Breckenridge Brewery Story     

Back in the 1980s our founder, Richard Squire, had a dream - to

ski all day and drink great beer every night. Since he lived in

the snow-kissed Rocky Mountains, fulfilling the skiing portion of

his dream was easy. But the great beer part - at a time when a

"microbrew" was a rarity - that was another story. So Richard

started brewing his own, more flavorful beers for himself and his

thrill-seeking ski pals.

 

His homebrewed creations were a hit, and soon Richard was

spending more time brewing than skiing. So he chased after

another dream - making exceptional beer for a living. In

February, 1990 that dream became reality when Richard opened the

original Breckenridge Brewery & Pub in the town of Breckenridge,

Colorado. Richard's ski bum days were over, and so were the days

of bland beer for the folks in Colorado's ski country.

 

Today Breckenridge Brewery continues to work hard to satisfy the

thirsts of discerning beer drinkers. Richard's original recipes -

and a handful of seasonal creations - are now handcrafted at our

three Breckenridge Brewery locations in Colorado. In 1992 we

opened our sister brewpub in downtown Denver, at 22nd and Blake

Street. Just a block from Coors Field, home of the Colorado

Rockies, our Denver brewpub is home to locals, baseball fans and

Denver visitors who seek a quality meal and craft beer with

character.

 

In May 1996 we expanded our family again with the opening of our

brewing and bottling facility in Denver's historic Golden

Triangle neighborhood. Here our brewmasters and staffers craft

and package the bottled and kegged versions of our nationally

acclaimed beers. An adjoining tasting room allows guests to savor

their brews in a cozy setting, in full view of the brew kettles

and bottling line.

 

Sure, our growth means we're spending a little less time on the

slopes and in the high country. But we're not complaining. In the

past two decades we've grown from a small 3,000-barrels-a-year

brewpub to one of the most successful craft beer companies in the

nation. We now handcraft nearly 30,000 barrels of fresh beer each

year and sell it across Colorado and 25 other states.

  

                                       

 

 

 

     

Breckenridge Brewery-Lucky U IPA Breckenridge Brewery-Lucky U IPA

This true American-style unfiltered wheat has something a little special - the nectar of the great Salmiana Agave. Agave complements the refreshingly light quality of our wheat and adds a subtle note of flavor that expands this beer's uplifting taste profile. It is familiar, yet creative.

       

Beer Style:	American Unfiltered Wheat Ale with Agave
Flavor:	Light, refreshing, yet interesting
Yeast:	American Wheat
Malts:	Pale, White Wheat, Torrified Wheat, Carapils, Caramel, Munich
Hops:	Fuggle, Cascade, Willamette
Color:	Golden Opaque
Bitterness Units:	9
Alcohol By Volume:	4.2%
Alcohol By Weight:	3.36%
"Cooking With Beer" Agave Wheat Recipes:
Agave Wheat Cheese Soup Agave Wheat & Ginger Chicken Marinade

 

Rich, round and roasted, our Oatmeal Stout is satisfaction in a glass. It's a bold, smooth-bodied concoction that oozes dark-roasted coffee aromas and flavors of espresso and semi-sweet chocolate. We round out these heady pleasures with a dose of flaked oatmeal for a creamy body and a semi-dry finish. Unforgettable.

Beer Style: Specialty Stout Flavor: Chocolate coffee maltiness, round oatmeal mouthfeel with very slight hop character Yeast: Top Fermenting Ale Yeast Malts: Two Row Pale, Caramel, Roasted Barley, Chocolate, Oat Flakes, Black Hops: Chinook, Perle Color: Black Bitterness Units: 31 Alcohol ByVolume: 4.95% Alcohol By Weight: 3.96% "Cooking With Beer" Oatmeal Stout Recipes: Breckenridge Brewery Oatmeal Stout Beer-B-Q Sauce

               

Subtlety. That's what makes our Avalanche amber ale such a treat. We blend pale and caramel malts - and just a kiss of bittering hops - to create a refreshing-but-flavorful, any-time beer. Aromas of pale grains, a semi-sweet middle and a clean-as-Colorado-snow finish make this our best-selling beer.

       

Beer Style:	American Amber
Flavor:	Caramel maltiness with slight hop character
Yeast:	Top Fermenting Ale Yeast
Malts:	Two Row Pale, Munich, Roasted Barley, Chocolate
Hops:	Willamette, Chinook, Tettnang, Hallertau
Color:	Amber
Bitterness Units:	19
Alcohol By Volume:	5.41%
Alcohol By Weight:	4.33%

Demanding beer for demanding beer drinkers -- that's our Pale Ale. We craft this American pale ale with hearty amounts of pale and Munich malts, then balance it with lofty amounts of hops throughout. It's a finessed version of hop-head fun -- a black diamond beer without the bumps and dangerous curves.

Beer Style: American Pale Ale Flavor: Moderate maltiness with sweet floral hop character Yeast: Top Fermenting Ale Yeast Malts: Two Row Pale, Munich, Caramel Hops: Perle, Wilamette, Bramling, Fuggle, Czech Saaz Color: Deep Golden Bitterness Units: 40 Alcohol By Volume: 5.7% Alcohol By Weight: 4.56% "Cooking With Beer" Trademark Pale Ale Recipes: Trademark Pale Ale Battered Fish

               

Who would have thought deep in the jungles of Papua New Guinea and Madagascar grew the perfect ingredient to build an extraordinary Porter in Colorado? An ale that has all the chocolate and roasted nut flavor of a classic Porter, with an enigmatic surprise thrown in for good measure, real vanilla bean. Breckenridge Brewery's Vanilla Porter. A vanilla kiss in a rich, dark sea.

       

Beer Style:	Herb and Spice Beer
Flavor:	Smooth roasted chocolate with a creamy vanilla finish.
Yeast:	Top Fermenting Ale Yeast
Malts:	Two Row Pale, Caramel, Chocolate, Black, Roasted Barley
Hops:	Chinook, Tettinang, Perle, Goulding
Vanilla:	Real vanilla beans from Paupau New Guinea and Madagascar.
Color:	Deep Brown
Bitterness Units:	16
Alcohol ByVolume:	4.7%
Availability:	Year round

               

We like to think this is an ale for everyone who believes you make your own luck. We sure did. And the result is a well-balanced, soulful IPA with just the right amount of hoppiness. An even keeled ale that goes down clean and refreshing, but still lets you know it's been doted on by the Brewmaster. It's true to it's IPA heritage, but also highly drinkable. Lucky U. And we seriously mean that.

       

Beer Style:	American India Pale Ale
Flavor:	Nice forefront, hop bitterness with underlying malt character
Yeast:	Top Fermented Ale Yeast
Malts:	Two Row Pale, Munich, Carmel, Torrified Wheat
Hops:	Amarillo, Magnum, Perle, Cascade, Apollo, Fuggle, Goldings
Color:	Spun Gold
Bitterness Units:	68
Alcohol By Volume:	6.2%
Alcohol By Weight:	5%

               

Desire coupled with curiosity can drive you to do many foolish things. Fortunately, opening a bottle of our Pandora's Bock is not one of them. Once it is released, a wealth of flavor and complexity will spill out into the world. With a traditional bock flavor profile and a hint of hoppy goodness, there's a reason it's spoken about in mythical terms.

       

Beer Style:	Bock
Flavor:	Caramel Nut Maltiness
Yeast:	Bavarian Lager
Malts:	Two Row Pale, Munich, Bonlander, Caramel
Hops:	Strisselspalt, Chinook
Color:	Mahogany
Bitterness Units:	16
Alcohol ByVolume:	7.5%
Alcohol ByWeight:	6.0%
Availability:	January-March

               

The brewmaster's goal: the perfect ale for summertime quaffing, nothing more. Breck Brew's SummerBright is the result. The craftsman's touch combines white wheat, two row pale and munich malt with the pacific northwest's most intriguing hops to create a bright, clean ale ideal for picnicking, evenings on the screen porch and enjoying the whims of the summer breeze.

       

Beer Style:	American Wheat Ale with Fruit
Flavor:	A refreshing wheat ale with a hint of citrus flavor
Yeast:	Top Fermenting Ale Yeast
Malts:	Two-row Pale, White Wheat Malt, Carapils Malt, Munich
Hops:	Fuggles, Cascade, Willamette
Color:	Golden
Bitterness Units:	15
Alcohol ByVolume:	4.5%
Alcohol By Weight:	3.6%
Availability:	April - August

Looking for a fresh take on Oktoberfest beer? Breckenridge Brewery's fall seasonal combines the malty goodness of a German lager with the clean crispness of an American ale. Brewed with Munich malts and a delicate blend of Bavarian hops, our Autumn Ale is a full-bodied treat with a nutty-sweet middle, a warming alcohol level and notes of toasted grains. A pre-winter winner.

Beer Style: Old Ale Flavor: Full body caramel malt flavor with medium hop character Yeast: Top Fermenting Ale Yeast Malts: Two Row Pale, Munich, Roasted Barley, Chocolate Hops: Perle, Hallertau Color: Deep Mahogony Bitterness Units: 21 Alcohol ByVolume: 6.7% Alcohol By Weight: 5.36% Availability: September - October

               

The chill of a Colorado high-country winter calls for a beer with extra flavor and warming characteristics. Here it is. Breck Brew's Christmas Ale. At over 7% alcohol, with a sturdy texture and rich flavors of caramel and chocolate, our holiday seasonal is the fermented equivalent of a good fire. The ultimate winter warmer.

       

Read Draft Magazine's recent review of Breckenridge Christmas Ale
Beer Style:	American Style Strong Ale
Flavor:	Full-bodied, apparent warming caramel flavor with medium hop character
Yeast:	Top Fermenting Ale Yeast
Malts:	Two Row Pale, Caramel, Chocolate, Black
Hops:	Chinook, Mt. Hood
Color:	Mahogany/Brown
Bitterness Units:	22
Alcohol By Volume:	7.4%
Alcohol By Weight:	5.92%
Availability:	November - December

                     

471 IPA. Aggressive Hoppiness Hoppy? Brother, 471 IPA redefines hoppy. 471 is a small batch, limited edition ale that was created by our Brewmaster to separate the weak from the strong. 471 is a double IPA, that combines Pale, Munich, Caramel-30, Carapils and Torrified Wheat malts, with Chinook, Centennial, Simcoe and Fuggles hops. It has a big sweet mouthfeel, followed by more hoppiness than you've ever had at one time. Enjoy. Beer Style: Double IPA (India Pale Ale) Flavor: Big sweet mouthfeel balanced by aggressive hoppiness Yeast: British Ale Yeast Malts: Pale, Munich, Caramel-30, Carapils, Torrified Wehat Hops: Chinook, Centennial, Simcoe, Fuggles Color: Copper Bitterness Units: 70 Alcohol By Volume: 9.2% Availability*: Year round, in limited quantities. Mighty Brown Mighty Brown is a towering behemoth of a brown ale, rich, robust and full of personality. And it will go well with every other big event, meal or day in your life. Savor it. And ration it accordingly. Beer Style: Imperial Brown Flavor: Round and Smooth, Roasted Chocolate Nuttiness Yeast: California Ale Malts: Pale, Munich, Roasted Barley, Chocolate, Toasted Wheat Hops: Perle, Hallertau Color: Deep Brown Bitterness Units: 21 Alcohol By Volume: 7.5% Alcohol By Weight: 6% Availability*: Year round, in limited quantities. Porter Porter Roll up your sleeves and get to work on this deep, dark, complex beer. Named after the 18th Century luggage porters in London, it's been a well-deserved reward for the laborer for over 200 years. We put in extra hours and doubled the wellrounded taste of a porter for our Small Batch Series. A mouthful of sweet chocolate balanced by hints of roasted coffee. This is a big beer. Job well done, folks. Job well done. Beer Style: Imperial Porter Flavor: A mouthful of sweet chocolate balanced by hints of roasted coffee Yeast: Top Fermenting Ale Yeast Malts: Two Row Pale, Caramel, Chocolate, Roasted Barley and Black Hops: Chinook, Palisade, Perle, Goldings Color: Dark Chocolate Bitterness Units: 21 Alcohol By Volume: 7.5% Alcohol By Weight: 6% Availability*: Year round, in limited quantities. 471 ESB - Extra Special Bitter Extra, extra? You better believe it. We like to say it's double extra special. The balance of malt and hops makes it truly one-of-a-kind. Warming malt notes at the onset with a hop kick in the back and opens up to a nice dry finish. Our small batch ESB is a big traditional ale with characteristics that break tradition and a complexity that constantly surprises. Beer Style: Strong Scottish Ale Flavor: Complex hopiness balanced with traditional English Ale maltiness Yeast: Scottish Ale Malts: English Pale, Amber, Crystal and Roasted Barley Hops: Chinook, Centennial, Fuggle Color: Copper Bitterness Units: 55 Alcohol By Volume: 7.8% Alcohol By Weight: 6.24% Availability*: Year round, in limited quantities. *471 Small Batch IPA beer is available on store shelves in bomber bottles and served on tap at these Breckenridge Pubs and Restaurants.