A Local Guide to Windsor Breweries, Northern Colorado Wineries, Distilleries, Taprooms, and Wine-Tasting Experiences

Windsor, Colorado sits in the middle of one of the state’s strongest craft-beverage regions. The town has several local breweries and a craft distillery, while nearby Loveland, Fort Collins, Berthoud, and Estes Park provide additional wineries, breweries, cideries, and tasting rooms.

Whether you’re looking for a casual neighborhood taproom, locally brewed beer, a riverside wine tasting, live music, or a relaxed patio with mountain views, Windsor provides convenient access to a wide range of experiences.

Breweries in Windsor, CO

Windsor’s brewery scene offers several distinct experiences, ranging from a downtown taproom inside a historic building to a brewery surrounded by gardens and an on-site hop field.

Local breweries frequently host live music, bingo, trivia, food trucks, beer releases, community gatherings, and other events. Menus, schedules, age restrictions, and food availability can change, so visitors should verify current information before heading out.

High Hops Brewery

Address: 6461 Highway 392, Windsor, CO 80550

High Hops Brewery is one of Windsor’s most distinctive craft-beverage destinations. It operates alongside The Windsor Gardener and The Heart Distillery, creating a combined experience centered around beer, plants, locally produced spirits, and outdoor gathering spaces.

The family behind High Hops began operating a seasonal greenhouse in Windsor in 1991. They later planted hops on-site and opened High Hops Brewery in 2012. The taproom now offers a broad selection of beer, and the patio overlooks the brewery’s hop field.

What Makes High Hops Unique

• On-site hop field
• Indoor and outdoor gathering areas
• Beer brewed in Windsor
• A large rotating tap selection
• The Windsor Gardener located on-site
• The Heart Distillery under the same roof
• Seasonal events and special releases

High Hops identifies its taproom as a 21-and-over establishment, so families with children should choose another Windsor brewery or confirm current policies before visiting.

The Heart Distillery

Address: 6461 Highway 392, Windsor, CO 80550

The Heart Distillery operates at the same destination as High Hops Brewery and The Windsor Gardener. It opened in 2018 and produces spirits that include gin, whiskey, vodka, rum, and absinthe.

Visitors can enjoy locally produced spirits without traveling outside Windsor, making the property a convenient destination for groups with different beverage preferences.

The Heart Distillery Is a Good Choice For

• Craft cocktails
• Locally distilled spirits
• Gin and whiskey enthusiasts
• Adults looking for an alternative to beer
• Visitors exploring High Hops Brewery
• Groups celebrating birthdays or special occasions

The distillery is also designated as a 21-and-over establishment.

Peculier Ales

Address: 301 Main Street, Windsor, CO 80550

Peculier Ales is located inside the historic Windsor Mill in downtown Windsor. Its central location makes it easy to combine a brewery visit with restaurants, downtown businesses, Boardwalk Park, or a walk near Windsor Lake.

The Windsor location features a taproom, kitchen, patio, rotating beer selection, and regular events. The brewery also welcomes friendly dogs under its current policy.

Why People Visit Peculier Ales

• Historic downtown setting
• Indoor taproom
• Outdoor patio
• Beer brewed locally
• Food available on-site
• Regular events and beer releases
• Convenient access to Windsor Lake
• Dog-friendly policy

Peculier Ales can work well for a casual afternoon, a downtown date night, meeting friends, or grabbing food and drinks before a local event.

Mash Lab Brewing

Address: 4487 Highland Meadows Parkway, Windsor, CO 80550

Mash Lab Brewing is located in west Windsor near Highland Meadows and the I-25 corridor. The brewery began in extra space within a nationally recognized hot-rod shop and grew from a small brewing system into a full brewery and restaurant destination.

Its location is particularly convenient for residents of Highland Meadows, Harmony Club, Thompson River Ranch, and nearby neighborhoods on Windsor’s western side.

What You’ll Find at Mash Lab

• Beer brewed on-site
• A full food menu
• Indoor dining and taproom seating
• Outdoor space
• Live music and scheduled events
• Convenient access from I-25
• A distinctive hot-rod-inspired atmosphere

Mash Lab works well for people who want a brewery experience with a complete meal rather than relying on a rotating food truck.

Mighty River Brewing Company

Address: 6383 North Fairgrounds Avenue, Suite 200, Windsor, CO 80550

Mighty River Brewing Company is a neighborhood brewery offering locally brewed IPAs, ales, lagers, and other rotating styles. Its official site also advertises beer to go and space for celebrations and private gatherings.

The brewery is located in west Windsor near Highland Meadows and the Larimer County Events Complex area.

Mighty River Brewing Is a Good Fit For

• Trying a variety of beer styles
• Casual gatherings
• Live music and brewery events
• Private celebrations
• Beer to go
• Meeting friends after work
• Residents of west Windsor

Food options and event schedules may vary, so visitors should check the brewery’s current calendar or social channels.

Visiting Windsor Breweries by Area

Windsor’s breweries are spread throughout town rather than concentrated within one entertainment district.

Downtown Windsor

Peculier Ales is the primary downtown brewery. Visitors can combine it with restaurants inside the Windsor Mill, other Main Street businesses, Windsor Lake, and Boardwalk Park.

West Windsor

Mash Lab Brewing and Mighty River Brewing serve neighborhoods near Highland Meadows, Harmony Club, I-25, and the Larimer County Events Complex.

Central and East Windsor

High Hops Brewery and The Heart Distillery are located along Highway 392, providing a combined brewery, distillery, hop-field, and garden-center experience.

Because the breweries are spread out, visitors planning to sample multiple locations should use a designated driver or rideshare service.

Wineries Near Windsor, CO

Windsor doesn’t currently have the same concentration of wineries found in some of Colorado’s established wine regions. However, Northern Colorado has several wineries and tasting rooms within driving distance.

Some produce wine locally using Colorado-grown grapes, while others source fruit from vineyards elsewhere in the state. Visitors interested in the winemaking process should ask where the grapes were grown, where the wine was produced, and whether vineyard tours are available.

Sweet Heart Winery

Address: 5500 West Highway 34, Loveland, CO 80537

Sweet Heart Winery is one of the closest and most scenic winery experiences near Windsor. It occupies more than six acres along the Big Thompson River west of Loveland and includes a timber-frame tasting room, outdoor areas, wine, cider, events, and wedding facilities.

The winery welcomes walk-in guests, although special events may affect normal seating or operating hours.

Why People Visit Sweet Heart Winery

• Riverside setting
• Wine flights
• Outdoor patio
• Colorado scenery
• Cider options
• Live events
• Food and beverage service
• Weddings and private events
• Free on-site parking

Sweet Heart Winery is a strong option for date nights, celebrations, visiting guests, or an afternoon that feels more like a destination than a traditional bar or taproom.

Winery 5280

Address: 2001 East 11th Street, Loveland, CO 80537

Winery 5280 is located in Loveland and produces handcrafted wine in Northern Colorado. The winery maintains a Loveland location and distributes its products through local retailers and restaurants.

Visitors should confirm whether regular public tastings, reservations, tours, or special events are currently available before making the drive.

Snowy Peaks Winery

Snowy Peaks Winery is located in Estes Park near the eastern entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. It offers handcrafted wines made with Colorado grapes and provides tastings in a mountain-town setting.

Its location makes it easy to combine a wine tasting with a day trip to Estes Park, sightseeing, shopping, dining, or Rocky Mountain National Park.

Snowy Peaks Winery Is Best For

• Estes Park day trips
• Colorado wine tastings
• Mountain-town atmosphere
• Visitors heading toward Rocky Mountain National Park
• Wine paired with light food or charcuterie
• Out-of-town guests exploring Northern Colorado

Travel times from Windsor can vary substantially during weekends, holidays, and peak tourism seasons.

Colorado Wine Beyond Northern Colorado

Colorado’s largest concentration of vineyards and estate wineries is located on the Western Slope, particularly near Palisade and Grand Junction.

Colorado vineyards grow at unusually high elevations, and the state’s wineries produce both familiar varieties and grapes selected for cold, dry, high-elevation growing conditions. Colorado has approximately 150 wineries distributed across several parts of the state.

For Windsor residents, visiting Palisade generally requires an overnight trip rather than a quick afternoon outing. However, it can be a worthwhile destination for people interested in:

• Vineyard tours
• Estate-grown Colorado wine
• Harvest season
• Wine festivals
• Orchards and farm stands
• Cycling between wineries
• Weekend getaways

Breweries Near Windsor in Fort Collins

Fort Collins is widely known for its craft-beer culture and offers a much larger brewery selection than Windsor. Its brewery scene ranges from internationally recognized producers to small neighborhood taprooms. The city’s official tourism organization promotes Fort Collins as Colorado’s craft-beer capital.

Popular Fort Collins breweries include:

• New Belgium Brewing
• Odell Brewing Company
• Horse & Dragon Brewing Company
• Zwei Brewing
• Stodgy Brewing Company
• Prost Brewing
• Purpose Brewing and Cellars
• Maxline Brewing
• Snowbank Brewing
• Jessup Farm Barrel House

Fort Collins can be a good option for brewery tours, larger taprooms, specialty beer styles, and visitors who want to explore several breweries in one day.

Depending on the Windsor neighborhood and brewery location, the drive commonly takes approximately 20 to 35 minutes.

Breweries Near Windsor in Loveland

Loveland also has an established brewery scene with taprooms located downtown and throughout the city.

Regional choices include:

• Verboten Brewing and Barrel Project
• Grimm Brothers Brewhouse
• Crow Hop Brewing
• Loveland Aleworks
• Big Thompson Brewery
• Rock Coast Brewery
• Sky Bear Brewery and Pub

Loveland breweries can be especially convenient for residents of south and west Windsor.

City Star Brewing in Berthoud

City Star Brewing is located in downtown Berthoud and provides another regional option for locally brewed beer, community events, food trucks, and live music.

A visit can be combined with Berthoud’s small downtown businesses, restaurants, and community events.

What to Expect at Windsor Breweries

Each Windsor brewery has a different atmosphere, so the best choice depends on the experience you want.

For Downtown Atmosphere

Peculier Ales places you inside the historic Windsor Mill near restaurants, shops, and Windsor Lake.

For Food and Beer

Mash Lab Brewing provides a complete kitchen and brewery experience.

For Gardens and a Hop Field

High Hops Brewery offers the most distinctive outdoor setting, with The Windsor Gardener and The Heart Distillery located on-site.

For a Neighborhood Taproom

Mighty River Brewing offers a relaxed environment for local beer, gatherings, and recurring events.

For Craft Cocktails and Spirits

The Heart Distillery provides gin, whiskey, vodka, rum, absinthe, and other locally produced options.

Brewery Events and Entertainment

Windsor breweries regularly host activities such as:

• Live music
• Trivia
• Bingo
• Food trucks
• Seasonal beer releases
• Running clubs
• Holiday events
• Fundraisers
• Private celebrations
• Community gatherings

Events change frequently, so brewery calendars and social-media pages are usually the best sources for current schedules.

Some breweries may also close early for private events, operate on different seasonal hours, or have age restrictions during certain periods.

Food at Windsor Breweries

Food availability varies by brewery.

Peculier Ales and Mash Lab Brewing currently offer food on-site. Other locations may host food trucks, allow outside food, or provide limited snacks.

Visitors with dietary restrictions should review menus in advance, particularly when looking for:

• Gluten-free food
• Vegetarian choices
• Vegan meals
• Allergy accommodations
• Nonalcoholic drinks
• Gluten-reduced or gluten-free beer

Beer labeled gluten-reduced isn’t necessarily safe for someone with celiac disease, so guests should speak directly with brewery staff when medical restrictions apply.

Family-Friendly Breweries

Some Windsor breweries allow children and operate more like casual community gathering spaces. Others, including High Hops Brewery and The Heart Distillery, identify themselves as 21-and-over establishments.

Parents should verify current policies before visiting because rules can vary by location, event, patio, and time of day.

When bringing children to a brewery, families should consider:

• Food availability
• Outdoor seating
• Noise levels
• Crowds
• Restroom access
• Games and open space
• Event schedules
• Whether the business is legally restricted to adults

Dog-Friendly Breweries

Several Northern Colorado breweries permit dogs on patios, and some allow them in designated indoor spaces. Peculier Ales currently states that friendly dogs are welcome at its Windsor location.

Dog policies can change because of food-service regulations, private events, or seasonal conditions.

Before bringing a dog, confirm:

• Whether dogs are allowed indoors
• Whether patio access is open
• Leash requirements
• Water availability
• Crowd and noise levels
• The dog’s comfort around children and other pets

Planning a Windsor Brewery Tour

Windsor’s breweries can be visited in a single day, but they aren’t all within walking distance of one another.

A possible route could include:

• Peculier Ales in downtown Windsor
• Mash Lab Brewing in west Windsor
• Mighty River Brewing near Fairgrounds Avenue
• High Hops Brewery and The Heart Distillery along Highway 392

Visitors should verify opening times because schedules vary, and some locations may open later in the afternoon or close on selected weekdays.

Use a designated driver, rideshare, or professional transportation service when visiting multiple breweries.

Frequently Asked Questions About Windsor Wineries and Breweries

How many breweries are in Windsor, CO?

Windsor currently has several established breweries, including High Hops Brewery, Peculier Ales, Mash Lab Brewing, and Mighty River Brewing Company. The Heart Distillery also produces spirits in Windsor.

What is the best brewery in Windsor?

The best choice depends on the experience you want. Peculier Ales offers a historic downtown setting, Mash Lab combines beer and a full restaurant, High Hops provides a hop-field and garden-center atmosphere, and Mighty River offers a casual neighborhood taproom.

Are Windsor breweries family-friendly?

Some are, while others are restricted to adults. High Hops Brewery and The Heart Distillery currently identify themselves as 21-and-over establishments. Families should confirm the policy for each brewery before visiting.

Which Windsor brewery has food?

Mash Lab Brewing and Peculier Ales offer food on-site. Other breweries may have food trucks, snacks, or changing outside-food policies.

Which brewery is in downtown Windsor?

Peculier Ales is located at 301 Main Street inside the historic Windsor Mill.

Does Windsor have a distillery?

Yes. The Heart Distillery operates at 6461 Highway 392 alongside High Hops Brewery and The Windsor Gardener.

Are there wineries in Windsor?

Windsor has limited traditional winery options within town. Sweet Heart Winery and Winery 5280 in Loveland are among the closest regional choices.

What is the closest scenic winery to Windsor?

Sweet Heart Winery west of Loveland is one of the closest destination-style wineries. It sits on more than six acres along the Big Thompson River and offers wine, cider, outdoor seating, and events.

Is Fort Collins close enough for a brewery tour?

Yes. Many Fort Collins breweries are approximately 20 to 35 minutes from Windsor, depending on the starting point, destination, traffic, and construction.

Do Windsor breweries have live music?

Several Windsor breweries regularly host live music and other events. Schedules change, so check the brewery’s current event calendar before visiting.

Can I bring my dog to a Windsor brewery?

Policies vary. Peculier Ales currently identifies its Windsor location as dog-friendly for friendly dogs. Other breweries may limit dogs to patios or prohibit them entirely.

Moving to Windsor, CO?

Windsor’s breweries, restaurants, parks, golf courses, trails, and community events contribute to the town’s growing social scene. The right neighborhood can place you near downtown Windsor, the Highway 392 brewery corridor, west Windsor dining, or quick access to Fort Collins and Loveland.

Todd Maltzahn can help you compare Windsor neighborhoods based on dining and entertainment access, commute routes, schools, home prices, HOA fees, metropolitan district taxes, and current homes for sale.