Updated Nov. 2018
Boulder is blessed with an abundance of craft beer riches. It has 20 craft breweries within bike-riding distance, ranging in size from major regional distributors to hand-crafted nanobreweries, all of which serve up their particular vibe and flavor in on-site taprooms. The diversity and volume Boulderites have access to is staggering.
Boulder has plenty of great bars, but this guide focuses squarely on the local establishments who brew their own beer — from those that mainly distribute it far and wide to those who realize most of their revenue from in-house sales.
As defined by the Brewer’s Association, craft breweries produce less than 6 million barrels each year and an owner meeting this production threshold who has at least a 75 percent stake in the business. Six million barrels is a lot of beer — one barrel equals roughly 331 cans of beer — but Boulder doesn’t have a brewery anywhere near that size.
Gunbarrel-based Avery Brewing Co., who BLDRfly still considers a craft brewer despite it having sold a 30 percent stake to international brewing company Mahou San Miguel in November 2017, is the largest producer at 60,000 barrels. The smallest is North Boulder’s Cellar West with just under 100 barrels this year.
[Read BLDRfly’s Avery Brewing Co. Profile]
- Old-style regional brewery Boulder Beer.
- The all-organic nanobrewery Asher has a typical taproom feel. Photo: Rebecca Zinner, BLDRfly
- Finkel & Garf microbrewery maintains a fun vibe.
- Brewpub Mountain Sun serves up hippy, comfort food and beer.
- Adam Avery founded regional brewery Avery Brewing Co. in 1993.
- VisionQuest co-founders oversee a tripped-out nanobrewery.
The four flavors of craft breweries

Boulder has three regional breweries, five microbreweries, six nanobreweries and seven brewpubs. In some ways, Boulder is the epicenter of the craft beer industry. Charlie Papazian founded the precursor to the industry’s preeminent trade association in Boulder in 1979. It still operates on 1327 Spruce Street today.
We present an overview of all 20 of Boulder’s craft breweries below, segmented by type. The guide’s footprint stretches as far as Niwot — bikeable distance. They are clustered in six locations: Central Boulder (area around Foothills Blvd. and 28th Street), East Boulder (near 55th Street and Arapahoe), Downtown Boulder (near the Pearl Street Mall), North Boulder (near the intersection of Broadway and Highway 36), South Boulder (Table Mesa Shopping Center) and Gunbarrel.
Nanobreweries
The smallest of the lot carry a hand-crafted, boutique vibe. Small-batch dominated and often experimental, these brewers are either just cracking into the market or creating their own small niche.
Brewery | Year Founded, Location | Vibe | Website |
---|---|---|---|
Stein | 2018, Central Boulder | The former J Wells Brewery has a new owner and name in Stein Brewing Company. It has a small taproom in central Boulder and brews in a four-barrel system. Opening a bigger brewpub in Empire, Colorado. | stein-brewing.com |
Vision Quest | 2015, Central Boulder | A far-out, space-invaders vibe overrides at Vision Quest's taproom, which abuts sister company Boulder Fermentation Supply. Play pinball and enjoy its staples, including Coconut IPA and dark sour Space Jam. | visionquestbrewing.com |
Kettle and Spoke | 2016, Central Boulder | Nanobrewery within Boulder's Green Guru Gear officepark headquarters. Head there for a low-key, chill, up-and-coming vibe, and small-batch brews. | kettleandspoke.com |
Wild Woods | 2012, East Boulder | Nature-inspired beer by Jake and Erin Evans. The company has a seven-barrel brewhouse and taproom. A visit here feels like a walk through a high country forest on a bluebird fall day. | wildwoodsbrewery.com |
Asher | 2010, Gunbarrel | Boulder's all-organic brewery features an easy-drinking Greenade Double IPA and a taproom with a Funbarrel room with corn hole, darts and foosball. | asherbrewing.com |
New Planet Brewery | 2009, North Boulder | New Planet's new tap room offers gluten-free and gluten-reduced beers in six different rotating draft styles. | newplanetbeer.com |
Adamant Brewing and Blending | 2019, North Boulder | From the co-founder of VisionQuest, comes this new nanobrewery in North Boulder (in Cellar West's old location) focusing on wild and sour beers. | adamantbrewing.com |

Microbreweries
These breweries often have a boutique vibe, do a bit of regional distribution and, some, have bigger growth plans.
Brewery | Year Founded, Location | Vibe | Website |
---|---|---|---|
Sanitas | 2013, Central Boulder | Clean taproom with cozy outdoor area in central Boulder with Boulder's a taco stand from Boulder standout McDevitt Taco Supply in residency. | sanitasbrewing.com |
Finkel & Garf | 2014, Gunbarrel | Fun-loving brewery with a whimsical tapproom featuring legos, board games, classic toys, and its popular Oatmeal Stout beer, among others. | finkelandgarf.com |
Beyond the Mountain | 2017, Gunbarrel | Improvisation is the rule for the the beer and music at this part live-recording studio, part brewery. Catch live performances, vinyl listenings and one-off brews in a warm, modern setting. | btmbrewing.com |
Gunbarrel Brewing | 2017, Gunbarrel | Discover modern brews with ancient styling at this new brewery, run by couple Jaime and Marie Fox. Try their Bogan, a rare Australian-style sparkling ale, or the Rosemerry, a pale ale finished with rosemary. | gunbarrelbrewing.com |
Bootstrap | 2012, Niwot, Longmont | Rock 'n' roll-inspired brewery from husband and wife Steve and Leslie Kaczeus is growing fast. It opened a new brew operation in Longmont in 2017, secured distribution from Coors Distributing Company in 2016 and produces its flagship beer Insane Rush IPA. | bootstrapbrewing.com |

Regional Breweries
These are the big boys of the Boulder craft scene. These large, efficient operations feature taprooms with a more refined feel. Streamlined production is king.
Brewery | Year Founded, Location | Vibe | Website |
---|---|---|---|
Boulder Beer | 1979, Central Boulder, Downtown | Colorado's oldest craft brewery is going strong at its old-style brewery, featuring floor-to-high-ceiling windows showcasing its coppery kettles to visitors as they arrive. Brewer of well-balanced beers such as Buffalo Gold and Mojo IPA, the brewery also has an experimental seven-barrel operation on Walnut Street in Downtown Boulder. | boulderbeer.com |
Upslope | 2008, East Boulder, North Boulder | Upslope's headquarters in Flatiron Business Park offers a cozy ambience, Flatiron views and its quintessential Craft Lager on tap. Its original location in far North Boulder serves as R&D spot, primarily for its barrel-aging program, and small taproom. | upslopebrewing.com |
Avery | 1993, Gunbarrel | The largest craft brewer in Boulder, Avery produces a crisp, tasty IPA and many other flavors it serves at its pristine Gunbarrel headquarters. | averybrewing.com |

Brewpubs
Brewpubs are restaurants that serve beer they brew. Their onsite customers consume much of the beer they produce. It’s an internal brew-to-table model.
Brewery | Year Founded, Location | Vibe | Website |
---|---|---|---|
Mountain Sun | 1993, Downtown Boulder, South Boulder | A Boulder staple serving up warm, hippy vibes, comfort food and a mix of Belgian-style tripels, IPAs and Kölsch in a living room aesthetic. | mountainsunpub.com |
Post Brewing | 2017, Downtown Boulder | A part of the Big Red F Restaurant Group, The Post Brewing Co. brought its hot chicken and cold beer concept to downtown Boulder in late 2017. Patrons will recognize Post beers at other Big Red F establishments, including Jax Fish House, Zolo Grill, Centro, Lola and West End Tavern. | postbrewing.com |
West Flanders | 2012, Downtown Boulder | The only craft brewpub on the Pearl Street Mall, West Flanders is a Belgian-inspired pub serving up pizza, wings and burgers with its Belgian-style Trippel Lutz and wibier Holy Wit among others. | wfbrew.com |
Twisted Pine | 1995, Central Boulder | Cozy, down-home brewpub vibe serving up comfort food and solid beers at its central Boulder location. | twistedpinebrewing.com |
BJ's Restaurant | 1997, Central Boulder | A southern Californian brewpub chain offering a familar atmosphere and all-american eats. Moving from Pearl street to the 29th St. Mall in 2012, the Boulder location serves as the chain's R&D brew facility. | bjsrestaurants.com |
BRU Handbuilt Ales and Eats | 2013, East Boulder | "Beer chef" and founder, Ian Clark, created this gastrobrewery to combine his passion for food and beer. Find beer-inspired eats and food-inspired brews in an American upscale brewpub. | bruboulder.com |