State of Beer: Community is the Answer

“Whatever the problem, community is the answer. Margaret Wheatley.”

Ben and I heard this quoted by Andy Stoll at the Fort Collins Small Business Celebration last year, right in the middle of editing The State of Craft Beer, and we turned to each other and went, that's it, that's the answer. And that extended far past the brewery scene in our world. It feels like that is the driving force behind This Is NOCO, but it also felt so integral, so perfect to the way each brewery spoke during this interview process, that we knew this had to be the focus of the last episode, the point of it all, if you may.

At the end of the day, what makes NOCO brewing culture stand apart? You could say it is the quality of beer, the variety of breweries available, or the love of the craft. But if you were to ask me, I would say that all of those things are lovely and necessary to keep our brewery culture alive and well. However, what truly sets NOCO breweries apart is their collaboration, the friendship, and the ability to sit around and drink Coors Light on a Friday night together.

It would be so easy for each brewery to only focus on themselves, to hope for their own success and their competition's demise, right? There are only so many beer-consuming customers. Everyone is hoping to attract those consumers, but instead of looking inward, the heart of the Northern Colorado brewing culture is collaboration. It is truly the idea that a rising tide raises all boats. (Don’t you hate it when those old sayings are actually accurate?)

They are taking the time to find new ways to collaborate with each other and other local industries, such as creating beer using only local ingredients. Shout-out to Root Shoot Malting! Finding ways to create and cultivate the actual culture of craft beer, including reviving Fort Collins Craft Beer Week in 2025 and working to make it even better in 2026 and creating an advent calendar complete with 24 local brews!

Every brewery we spoke to held the same theme. The same thread connected them all, each other.

So it was clear that for each brewer, each brewery, they all lived by the fact that having the understanding that people are going to a new brewery every weekend, they aren’t only going to drink your beer or come to your brewery, was key. So, making sure that all the beer in Northern Colorado is outstanding.

No matter where someone takes their first or 50th or 500th sip of NOCO beer, they walk away knowing that NOCO is the place for craft beer.