Bring bubbly fun to Dry January with locally made soft drinks
By Johnny Burkin
Your friends invited you to go out and throw a few cold ones back at that new neighborhood brewery. But maybe that’s just not your thing. Drinking, that is. Or perhaps you drew the short end of the stick and now find yourself the designated driver. Regardless of your situation, it's refreshing to know that there are non-alcoholic alternatives offered at many establishments, and not just 0% ABV beer and mocktails. Craft sodas have also become quite popular. That’s why today we’re trading in that buzz for a little fizz and looking at some Colorado breweries that are incorporating handcrafted soft drinks into their repertoire.
When Elizabeth Brewing opened in 2018, it did so with a little history behind it, specifically, the historic building it occupies. For those who are unfamiliar, the Hubber-Carlson Building dates back to the 1890s and once served as the residence of famous artist and sculptor George Carlson. Now, the building has been converted into a fully functioning brewery with a vast selection of craft beers and Italian sodas, including cherry, vanilla and seasonal favorites.
What started as a garage enterprise pre-2009 is now thriving as Montrose’s oldest brewery. Aside from its selection of beers, Horsefly also offers root beer, ginger beer and orange cream. Plus, the brewery typically hosts live music on Wednesdays or Saturdays.
Located at Cooper Creek Square in downtown Winter Park, Big Trout is another establishment making their own fizz, or as they call it, Big Trout Fancy Fizz. The availability and flavors of these handcrafted drinks change throughout the year. However, their root beer is always on tap.
This Fort Collins-based brewpub has been serving its hungry and thirsty customers for over 30 years. In addition to a signature green chili beer and a great cask-conditioned pale ale, you will see a number of non-alcoholic options on the menu, from NA beer and cocktails to its very own Coops Sodas, which come in a handful of flavors, such as root beer and ginger ale. They even offer a taster flight for soda aficionados of all ages.
For a lot of us venturing into the high country, Idaho Springs is a cool little stopover with a lot going for it. That includes Tommyknocker’s brewpub, which has been in the craft beer business since 1994. But it is also known for its craft sodas, which include almond creme, orange creme, strawberry creme, and an award-winning root beer.
Craft brewing is an art form that requires passion and dedication. And while relatively new to the scene, Reverence Brewing Company in Denver’s City Park West neighborhood seems to exude this. Look at some of the descriptions of what they have on tap. Their Sanguine Hazy IPA, for instance, is loaded with enough citrus and tropical flavor to cause even the biggest curmudgeon to look on the bright side. As for their craft sodas, Reverence currently has three on tap: 1840 Root Beer, Alpin Ginger Ale and Orange Dream Cream Soda.
San Luis Valley Brewing Company
There’s a little more than beer brewing going down in Alamosa. Or at least that’s the case at San Luis Valley Brewing on Main Street. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still plenty of beer to go around, but a little variety is always nice. And I’m not just talking about the homemade root beer and black cherry cream soda. Since 2014, the brewery has expanded its operation to include house-roasted coffee and espresso.