Food & Drink

Good Eats from Hops to Chops

Whether it’s happy hour or time to refuel after a hike, Northern Colorado’s restaurants and breweries are cooking and brewing up a wide range of experiences. Home to some of the country’s foremost breweries, the region is a leading producer of ales and IPA’s, and from the tables to the trucks, the finest in feasts and fares await hungry diners.

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Dining

Northern Colorado offers a smorgasbord of culinary possibilities – from long-established favorites to new hot spots. Expand your palette with a taste of some wild game at a locally owned restaurant in Estes Park. Take it to the streets when you grab grub at the Fort Collins Food Trucks, try the pie with a handcrafted pizza in Frederick or feast with Fido at dog-friendly breweries and cafes.

Foodies will also appreciate the area’s tasty annual events. Fort Collins’ Peach Festival features fruit from Colorado’s western slope and event-goers celebrate peach-themed activities all day long. Nearby, Loveland Loves BBQ, Bands & Brews dishes up the best in barbecue and a two-day showcase of all types of music.

For something extra special, sign up for a ride with Tour de Farms. On your 40-mile cycling journey, you will visit local farms, chat with growers and dine on harvests.

Breweries

Northern Colorado produces more than 70 percent of the state’s craft beer and is home to 33 brewers, including award-winning Odell Brewing Co., Gilded Goat Brewing and Mighty River Brewing Company. Many breweries offer free tours of their facilities and have tap rooms with unique beers and restaurants attached.

With 30-plus craft beer breweries, it’s only natural brewfests are a staple of Northern Colorado. More than hops and barley, these events typically mix amazing ales with performances, community, education and more.

Distilleries

When the spirit moves you, try one of the region’s 13 distilleries. Established in 2012, Feisty Spirits Distillery was the first to call Fort Collins home and prides itself in using natural and organic ingredients with an emphasis on sourcing locally. In Greeley, Syntax Spirits holds the place as one of the first distilleries established in all Colorado, while Loveland’s Spring44 creates spirits with Rocky Mountain water sourced at 9,000 feet. 

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