In relation to Golden breweries, you’ll be able to’t go flawed.
First there was Coors. Then, Coors and a craft brewery. Then—the frenzy.
Our hometown of Golden, Colorado has all of the traits of a beer mecca. Greater than 300 sunny days per 12 months. Mountain views. Pervasive out of doors recreation. And a inhabitants of people that wish to have a very good time.
Since 2013, the variety of breweries on the town has greater than quadrupled. Hazy IPAs, meals vehicles, patios, reside music, merch, four-packs of tall cans—it feels just like the Golden Age in Golden.
So as a result of it’s summer time and we’re skiers, we determined to ballot Powder7 staffers about their favourite Golden breweries. When you’re questioning whether or not or not it is best to take beer recommendation from skiers, have a look at it this fashion—we’re in all probability one of many most dependable sources you will discover.
Our verdict? You’ll be completely happy if you find yourself at any of the breweries under. However right here’s how the watering holes rank amongst our workers.
9. Coors Brewery
Workers upvote: Just one factor is best than a sundown with a yellow jacket, and that’s a dawn with a silver bullet.
The thin: Positive, everybody is aware of Colorado as a brewery haven. However wrap your head round this: Coors has been brewing beer in Golden longer than Colorado has been a state.
Since 1873, in fact, a couple of issues have modified. Coors grew into the world’s largest single-site brewery. The unique Coors Brewing Firm and its holder, Adolph Coors Firm, merged with Molson in 2005. MillerCoors ran the present because the mum or dad model earlier than ceding the US operation to Molson Coors. That firm moved HQ out of Golden to Chicago. Then Covid-19 halted the brewery’s famed excursions.
Right here in 2024, the brew operation retains operating in Golden—the one place the place Coors Banquet is brewed. Excursions are again, though they’re now not free. A sixer of “yellow jackets” tastes nearly as good on the golf course or within the parking zone as ever. It’s not precisely #drinklocal—however for higher or worse, there’s arguably nothing extra initially native right here in Golden than Coors.
Full disclosure: Our staffers take pleasure in Banquets and Coors Lights out within the wild, however they unanimously choose to go to native craft breweries as a substitute. Higher vibes. Higher companies to help. Higher beer.
8. Barrels and Bottles Brewery
Wine Choices | Kitchen | Indoor seating space
Workers upvote: “The wine slushies are a timeless treasure, like Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors vinyl. They may even elicit extra emotion.”
The thin: Somebody say wine slushies? The much-loved Barrels staple, out there in pink, white, or combine—could also be an establishment in of itself. After a motorbike trip, a run, or a day of conferences, wine slushies are the right respite. Ninety-percent of the staffers we surveyed named them the perfect factor in regards to the brewery.
With greater than 20 beer faucets, 24 wines on faucet, Barrels and Bottles additionally provides a meals menu with a kitchen. That’s not a standard characteristic in Golden breweries. Getting the whole lot in a single spot makes Barrels and Bottles an ideal post-adventure hold for everybody within the crew.
7. Holidaily Brewing Firm
Indoor seating | Meals truck | Coated Patio
Workers upvote: “It’s an previous devoted for after work beers. I used to be amazed a GF beer might style so good after I first went to Holidaily.”
The thin: Positioned simply down the road from Powder7, Holidaily is the one native brewery to be totally dedicated to brewing gluten-free beer. As founder Karen Hertz says: “The idea behind Holidaily Brewing Firm is pushed by a private understanding and a ardour to offer these with Celiac prognosis, gluten sensitivity, or any curiosity in attempting a tasty gluten-free craft beer, a assured protected, scrumptious beer to take pleasure in.”
For Hertz, it’s private. She’s been on a gluten-free food plan since surviving melanoma and thyroid most cancers in her early 30s. Relatively than selecting a beer-less life, she got down to degree up the gluten-free panorama. It’s protected to say she’s succeeded.
Strive the “Rosegold” (a.okay.a. the “Powder7 Particular”), which is a sidecar of kombucha with their basic Favourite Blonde.
6. Mountain Toad Brewing
Patio | Meals truck | Indoor seating space
Workers upvote: “One thing in regards to the small, treed yard with its hearth pit and rotating meals vehicles makes Mountain Toad an excellent place for an outside beer on a chilly winter night time. It’s proper downtown and at all times delivers a very good time.”
The thin: Tucked alongside Washington Avenue in downtown Golden, Mountain Toad additionally opened in 2013. From the primary pour, the Golden locale has been infused into what they do. Unique beers like Apex Amber, White Ranch Wit, and Mt. Zion IPA. Colorado nature artwork on the partitions. A sun-kissed patio. A biking toad mural. It’s arduous to overlook the place you might be. Our staffers love the patio and vibe with cool artwork on the within.
What’s up with the toad? Nicely, the brewery will get its title from the Rocky Mountain Toad, a logo for good well being and vitality. That’s what Mountain Toad goals to embody. As Go to Golden places it: “Rugged, adventurous, and eccentric, the Mountain Toad is a playful character that embodies the ambiance of the brewery.”
5. Cannonball Creek Brewing Firm
Patio | Meals truck | Indoor seating space
Workers upvote: “All the time has meals vehicles, which I respect.” | “Basic chiller vibes, with basic Colorado beer”.
The thin: Have a look at a map of Golden and also you gained’t discover a “Cannonball Creek.” That wasn’t at all times true, although. Earlier than it was Clear Creek, the idyllic waterway that flows by Golden was often called Cannonball Creek. After they found this historic tidbit, brewery founders Jason Stengl and Brian Hutchinson discovered a reputation to roll with.
Since they opened in 2013, Cannonball has turned out a few of Golden’s favourite beers— you, Trump Arms. The beers additionally play effectively on the Nice American Beer Competition. Actually, Cannonball beer has acquired a medal at GABF yearly because the brewery opened. In our phrases, that’s nearly as good as a month-to-month ski streak that covers 9 years.
Our workers loves the beer choice, with votes for his or her IPA and pale ales, in addition to their non-hoppy choices (which will be arduous to search out).
Oh, and for bonus cred: Cannonball brewed our first-ever customized beer, the Powder7 Pale Ale.
4. Golden Metropolis Brewery
Patio | Meals truck | Beer + Wine choice
Workers upvote: “When you’ve bought nothing to do and no the place to be, Guava Bomber pitchers along with your buds is the one transfer.”
The thin: GCB’s heritage runs deep. Golden’s unique microbrewery, they supplied the one hometown beer choice aside from Coors from 1993 till Cannonball Creek opened in 2013. And as in the event you couldn’t get any extra “Golden,” the brewery was based by two geologists: Charlie and Jamie Sturdavant.
The pair opened GCB of their residence. Actually. The taproom originated of their sunroom, and in the present day it occupies what used be the carriage home. The patio—which acquired probably the most votes amongst our workers for the perfect out of doors seating space in Golden—consumes their yard. As for the beer? Gone are the times when the Sturdavants solely distributed Pink Ale and Pale Ale to prospects in half-gallon growlers and kegs (though these beers stay). Guests choose from a various menu with progressive experimental tastes alongside go-tos (sure, they’ve a number of hazy IPAs).
Shedding beer? Golden Metropolis Vineyard opened as a derivative in 2014, producing arduous cider and wine.
3. Coda Brewing
Patio | Meals truck | Indoor seating space
Workers upvote: “Coda’s bought a cool house and a bit of various vibe than the opposite Golden breweries. I feel the theme is ‘chemistry nerd,’ and so they, fittingly, appear to experiment a bit extra with their beers. There’s at all times one thing totally different to attempt.”
The thin: Coda stands out as the most “tucked away” of all of the Golden breweries. And that type of matches their vibe. Styled like an apothecary, Coda is all about mixology. Experimental brews repeatedly hit the menu, made with varied elixirs and tinctures. A couple of of them have gained medals on the Nice American Beer Competition. What’s extra: Coda gained a “Finest Startup Brewery of the Yr” award from Brewbound in 2014.
Kolsches, hazy IPAs, sours, stouts, pilsners, saisons—you’ll discover constant selection on Coda’s menu. It doesn’t take lengthy to determine the place Coda’s science-y aura got here from. Previous to his Coda days, proprietor and head brewer Luke Smith ran a lab on the Anschutz Campus on the College of Colorado. He has labored with native foragers to gather elements like fruits and herbs. He’s additionally a veteran of the Entrance Vary beer scene, having brewed beers for Coda’s prior location in Aurora and for New Terrain of their early days.
One notable divergence from the apothecary theme? Coda is also residence to arguably Golden’s finest ping pong desk. Hold your eye out for tournaments. The winner will get their tab lined.
2. New Terrain Brewing Firm
Workers upvote: “Big out of doors house with a hard-to-beat view of North Desk, so you’ll be able to watch people trip the singletrack proper to the brewery (or lap the Golden bike park subsequent door). Perhaps the perfect unique beers round, pound-for-pound, and a very good solution to spend a summer time afternoon. Barely off the overwhelmed path, however definitely worth the trek.”
The thin: New Terrain could also be situated on the opposite aspect of the mesas from Golden correct, however the brewery has grown quickly since its 2016 opening right into a group center-point. With an enormous house, each in and out, a number of meals vehicles, reside music, and proximity to trails (and a canine park), New Terrain has turn out to be a go-to meet level. On any given night, you’ll see a gradual stream of mountain bikers, runners, canine homeowners, and even horse-riders cross by. And loads of ski store staff…
The title “New Terrain” emphasizes the significance of innovation and creativity within the brewing course of—the concentrate on putting out to discover new territory. That’s the metaphorical aspect. Actually, the exploration ethos shapes the brewery’s identification. The merch, the beer names, the music, the placement—New Terrain is a spot for individuals who wish to journey and to wander. Alongside the Colorado Entrance Vary, that’s lots of people. They’ve turned New Terrain right into a occurring place.
1. Over Yonder Brewing Firm
Patio | Music Nights | Indoor seating space
Workers upvote: “Quick access from I-70 for aprés ski in the event you’re dropping a buddy off at that park and trip. Additionally nice earlier than Pink Rocks exhibits. The beers are persistently good, arguably the perfect on the town. A lot of bluegrass and jam band stuff occurring in the event you’re into that form of factor.”
The thin: When Jason, Jessica, and Ashleigh Bilodeaux opened Over Yonder in Might 2019, they knew they had been onto one thing. The brand new brewery would declare shut proximity to I-70 and Pink Rocks, and it will tackle a definite persona, fusing jam music and out of doors rec tradition.
After weathering the Covid-19 storm as a brand new enterprise, the founders are watching their imaginative and prescient take form. Pink Rocks ticket holders get reductions. Artwork and music, streamed and reside, drive the vibe. Skiers and riders go to for aprés.
The beers? Jason populates an eclectic menu with a couple of staples and loads of experimentation. He additionally brewed and canned our second customized beer: Tree Skier, a pale ale with spruce suggestions.
Subsequent Up: Bike to All of the Golden Breweries in a Day
Behold: the Golden 500
Beginning and ending at Powder7, right here’s your route for an epic brewery bike trip. We suggest ordering small pours or sharing a flight along with your comrades.
STATS
Distance: 25.2 miles
Singletrack: 20%
Vertical: 1,850 ft
Breweries: 9
GNAR factors: 1,000
Try the water bottle we suggest for this trip: the Powder7 Hydrapak H2Go Stow Bottle
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