We hope you’re thirsty, because Loveland has the beer! Can I get a “Sip! Sip! Hooray!”, please? As an up-and-coming craft beer destination with new breweries sprouting up regularly, suds enthusiasts will appreciate the variety and unique culture that each Loveland brewery offers. Here’s a look at what you can expect at each one:
Sky Bear Brewery and Pub
272 E. 5th St.
Loveland’s newest brewery, Sky Bear Brewery and Pub, opened its doors in late July 2022 with six beers on the menu: Cutthroat Kolsch, Cougar IPA, Nuthatch Brown, Black Bear Stout, Blonde as a Bat, and Dark Night. Additionally, the brewery serves up hard seltzers, cider, wine and even beer cocktails like the Bee Sting (vodka, beer and lemons). Nosh on pretzel bites with cheese, nachos, quesadillas, pizzas, sandwiches and more while sipping through the menu. The Brewery is family owned and operated by Amanda Kissel and her parents, Mark (the brewer in the family) and Linda. After joking for a decade about starting a brewery, the family decided to open in a turn-of-the-century Loveland building.
Loveland Aleworks
118 W. 4th Ave.
Located in the heart of downtown, Loveland Aleworks is also a favorite Loveland gathering place. The floor-to-ceiling windows along the front of the brewery’s taproom ensure the place is always flooded with Colorado sunlight. Food trucks frequent the brewery, and fun events, like trivia nights, painting workshops and live music, keep things fresh and lively. Sip on a Time of Concentration Pale Ale, a Blackberry Lemon Bar Sour, the Imperial Stout, a Kolsch, or plenty of additional tasty options.
Verboten Brewing and Barrel Project
127 E. 5th St.
Verboten Brewing derives its name from the “forbidden” ingredients that were rejected by the German Purity Law for beer, the Reinheitsgebot. Under the purity law, beer could only be made with three ingredients: barley, water and hops. Yeast, once its fermentation properties were clearly understood, was added later. Verboten’s beers embrace the trend of incorporating fruit and spice, barrel aging and other distinctive ingredients to make craft beer. This artisan craft brewery is famous for dark and barrel-aged beers, like Killer Boots, a caramel porter with chocolate notes, and Schwarzbier, a creamy beer that smells like cozy, sweet malts. Gluten-free options, like Favorite Blonde ale from Holidaily Brewing Co. and hard seltzers from Florida Seltzer, in flavors like naval orange yuzu and blackberry agave, keep everyone happy.
Grimm Brothers Brewhouse Taproom
623 North Denver Avenue
As the oldest brewery in Loveland, Grimm Brothers Brewhouse, located in an East Loveland warehouse, has a loyal following for a very good reason. They have an amazing ability to take old German beer recipes and give them new life, which means there is always something interesting on tap here. The Legend Series beers — like Snow Drop, Blood Orange Griffin and Little Red Cap — are available year-round while the Fairy Tale Series — Maiden’s Kiss, Midnight Strikes, Farmers Daughter and more — are available seasonally. Enjoy German-inspired food specialties from bratwurst and soft pretzels to potato and cucumber salad.
Berthoud Brewing Company
1480 Cascade Ave.
This family-owned brewery shirks trends in favor of traditional styles, real ingredients, and a focus on making “real beer for real people.” At the Loveland taproom, which opened in 2019, you’ll find top-notch beer, including mainstays like Lowrider Lime (made with hand-zested real limes and Celtic sea salt), Little Thompson (a classic IPA as consistent and iconic as it’s namesake river); and Devil’s Dunkel (a liquid homage to nearby Devil’s Backbone hiking/biking trails). Handcrafted pizzas ensure no one goes hungry.
Big Beaver Brewing Co.
2707 W. Eishenhower Blvd. Unit 9
At this easygoing, tongue-in-cheek microbrewery, you can score delicious, handcrafted microbrews along with juicy bratwurst (cooked in beer, of course) topped with handmade Big Beaver Beer Mustard. There are 16 microbrews on tap, with offerings like Stubble Stout, Juicy Peach Ale, Big Woody IPA and more. There’s also house-made root beer and Italian sodas for the NA crowd. Come for the beer, enjoy the bratwurst, and leave with new friends.
Big Thompson Brewery
114 15th St.
Located in the old Skate Castle building at the cusp of downtown and north Loveland, the owners of Big Thompson Brewery built a beautiful brewery and tasting room with an inviting atmosphere of light wood and the ubiquitous scent of hops. Open since 2015, Big Thompson serves up 13 beers on tap (try the Streamside Strawberry Blonde or the Cool Your Heeler POG Gose Ale) along with tasty pub fare like sloppy joes, naan bread pizzas, chips and salsa, and, on weekends, smoked pork BBQ sandwiches (Fridays through Sundays). A slew of fun events, from karaoke parties to “paints & pints,” and brewery bingo, keep regulars and visitors alike endlessly entertained.
Mountain Cowboy Brewing Company
6402 Union Creek Dr.
Craft coffee and craft beer? Yes, please! Mountain Cowboy sources green coffee beans from around the world and then blends and roasts them in small batches on-site for the freshest cup around. On the beer side, Mountain Cowboy also delivers plenty of diversity: from the crisp Kinston Kolsch to the Fire on the Mountain IPA, a piney West Coast IPA with a fiery twist. If it’s hard to pick just one, opt for a flight of any four beers on tap for $10. You’ll also find wine and cider, made-from-scratch baked goods, small bites, shareable appetizers and larger plates. Don’t forget to try the warm cinnamon rolls available every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning while they last.
Rock Coast Brewery
414 E. 6th St.
For rock-solid beers in a family-friendly atmosphere, head to Rock Coast Brewery. With 10 beers on tap, elevated eats from the AKA Kitchen and a fantastic patio, you’re sure to leave satiated. Try the Murder Hornet Honey Wit or the Sangre de Cristo Blood Orange, an American IPA. For the gluten sensitive crowd, the Rainbow Lakes Blackberry Hard Seltzer is your jam. Don’t skip the food either — AKA Kitchen revels in taking traditional dishes and giving them a tasty twist.
Rock Bottom Brewery
6025 Sky Pond Dr.
Located at the Promenade Shops at Centerra on the far east side of Loveland, Rock Bottom Brewery serves up craft beer as well as elevated eats worthy of a place that calls itself a “gastrobrewery.” As you sip, tuck into devilled eggs with candied bacon, and friend pickles with Hatch chile ranch, pizzas, sandwiches, salads and even an extensive “gluten-sensitive” menu. Happy Hour takes place Monday through Friday from 2-6 p.m. (enjoy $2 off anything that pours – wine, beer and cocktails included).
10 great breweries, one great place. You won’t have any trouble finding a place to relax and sip in Loveland. Cheers!
