Soak Up the Suds in Colorado Beer Country

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Jul 29, 2011, 02:33 ET

DENVER, July 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Home to more than 120 established craft breweries, the Great American Beer Festival, and ranked first in gross beer production in the United States, the beer experience in Colorado speaks for itself. Below is a sampling of Colorado's beer offerings across the state.

Beer Festivals and Activities

Gnarly Barley (August 6). Featuring two dozen craft breweries, the Hambone Express (piggy races) and gnarly tunes, this beer festival welcomes the whole family in Fort Collins. www.GnarlyBarleyBrewfest.com
Grand Lake Crews and Brews Fest (August 27) kicks off with a regatta while local breweries and musicians will be on hand following the race. www.GrandLakeBrewing.com
Brew at the Zoo (September 9). Enjoy Colorado craft brews and good food in the company of zoo animals at the Denver Zoo's 14th Annual Brew at the Zoo. www.DenverZoo.org/visitors/events.asp
Annual Telluride Blues and Brews Festival (September 15-18). This Colorado favorite combines the best brews with the finest in traditional blues music. www.TellurideBlues.com
Steamboat OktoberWest (September 16-18). Celebrate the season in true Steamboat style with live music, food, Rocky Mountain brews and a mechanical bull-riding competition. www.ResortQuestSteamboat.com/steamboat-summer-events/oktoberwest.htm
Crested Butte Oktoberfest (September 23-24) at the Crested Butte Brewing Company's brew house offers activities including a barrel race, dog costume contest and the award for Best Beer Belly. www.GunnisonCrestedButte.com/event/oktoberfest

Breweries Ahead of their Class

Oskar Blues Brewery in Lyons made a name for itself by hand-canning their Dale's Pale Ale in 2002, starting the "canned-beer-craze." www.OskarBlues.com
New Belgium Brewing is the first wind-powered brewery in the United States. www.NewBelgium.com
Wynkoop Brewing Company pioneered the Colorado craft brewery scene by becoming the state's first brewpub back in 1988. www.Wynkoop.com
Asher Brewing Company produces world-class certified organic beer, while utilizing environmentally sustainable and socially responsible business practices. www.AsherBrewing.com
AC Golden Brewing Company produces Colorado Native, a beer made with Colorado ingredients, for Coloradans, and donates 25-cents from every case of Native sold. www.ColoradoNativeLager.com

Brewery Tours and Activities

The MillerCoors Brewery in Golden invites visitors to see and taste traditional brewing at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. www.MillerCoors.com/golden-brewery-tour.aspx
The City of "Brewerly" Love Package includes brewery tours around Durango's four breweries, beer tasters, transportation and accommodations. www.Durango.org/info/specials-and-packages/specials-dato.brewery_tour.specials_detail_snippet.aspx
Great Divide Brewing Company in Denver offers cold ones in their tap room and daily brewery tours. www.GreatDivide.com
Hop to it Brewery Tour takes travelers to 16 breweries in the Southwest Colorado, highlighting events in each town. www.SWColoradoHeritage.com/heritage-maps-and-trips/suggested-trips/hop-to-it-brewery-tour
Breckenridge Brewery one of the most successful craft beer companies in the nation offers free tours and samplings. www.BreckenridgeBrewery.com
Bristol Brewing in Colorado Springs offers free tours with their brewmaster. www.BristolBrewing.com