Grand County has six independent breweries within about six miles of each other, plus two distilleries, which is a remarkable density for a valley this size. After a day on the slopes, snowshoe trails or Nordic tracks, this is how most locals wind down.
Here is every one of them, with addresses, phone numbers, hours and the details that actually decide where you go.
Three Things to Know Before You Go
1. Most of these places do not have a kitchen. Camber, Fraser River and Vicious Cycle all rely on rotating food trucks parked outside, and Hideaway Park sends you next door. The trucks are good, but they are not there every day and they change. If you need a proper meal, eat first or pick one of the two with a full menu.
2. Check the closed days. Big Trout closes Tuesday and Wednesday, which catches people out.
3. Beer hits harder at 9,000 feet. This is not a myth and it is worth respecting, especially on your arrival day. Drink water alongside, eat something, and pace yourself. A rough first night ruins a whole ski week. See our guide to adjusting to high altitude.
Quick Reference
| Brewery | Town | Food | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Trout Brewing | Winter Park | Full kitchen | Tue, Wed |
| Hideaway Park Brewery | Winter Park | Next door | Open daily |
| The Noble Buck | Winter Park | Full kitchen | Call ahead |
| Camber Brewing | Fraser | Food truck | Open daily |
| Fraser River Beer Co. | Fraser | Food truck | Open daily |
| Vicious Cycle Brewing | Fraser | Food truck | Open daily |
Breweries in Winter Park
Big Trout Brewing Company
50 Vasquez Rd, Ste F, Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 363-7362 | bigtroutbrewing.com
Hours: Mon and Thu to Sun 11:30am to 9:00pm; closed Tuesday and Wednesday
The most established brewery in town and one of the few with a genuine full kitchen. Several award-winning brews on the board, and beer drinkers who have worked their way around Colorado consistently rate these as top-tier. The #9 amber has a following, and the fact they do not distribute it is a running complaint among people who wish they could take it home.
The room has roll-up bar windows that open to the outdoors in warmer weather, plus plenty of indoor seating for February. On the food, the pizza, wings and beer cheese pretzel sticks are the safe orders. Live music and midweek specials appear on their calendar, so check before you plan an evening around one.
Hideaway Park Brewery
78927 US-40, Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 363-7131 | hideawayparkbrewery.com
Hours: Daily 12:00pm to 9:00pm
Small, right on the main drag downtown, and the highest-rated brewery in Winter Park. What sets it apart is the beer range: plenty of places here lean hard into IPAs, but Hideaway pours proper lagers too, and the Mexican and Munich lagers get singled out constantly. Flights are available if you want to work through the board.
The dog thing is not a small detail. Hideaway is enthusiastically dog friendly inside and out, and on a given afternoon there may be more dogs than people. If you brought yours, this is your bar.
No kitchen, but the hot dog stand next door handles that, and the fries have their own fan base. Bartenders here genuinely know the beer and will steer you well.
The Noble Buck Brewing Co.
78491 US-40, Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 726-7951 | thenoblebuck.com
Hours: Vary by season, call ahead
The largest brewery operation in town, occupying the space that was previously the Peak Bistro & Brewery. It functions as much as a gastropub as a taproom, with a full menu, a proper cocktail list and a beer lineup where the Caspian Red is the one regulars name.
Standouts on the food side include the cod plate, the steak crostini with chimichurri, the oversized pretzel with beer cheese, and an arugula salad people go out of their way to mention. Good news for dietary requirements: gluten-free buns are available and the staff are notably careful about checking ingredients.
Worth knowing: no TVs, so this is not a sports bar. It is set up for both small tables and large groups, and it doubles as an event and wedding venue. It also sits slightly off the main strip and is easy to drive past, so watch for it.
Breweries in Fraser
Staying in Fraser? You have three excellent options within a few minutes of each other, and collectively they are the highest-rated cluster in the valley.
Camber Brewing Company
365 N Zerex St, Fraser, CO 80442
(970) 575-7000 | camberbrewing.com
Hours: Mon 3:00pm to 9:00pm, Tue to Thu 1:00pm to 9:00pm, Fri to Sun 12:00pm to 9:00pm
Small, award-winning, and the highest-rated brewery in Grand County. The beers are full-flavored and the people pouring them know exactly what is in the glass and will happily explain it. Dog friendly, with a steady population of brewery dogs providing company.
On food: there is no kitchen. A food truck parks outside, though not every day, so do not arrive starving on a Monday and hope. The patio has a slightly urban, back-alley character that some people find charming and others do not.
Fraser River Beer Company
218 E Eisenhower Dr, Fraser, CO 80442
(970) 531-5335 | fraserriverbeerco.com
Hours: Mon to Thu and Sun 12:00pm to 8:00pm, Fri and Sat 12:00pm to 9:00pm
A cozy, well-designed space that works as both a working brewery and a genuinely comfortable place to sit for an hour. Crisp, clean beers made with good ingredients, plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, and views that make the outdoor space excellent once the snow clears.
Extremely dog friendly, to the point where a majority of the room may have brought one. A rotating food truck handles the food side, and past regulars have included a meat pie operation people still talk about.
Vicious Cycle Brewing Company
751 S Zerex St, Fraser, CO 80442
(970) 363-7323 | viciouscyclebrewery.com
Hours: Daily 12:00pm to 9:00pm
Locally owned and operated near the Grand Park neighborhood, with a strong community feel and the best patio view of the Fraser breweries. The red and the blonde stout both get named by regulars, and the seasonal releases are worth asking about.
Time it right and you land on trivia night, which turns a quiet pint into a proper evening. A food truck parks alongside, and the space handles private events well enough that people host wedding welcome parties here.
Two Distilleries Worth Adding
Fraser Valley Distilling
410 N Zerex St, Fraser, CO 80442
(970) 363-7792 | fraservalleydistilling.com
Hours: Wed and Thu 3:00pm to 8:30pm, Fri and Sat 12:00pm to 8:30pm; closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
Family owned and operated in downtown Fraser. Spirits made on site, and unlike most of the breweries, a real kitchen with everything made fresh (they keep no freezer on the premises). Brisket sandwiches, crispy Brussels sprouts, flatbreads, and a chocolate cake locals will argue about. Heated patio with a fire pit. Ask about a tour.
Order this: the gin and tonic, made with their own house tonic. Flights come with a glass to take home.
Idlewild Spirits Restaurant & Distillery
78737 US-40 #1000, Winter Park, CO 80482
(970) 281-5773 | idlewildspirits.com
Hours: Wed, Thu and Sun 4:00pm to 9:00pm, Fri and Sat 4:00pm to 10:00pm; closed Monday and Tuesday
Single malt whiskey, gin, rum and vodka made in house, plus a kitchen that has grown well beyond bar snacks. Recently remodeled, with speakeasy energy downstairs and a lounge with a live fire if you have to wait. Gluten free and vegan options handled properly.
Order this: the Hibiscus Gin Mule, then take canned Moscow Mules back to the rental.
Building a Brewery Afternoon
The Fraser crawl: Camber, Fraser River and Vicious Cycle are all within a few minutes of each other on or near Zerex Street, which makes for the easiest self-guided tour in the valley. Add Fraser Valley Distilling if you are there Wednesday through Saturday.
The Winter Park version: Hideaway Park and Big Trout are close enough to walk between downtown, with Noble Buck slightly up the road.
Take the free town bus. The Lift connects Winter Park, the resort base and Fraser at no cost, which means nobody has to volunteer as designated driver. It does run late in heavy snow, so allow a buffer. Note that Uber and Lyft are unreliable here, so do not count on them for the ride home.
Looking for more? See our guide to the best restaurants in Winter Park, and additional places to grab a drink.
Where to Stay
Where you sleep decides how easy the walk home is.
- Walk to Hideaway Park and Big Trout: Downtown Winter Park rentals
- Walk the Fraser three: Fraser rentals, including Grand Park near Vicious Cycle
- Ski all day, bus to beer: ski-in ski-out and Base Village rentals
- Bringing the dog to some very dog-friendly taprooms: pet-friendly rentals
- Bigger group: private homes, townhomes and rentals with a hot tub
Our Guest Services team are locals and happy to share their own picks. Check current specials, browse all properties, or call us at 800-215-6535.
Hours, food truck schedules and beer lineups change seasonally. Details were verified as of publication. Please confirm directly with each brewery before you go, and never drink and drive.
