The Best Breweries In Telluride

Telluride is a stunning mountain town located in the magnificent San Juan Mountains of Southwestern Colorado.

Its remote location is famed for picturesque scenery and an abundance of outdoor activities. Alongside the views, Telluride also serves up a variety of local breweries featuring unique craft beers made with locally grown ingredients (yay!).

Whether you’re looking for a refreshing drink after a day of hiking or an evening out with friends, here are the best breweries in Telluride you should check out!

300 foot free falling waterfall with small, historic electric house at top, waterfall is surrounded by sheer rocky cliffs and greenery at base on sunny summer day. Bridal Veil Falls, San Juan Mountains, Telluride, Colorado. — Best breweries in Telluride

Table of Contents

The Best Breweries In Telluride

Smuggler’s Union Restaurant & Brewery

Where: 225 S Pine St, Telluride, CO 81435 (centrally located in the town of Telluride)
Do they serve food? Yes.
Do they offer non-beer options? Yes: Full bar, cocktails, housemade root beer, soft drinks.
Do they offer gluten free beers? Yes, full menu of gluten-reduced beer (be sure to double check before heading out as menus may change).
Do they have outdoor seating? Yes.
Do they offer brewery tours? No.
Smuggler’s Union Brewery Website

Smuggler’s Union Restaurant & Brewery is a brewpub centrally located in downtown Telluride. They specialize in crisp and refreshing beers made with locally grown ingredients. The brewery offers award-winning beers in a variety of familiar styles, such as pilsners, blonde ales, and extra hoppy IPAs. This is in addition to an entire gluten-reduced beer menu.

Not only is this a great brewery, but a legitimate dinner spot even for those who don’t want beer. The restaurant’s menu is made almost entirely in house with only natural ingredients. Additionally, ingredients are locally sourced from the surrounding community as well as farmers and ranchers throughout Colorado.

On the menu you’ll find elevated American fare such as burgers, steaks, and pasta, as well as delicious starters which make for yummy snacks between brews.

Smuggler’s Union is the perfect spot for a date night or evening out with good friends.

Pint of beer. Smuggler Union Brewery, Telluride, Colorado. Best breweries in Telluride. — Smuggler’s Union

Menu with silverware set next to it on restaurant table. Smuggler Union Brewery, Telluride, Colorado. — Smuggler’s Union

Stronghouse Brew Pub

Where: 283 S Fir St, Telluride, CO 81435 (centrally located in the town of Telluride)
Do they serve food? Yes.
Do they offer non-beer options? Yes: wine, cocktails, and non-alcoholic soft drinks.
Do they offer gluten free beers? No (be sure to double check before heading out as taps may change).
Do they have outdoor seating? Yes.
Do they offer brewery tours? No.
Stronghouse Brew Pub Website

Stronghouse Brew Pub is a popular pub-style brewery located in Telluride, Colorado. Founded just a few years back, it’s the newest brewery in town. They offer a variety of craft beers ranging from familiar styles to fun, experimental beers bursting with unique flavors, all from their on-site brewery.

Looking for more than just beer? A full menu of pub-style food is available for dining, in addition to wine and craft cocktails.

Stronghouse Brew Pub is located in a historic 1892 building in the heart of downtown Telluride, and walking into the bar feels as though you’ve stepped back in time. Details such as an 1880’s mahogany bar top, antique cash register, and huge, two-story manual lift in the center of the brewery, all add to the ambiance.

Beer-lovers looking for a fun evening out with friends, Stronghouse Brew Pub is the perfect spot!

Stronghouse Brew Pub telluride colorado — Stronghouse Brew Pub in Telluride

Telluride Brewing Co.

Two locations in Telluride:

Telluride Brewing Co. Brew Pub & Kitchen

Where: 568 Mountain Village Blvd, Suite 136, Telluride, CO 81435 (Mountain Village)
Do they serve food? Yes.
Do they offer non-beer options? Yes: non-alcoholic soft drinks, hot chocolate.
Do they offer gluten free beers? No (be sure to double check before heading out as taps may change).
Do they have outdoor seating? Yes.
Do they offer brewery tours? No.
Telluride Brewing Co. Brew Pub

Telluride Brewing Co. Tap Room

Where: 156 Society Dr, Telluride, CO 81435 (Lawson Hill – about 10 minutes from both Mountain Village & downtown Telluride)
Do they serve food? No.
Do they offer non-beer options? No.
Do they offer gluten free beers? No (be sure to double check before heading out as taps may change).
Do they have outdoor seating? Yes.
Do they offer brewery tours? No, but the tap room is in the brewery.
Telluride Brewing Co. Tap Room

Telluride Brewing Co. is the town’s most well-known brewery, with beers found in stores across the state of Colorado, plus accolades such as medals from Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup.

The craft brewery was co-founded by Chris Fish and Tommy Thatcher back in 2011 and offers a variety of styles including IPAs, lagers, brown ales, and barrel-aged beers. Each is brewed with Rocky Mountain snowmelt, high quality hops, and premium malts… all packed up in some pretty sweet can art.

They have two locations in Telluride: The Tap Room and the Brew Pub.

The Tap Room is small and located in the brewery. The walk-up bar is surrounded by kegs and towering fermenters, making for a really cool ambiance. This location offers just beer… no food, no frills, just cold pints fresh from the brewery.

The Tap Room is about 10 minutes from Mountain Village and town of Telluride. It’s well worth the trip if you’re a beer-enthusiast who wants to see the working brewery and sample some of their lesser-known brews.

The Brew Pub, on the other hand, is more of a restaurant setting. Here you’ll have a full menu, waitstaff, and more space. The menu is upscale bar food, with lots of yummy choices including options for those with dietary restrictions. Yes, they even offer vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free food. And of course, they also serve up their most popular beers.

The Brew Pub is located in Mountain Village near the base of the Telluride Ski Resort, making it a perfect spot to grab a cold one and a bite after a long day on the slopes.

Regardless of which location you visit, this is the most popular brewery in Telluride and one you should definitely check out!

Ouray Brewery & Restaurant

Where: 607 Main St, Ouray, CO 81427 (downtown Ouray – about 1 hour from Telluride)
Do they serve food? Yes.
Do they offer non-beer options? Yes: non-alcoholic beverages such as soft drinks.
Do they offer gluten free beers? No (be sure to double check before heading out as taps may change).
Do they have outdoor seating? Yes, rooftop patio with incredible views.
Do they offer brewery tours? No.
Ouray Brewery

Ouray Brewery is located in the heart of Ouray, about an hour from Telluride. It was founded in 2009 and specializes in homemade beers with locally sourced ingredients. The brewery offers a variety of award-winning beers with styles such as IPAs, pale ales, porters, ryes and reds.

In addition to brews, they also serve up delicious American pub food with lots of yummy burger options. An Impossible Burger option is included for vegetarians and vegans.

The bar is located right in the center of Ouray with an amazing rooftop patio. Grab drinks outside for 360-degree views of the surrounding canyon and historic downtown area. Ouray Brewery is perfect for enjoying some fresh air while sipping on a perfect beer!

Come early, the wait times get long!

bar area ouray brewrey ouray colorado — Ouray Brewery & Restaurant

hamburger ouray brewery ouray colorado — Ouray Brewery & Restaurant

Telluride Distilling Company

Where: 567 Mountain Village Blvd Suite 106B, Telluride, CO 81435 (Mountain Village)
Do they serve food? Yes, limited.
Do they offer non-spirit options? Yes: non-alcoholic cocktail, soft drinks, hot chocolate.
Do they offer gluten free spirits? Yes (be sure to double check before heading out as spirits may change).
Do they have outdoor seating? No.
Do they offer distillery tours? No.
Telluride Distilling Company

While obviously not a brewery, The Telluride Distilling Company is still absolutely worth a visit! Especially for those wish to enjoy fancy cocktails and delicious drinks in a laid-back setting.

The craft distillery was founded in 2015 as Telluride’s first (legal) distillery and specializes in handcrafted spirits made with locally-sourced ingredients. They offer award-winning schnapps as well as a lineup of vodka, gin, whiskey, agave, and more.

The tasting room, located at the base of Telluride Ski Resort, serves up delicious craft cocktails made with their own spirits. Popular cocktails include their Telluride Moscow Mule, made with homemade ginger beer, an old fashioned, and The Snuggler, peppermint schnapps spiked hot chocolate with whipped cream.

The distiller offers a small menu featuring wild game, and has activities such as darts and pool for patrons to enjoy while sipping local craft cocktails. You’re sure to have a good time here!