Golden Craft Breweries

Golden might be home to the world's largest single-site brewery, but the craft beer scene here goes far beyond Coors. A handful of small breweries have established themselves in town, each with distinct character. You can easily hit several in an afternoon without driving - most are walkable from downtown.

The combination of Colorado brewing culture, proximity to outdoor recreation, and that beautiful mountain water makes Golden a natural fit for craft beer. After a hike on North Table Mountain or a Coors tour, a local brewery is the perfect next stop.

The Breweries

Cannonball Creek Brewing

The best beer in Golden, hands down. This small brewery focuses on quality over quantity, with a rotating tap list that showcases technical brewing skill. Their IPAs are excellent, and they're not afraid to experiment with Belgian styles and barrel-aged beers. Small taproom, limited seating, worth seeking out.

Golden City Brewery

A Golden institution since 1993, making it one of the older craft breweries in Colorado. The brewery occupies a residential-looking building with a legendary backyard patio. Dogs welcome, picnic tables, mountain views, casual vibes. The beer is solid if not cutting-edge. Go for the atmosphere as much as the beer.

Mountain Toad Brewing

Neighborhood brewery with a good taproom and regular food trucks. They focus on approachable styles that appeal to craft newcomers while keeping hop heads happy with rotating IPAs. Good place to bring friends who don't usually drink craft beer.

Holidaily Brewing

A unique brewery producing 100% gluten-free beer made from millet, buckwheat, and other alternative grains. If you or someone in your group has celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, this is a revelation - real craft beer that's actually safe to drink. Even gluten-tolerant folks are often surprised by the quality.

New Terrain Brewing

Larger taproom with food, located slightly outside downtown. Good for groups looking for a more complete food-and-beer experience. Solid beer lineup with something for everyone. Mountain views from the patio.

The Golden Mill

Not a brewery, but worth mentioning - The Golden Mill is a food hall and tap house in a renovated mill building with an enormous patio overlooking Clear Creek. Multiple food vendors, dozens of Colorado craft beers on tap, and one of the best outdoor drinking spots on the Front Range. Great for groups who want options.

Coors Brewery

You can't talk about Golden beer without mentioning Coors. The free tour is genuinely interesting even if you're a craft beer snob - the scale is impressive and the history is real. Plus, free beer. Do the tour, then hit the craft breweries after.

Planning a Brewery Trail

A walkable Golden brewery crawl might look like:

1. Start with the Coors tour (free, includes samples)
2. Walk to Cannonball Creek for the best beer
3. Head to Golden City for the patio
4. Finish at The Golden Mill for food and creek views

This covers about 2 miles of walking through downtown and can easily fill an afternoon.

Tips for Your Visit

Designated driver or rideshare: Plan ahead if you're going to multiple breweries. Golden is well-served by Uber and Lyft.

Food: Most Golden breweries don't have full kitchens. They allow outside food or have food trucks. The Mill has multiple food vendors. Plan your eating around your drinking.

Dogs: Golden City is famous for being dog-friendly. Check policies at others - many allow dogs on patios.

Crowler/Growler: Several breweries fill containers to go if you want to take beer back to your hotel or campsite.