This afternoon, Coherians will be gathering for one of our popular potluck get togethers, a hot chocolate happy hour to help fight off the chill of winter. The people of Fort Collins enjoy their libations, although that wasn’t the case until 1969. In fact, Fort Collins was one of the last city in the US to repeal their prohibition laws.
Interested in learning more? Contact Cohere Coworking for a tour today!
Today, Fort Collins, CO is known by many monikers. The best known is “Choice City” but alongside that are titles like “the Napa Valley of beers” and a “Mecca of Breweries”—an interesting development for a town that maintained prohibition for almost 40 years longer than the rest of the nation. Many of those breweries, and a few distilleries, are located right in Old Town Fort Collins, just a few blocks from Cohere Coworking.
Here’s a rundown of the craft liquor establishments located in Old Town Fort Collins:
Breweries
Gilded Goat Brewing Company
132 Mountain Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80524
(907) 797-2250
Gilded Goat started brewing operations in 2016 and officially opened their doors in February of 2017. The taproom downtown has the same charm and warmth as the original location on South College in Midtown, but with the additional rustic allure of being housed in a centuries old building with an exposed brick front. The downtown location also frequently hosts musical artists and acoustic jam sessions with an open mic. A selection of beers is available in their downtown taproom, including a rotating option of IPAs, sours, and stouts alongside traditional pub snacks like sourdough pretzels, peanuts, and pub mix.
CooperSmith’s Pub and Brewing
5 Old Town Square
Fort Collins, CO 80524
(970) 498-0483
CooperSmith’s was the first local brew pub opened in Fort Collins, setting the stage for the once teetotalling town to become known as the Mecca of Breweries. They feature an onsite brewery with both traditional kolsch, stout, and pale ale options and more creative selections, such as Blackberry Bramble, Sigda’s Green Chili, and Sigda’s Ghost Chili. CooperSmith’s also boasts a full lunch and dinner menu of delicious food, from small plates to full entrees, all made from scratch, and a comfortable outdoor patio area that faces Old Town Square and Mountain Ave.
Equinox Brewing
113 Remington Street
Fort Collins, CO 80524
(970) 484-1368
Equinox Brewing is dedicated to fostering the social aspect of beer. They have several options for seating including the indoor bar and tables, the beautifully shaded beer garden, and a sunny, south-facing patio area. With all 18 taps offering a continually rotating beer menu there is always something new to try, no matter what type of beer you prefer While you won’t find a television on the premises, you will find good conversation, and on the weekends, live jazz music. Food isn’t offered by Equinox themselves, there is a rotating selection of food trucks to accompany your beer.
New Belgium Brewing Company
500 Linden Street
Fort Collins, CO 80524
(907) 221-0524
This brewery not only offers a delicious selection of ever-shifting beer options but also hosts one of the best know bicycle celebrations in the area, the Tour de Fat. Each year this free event, involving beer, bikes, and bemusement, delights locals and raises funds to help support local bicycle-related nonprofit organizations. On non-Tour de Fat days, New Belgium still makes a great destination for beer lovers, with a wide variety of available brews, tours of the facility, and an absolutely stunning outdoor porch where you can sit and enjoy your beer.
Distilleries
Coppermuse Distillery
244 N College Ave STE 105
Fort Collins, CO 80524
(970) 999-6016
Jason and Heather Trantham opened Coppermuse distillery in 2014, determined to build upon Fort Collins’ excellent craft brewing heritage. They offer a large selection of spirits, including vodka, rum, whiskey, and gin. Patrons can enjoy their liquor either in the art déco inspired restaurant, which offers a selection of sweet and savory small plates, on the covered, heated patio, or in the courtyard of The Exchange.
The Reserve by Old Elk Distillery
253 Linden St
Fort Collins, CO 80524
(970) 682-3330
This boutique cocktail bar on Linden Street offers creative cocktails made with a selection of Old Elk Distillery’s bourbon, whiskey, and gin. Old Elk Distillery is dedicated to creating the highest quality and smoothest spirits possible. They employ a slow cut proofing process that takes a great deal longer than other methods, but makes their bourbon and whiskey distinctively rich and smooth.
Hard Cider
Scrumpy’s Hard Cider Bar and Pub
215 College Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80524
(970) 682-1944
Scrumpy’s Hard Cider Bar and Pub is unique in the Old Town area. While they offer a large selection of beers, wines, and meads in their taproom, Scrumpy’s specialty is hard cider. They serve several varieties of their signature cider, Summit Hard Cider, with flavors including not only traditional pear and apple ciders but also ciders made with peach, pineapple, mango, and blueberry. These delicious fruit ciders are enhanced by combining them with other herbal, floral, and sometimes decadent flavors, like Chocolate Cherry, Blueberry Lavender, and Strawberry Basil.
Work just a few blocks from some of the best breweries in the country. Contact us for a tour of Cohere Coworking, located within easy walking distance of Old Town Fort Collins.
Remember to drink responsibly; use moderation, don’t drink and drive, and stay hydrated out there!
Penny Leigh Sebring is a Cohere member, experienced freelance writer, neophyte speculative fiction author, and gatherer of information and imaginary friends.
“New Belgium Brewing Company in Fort Collins, CO” by kevin.ekmark is licensed under CC BY 2.0.