The amber ale is Fort Collins in a glass: toasty caramel malt, restrained hops and a clean finish, the style New Belgium's Fat Tire and Odell's 90 Shilling made famous.
Two 1989-vintage breweries built the city's reputation on amber, malt-forward beer. Odell Brewing's 90 Shilling, a lightened take on a Scottish export ale, has been the local default pint since the brewery opened on Lincoln Avenue. A basement operation founded around the same time became New Belgium Brewing, and its Fat Tire amber ale carried the Fort Collins name to shelves nationwide. CooperSmith's, the city's first brewpub, rounded out the 1989 class on Old Town Square.
3 editor picks for Colorado amber ale in Fort Collins, ranked by editorial score. All Fort Collins signature dishes · Colorado amber ale across every city.
Odell Brewing Co ★ 4.8
river-district · 800 East Lincoln Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80524
Odell Brewing has anchored Fort Collins beer since 1989; 90 Shilling and Lagerado pour at the Lincoln Avenue taproom with live music every Wednesday.
New Belgium Brewing ★ 4.7
river-district · 500 Linden Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524
New Belgium Brewing pours Fat Tire and La Folie at its Linden Street mothership in Fort Collins, with tours, food trucks and the Tour de Fat bike parade.
CooperSmith's Pub and Brewing ★ 4.3
old-town · 5 Old Town Square, Fort Collins, CO 80524
CooperSmith's Pub and Brewing opened on Old Town Square in 1989 as Fort Collins' first brewpub, pouring Punjabi Pale Ale beside its own billiards hall.