Touring the Mothership

This spring we were able to spend a long weekend with friends in Fort Collins, Colorado. What a beautiful state! We also really loved the town of Fort Collins, particularly the downtown Main Street. 2014 happens to be Fort Collins' sesquicentennial celebration (try saying that 3 times fast!), and they've earned quite a few bragging rights.

Fort Collins tourism points out that it was named "best place to live" by Money Magazine. Add to that the number of craft breweries and opportunities for outdoor recreation, and Fort Collins wins a "cool town" label in my book! With the little time that we had to visit, our friends decided to take us to one of the town's most notable breweries...

Visiting New Belgium Brewery (AKA "The Mothership") is not your average brewery tour (and we've walked our fair share of breweries!). Touring New Belgium is a 90-minute stroll through multiple buildings...

a walk through history...

and a close-up look at beer production...

 ...always with a new [generously poured] sample in hand!


If I haven't won you over yet, just check out these photos:

Rumor has it that years of employment with New Belgium earn you perks... like a "fat tire" bicycle!

Wooden barrels are used to make sour beers, which are growing in popularity, and have become a curious favorite of ours!

New Belgium is committed to sustainability, and proves it with their solar power.

Always something interesting to see if you keep your eyes peeled on tour!

And YES, there is a SLIDE at the end of your tour (try spinning down that after 90-minutes of beer sampling)!