A Journey Through Fort Collins’ Craft Beer Scene
Beyond the Giants
On a sunny Saturday in Fort Collins, it’s easy to fall into a familiar rhythm. You grab a bike, cruise the Poudre River Trail, and inevitably end up at New Belgium or Odell. And why not? They’re institutions—sprawling patios, live music, iconic IPAs, and decades of shaping Colorado’s craft identity.
But as I parked my bike on Linden Street one weekend, I wondered: what’s happening beyond those big names? Where do locals go when they want something smaller, quirkier, or more experimental? So I decided to wander off the well-trod path.
The Belgian Twist at Funkwerks
My first stop was Funkwerks, tucked away near Lemay. Inside, the taproom hums with quiet conversation, while the chalkboard lists saisons, sours, and experimental blends. I sip a glass of Tropic King, its fruity spice carrying just enough punch to remind me that beer can be adventurous without being overwhelming. The bartender tells me Funkwerks started small, chasing a love for Belgian farmhouse styles—and it still feels that way: intimate, deliberate, a little eccentric.
A Secret Garden Downtown
Later, I drift into Old Town and find myself at Equinox Brewing. The entrance is unassuming, but the back patio feels like stepping into someone’s backyard—twinkling lights, picnic tables, and that “stay awhile” vibe. A couple at the next table tells me they come every Friday for the firkin tapping, where a one-off cask is opened and poured until it’s gone. My pint of Space Ghost IPA feels more like sharing in a ritual than ordering a beer.
Community in a Pint Glass
On the south side of town, Horse & Dragon Brewing carries a different energy. The space is bright and family-run, the kind where the staff remembers your name if you’ve been twice. I try the Sad Panda Coffee Stout, rich and roasty with just enough sweetness. It’s the kind of beer that feels like home—perfect for conversation, not competition. A local sitting beside me says, “If Odell is the concert, this is the living-room jam session.”
Barrel-Aged Curiosity
No Fort Collins beer story is complete without a detour to Jessup Farm Barrel House. Housed in a century-old barn, it feels like the beer itself has a story before you even take a sip. Their barrel program is a playground of tequila, rum, and wine casks. I order a flight, each pour offering a different note of oak, spice, or unexpected fruitiness. Here, beer isn’t rushed—it’s aged, blended, and unveiled like a secret.
The New Guard
On my way back through Midtown, I stop at Maxline Brewing, where picnic tables spill into a sunny patio. Families gather, dogs nap underfoot, and a local food truck hands out tacos. The vibe is less “taproom” and more “block party.” Their Irish Red Ale is smooth and balanced, and the brewer tells me they volunteer monthly as a team—“beer is community first,” he says.
Just down the road, Zwei Brewing takes a different tack—precise, crisp German lagers that would make any Bavarian nod in approval. It’s a refreshing contrast after the heavy barrel-aged ales, proof that Fort Collins doesn’t just innovate; it respects tradition, too.
The Quiet Innovators
As the day winds down, I end at Stodgy Brewing. It’s smaller, quieter, and located on Laporte in the midtown area amidst a quiet neighborhood. This setting suggests hanging out on the picnic table under the tall oaks with a friends on a warm fall afternoon. Soft music plays and as dusk falls, you’re warmed by a roasty and silky smooth Oatmeal Stout and a blanket of bistro lights. Nothing commercial about Stodgy, no no. When you’re here, you’re home.
More Than Just New Belgium
By the time I coast back toward downtown, I realize something: New Belgium and Odell may be the cornerstones of Fort Collins’ beer identity, but the soul of the scene lives in these smaller spaces—in the patios where locals linger, in the barrels quietly aging in barns, in the steady hum of community that runs deeper than any IPA.
If you only know Fort Collins through its giants, you’re missing the real adventure. The best way to understand this city’s craft beer scene isn’t just through a pint—it’s through the stories being told in every glass, beyond the giants. Over 20 Craft Brewers are in Fort Collins alone. But, expand your boundaries just a tad and a whole new brewing experience opens up to you here in Northern Colorado. But, That’s a story for another day! Cheers!
Written by Matt Ryan with the Weinland Team at RE/MAX Alliance
Phone: (970) 988-3127
Email: Matt@TheWeinlandTeam.com
Written by fortcollinsexperience
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