Born Colorado Brewing
When it opened: 2018
The vibe: Industrial and minimal with a few nods to outdoor adventure scattered around the space.
Most popular beers: The Arm Candy Milk Stout has been popular in hot and cold weather since day one, while the raspberry-mint flavoured Hi Cutie (a collaboration with Paddy’s Barbecue & Brewing) reappears each summer to refresh the patio and backyard set.
Food: There’s no kitchen here, so patrons can bring their own food or order in. Born Colorado has a partnership with UNA Pizza + Wine so you can have pizza delivered directly to your table. There are also food trucks on hand most weekends.
Recent awards: Born Colorado’s aforementioned Arm Candy Milk Stout snagged the gold medal in the stout category of the 2020 Alberta Beer Awards.
Best time to visit: Co-owner Erin McQuitty says it’s best to come Friday and Saturday afternoons because that’s when the Barley Belt is bustling with excitement.
Things you should know: McQuitty says she loves the business’s name but it has caused some confusion: this is very much a Calgary-based brewery, it’s just inspired by founder and head brewer Wade Brown’s upbringing in Colorado.
Founder and head brewer Wade Brown opened Born Colorado Brewing in the Barley Belt in April, 2018, with co-owner and partner Erin McQuitty. Brown had moved from Denver to Calgary in 2012 on a work transfer with his structural engineering job but lost his love for the work after a few years. The pair opened the two-floor taproom with just a modest parking lot patio and a slate of beers that offered takes on classic American styles like amber, pale and golden ales. Popularity came quickly and McQuitty left her day job to work on Born Colorado full-time.
Flash forward to 2020 and Born Colorado has given its patio a serious upgrade and has added adventurous, of-the-moment styles to its roster — its recent Watermelon Gose sold out of cans in just one day, but will be back for a second run soon. Both its indoor and outdoor areas recently reopened with reduced capacities and distancing measures, and you can still order beer for curbside pickup online.
C, 414 36 Ave. S.E., 403-247-0295, borncoloradobrewing.com