This Week in Fort Collins: Raise a Glass — It's Beer Week
Fort Collins doesn't need an excuse to celebrate craft beer, but this week it has a great one. Fort Collins Beer Week runs June 22–28, turning the city into a seven-day crash course in everything that makes this town's brewing scene one of the best in the country. Twenty breweries. Twenty-three collaboration brews. And a daily lineup of free Tap Talks that are genuinely educational — not just an excuse to drink (though that too).
The week kicks off Monday, June 22 with "Prohibition to Passion: CSU's Beer History" with CSU Archivist Clarissa Trapp at New Belgium Brewing (500 Linden St.), 6 PM. Free. If you've ever wondered how Fort Collins went from a dry county to a craft beer capital, this is the talk.
Wednesday, June 24 brings two more Tap Talks: "How Beer Saved the World" with Josh Grenz at Verboten Brewing (5:30 PM) and "Homebrewing: Extract vs. All Grain" with Brian Lackey at Konstruct Brewing (7 PM). Both free.
Thursday, June 25 goes deep: "Fermentation Microbiology" with Charlie Hoxmeier PhD at Gilded Goat Brewing (5:30 PM), followed by "Did the IPA stop innovation in American craft brewing?" with Peter and Frezi Bouckaert at Purpose Brewing & Cellars (7 PM). That second one might start a fight. We're here for it.
The week wraps Saturday, June 27 with the Beer Week Beerfest at The Drake Center (802 W. Drake Rd.), 2–6 PM. Unlimited 5oz pours of all 23 collab beers, a Maker's Market, food trucks, and live music. Tickets on Eventbrite. Full Beer Week schedule at fcbeerweek.com/schedule.
Also This Week
Wednesday night, the Lagoon Concert Series at CSU (Lory Student Center west lawn, 629 W. Plum St.) hosts Patrick and the LVB for CSU Alumni Night. Free, 6:30–8:30 PM. Stick around after for a drone show honoring America 250 and Colorado 150. lagoonseries.com
Thursday, June 25: Thursday Night Live brings May Be Fern to Old Town Square, 7 PM — free, always a good time. Same night, New Belgium (500 Linden St.) hosts its Sip & Stretch series with CorePower Yoga on the front lawn, 5–7 PM. Free drop-in. Bring a mat, grab a beer after. bohemianlivemusic.org
Friday, June 26 is opening night for OpenStage Theatre's outdoor production of Shakespeare's "The Merry Wives of Windsor" at the Heritage Courtyard, Center for Creativity (200 Matthews St.). Doors at 6 PM, curtain at 7 PM. Food trucks and a cash bar on site. The run continues through July 11. Tickets at lctix.com.
Also Friday: John Craigie with Blind Pilot at the Mishawaka Amphitheatre (13714 Poudre Canyon Hwy, Bellvue), 8 PM. Tickets via Etix.
Saturday, June 27 is a big one. Beyond the Beerfest, Canvas Stadium at CSU (751 W. Pitkin St.) hosts Drums Along the Rockies — a DCI drum corps competition featuring Blue Devils, Phantom Regiment, Troopers, Blue Knights, and Genesis. If you've never seen a drum corps show, this is the one to change that. Tickets at ascendperformingarts.org. The Larimer County Farmers Market (200 W. Oak St.) also runs 9 AM–1 PM, now in its 50th anniversary season.
Sunday, June 28: "Merry Wives of Windsor" continues at 7 PM (Heritage Courtyard). The Fort Collins Farmers Market (1001 E. Harmony Rd.) runs 10 AM–2 PM. Avogadro's Number (605 S. Mason St.) closes the weekend with Matt Skinner Band with John Magnie, 5–7 PM, $15.
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