Good Day and Good Beer, ladies and gentlemen! Now that many breweries are open again and we have a few good warm days left in the year, it may be time to plan that Perfect Brewery Tour.
Planning your tour is super easy with the help of Colorado Brewery List, but there are a few other steps to keep in mind if you are planning your first tour, or your fiftieth.
#1: Who, What, and When
Figure out that perfect date and time for your group. Next and equally important, pick a designated driver or decide on a preferred transportation method, (ride sharing, biking, walking, etc.) because drinking responsibly is always #1.
As we have mentioned in a previous article about What to Expect From Your Next Brewery Visit Post-Lockdown, masks are generally required to enter the building, to get up from your table, or to go to the restroom. They can be taken off once you are seated, but please make sure you have a mask and to be respectful of policies posted at your individual venues. All venues in Colorado are also limiting seating to groups of 8 or less, (sometimes fewer) and venues reserve the right to refuse to seat larger groups.
As far as choosing a date, while the weekends are popular, they usually bring bigger crowds, especially to popular places. Alternatively, if you are aiming for a weekday, just be careful when doing your research to make sure all your stops will be open.
#2: Picking The Area
Most of the time you will start with a neighborhood or city in mind that you want to tour. But if you aren’t sure about the area, use Colorado Brewery List’s map feature. You can scroll around the map and find brewery dense areas or areas with new breweries.
#3: Decide On the Number of Stops
Your tour will depend on your group’s tolerance; three to five stops is an average tour. If you’re going somewhere very brewery dense, such as the River North District in Denver, and want to go at a quick “brewery crawl” speed, you can hit one brewery every 45 minutes to an hour. If your breweries are a little more spread out or you want to enjoy your brews a bit longer, you may want to factor in 60-90 minutes per spot.
Due to COVID restrictions some venues will have a time limit in place for how long you can stay, especially if there is a wait list. This is common at popular places or those with limited seating. Don’t hesitate to call ahead to your destination or visit their social media outlets to get more information about their individual policies.
*Tour Guide Advice! If you are going to make four or more stops, you will want to start the day with breakfast or lunch.*
#4: Research Time
First, figure out what time your intended breweries open. This will help decide the order in which you visit them or at least when and where you start. Colorado Brewery List now syncs the operating hours of every brewery with Google to help with this step. Some other points to consider include:
- Does your brewery serve food? As previously mentioned, you may need a bite to eat if you have a few stops in mind.
- Can you make a reservation? With some of the current health restrictions still in place, popular venues may fill up quickly.
- What does mother nature have in store? Do you need a jacket? Sunscreen?
- Are you going somewhere you may want to grab some bottles, growlers, or crowlers to-go? It may be a good idea to pack a cooler in your DD’s vehicle in order to keep that beer cold.
- Can you bring a furry friend to all of your destinations? Are they allowed inside or are they only allowed on the patio?
#5: Expect Flexibility
As your tour progresses you may find you will need a detour. Sometimes an extra snack/bathroom stop is needed, or the wait for a table may yield time for an unexpected shopping adventure. After all, it’s a day of fun for everyone, including your DD.
#6: Hydrate!
Remember to drink water between beers and keep some snacks and water in the car for the ride home. Do your best to stave off that hangover as long as possible. You will thank yourself in the morning. Overall, have fun, enjoy the scene, and be safe!