Odell and New Belgium Make List of ‘The 50 Best Craft Breweries in America’

Fort Collins is becoming known more for it's ability to brew a good craft beer than it's mountains. That being said, the two big dogs in the Fort Collins craft brewing scene are used to winning awards and making lists. They have done it again, but may not be ranked as high as they should be.

There are more than 3,000 craft breweries operating in America, so narrowing it down to the 50 best is a chore for sure. Those 3,000 breweries were pared down to 118 by a panel of experts, and after that, The Daily Meal opened up voting to their readers.

Odell was named the 27th best craft brewery in America, and The Daily Meal had this to say about the Fort Collins establishment:

Colorado takes its craft brewing seriously, and after 25 years in the business, Odell Brewing Company has proved that they mean business. The company boasts 18 year-round and seasonal offerings, including some much-loved barrel aged beers. Odell Friek is brewed with wild yeast and cherries, then aged two years in oak barrels. The result is a delicate sweet and sour beer that earns a world-class rating from Beer Advocate.

New Belgium came in at number seven on the list, and they had this to say about the Fat Tire makers:

Started in 1989 with the founder delivering beers on his bike, New Belgium quickly turned into a microbrewery and then surpassed the microbrewery mark to become one of the most respected and loved full breweries in the country. They now offer free tours of their facility, which produces Fat Tires the very brew that was transported on bikes more than 20 years ago. While Fat Tire is the solid flagship beer of New Belgium, the brewery still takes risks with its seasonals. New Belgium takes the Colorado lifestyle and transposes it to a larger audience, and many agree that the brewery doesn’t just make great craft beer — it makes an eco-friendly and community-friendly impact.

Founders Brewing in Grand Rapids, Michigan took the top spot on the list, but other Colorado breweries got some love as well...

#32- Crooked Stave — Denver, Colorado

#18- Great Divide Brewing Company — Denver, Colorado

#16- Epic Brewing Company — Salt Lake City, Utah; Denver, Colorado

#12- Avery Brewing Company — Boulder, Colorado

#9- Oskar Blues Brewery — Longmont, Colorado

You can see the full list here.