 above photo provided by Dillon Dam Brewery
In 1612, Adrian Block and Hans Christiansen establish the first known brewery in the New World on the southern tip of New Amsterdam (Manhattan).
In 1640, the Massachuetts colony passes a regulation that "no one should be allowed to brew beer unless he is a good brewer"
Colorado's first brewery was The Rocky Mountain Brewery. On November 10, 1859, while the town of Denver, Colorado, was still a mining camp, the small brewery was built by Fred Solomon and Charles Tascher and opened for business. It was housed by a one-story, wooden building, located at the foot of 7th Street and Platte River, in Highlands (North Denver). At first, the brewery was called the Solomon, Tascher & Co. and was changed to the Rocky Mountain Brewery in 1860. “How do I judge a Beer?” Beer should be evaluated using four senses: sight, smell, taste, feel. Always drink beer from a clear glass to fully appreciate it. Look at it and note the color and clarity. Hold it up to a light if necessary. Take a good sniff from the glass to get the aroma or bouquet. Taste it, swishing it around in your mouth, and notice its body and flavors. After swallowing, notice any aftertaste or finish. “I’m going to visit the Rocky Mountains, where do I go to find a good beer?” Summit County is currently home to five brewpubs, making them the county with the most brewpubs per capita in the nation.
Dillon Dam Brewery, Dillon, Colorado This award-winning brewery is one of the largest Brew-Pubs in the nation. Dillon Dam Brewery serves hand-crafted ales, lagers, and rootbeer. They brew about 2,000 barrels per year, which makes them the 31st largest Brew-Pub in the nation. Review “I love visiting Dillon Dam Brewery in the summer. One of my favorite things to do on a Saturday is to take a short trip to Dillon to play disc golf, and then relax with a cold beer and an appetizer with my friends. My first choice of beer is the Wildernest Wheat. I enjoy this wheat beer with a lemon, which brings out more flavor. This beer also compliments the Spinach Asiago Salad ($8.75) and the Brewery Pretzels ($4.95). After a competitive day of throwing discs…sipping on a delicious beer and munching on great food reminds me how happy I am to be living on Colorado’s playground.” -Jennifer Myers (Vail Local since 2004) For more information visit www.dambrewery.com Gore Range Brewery, Edwards, CO (only 15 min. drive from Vail) Located in the heart of Edwards, CO, Gore Range Brewery hosts world famous beers and delicious food. This microbrewery makes about six tasty beers, which include: Great Sex Honey Ale, Fly Fisher Red Ale, Powder Day Pale Ale, Biker Stout, Whitewater Wheat, and King Schwing Pilsner. Review “Gore Range is the best place to hang out and drink a beer. The brewery is located near many of my favorite biking trails. I like to bike on Berry Creek trail and downhill all the way to the Brewery, so I can quench my thirst with a pint of Fly Fisher Red Ale. Fridays are my favorite because I can sit on the patio and listen to live music. I never thought mountain biking and boozing could go hand in hand, but Gore Range makes it possible.” -Adam Clark (Vail Local 2002) For more information visit www.gorerangebrewery.com Breckenridge Brewery, Breckenridge, CO
The Breckenridge Brewery & Pub opened in February of 1990 and is Breckenridge's only brewpub and offers one of the most dramatic views of the mountains.
Review
“After a great day of snowboarding in Breckenridge, Colorado, I always head over to Breckenridge Brewery for some fantastic food, and great brews. My favorite food items include the Mango Chicken Salad, Fish and Chips, and the Rocky Mountain Nachos. For beer choices, my favorite is the Avalanche Ale. This amber ale is smooth and great tasting.”
-Leah Olson (Eagle Resident)
For more information visit www.breckbrew.com
Glenwood Canyon Brew Pub, Glenwood Springs, CO
Glenwood Springs premier brewpub is located in the first floor of the historic Hotel Denver. They feature a variety of fresh and unique menu items and their own hand-crafted beers.
Review
“Glenwood Canyon Brew Pub is my favorite brewery in Colorado. Their food and beer are equally wonderful. For starters, I have the Beer Battered Onion rings with either The Hanging Lake Honey Ale or a Snake Bite (1/2 Vapor Cave IPA and ½ Local Cider). For my entrée, my favorite is the Steak and Potato Pie, which is beef stew (I substitute for chicken stew) surrounded by garlic mashed potatoes. I usually accompany my entrée with a Red Mountain ESB.”
-Leah Olson (Eagle Resident)
Not sure what beer to get? The Glenwood Canyon Brew Pub serves taster plates of all their beers and also sells Beer Growlers to go.
For more information visit www.glenwoodcanyon.com
Upcoming Beer Events and Festivals… 1. Beaver Creek Blues, Brews, and BBQ – Beaver Creek, CO (May 24-25, 2008) http://beavercreek.snow.com/info/summer/evt.bbb.asp
2. Chili Pepper and Brew Fest – Snowmass Village, CO (June 6-8, 2008) http://www.snowmasschiliandbrew.com/pages/brews_invite.html
3. 12th Annual Bluegrass & Beer Festival – Keystone, CO (August 2- 3, 2008) http://www.keystoneneighborhood.com/keystone/bluegrass.html 4. 27th Annual Great American Beer Festival – Denver, CO (October 9-11, 2008) http://www.beertown.org/events/gabf/
5. 8th Annual Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Festival – Vail, CO (January 9-10, 2008) http://www.bigbeersfestival.com
History Information provided by the links below. | 
