History and culture - Front Range

In Fort Collins, you can pedal between breweries that helped start Colorado craft beer

Fort Collins grew up as a brewing town, and today its breweries sit close enough that many visitors hop between taprooms and tours on foot or by bike.

Published June 10, 2026 - Last verified June 15, 2026

Fort Collins has been a brewing town since the late 1980s, when Odell Brewing started up in 1989 and New Belgium followed a couple of years later. That early start grew into a habit. Visit Fort Collins counts 26 breweries in the city today, many of them clustered close enough downtown that you can move between taprooms on foot, by bike, or on a guided tour.

The bike part is not an accident. New Belgium’s flagship amber ale, Fat Tire, is named for the bike tires that carried co-founder Jeff Lebesch through Belgium, and the brewery’s Tour de Fat bicycle parade still ends at its home on Linden Street. Pedaling between breweries fits the town.

If you want to look behind the taproom, two of the originals open their doors. Odell, at 800 East Lincoln Avenue, runs tours Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 1 and 3 p.m. and keeps a patio with food trucks and mountain views. New Belgium, at 500 Linden Street near the Poudre River, offers tours you book ahead of time.

Taproom hours and tour times shift by season and sell out, so plan ahead. Check Visit Fort Collins and each brewery’s own page before you go.

Filed under: History and culture Larimer County

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Sources and review

Where this information comes from

This note uses official or primary sources where practical. Local details can change, so confirm before acting.

Last reviewed: June 15, 2026