Downtown Colorado Springs 2.5-Hour Brewery Tour

A good brewery tour should do more than pour small samples. This one turns three downtown stops into a full afternoon meal, with 10 or more beers, savory and sweet pairings, and short walks through central Colorado Springs. The most unusual stop is Local Relic, where the brewery operates inside the historic Carter Payne church.

I like the small group of no more than 12, which keeps the pace friendly and makes it easier to ask questions. I also like the walking route: you do not need a car between breweries, and the guide adds local art and history instead of treating the city as a series of taprooms.

The main consideration is that this is not a good fit for gluten-free diners, and $68 is more than you would spend ordering a couple of beers on your own. Its value rests on the food, 10-plus tastings, reserved seating, and access to brewery staff.

Quick reasons to book this Colorado Springs brewery tour

• Three downtown breweries in 2.5 hours: Spend about 45 minutes at Red Swing Brewhouse, Brass Brewing Company, and Local Relic at Carter Payne.
• More than beer samples: Three flights include 10 or more beers, with savory and sweet food pairings designed to provide enough for lunch.
• A proper small-group outing: The group is limited to 12 people, giving your guide room to answer questions and keep the stops personal.
• Walking plus local context: The breweries are within walking distance, and the route includes art and local history between tastings.
• Guides who add personality: Behr, Adam, Samantha, and Peter have led this experience, with beer talk and city stories shaping the afternoon.
• A memorable final stop: Local Relic occupies part of Carter Payne, an old church now shared by five tenants.

Why this tour works better than a simple brewery crawl

I see the appeal of making your own brewery route. Colorado Springs has enough beer choices to keep you busy, and exploring at your own speed can be fun. But a self-guided crawl often leaves you choosing between beer, food, and local context.

This tour handles all three. Your guide brings you to three planned stops, flights are ready, tables are reserved, and food arrives with the tastings. You can focus on comparing beers rather than studying menus or deciding where to go next.

The 45-minute timing at each brewery also gives the afternoon a useful shape. You have enough time to taste, eat, and ask questions without lingering so long that the day loses momentum. The walking sections provide a break between flights, while the guide adds stories about the city and points out art along the way.

The size matters. With a maximum of 12 people, you are not being moved through a large production line. If the group is smaller, the experience can feel even more personal. One booking had only three people join, allowing for an especially direct afternoon with the guide.

Starting at the Mining Exchange at noon

The tour begins at noon outside the Mining Exchange, at 8 S Nevada Avenue. That start time makes this a practical lunch plan rather than a late-day drinking activity. You should arrive ready to walk and eat, since the food pairings begin as part of the brewery visits.

The route stays in downtown Colorado Springs. You will walk between the three breweries, so comfortable shoes are sensible. The tour is also near public transportation, which helps if you prefer not to drive into the center of town.

The end point is listed as Carter Payne at 320 S Weber Street, though it can change. Keep that in mind if you are arranging a pickup or planning another appointment afterward. The tour lasts about two and a half hours, so a finish around 2:30 p.m. is a reasonable guide, not a guarantee.

Because the route depends on walking outdoors, weather matters. The experience requires good weather, and if poor conditions force a cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

Red Swing Brewhouse: inventive beers and a community feel

The first stop is Red Swing Brewhouse, named for the family’s red swing hanging from a maple tree that is about 50 years old. That small detail tells you something about the brewery’s tone. It is built around family, local ties, and a willingness to try new flavors.

You receive a beer flight here, with the guide explaining what is being poured and answering questions. The tour description emphasizes invention, so this is a useful place to compare different styles and see how a local brewery approaches experimentation.

The stop lasts about 45 minutes. That is enough time for a tasting and food pairing, but not enough for a long, relaxed visit if you want to examine every tap or spend extra time chatting. I would treat it as an introduction to the brewery rather than a complete survey of its menu.

The community angle also gives the guide something useful to discuss during the visit. This is not only a drinking stop. It helps connect the beer to the people and ideas behind the business.

Brass Brewing Company: veteran-owned beer with a clear mission

Next comes Brass Brewing Company, a United States veteran-owned seven-barrel brewery. Its stated focus is simple: make tasty beer and give back 1 percent of profits to organizations serving veterans.

That charitable commitment adds a bit of meaning to the stop without taking over the tasting. You can ask about the brewery, its beers, or the organizations it supports while enjoying another flight and more food.

The word chill fits the way this stop is presented. Brass is a smaller operation, and the seven-barrel size suggests a local brewery rather than a large regional production site. You are getting a look at a more hands-on part of the Colorado Springs beer scene.

As with Red Swing, the 45-minute visit keeps the tour moving. If you already have a favorite beer style, tell your guide early. The guide is there to answer questions, and the small group makes it easier to shape the conversation around what interests you.

Local Relic inside the Carter Payne church

The final stop is the tour’s most distinctive setting. Local Relic operates inside Carter Payne, a historic church that now houses five tenants. The idea of drinking beer in an old church is unusual enough to make this more than another taproom visit.

Local Relic is described as an artisan brewery, so this stop adds a different character to the route. The setting gives the final flight a strong sense of place, while the food and beer pairing format brings the afternoon to a proper finish.

The tour ends here, although the end point can change. If you want to continue exploring afterward, Carter Payne gives you a clear downtown base from which to make your next plan. The tour includes about 45 minutes at this stop, so you should have time to enjoy the setting without feeling rushed through the final tasting.

This is also where the difference between a brewery tour and a basic pub crawl becomes clearest. You are not simply checking off another bar. You are learning how an old building has been reused and how a local brewery fits into that setting.

The food is a real part of the value

The food is not an afterthought. The tour includes savory and sweet pairings at the three stops, with enough food to make up a meal. One tasting includes several courses, and the pairings are intended to cover lunch rather than provide only a small nibble.

That matters when you compare the $68 price with the cost of arranging the same afternoon yourself. On your own, you would pay separately for flights, food, and perhaps transportation between breweries. You would also need to reserve or find seating and decide which places fit into a sensible route.

The meal-sized portions make the midday schedule practical. You do not need to book a separate lunch before or after the tour, though appetites vary. The food also gives you a reason to slow down and compare how different beers work with sweet and savory flavors.

There is an important limitation. The experience is not recommended for gluten-free diners. If you need a strictly gluten-free meal or beer selection, this is not the tour I would choose.

Beer facts, brewing access, and local stories

The guide is part host, part city storyteller, and part beer interpreter. You can expect beer trivia, brewing facts, and answers to questions along the route. The tour also includes access to brewers and brewery staff, which gives you a chance to hear directly about the places you visit.

Several guides are associated with the experience. Behr has been praised for combining beer knowledge with an easygoing personality and city information. Adam has led small groups and handled questions well. Samantha has added local history to the walking route, while Peter has been noted for taking people to places they might otherwise pass while exploring downtown.

Your actual guide may be different, so I would not book expecting one particular person. The useful point is that the guiding style is not limited to tasting notes. You get a wider look at Colorado Springs, including local history and art between breweries.

The commemorative brewery tour sticker is a small extra, not a reason to book on its own. Still, it is a pleasant keepsake and a simple reminder of the route after the flights are finished.

Is $68 a fair price?

At $68 per person, this tour is priced above a casual afternoon of ordering two or three beers. I think the cost is reasonable if you value the full package: three flights, 10 or more beers, lunch-sized pairings, a guide, reserved tables, walking commentary, and brewery access.

The price is less appealing if you mainly want to drink one specific style or spend a long time at a single brewery. The fixed schedule means you will visit all three stops, even if one is a better match for your taste than the others.

The small group improves the value. A large group can make brewery visits feel impersonal, while a limit of 12 gives you a better chance to speak with the guide and staff. The included food also keeps the afternoon from becoming a string of empty-stomach tastings.

I would think of the price as paying for convenience and context as much as beer. You are buying a ready-made route through downtown, with the meal and explanations already arranged.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend this tour to someone visiting Colorado Springs who wants an easy introduction to the local beer scene. It is also useful if you have just moved to the city and want a short list of breweries to return to later.

Beer fans should appreciate the chance to taste 10 or more beers in one afternoon. The tour does not require you to already know brewing terms, so beginners can join without feeling out of place.

It suits people who like a social outing but do not want a large crowd. The maximum of 12 keeps the setting friendly and makes it easier to ask basic questions without holding up a busload of people.

I would be more cautious if you prefer complete control over timing, food, and beer choices. The route is planned, each stop lasts about 45 minutes, and the tour is not designed around gluten-free needs.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. Still, you should be comfortable walking between downtown stops and spending time outdoors in whatever weather the day brings.

Booking, cancellation, and practical details

Confirmation is provided when you book. The start time is noon, and the meeting point is the Mining Exchange at 8 S Nevada Avenue.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted for a refund. The tour also requires a minimum number of people, so a cancellation for that reason gives you the choice of another date or experience, or a full refund.

Gratuity is not included. Plan on adding the standard 15 to 20 percent tip for your guide if you are pleased with the service.

The tour is listed with a 100 percent recommendation rate and a five-star rating from 27 reviews, but I would focus on the practical details rather than the number alone. The strongest pattern is clear: guides such as Behr, Adam, Samantha, and Peter are praised for friendliness, local information, and making the experience easygoing.

Should you book the downtown Colorado Springs brewery tour?

I would book it if you want beer, lunch, and a downtown introduction in one outing. The route is compact, the group is small, and the final stop inside Carter Payne gives the afternoon a setting you are unlikely to reproduce by simply ordering drinks on your own.

I would skip it if you need gluten-free options, dislike scheduled tastings, or want to choose every brewery yourself. For everyone else, $68 is a fair deal for 10 or more beers, substantial pairings, three planned stops, and a guide who can connect the beer to Colorado Springs.

FAQ

How long does the brewery tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 12:00 p.m.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at the Mining Exchange, 8 S Nevada Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903.

Where does the tour end?

The listed ending point is Carter Payne at 320 S Weber Street, Colorado Springs. The ending point may change.

How many breweries are included?

The tour visits three downtown Colorado Springs breweries: Red Swing Brewhouse, Brass Brewing Company, and Local Relic at Carter Payne.

How many beers will I taste?

You receive three beer flights with 10 or more different beers in total.

Is food included?

Yes. Savory and sweet food pairings are included, with enough food to serve as lunch.

How large is the group?

The maximum group size is 12 people.

Are tips included in the price?

No. Guide gratuities are not included. A standard tip of 15 to 20 percent is suggested.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded or accepted.