On our first visit to Colorado, we included a morning at the Coors Factory Tour in Golden. Golden is a quaint town that is proud of its wild west roots. We also nearly moved to Golden, as my husband’s prospective new job was nearby- sadly, his new job was not at the beer factory! We ended up settling in a different community, but we enjoy visiting Golden.
Located just off the main shopping street, Coors is the largest beer brewery in the world. It’s absolutely massive. Knowing that it is a popular attraction, we arrived about an hour prior to opening. The parking and shuttle to the factory are both free. We parked and got in the queue.
Technically, we could have walked from the parking lot, but the complimentary shuttle bus is a way that they can stagger the groups entering the building. The bus driver also gives visitors a bit of a narrated tour around the main part of Golden, which is nice for people not familiar with the area.
Here are a few shots from outside of the factory.
In late 2019, the tour was only ten dollars for adults ( five dollars for locals) and included three 8 ounce samples of beer. Soda and non-alcoholic beer was also available for those not consuming alcohol. It’s a real bargain! They also threw in complimentary glasses to take home.
The first step was to have our souvenir pictures taken, so that we could buy them for a criminally inflated price at the end of our visit. We declined the photo, but we did take our own secret shot of a family from Indiana that we got to know while waiting in the shuttle queue. They were very nice people, and even gave us the idea and courage to try to biking down Pike’s Peak….which is still one of the most foolish things that I have ever done.
We were given audio tour wands that provided additional information at numbered stations, but otherwise, the tour was a self-guided, one-way journey through the visitor areas of the factory.
We started by learning about the origins of the company, which was started by a Prussian born immigrant named Adolphus Coors. Coors immigrated to the United States in his early twenties and worked a series of odd jobs, including as a brewer. In 1872, he made his way to Denver and by 1880, he had founded Coors Brewery.
Different bottle shapes.
The many Coors brands. I love Blue Moon.
Prior to viewing the factory, we learned a little bit about the ingredients that go into making beer.
And into the factory, where we learned a bit more about barley and hops.
Of course, once you brew it, you need to make sure that it meets the standards.
We were given a small taster. This was not the same as the eight ounce samples, which were given at the end of the tour. Every time we were given a drink, it was marked on our wrist bands. They were very strict about not sharing samples.
A section that mentions the different brewery locations and some of Coors special programs, such as recycling.
Here is my happy husband about to go into the bar area for our eight ounce samples. It was about ten a.m. and we went on an empty stomach, which was fun, but not wise!
I enjoyed all of the old advertising campaigns. Even E.T. was shilling for Coors!
Our beer. I could only handle two of the three samples and I was desperate for some food to line my stomach. We ended up going to a local pizza restaurant for an early lunch.
A few final pictures at the end of the tour.
On the way out, we were handed a “Golden Ticket,” which is a scratch off coupon that is good at several of the restaurants in town. The trick is, you don’t know your discount until you scratch it at the end of your meal. It’s a great way to promote tourism and we were delighted, especially as we thought the Coors tour was an exceptional value. We couldn’t believe that we were getting more. I can’t remember, but I believe we got 20% off at the pizza place with the Golden Ticket.
We returned to the Coors Factory the following month with friends who were visiting from California. We wanted to take the kids this summer, but due to Covid, the tours have been suspended. Yes, you read that correctly= kids. The Coors Factory is interesting from both a historical and manufacturing standpoint. It’s educational and fun. Although beer is certainly consumed, there is an emphasis on keeping it family friendly and excessive drinking is prohibited. The Coors tour is engaging for all ages and should be part of any Colorado vacation.