What are a few things that come to mind when you hear the word Colorado? Do you hear John Denver singing sweet melodies of “Rocky Mountain High, Colorado…” or do visions of white-capped peaks and waist-deep powder fill your mind, perhaps? Or is it the adventure of the great outdoors in the summertime – hiking, biking, camping, climbing?The Denver Broncos? The Colorado Rockies baseball team? The Flatirons of Boulder?

Here at Breckenridge Grand Vacations, we hope that when you hear the word Colorado, you think of the best mountain town the state has to offer: Breckenridge, of course! There’s one thing we didn’t mention just yet that you’re probably thinking – BEER!

The state of Colorado is known for its unique craft beer niche and throughout the state there are 348 breweries, as of April 2018. So, what does this all have to do with Breckenridge? The town of Breckenridge is home to the third-oldest craft brewery in the state of Colorado!

A what exactly is it about Coloradans and their craft beer? If you ask us, it’s the feeling of that first refreshing sip after a long day of adventure in the great outdoors. It’s the comradery of beer festivals and exploring new flavors and combinations (Breckenridge hosts two annual beer festivals, by the way). It’s road tripping between mountain towns and knowing there’s a new brewery to try because there are SO many to choose from.

So, pay close attention because there are two spots here in Breckenridge to not miss on your next visit. Or if you’re a local, we’re pretty sure you’re already familiar with these locally adored spots.

Beer in Breckenridge

The top two reasons why we love Broken Compass Brewing Company: 1) They allow dogs 2) Bring your own food. Okay, but in all seriousness, we love Broken Compass for their incredible, creative and unique beers! Enjoying a beer at Broken Compass is a simple task for any type of palette. Lighter beer, got it. Heavy stout, you betcha. Hoppy and hazy, coming up! The staff at Broken Compass is pretty witty, too, with an encyclopedia of good stories. Plus, all employees are locals with the best tips for properly exploring Breckenridge. The brewery is in an industrial part of town, next to Airport Road, where you’ll truly get the “warehouse brewery” feel.

Broken Compass offers dozens of board games, card games, popcorn that you can pop yourself and occasional live music. To top it all off, BCB has a FREE – yes, you heard us right –  shuttle service so you don’t have to pay for an Uber to get around after sipping a few brews.

Beers are always rotating at BCB, so stop by to see exactly what’s flowing!

Phone: 970-368-2772

Address: 68 Continental Court, Unit B12, Breckenridge, CO 80424

Hours: 11 a.m. – at least 10 p.m., sometimes as late as midnight

The Original Breckenridge Brewery

With a claim to fame of Colorado’s third-oldest craft brewery, Breckenridge Brewery is THE spot to drink Breckenridge Brewery beer you can only get here in town. What does that mean? A few years back, Annheuser Busch acquired Breckenridge Brewery, but that doesn’t mean that the large-scale corporate scene has affected this small mountain town operation. Most people don’t know that only four beers on the menu are brewed in Denver and brought to Breckenridge, and the rest of the beers on the menu are all small-batch, brewed in Breckenridge and only available at the original location on the south end of Main Street downtown. Pretty cool!

Brews like the Agave Wheat, Vanilla Porter, and Avalanche are brewed at the larger facility down in Littleton, Colorado. Anything else you see on the menu at the Breckenridge location is brewed in-house by the friendly, passionate, and hilarious brewers, Jimmy, Blake and Suzanne. The brewers are deep-rooted in the community of Breckenridge and you can often find one (or all) at most every event you can think of (beer festivals, local fundraisers, and more). Be sure to ask your server or bartender what’s on the “secret tap.” This is usually a very small batch brew and something your taste buds won’t want to miss.

Breckenridge Brewery also has a diverse menu for all palettes, ranging from gyro lamb salads to homemade meatloaf to an array of mouthwatering sandwiches and burgers. If you’re looking for the perfect après snack, order the nachos. *Add meat (if that’s your thing) – just trust us, this is the good stuff.

Happy (or as we like to say, “hoppy”) hour at the brewery is from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. Enjoy deals like $2 off draft beers every day, and Sunday through Thursday be sure to visit from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. for ½ off apps (excluding the previously mentioned nachos).

Breckenridge has a lot to offer when it comes to dining and imbibing, and from a local’s perspective, we highly recommend you try these spots and bring stories of friendship, celebration, and just a darn good beer after a long day in the outdoors! Cheers!