries opened in Colorado. Following that, 2013 showed a 40 percent increase to 38 brewery openings. 2014 measures as the peak of the past few years with 68 total brewery openings. After that, the number of brewery openings decreased to 48 new breweries. And of course, 42 craft breweries started this year.
As we mentioned earlier, 92 are under construction or in a planning mode. Many of these breweries have a ways to go before actually opening, including the long wait to get their licenses from the state.
Colorado Breweries Born in 2016
Wrapping it up is our list of the new 42 craft breweries in Colorado, including those who opened additional locations. This list is organized by county. For some breweries we provide links to our famous Brewery Showcases, which provide an in-depth look at the brewery and other PorchDrinking content.
If you know of any other breweries that opened its doors in 2016, feel free to let us know in the comments! We did our best to get them all, but apologize if we missed any.
Adams County
Bruz Beers
1675 West 67th Avenue Suite 100, Denver, Colorado 80221
(303) 650-2337
Opened June 10, 2016
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Arapahoe County
Cheluna Brewing Company
2501 Dallas Street, Aurora, Colorado 80010
Opened December 1, 2016
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- Brewery Showcase | Cheluna Brewing Opens in Stanley Market
- Colorado Brewery Openings for October, November & December 2016
Halfpenny Brewing Company
5150 East Arapahoe Road Unit D1-B, Centennial, Colorado 80122
(720) 463-4226
Opened February 24, 2016
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Resolute Brewing Company
7286 South Yosemite Street #110, Centennial, Colorado 80122
(720) 463-4226
Opened August 17, 2016
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Boulder County
Cellar West Artisan Ales
1001 Lee Hill Drive #1, Boulder, Colorado 80302
(720) 465-9346
Opened December 17, 2016
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James Peak Brewery & Smokehouse
70 East 1st Street, Nederland, Colorado 80466
(303) 258-9453
Opened November 18, 2016
Kettle & Spoke Brewery
2500 47th Street Unit 12, Boulder, Colorado 80301
Opened December 2, 2016
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Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha
2516 49th Street #2, Boulder, Colorado 80301
Opened August 13, 2016
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White Labs Boulder Tasting Room
1898 South Flatirons Court Suite 213, Boulder, Colorado 80301
(303) 209-7681
Opened November 1, 2016
Related PorchDrinking content:
- Fermented Pairings Series Vol. 10: Beer & Coffee @ White Labs (Boulder)
- Fermented Pairings Series Vol. 9: Brewed Food @ White Labs (Boulder)
Broomfield County
Rails End Beer Company
11625 Reed Court, Broomfield, Colorado 80020
(303) 353-8121
Opened August 12, 2016
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Chaffee County
Hubbub Brewing
248 West Rainbow Boulevard, Salida, Colorado 81201
(719) 539-5428
Opened November 19, 2016
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Denver County
10 Barrel Brewing Company
2620 Walnut Street, Denver, Colorado 80205
(720) 573-8992
Opened October 17, 2016
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Bierstadt Lagerhaus
2875 Blake Street, Denver, Colorado 80205
(720) 570-7824
Opened August 12, 2016
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Blue Moon Brewing Company
3750 Chestnut Place, Denver, Colorado 80216
(303) 728-2337
Opened July 16, 2016
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Banded Oak Brewing Company
470 Broadway, Denver, Colorado 80203
(720) 479-8033
Opened June 4, 2016
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Brewability Lab
12445 East 39th Avenue Unit 314, Denver, Colorado 80239
(816) 351-5085
Opened October 22, 2016
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- Colorado Brewery Openings for October, November & December 2016
- Breweries in Walking Distance of Denver’s RTD A-Line
Briar Common Brewery + Eatery
2298 Clay Street, Denver, Colorado 80211
(720) 470-3731
Opened October 6, 2016
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Crazy Mountain Brewing Company – Denver Tap Room
471 Kalamath Street, Denver, Colorado 80204
(970) 926-3009
Opened February 19, 2016
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Seedstock Brewing Company
3610 West Colfax Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80204
(720) 476-7831
Opened April 1, 2016
Douglas County
Castle Rock Brewing Company
514 North Perry Street, Castle Rock, Colorado 80104
(720) 328-9008
Opened January 16, 2016
El Paso County
Cerberus Brewing Company
702 West Colorado Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80905
(719) 636-2337
Opened September 12, 2016
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Cogstone Brewing Company
3858 Village 7 Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80917
(719) 418-6595
Opened February 9, 2016
Whistle Pig Brewing Company
1840 Dominion Way, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80918
(719) 598-1339
Opened February 20, 2016
Fremont County
Florence Brewing Company
200 South Pikes Peak Avenue, Florence, Colorado 81226
(719) 784-7441
Opened May 14, 2016
Grand County
Never Summer Brewing Company
62 East Agate Avenue
Granby, Colorado 80446
(970) 887-0333
Opened April 13, 2016
Jefferson County
Green Mountain Beer Company
2585 South Lewis Way Suite 110, Lakewood, Colorado 80227
(303) 986-2990
Opened November 19, 2016
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Holidaily Brewing Company
801 Brickyard Circle, Golden, Colorado 80403
(303) 278-2337
Opened February 4, 2016
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New Image Brewing Company
5622 Yukon Street, Arvada, Colorado 80002
(720) 900-5620
Opened March 9, 2016
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New Terrain Brewing Company
16401 Table Mountain Parkway, Golden, Colorado 80403
(720) 771-6997
Opened October 1, 2016
Some Place Else Brewery
6425 West 52nd Avenue Unit 6/6B, Arvada, Colorado 80002
(720) 219-5585
Opened September 22, 2016
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WestFax Brewing
6733 West Colfax Avenue, Lakewood, Colorado 80214
(303) 233-3742
Opened March 2, 2016
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Larimer County
Intersect Brewery
2160 West Drake Road Suite A-1, Fort Collins, Colorado 80526
(70) 682-2041
Opened August 26, 2016
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Mash Lab Brewing Company
4395 Highland Meadows Parkway, Windsor, Colorado 80550
(970) 685-0334
Opened December 15, 2016
Maxline Brewing
2701 South College Avenue Unit 190, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525
(970) 286-2855
Opened June 16, 2016
Old Colorado Brewing Company
8121 1st Street, Wellington, Colorado 80549
(970) 217-2129
Opened February 14, 2016
Three Four Beer Company
829 South Shields Street #100, Fort Collins, Colorado 80521
(970) 221-3434
Opened August 26, 2016
Logan County
Parts and Labor Brewing
402 Main Street Suite B, Sterling, Colorado 80751
Opened December 23, 2016
Montrose County
Zulu Brewing (Now closed)
512 East Main Street, Montrose, Colorado 81401
(970) 765-2655
Opened August 12, 2016. Closed December 28, 2016.
Mad Jack’s Mountain Brewery
23 Main Street, Bailey, Colorado 80421
(303) 816-2337
Opened June 25, 2016
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Pueblo County
PDub Brewing Company
181 South Purcell Boulevard, Pueblo West, Colorado 81007
(719) 647-8864
Opened June 17, 2016
Routt County
Mountain Tap Brewery
910 Yampa Street, Steamboat Springs, Colorado 80487
Opened July 7, 2016
Saguache County
Crestone Brewing Company
187 West Silver Avenue, Crestone, Colorado 81131
(719) 256-6400
Opened September 13, 2016
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Summit County
Outer Range Brewing Company
182 Lusher Court, Frisco, Colorado 80443
Opened December 26, 2016
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