Do you love craft beer? Want to get out and see the beautiful state of Colorado? Do you live along the Front Range and want to visit western Colorado breweries, but aren’t sure how to go about it? For those who answered “Yes!” to these questions, this is the seventh article in a series of Colorado Brewery Tours that maps out a route of 10 to 18 breweries you can easily visit over an extended-weekend trip. The previous articles included a Southwest CO Tour, a South Central CO Tour, a San Juan Mountains Tour, a Central Western CO Tour, a Grand Junction Area Tour, and a Vail & Aspen Tour.
Denver is the starting point for each tour since the majority of those that read the Colorado Brewery List blog are from this metropolitan area. However, you can adjust the maps quite easily to start your tour from another location. Each day includes a Google Maps™ link for that day’s destinations. These are a great springboard for planning your personal itinerary.
Most of the tours that I’ve designed are for a full three-day weekend. This allows for full enjoyment of multiple breweries per day often with some time to spare for other activities.
While I did not include each brewery’s hours of operation, in many cases I start each day at the earliest opening brewery and finish it at the last to close. Before your tour, be certain to double check that the breweries you want to visit will be open at the time of your visit because operating hours have a tendency to change depending on season, holiday, and anticipated traffic volume.
The best way to undertake these tours is to have a designated driver, who you should shower with praise, free meals, and gifts. Regardless, I have designed these tours to usually include no more than three or four breweries before checking into your hotel and then walking to the rest of the locations where you and your designated driver can enjoy yourselves fully.
Before we get started on the Summit County Tour, I’d like to thank Jeff Parker for his help. While I designed the plan for this tour series, most of the brewery descriptions and pictures are his contribution.
Summit County Tour (9 Breweries)
On this tour you’ll visit all of the breweries in the Summit County towns of Breckenridge, Frisco, Silverthorne, Dillon, and Keystone. On both Friday and Saturday, I suggest getting a hotel near the end of the route that day and then walking to your remaining locations. Keep in mind that you’ll be drinking beers in the high country. Breckenridge sits at 9,600 feet above sea level!
Friday (4 breweries: 2 in Breckenridge and 2 in Frisco)
You’ll start off this tour in downtown Breckenridge, where you will find the oldest Summit County brewery, Breckenridge Brewery & Pub. Having opened in 1990, (and now no longer part of AB InBev) they are still in their original location with a very popular brew pub serving an eclectic menu of traditional brew pub fare. The vibe here is quaint ski town meets American brewpub; just about perfect. Still producing great beer, it’s a must-stop if you are in the area. The food is terrific too.
Note: While you are in downtown Breckenridge, you may want to check out all of the other brewery-owned spots. Two of the three other breweries that are on the tour for later today also have non-brewing taprooms on Main Street. Here’s a walking map.
Next, on the north edge of town, you will find Broken Compass Brewing. Broken Compass opened in 2014 and has since grown from a tiny little brewery and taproom off the beaten path to a must visit destination for both Breckenridge lifers and tourists alike. They serve a wide variety of beers from IPAs to their beloved Coconut Porter.
This location is recognized for its pet-friendly environment, earning it the title of Best Pet Friendly Business in the 2023 Best of Summit competition. The brewery’s commitment to being dog-friendly is one of its main attractions, making it a place where patrons can socialize with their furry friends.
The main brewery on Airport Road even offers a shuttle to the tap room in downtown Breckenridge, noted above.
Heading back to Frisco, prepare to soak in the views from the comfort of the HighSide Brewing taproom while sipping on their diverse selection of beers.
Known for its adventurous spirit and dedication to the art of craft brewing, Highside has three locations in Colorado: Breckenridge, Frisco, and Fairplay (now the main production facility). Highside Brewing offers beers ranging from dark to light, IPAs to sours, ensuring a broad appeal for tourists and locals alike. There are even a few high ABV beers for those that have already acclimated to the altitude.
The original location is in Frisco, situated at an altitude of 9000+ feet, (hydrate, hydrate, hydrate) and offers a taproom and patio. Enjoy the vibrant atmosphere, live music and excellent food from sister company, Colorado BBQ. Additionally, the Frisco location welcomes dogs, which adds to its community-friendly vibe.
The final stop of the day is at Outer Range Brewing. Bursting onto the scene in 2016, Outer Range became widely known throughout Colorado for their outstanding Hazy IPAs. But don’t let the Hazy reputation scare you, they have an array of lagers and some tasty dark beers as well. Seemingly always packed, you may have to wait a minute in line, but the queue moves quickly and the team of beertenders is always willing to offer a splash of beer to help you make up your mind, (Pro Tip: just get a flight!). Inside there is also a coffee shop and a great fried chicken stand.
Saturday (5 breweries: 3 in Silverton, 1 in Keystone (plus a taproom) and 1 in Dillon)
Day Two Keystone to Silverthorne: Steep Brewing and Coffee Company, Pug Ryan’s Brewery, Dillon DAM Brewery, Syndicate Brewing, Angry James Brewing Company
Start at Steep Brewing and Coffee Company, they are open early as both a coffee shop and brew pub.
The owners Justin and Elissa, both Colorado natives, founded Steep with a vision to fill a niche in the market for handcrafted coffee and beer.
The brewery and coffee shop are popular and have a wide-range of beers and coffees, as well as breakfast and pizza options. Inside each location you will be welcomed by a après-ski meets lodge atmosphere that appeals to those looking for a quick breakfast before a mountain bike ride, or a refreshing pint after a fun day on the slopes. The interior features a mountain industrial vibe, with elements like a counter bar made from reclaimed semi-truck trailer decking and charred cedar finish walls, adding to the warm and inviting ambiance.
There are two locations, one in the River Run village, nearly slope-side and the main facility is about five minutes away. Both have a great selection of beers, fresh coffee and Pizza. Start early and get some breakfast, you will need it for the next parts of the tour. Note that the village outpost has seasonal hours and is closed during parts of Mud Season, so be sure to double check.
Your next stop can be Pug Ryan’s Brewery; a short drive from Keystone in Dillon. It is one of the old-guard breweries, established in 1996. Pug Ryan’s has a storied history of serving the community with a variety of American cuisine and delicious craft beers.
Pug Ryan leans into Dillon’s Old West history, which is reflected in the décor. The brewery is a great spot to refuel after a day of adventure or a quick stop on your crawl. They offer two decks with views of the mountains and lake, providing a perfect setting for dining al fresco.
If you are traveling with non-beer geeks, the brewery is not just limited to beers, they also have a full bar; plus a tiki bar location open from Memorial Day through Labor Day, where you can enjoy cocktails and food right next to Lake Dillon.
Another short ride and you are at Dillon DAM Brewery, right by Christy Sports on the highway between Keystone and Silverthorne. This is another of the great breweries that has survived several years of changes in the Colorado brewing community. The Dam brewery showcases the traditional American brewpub style with a large wrap-around bar, lots of TVs and the brew house is visible from all over the restaurant. They are family friendly and have an extensive menu with something for everyone.
Dillon Dam Brewery takes pride in its hand-crafted hospitality, offering up to 17 different DAM beers on tap. These range from light lagers to stout ales, ensuring there’s something for every beer enthusiast. Some of their flagship brews include “Here’s Your Dam IPA,” “Exit 205 Session IPA,” and “McLuhr’s Irish Stout.” They have earned several medals, including ones from GABF and the World Beer Cup.
Depending on where you park, (Dillon Dam Brewery doesn’t have a ton of parking) you can also walk to Syndicate Brewing in a handful of minutes. Syndicate is one of Summit County’s new breweries. They offer a diverse range of beers, from light lagers to robust porters and hoppy West Coast IPAs. The brewery also makes an effort to include gluten-free options in its selection.
The brewery was created from the founders’ love for home-brewing. Brad Danforth, one of the co-owners, initially started brewing in Breckenridge, CO, and over time the hobby became a passion. Danforth and his team decided to take the leap and purchase commercial brewing equipment, but unfortunately the pandemic impacted their dreams and initially they were only able to sell packaged beers, before opening their taproom in Silverthorne.
The brewhouse tap room is wide open, so people can see, and smell, the craft beer as it is made. The wood-bedecked bar is a terrific place to try a flight of Syndicate brews.
The last brewery for this part of the trip is Angry James Brewing, again in Silverthorne, (but on the other side of I-70). The brewery was established by AJ and his wife Darcy, who started their journey in 2014 and after a few years, Angry James Brewery opened its doors to the public in January 2018. There is always a great list of beers on tap, and the team is well-versed in helping you pick the best styles for your tastes.
Large indoor and outdoor space means plenty of places to enjoy a pint after some shopping at the outlet mall, or as a detour to avoid the east-bound traffic on I-70.
The name “Angry James” is somewhat misleading, as it implies a farce rather than an actual state of anger. There is nothing about the brewery that will make you anything but happy. The brewery is dedicated to making incredible beer, continuously working to surpass their own high standards. They focus on both honoring brewing traditions and looking towards innovation, ensuring that their range of beers offer quality in every sip.
Sunday
With all of the Summit County breweries already included, I didn’t create a plan for Sunday. Depending on which way you are traveling there are multiple options to visit on your way home. If you are heading West, check out my Vail & Aspen Tour. If you are heading East, I will soon be writing an article on the breweries in the Foothills, (such as Guanella Pass, Cabin Creek, Tommyknocker, and Westbound & Down).
That’s it for this tour. I hope you enjoy your trip to Summit County and all of the great breweries there. If you take this tour or a similar route, please drop us a line and let us know how it went!
Next Up: NW Colorado Tour
