So, what is the Colorado Beer Trail anyway?

Perhaps the best place to start to answer the question above is to share other questions I’m asked about the Colorado Beer Trail.  Is it an actual trail? Is it a map of the breweries?  Is it another beer blog for beer geeks only?  Is it a bus service to take you to breweries? Is it a brewery?

To tell you more about what the Colorado Beer Trail is I must first tell you more about what it isn’t. The Colorado Beer Trail isn’t any of the above, but perhaps it’s connecting all of the above-with many unique twists of our own thrown in.  Now, do you find yourself asking the question my 4-year old often does, “Huh, whaddaya say?”

The Colorado Beer Trail is…

After having worked in destination marketing throughout the U.S., I moved to Colorado for an industry opportunity as an executive director of a visitors bureau.  I’ve always been fascinated by off-the-beaten-path experiences and I wanted to discover all the things that made Colorado such a great place to live and visit-what is the essence of Colorado? That was my question.  As I toured this great state, I visited many of Colorado’s craft breweries and was struck by the entire experience.  I found it isn’t just about the world-class craft beer, but also craft beer’s infusion in the entire Colorado culture; from bicycling to Rocky Mountain adventure, the breweries embody their surroundings and the texture of the communities in which they thrive.  Each brewery seems to be a reflection of its owner(s) (whom, we might add, you have a good chance of meeting on any given brewery tour).  It was clear that the breweries are an essential part of the greater Colorado story.

I felt the stories of Rocky Mountain living, unique travel destinations, events and inspired local food I found along the way from brewery to brewery could be told in a unique and compelling way that shared the authenticity of the experience and brought them all together.  With that in mind, The Colorado Beer Trail was born.

The trailblazers

Soon thereafter, Travis Bush, a tremendous videographer and semi-craft beer geek met me at the trail-head along with award winning craft beer journalist and beer judge, Jim Burrus.  Next on the trail was Scott Conlin, who brings strategic planning, market research and event planning expertise. Marcus McDermett came on board with extensive sales management experience to spread the love.  At the time of this writing, Aaron Orebaugh, Cyn Goodman, Kris Ellen King, Kim and Paul at Family Fan Club and Marcelo Fernandez have each brought passion and resources to the table.

As craft beer lovers and driven industry professionals, we invite you to experience hundreds of Colorado craft breweries, while discovering can’t miss “True Colorado” experiences; attractions, eateries, travel destinations, famous scenic views and countless gems “along the trail.”  Welcome to the Colorado Beer Trail.  Share the experience!

– by Joe Ward, founder, the Colorado Beer Trail.