Downtown Colorado Springs 2.5-Hour Brewery Tour

Three breweries, ten-plus beers, and enough savory and sweet food to replace lunch: that is the useful promise of this small-group Colorado Springs brewery tour. You walk between stops in the downtown core, with flights waiting at reserved tables instead of wasting time deciding where to go next.

I like the built-in food pairings, which make the $68 price easier to justify, and I like the mix of beer talk with local art and history. Guides named Behr, Adam, Samantha, and Peter have each brought warmth, city knowledge, and an easygoing style to the route. The main drawback is simple: this is not a good fit for gluten-free diners, and 10-plus tastings can feel like a lot if you are mainly interested in one beer style.

Key points at a glance

• Ten-plus beers at three stops: You get three flights rather than one large pour at a single brewery.
• Lunch-sized food pairings: Savory and sweet courses are included, not just a token snack.
• A walk through central Colorado Springs: The route connects breweries with art and local history.
• A maximum of 12 people: The small group gives you a better chance to ask questions and hear your guide.
• Three very different settings: Expect a family-minded brewhouse, a veteran-owned taproom, and beer made inside an old church.
• A fixed noon start: The timing turns an ordinary lunch outing into a relaxed afternoon tasting.

Why this tour works better than brewery hopping alone

Colorado Springs has enough breweries to make planning a short visit surprisingly awkward. You can search out a few taprooms yourself, but then you must choose the route, make sense of the beer lists, find seating, and decide where food fits in. This tour handles those moving parts for you.

At $68 per person, the value comes from the combination rather than any single feature. You receive three beer flights, more than 10 different beers, several food pairings, a guide, and admission at all three stops. The food is described as enough for lunch, which matters because a tasting tour without a meal can become an expensive warm-up to dinner.

I also like that the tour is not only about alcohol. The walk between breweries includes art and local history, so you get some sense of downtown Colorado Springs instead of moving from one indoor table to another. The route starts at The Mining Exchange, at 8 S Nevada Avenue, and ends at The Carter Payne, at 320 S Weber Street. The end point can change, so check the final details before setting out.

The group is capped at 12 people. That is small enough for direct questions, and it gives the guide room to manage different tastes without turning the outing into a lecture. Several guides have been praised for making the experience relaxed and personal. Behr was singled out for his city background and friendly manner. Adam handled a particularly small group and was able to answer questions in a more personal setting. Samantha brought local history into the walk, while Peter was praised for taking people to places they might otherwise pass by.

Red Swing Brewhouse: start with inventive flavors

Your first stop is Red Swing Brewhouse, where the name comes from a family red swing hanging from a maple tree that is more than 50 years old. That detail gives the place a personal, community-minded identity before you even get to the beer.

The brewery is interested in trying new flavors, so this is a good opening stop for a flight. You can sample several styles and begin to see how Colorado Springs brewers approach familiar ingredients in different ways. The exact beers are not fixed in the tour details, and brewery selections can change, but the point is variety rather than one oversized pint.

You have about 45 minutes here. That is long enough to taste, eat, and ask questions without turning the visit into a rushed stop. The included food is part of the experience, not an afterthought. You might use this first course to settle into the pace of the afternoon, especially if you arrive hungry for the noon start.

The useful thing about beginning here is the social tone. Red Swing’s identity is tied to family and community, and the guide can connect that atmosphere to the wider story of local brewing. I would not book this tour expecting a full production-floor inspection or a technical brewery class. The experience is centered on tasting, conversation, and access to brewery staff.

Brass Brewing Company: a veteran-owned middle stop

The second 45-minute stop is Brass Brewing Company, a veteran-owned seven-barrel brewery. Its stated mission includes giving 1 percent of profits to organizations serving veterans, which adds a civic angle to your tasting without taking over the afternoon.

A seven-barrel operation suggests a smaller brewing setup than the large regional producers you may know. That makes this stop useful for people who want to understand the scale and personality of independent beer making. You can ask about the beers in your flight, how the brewery approaches its recipes, and the role of a small taproom in the local scene.

The stop is described as relaxed, and the tour includes access to brewers and staff. That is one of the stronger reasons to go with a guide rather than simply ordering a flight on your own. A staff conversation can help you sort out what you are tasting, especially if you do not already know the difference between beer styles.

You receive another flight and another round of food here. The food matters from a practical standpoint: by the second brewery, the alcohol adds up. Eating along the way keeps the outing closer to a proper lunch than a string of empty-stomach tastings.

Brass Brewing may be less appealing if you want a long, detailed facility tour. The available information focuses on tasting, staff access, trivia, and the brewery’s community work. Think of it as a guided taproom visit with context, not a formal brewing seminar.

The Carter Payne: Local Relic in an old church

The final stop has the most unusual setting. The Carter Payne is a historic church building now shared by five tenants, including Local Relic, an artisan brewery. Beer inside an old church is the kind of setting that gives the tour a strong finish, especially if you enjoy places where food and drink are tied to local buildings.

Local Relic is not presented as a standard standalone taproom. Its home inside The Carter Payne gives the last stop a different mood and adds an architectural detail to the day. You get a final beer flight and food pairing here, with the stop lasting about 45 minutes.

The last tasting is described as a beer and food pairing, which may be more structured than simply receiving a plate of snacks. You can expect the food to be chosen to work with the beers rather than merely sit beside them. Since the selections can change, the tour does not promise a particular menu or beer list.

Ending at The Carter Payne also makes practical sense. You finish at 320 S Weber Street rather than having to return to the starting point, although the endpoint may change. If you are arranging a ride, meeting friends, or planning another activity afterward, leave room for that possibility.

The walking route adds more than exercise

All three breweries are within walking distance of one another, according to the tour details and firsthand route descriptions. That makes this a better choice for seeing downtown than a vehicle-based brewery outing. You can move between tastings without arranging separate rides, and the gaps give you time to reset before the next flight.

The walk includes art and local history. Samantha, one of the guides named in the feedback, was specifically praised for adding city history along the way. Peter was also appreciated for pointing out places that a visitor might easily pass without noticing.

Do not treat the walking portions as a separate sightseeing tour of Colorado Springs. The route is built around the breweries, and the information provided does not promise a long list of landmarks or a formal city tour. Still, those short walks improve the balance of the afternoon. You are not seated for two and a half hours, and you get a little local context between tastings.

Weather matters. The experience requires good weather, so poor conditions can lead to a different date or a full refund. Wear comfortable shoes and plan for outdoor walking, but avoid assuming the route will operate unchanged in bad weather.

What the food means for the $68 price

The included food is one of the biggest reasons I would consider this tour fairly priced. You get savory and sweet pairings at the three stops, and the total is intended to be enough for lunch. That changes the calculation from paying $68 for beer samples to paying for a guided meal with more than 10 tastings and local interpretation.

The price is less compelling if you would normally order only one beer at each brewery or if you do not care about guided access. You are paying for organization, reserved seating, the guide, the tastings, and the food. Someone who enjoys wandering between taprooms and choosing a single pint at each might spend less independently.

For people who want to try many beers without committing to full pours, the flights are useful. They let you compare styles and breweries while keeping each serving manageable. Still, pace yourself. The tour covers three flights in 2.5 hours, so eating the included food and drinking water when available is sensible, even though water is not specifically listed as an inclusion.

Guide gratuities are not included. A 15 to 20 percent tip is the stated standard, so add that to your budget if your guide provides the friendly, informed service the tour is designed to offer.

Who will enjoy this Colorado Springs brewery tour

I would recommend this experience to beer fans who want a planned introduction to downtown Colorado Springs. It also suits people who have just moved to town and want to identify breweries they can revisit later. One useful feature is that the route gives you three possible future stops rather than leaving you with one favorite and no sense of the rest of the scene.

It works well for couples, friends, and small groups who enjoy tasting and conversation. The 12-person limit keeps the setting more personal than a large bus outing. If your own group is small, the tour can still operate as a shared experience, and the guide can give you plenty of room to ask questions.

You should think twice if you dislike walking, prefer large pours, or want a technical tour of brewing equipment. The experience is built around flights, food, conversation, and city context. It is also not recommended for gluten-free diners, so this is a meaningful dietary limitation rather than a minor footnote.

Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate. The tour is near public transportation, but the supplied details do not specify a particular bus route, parking arrangement, or return transfer. Plan your arrival at The Mining Exchange carefully and confirm the final endpoint before booking a ride home.

Timing, booking, and cancellation details

The tour begins at noon and lasts about 2 hours and 30 minutes. That makes it an afternoon activity rather than an evening pub crawl. You can reasonably plan another activity later, but allow extra time if the group moves slowly or the end point changes.

The tour uses a mobile ticket, and confirmation is provided when you book. It is typically reserved about nine days ahead, which suggests that booking early is sensible if your Colorado Springs schedule is tight, especially for a weekend.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. The local-time cutoff applies. If bad weather or an insufficient minimum group causes the tour to be canceled, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a meal-sized tasting route with local context, not just a series of bar stops. The best parts are the compact walking route, three distinct brewery settings, included food, and guides who bring the city into the conversation. The unusual finish at Local Relic inside The Carter Payne gives the afternoon a memorable setting.

Skip it if you need gluten-free food, want to choose every beer yourself, or would rather spend several hours at one brewery. For most beer-curious visitors, new residents, and anyone who values easy planning, $68 is a reasonable price for the amount of tasting and food included. Just arrive ready to walk, eat, ask questions, and pace yourself.

FAQ

How long is the Downtown Colorado Springs Brewery Tour?

The tour lasts approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 12:00 pm.

Where does the tour begin?

The listed meeting point is The Mining Exchange, 8 S Nevada Avenue, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903.

Where does the tour end?

The listed endpoint is The Carter Payne, 320 S Weber Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903. The endpoint can change.

How many breweries are included?

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

How many beers will I taste?

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

Is food included?

Yes. Savory and sweet food pairings are included, and the total amount is described as enough for lunch.

How large is the group?

The tour has a maximum of 12 participants.

Is the tour suitable for gluten-free diners?

The experience is not recommended for gluten-free travelers.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Less than 24 hours before the experience, refunds and changes are not accepted.