8 Best Nightlife in Boulder and North Central Colorado, Colorado

Longmont’s first brewery has been pouring innovative, independent craft brews since 1993. Left Hand first garnered attention for introducing America’s first nitro bottle and now is an industry leader in stouts and nitros; its Milk Stout Nitro is especially lauded. This brewery is one of the most awarded breweries in Colorado, with more than 29 Great American Beer Festival medals, 11 World Beer Cup awards, and 16 European Beer Star awards. Reserve a brewery tour or just stop in to enjoy a few pints out on the Tasting Room patio, which features 33 taps. Sit indoors or on one of four patios with Rocky Mountain views.

Arguably the most famous brewery in Boulder, Avery has grabbed impressive awards for its innovative ales and lagers; the Avery IPA was Colorado’s first packaged IPA. The brewpub offers a solid menu (complete with meat from the smoker), free brewery tours, and a dog-friendly patio. Try the White Rascal, which won silver for best Belgian-style witbier in the 2018 World Beer Cup competition.

After touring CooperSmith's brewery (free; by appointment only), you can enjoy a meal from the seasonally rotating menu in the pub, with its gleaming wood floors and exposed brick walls. Or you can chow down on pizza while shooting pool across the alley at CooperSmith's Poolside. Quaff a Punjabi Pale Ale (an IPA) or one of the other 30 to 40 beers on tap.

There are always more than a dozen beers on tap at this casual brewery, which crafts more than 100 beers throughout the year. A favorite is the FYIPA, a dry-hopped American IPA with a citrusy flavor. Stay for a cheeseburger and hand-cut fries, or for live music on Sunday night. Mountain Sun has two other Boulder locations, plus one each in Longmont and Denver. Brewery tours are available at Southern Sun, a location in south Boulder, upon request.

The taproom of the fourth-largest brewer of craft beer in the United States offers an exceptional lineup featuring beers from the iconic Belgian Collection and brands such as Fat Tire and Voodoo Ranger IPA, as well as special-release small-batch brews. Events include live music, bike-in movies, and yoga with beer. During the day, bikes crowd the racks outside this pedal-friendly brewery, where visitors can sample a variety of brews and take a free 45-minute tour. These popular tours are first come, first served, so reserve online. The brewery is north of Old Town, near Cache la Poudre River and its popular trail system.

You can take in the brewing process on a free tour at one of Colorado's oldest craft breweries. Sample favorites like 90 Shilling Ale, Odell IPA, and Sippin' Pretty (or try seasonal brews like winter's Isolation Ale) in a taproom that has long wooden tables as well as a massive outdoor patio. Odell hosts festivals, parties, and live music, and there are yard games and regular food trucks. Don't miss Odell's urban winery next door; the OBC Wine Project shares an outdoor patio space with the brewery.

Delicious beers with distinctive personality are the hallmark of this brewery. Seventeen taps flow with regular brews, kombucha, and cold-brew coffee, as well as a rotating cast of seasonal and short-run beers. Cheap eats are available from the McDevitt Taco Supply truck that parks alongside the spacious patio. Tours can be set up with an advance request.

Wibby's craft lagers are brewed with German malt, American hops, and Rocky Mountain water. A cult fave is the seasonal Lightshine Radler, a blend of the gold-medal-winning Lightshine Helles and house-made raspberry lemonade. Beyond the brew, the taproom is wunderbar: indoor and outdoor spaces are packed with yard games, a basketball hoop, shuffleboard, and more. Take a tour or ask your beertender to show you around.