Colorado and craft beer go together like powder days and skis, and Summit County punches well above its weight. The third-oldest brewery in the state, the world's highest distillery, one of the highest wineries anywhere, and a cluster of taprooms down the valley that locals drive to on purpose.
Here is every spot worth your time this season, with addresses, phone numbers, and current hours. Breckenridge Ski Resort opens Friday, November 6, 2026.
One planning note: most of these close by 9:00 or 10:00 p.m., and the best of them are a short drive down the valley. Use the free Summit Stage bus or our complimentary VIP shuttle rather than driving.
At a Glance
| Spot | Where | Phone | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breckenridge Brewery & Pub | Breckenridge | (970) 453-1550 | Avalanche Amber, Vanilla Porter |
| Broken Compass Brewing | Breckenridge, 2 locations | (970) 368-2772 | Dog friendly, Coconut Porter |
| Highside Brewing & BBQ | Breckenridge | See below | Beer plus barbecue |
| Breckenridge Distillery | Breckenridge, 2 locations | (970) 547-9759 | Award-winning bourbon, free shuttle |
| Continental Divide Winery | Breckenridge | (970) 771-3443 | Wine blending class, dogs inside |
| Outer Range Brewing | Frisco | (970) 455-8709 | IPAs, rooftop patio |
| Angry James Brewery | Silverthorne | (970) 455-8800 | European styles, grilled cheese |
| Syndicate Brewing Co. | Silverthorne | (970) 485-6799 | Owner-run, seriously dog friendly |
| Thirsty Pika Taproom | Silverthorne | (970) 455-8957 | Self-pour by the ounce |
| Dillon Dam Brewery | Dillon | (970) 262-7777 | Large groups, 20 taps |
| Pug Ryan's Brewery | Dillon | (970) 468-2145 | Reservoir views, dog patio |
In Breckenridge
Breckenridge Brewery & Pub
600 S Main St | (970) 453-1550
Sunday to Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
breckbrew.com
The most famous brewery in the area and the third oldest in Colorado. The Avalanche Amber Ale and Vanilla Porter are the classics, with Hop Peak IPA for anyone who wants more bitterness. Seasonal releases rotate through the year.
A large outdoor patio with mountain views, a cozy interior, and genuinely good pub food rather than an afterthought. Their sustainability program is worth knowing about: they capture and reuse over a thousand gallons of water per brew, run internal recycling and composting, and use solar.
Local tips: happy hour runs 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Street parking out front is tight, but there is paid parking behind at around 50 cents an hour. Dogs are welcome on the front patio.
Broken Compass Brewing
Original: 68 Continental Ct, Unit B-12 | Main Street: 520 S Main St, Unit 2V
(970) 368-2772 | Sunday to Thursday 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
brokencompassbrewing.com
The local favorite, and the most welcoming room in Breckenridge. Creative beers alongside the standards, with the Coconut Porter and Chili Pepper Pale Ale as the two must-tries. Camp Hale Kölsch, Czech Pilsner, Belgian Farmhouse Blonde, and Peak 10 Classic Hoppy Lager round out the lineup.
Dog friendly, inside and out, with communal tables and board games. No kitchen, so order delivery or bring your own food, which they are entirely relaxed about.
Two locations: the original on the north end of Continental Court, where the taproom smells of the day's brew, and the downtown Main Street taproom near the base of Peak 9.
Highside Brewing & BBQ
301-1 N Main St | Daily 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
highsidebrewing.com
Significantly expanded since you last looked. Highside now runs a full barbecue kitchen alongside the beer, with brisket nachos, ribs, and a wild game sausage that gets singled out repeatedly.
Fifteen taps of their own brews, with Frisco Gold, Trip Leader IPA, Sidepiste Pilsner, and Rookie Guide Pale Ale as the regulars. Open until 10:00 p.m. daily, which makes it one of the later options in town.
Their original taproom is in Frisco with a rooftop deck, and there is a Fairplay location too. Check their schedule for trivia nights and live music.
Breckenridge Distillery
Distillery, Tours & Restaurant: 1925 Airport Rd | Tasting Room: 137 S Main St, Ste A
(970) 547-9759 | Distillery daily 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Main Street tasting room daily 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
breckenridgedistillery.com
The World's Highest Distillery, and their blended bourbon is among the most awarded craft bourbons in the country. The range now runs well beyond whiskey: vodkas, gins, rums, and liqueurs, including Rum Cask Finish, Whiskey Madeira Finish, Spiced Rum, and flavored vodkas in pear, chili, and espresso.
Guided tours and tastings on Airport Road are genuinely good, with guides who know the process properly. The restaurant alongside is a destination in its own right, and the Barrel Smoked Mai Tai is the drink to order.
The detail that matters: they run a free round-trip shuttle that collects you from your rental and brings you home, so your whole group can drink. Reservations recommended for dinner. Free customer parking on site.
Continental Divide Winery
505 S Main St, Unit A4 | (970) 771-3443
Monday to Thursday 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
breckwinery.com
One of the highest-altitude wineries in the world, producing hand-crafted small-batch wines from grapes sourced on Colorado's Western Slope and in Napa and Sonoma.
Book the wine blending experience. You create your own custom blend and take the bottle home, and guests consistently describe it as the most fun thing they did all week. Excellent for groups, birthdays, and anyone who has had enough of beer.
Genuinely dog friendly, with dogs welcome inside rather than banished to a patio, which in a Colorado winter matters. Reservations available and worth making in peak season.
Worth the Drive: Frisco & Silverthorne
Outer Range Brewing Company
182 Lusher Ct, Frisco | (970) 455-8709 | Daily 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
About 15 minutes from Breckenridge | outerrange.com
Regularly called one of the best breweries in Colorado, and the reputation holds. Hop-forward beers with a focus on New England IPAs and Belgian styles, made with hand-selected hops and yeasts with complex ester profiles.
The upstairs patio is the draw. Guests describe stopping mid-conversation just to look at the mountains. Modern, spacious, with good indoor and outdoor seating either way.
The food setup is clever. A mixed-market concept inside with independent vendors, including Korean fried chicken that people rate as highly as the beer, and a local coffee roaster for anyone in your group who is not drinking.
Angry James Brewery
421 Adams Ave, Silverthorne | (970) 455-8800
Monday to Thursday 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
About 20 minutes from Breckenridge | angryjamesbrewing.com
Better than its low profile suggests, rating 4.8 across more than 500 reviews. Sixteen taps focused on traditional European styles, including Jake's Pils, Alpen Weisse, Prairies To Peaks IPA, and Wild Ruby Cherry Sour, plus a seltzer for the non-beer drinker.
The Mountain Melt grilled cheese stand inside gets described as the best food people ate on their trip, which is high praise for a sandwich counter in a taproom. Dog-friendly patio with good views.
Syndicate Brewing Co.
203 Summit Pl, Silverthorne | (970) 485-6799
Monday to Friday 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
About 20 minutes from Breckenridge
The find on this list. A small owner-operated brewery where the people pouring are the people brewing and cleaning. Rating 4.8, with regulars describing it as a home away from home.
Great beer across the range, including a Wee Heavy Scotch Ale and a solid Pale Ale, live music regularly, and a pile of old-fashioned games.
Seriously dog friendly. Dog beds, bowls, homemade dog treats, and a resident pup named Jeffrey who greets every table. If you are traveling with a dog, this is your brewery.
Thirsty Pika Taproom
167 Wildernest Rd E, Silverthorne | (970) 455-8957
Sunday to Thursday 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
About 20 minutes from Breckenridge
The highest-rated beer spot in Summit County at 4.9, and the format is why. Self-pour, charged by the ounce, so you can try a dozen different things in small pours rather than committing to a full glass of something you end up not liking.
A large, well-curated tap list including cider, wine, and margaritas for anyone who is not drinking beer. Bring your own food or order in, which they encourage. Sports on the screens and a warm, welcoming room.
Upslope Brewing Co: Après Outpost
325 Blue River Pkwy, Ste 110, Silverthorne | (303) 396-1898
Sunday to Thursday 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
A newer arrival from the Boulder-based brewery, with happy hour weekdays 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. No kitchen, but food options are steps away. Still establishing itself, so check hours before making a special trip.
Dillon Dam Brewery
100 Little Dam St, Dillon | (970) 262-7777
Sunday to Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
About 25 minutes from Breckenridge | dambrewery.com
One of the largest brewpubs in the Colorado Rockies, and the best option in the county for a big group. Twenty beers on tap including Dam Straight Lager, Sweet George's Brown, Tangerine Cream Ale, and McLuhr's Irish Stout, plus a full bar with wine, cocktails, and mocktails.
Full-service restaurant with a menu built to pair with the beer. Time your arrival for sunset, which is when the views do their best work.
Pug Ryan's Brewery
104 Village Pl, Dillon | (970) 468-2145
About 25 minutes from Breckenridge
A proper local spot with a rustic room and views over Dillon Reservoir. Known regionally for the Deadeye Dunkel and their pale ales, with Hey Pocky Way IPA, Morning Wood Wheat, and Pugweiser Pale Ale on the regular lineup, plus seasonals using local ingredients.
Excellent wings, a good pretzel with cheese dip, and a dog-friendly patio that regulars describe as closer to doggy daycare on a busy afternoon. Hours vary seasonally and they can close earlier than you expect, so call ahead.
Planning a Crawl
- Downtown Breckenridge on foot: Breckenridge Brewery, Broken Compass Main Street, Highside, the Distillery tasting room, and Continental Divide Winery are all walkable from each other.
- The valley run: Outer Range in Frisco, then Angry James, Syndicate, and Thirsty Pika in Silverthorne, all within a few minutes of each other. Worth a dedicated afternoon.
- Don't drive. The free Summit Stage bus connects Breckenridge, Frisco, Dillon, and Silverthorne at no cost. Our complimentary VIP shuttle covers Breckenridge itself, and Breckenridge Distillery runs its own free shuttle.
- Altitude is not a joke. Breckenridge sits at 9,600 feet and alcohol hits considerably harder here, especially on your first night. Drink water between rounds and pace yourself.
- Bring the dog. Broken Compass, Syndicate, Angry James, Pug Ryan's, and Continental Divide Winery all welcome dogs. See our dog-friendly Breckenridge guide.
- Bottles make good gifts. Breckenridge Distillery and Continental Divide Winery both sell to take home, and both pack easily.
Where to Stay
Staying downtown puts most of this list within walking distance, which is the easiest way to do it properly.
- Downtown rentals, walkable to Main Street
- Ski-in ski-out rentals
- Large group rentals for trips built around a crawl
- Pet-friendly rentals
- Rentals with private hot tubs
Every property has a full kitchen for the mornings when you need a real breakfast.
Browse all rentals | Current specials
Contact Ski Country Resorts
Phone: 970-423-3080
Toll Free: 800-633-8388
Email: Contact us here
Office: 213 North Main St, Breckenridge, CO 80424
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Addresses, phone numbers, and hours verified as of publication and subject to change. Summit County businesses adjust hours seasonally. Please drink responsibly and use the free Summit Stage bus or a shuttle rather than driving. Call ahead to confirm.