As the aspens change color in the Rocky Mountains, there's no better way to enjoy the season than with a cold craft beer in Colorado. With Oktoberfest celebrations and more than 400 breweries across the state, there's something for everyone. Many of the breweries in Vail and Beaver Creek are independently and locally owned and serve up a wide variety of artisan craft brews.
In September, the days are warm, perfect for a beer on a sun-soaked deck after a day of hiking or biking. The evenings are cool, perfect for throwing on a fleece jacket and sipping a beer around a fire pit.
And you'll already feel you’ve been transported to an alpine European village when you’re in Vail Village so why not complete the experience at its Oktoberfest celebration when yodeling and alpenhorn blowing will echo throughout the valley.
Get ready for a blast of Bavaria with the Vail Oktoberfest, named among the 10 greatest Oktoberfest celebrations in the United States by USA Today. Mouthwatering classic Bavarian fare, including brats, spaetzle and pretzels are served up, and there's plenty of German beer flowing. Kick up your heels to Bavarian brass band and accordion music. Or strut your stuff in the lederhosen and dirndls costume contest, flex your muscles in the stein-lifting competition and keg bowling, or see how many brats you can put away in the bratwurst-eating competition.
After the festivals’ kegs have been tapped dry, our mountain towns have exploded with plenty of craft breweries to quench your thirst. Afterall, there’s nothing more refreshing than throwing back a cold one to cap off a day out on the trails, hiking, biking or skiing! Here’s where you’ll find the Moving Mountains Team raising a glass!
Crafted with Altitude; Brewed for Adventure is this brewery’s motto! This “Veteran & Ski Bum-owned” brewery has been a haven for beer lovers in the Vail Valley since 2014 and they’ve been pouring award-winning beers on tap ever since.
Don’t be fooled by its location, in an industrial park in Eagle-Vail, between Vail and Beaver Creek. This brewery and tasting room has plenty of mountain views and indoor and outdoor seating.
Some perfect brews to complement the crisp mountain days of fall, include the Mellow Mood Session IPA, brewed with all organic German malt; Hero Dirt Brown Ale; and the World Beer Cup ‘22 award winner, Dark Necessities Porter.
Vail Brewing Co. also opened a tasting room in Vail Village in Solaris Plaza.
What started as a sandwich shop in Edwards, just down the road from Beaver Creek, has evolved into a full-blown brewery. Co-owner Chris Schmidt hailed from the renowned Sweet Basil restaurant in Vail where he was head chef. He and his wife, Janelle, opened the Craftsman in 2017 and it quickly gained the attention of food lovers and food critics all over Colorado. All the while, Schmidt was also focused on his home-brewing system.
When the brewery across from the sandwich shop recently became available, they jumped in and expanded the restaurant and started brewing beer, the first of which was tapped just last year! These include their Winnebago Warrior Kolsch, Foggy Notion Hazy Double IPA and Iron Fist Porter, perfect for a crisp fall day!
So there you have it, our guide to the best places to enjoy a cold craft beer in Vail and Beaver Creek, Colorado this fall. Whether you're looking for a festive Oktoberfest celebration or a more low-key brewery to relax at after a day of outdoor activities, you're sure to find something to your liking. So grab a stein and raise a glass to the start of the fall season in Colorado!
