Although alcohol arrived with the first settlers in Fort Collins, Prohibition lingered until 1969. But the city was one of the first to latch onto the burgeoning craft beer movement. In 1989, Old Colorado Brewing Company paved the way as the city's first microbrewery. And with the inception of breweries like Odell and New Belgium, local beer soon saw a strong resurgence followed by popularity nationwide. By 2010, a new generation of breweries, like Funkwerks and Equinox Brewing, emerged. Brea D. Hoffman divulges the history of Fort Collins's evolving beer scene.

In 1979, two University of Colorado professors decided to open Boulder Brewing Company--the forty-third brewery in the nation and the first in the state since Prohibition. Over the next four decades, young entrepreneurs from across the country flocked to the picturesque region to follow their bliss and brew beer. The county's brewing heritage is brimming with stories of how a band of ragtag ruffians helped launch a nationwide revolution. The likes of Oskar Blues, Avery Brewing Company and Left Hand Brewing Company laid the fertile ground for torchbearers such as Upslope, Bootstrap Brewing and many others. Packed with firsthand accounts from adventurous brewers, Michael J. Casey recounts the tale of those who turned Boulder County into ground zero for craft beer in the Centennial State.

This comprehensive guide covers all aspects of beer and brewing in Colorado.

"A classy series with encyclopedic coverage."—National Geographic Explorer Colorado offers travelers unsurpassed access to the Rocky Mountains—whether your passion is exploring old mining towns, finding the best run at some of the world's best ski resorts, or roughing it in Rocky Mountain National Park. There's enough here to keep anyone busy year round. Explorer's Guide Colorado covers everything a traveler should see and do in this great state. Whether you’re looking to break trail in virgin powder on a winter getaway or sample fresh local produce from a roadside farmstand in the summer sunshine, Matt Forster is a great companion for your Colorado trip. He provides indispensable information on everything from sources of outdoor equipment rental to the best scenic back roads. The best inns, B&Bs, vacation cottages, and lots more are all covered here—from birding in the eastern plains to winery tours in Grand Junction—and everything in between. Features include hundreds of dining reviews as well as opinionated listings of inns, B&Bs, hotels, and vacation cottages. There are numerous up-to-date regional and downtown maps, and like all Explorer's Guides, this one provide handy icons that point out places of extra value, family-friendly establishments, wheelchair and wi-fi access, and lodgings that accept pets.

"A classy series with encyclopedic coverage."—National Geographic Explorer Colorado offers travelers unsurpassed access to the Rocky Mountains—whether your passion is exploring old mining towns, finding the best run at some of the world's best ski resorts, or roughing it in Rocky Mountain National Park. There's enough here to keep anyone busy year round. Explorer's Guide Colorado covers everything a traveler should see and do in this great state. Whether you’re looking to break trail in virgin powder on a winter getaway or sample fresh local produce from a roadside farmstand in the summer sunshine, Matt Forster is a great companion for your Colorado trip. He provides indispensable information on everything from sources of outdoor equipment rental to the best scenic back roads. The best inns, B&Bs, vacation cottages, and lots more are all covered here—from birding in the eastern plains to winery tours in Grand Junction—and everything in between. Features include hundreds of dining reviews as well as opinionated listings of inns, B&Bs, hotels, and vacation cottages. There are numerous up-to-date regional and downtown maps, and like all Explorer's Guides, this one provide handy icons that point out places of extra value, family-friendly establishments, wheelchair and wi-fi access, and lodgings that accept pets.

Brewed in 1859 near what is now the heart of downtown, Denver's first beer quenched the thirst of fortune hunters following the gold rush. It lubricated the city's transformation from Wild West town to the Queen City of the Plains until Prohibition brought a sudden end to the brewing culture. By 1979, only the famed Coors brewery remained. But then something frothy happened. Brian Dunn, John Hickenlooper and many others began satiating locals with liquid gold. The craft beer movement blossomed. Now well over seventy breweries strong, it is filled with the same pioneering spirit and irrepressible optimism that the miners embodied. Journalist and author Jonathan Shikes captures the Mile High City's sudsy stories from then until now.