Distillery & Brewery Bike Tour
It's no secret Boulder is a bike-friendly town. Boasting over 300 miles of dedicated bikeways, biking is a great option for getting around. The Boulder Creek Path is tried and true and can easily be taken to Pearl St, where much of the action is (we have done this many a time). But, a lesser known path is toward the south end of the Boulder Creek Path which hooks into Goose Creek Path. We love this route because it's less crowded (yes, please!) and there are an abundance of breweries and distilleries conveniently situated along the path. Not to mention, the route is mostly flat so it is easy for all ages and levels of biking experience. Here, we have outlined our go-to bike route with our favorite stops. Our list may be a little ambitious, especially if you are drinking at each stop, so feel free to skip around.
Disclaimer: Many of these cannot be reached using the Boulder B-cycle system. Sadly, East Boulder only has a couple of stations, so this would be very inconvenient to use. We suggest using your own bike for this tour.
Stop #1 (Starting point): FATE Brewing Company
We recommend starting at FATE. Good beer, good food, and plenty of parking (if you plan to drive your bikes to a starting location). Grab a spot on the patio, a flight of tasters, and some Backyard BBQ dip to fuel up. Trust us, you won't be disappointed.
Stop #2: Wild Woods Brewery
Distance: 1.3 miles (8 minutes biking)
Tip: Jump on the Boulder Creek bike path in order to go underneath Foothills and avoid crossing a main road.
These guys have been around for 5 years and have really figured it out. The beer is tasty, the patio is inviting, and some days you can even catch a food truck. You can try a flight of their "core beers" or grab a pint of your favorite.
Stop #3: Vapor Distillery
Distance: .2 miles (1 minute bike ride)
Tip: You can bike or legitimately walk your bike. It's that close.
This one is near and dear to us as we stumbled upon it years ago, before there was even a "Distillery" sign outside to indicate it was anything more than a warehouse. We have always felt that Vapor is a hidden gem and love bringing our out of town guests. They have a great variety of distilled alcohols, from bourbon, gin, vodka, to a pumpkin or coffee cordial. Our favorite is the Ginsky (a mixture of Gin and Whiskey, obvi), which is so tasty, words will not do it justice. Word of caution: these drinks go down all too smoothly.
Stop #4: J&L Distillery
Distance: 1.4 miles (10 minute bike ride)
Tip: This route we outlined will take you on an awesome shortcut through a meadow of flowers with mountain views in the background.
J&L is the first Distillery we ever tried 4 years ago. We always compare other distilleries' vodkas to theirs and others usually fall short. It really is just unbelievably smooth (but really, try a taster). Seth, the owner, is usually there and is very interesting to talk to. He is passionate about his process and makes his drinks with love. We highly recommend the "Beet Down" (pictured here).
Stop #5: Rayback Collective
Distance: 1.3 miles (8 minute bike ride)
Tip: This is the first time all day that your Google Maps will actually take you on the most direct route to your destination
By now you are likely hungry. And even if you aren't, you will certainly want to try something when you step foot into Rayback Collective, one of Boulder's newest and most unique spots. It includes a beer garden as well as 4-5 rotating food trucks. The outdoor space is one of the greatest in Boulder - they have everything from cornhole and picnic tables to Adirondack chairs around fire pits. This makes for a great last stop to refuel after your ride. Also, it's dog-friendly, which is always a plus in our book!
The return to FATE is approximately 12 minute ride. Again, you can Google Maps this one for a pretty direct route.
Other honorable mentions (places along the path that may suit your fancy):
- BRU Alehouse and Eats (beer and food)
- Deviant Spirits (vodka Distillery)
- Boulder Beer Company (beer and food)
- Elwood Distillery (whiskey distillery)