State of Beer Episode 1: Passion for Brewing

Colorado is lovingly known as the State of Craft Beer. With the Colorado Brewers Guild supporting and boosting the over 300 breweries in the state, but what role does Northern Colorado play in the state of craft beer? What makes Northern Colorado breweries and brewery culture special? 

Fort Collins breweries had to play catch-up from the start, having a shorter history in brewing, because Fort Collins had the longest-running dry law in the state. Fort Collins passed a temperance law more than 20 years before the country-wide prohibition, and this law continued for more than 40 years after.  Ed Stoner, a key player in the organization that helped end the long-standing ban, was quoted by the Coloradoan as saying, "Back in the day, Fort Collins was known as having wide streets and narrow minds," fitting for the town that did not end their dry law until 1969! 

 So, while after national prohibition repeal, 5 breweries started brewing again in Colorado in 1934, the first brewery did not re-open in Fort Collins until  Budweiser opened in 1988, and in 1989 Coopersmiths Brewpub opened just two weeks before Odell Brewing would open down the street.

From that moment on, there was no stopping the Northern Colorado Brewing community from becoming a huge force in the brewing industry both not only within the state of craft beer but nationally and internationally as well. Now, Northern Colorado is responsible for a huge portion of the beer brewed in Colorado, but also for shining a light on the ways this industry is unique, the history, camaraderie, and creativity that all stem from a few simple ingredients that continue to evolve the craft beer industry. 

Welcome to episode 1 of The State of Beer, presented by This is NOCO.