A few gyms combine two of Colorado’s favorite pastimes: climbing and craft beer

By Kristen Kuchar

There’s a long list of favorite things to do among Coloradans, and two beloved activities in this great state are climbing and drinking well-made craft beer. While at first glance, these two might seem unrelated, there are several important things that bring them together – both have a strong community, and are often met with passion and a love for exploring and bringing people together. That’s why it makes sense that there’s a handful of Colorado climbing gyms that offer beer on tap.

“Anyone who has spent the afternoon or evening crushing boulders or routes knows the immense joy of chilling those aching hands on a cold can of craft brew,” says Heather Robinson, general manager at CityROCK and The Ute Restaurant, which operates in the same building.

Not only does the Colorado Springs gym offer indoor climbing and a full cardio and fitness facility, but The Ute Restaurant has 14 beers on tap and two local kombucha selections as well as more than 35 canned beer options from across the country.

“Our beer is chosen specifically to provide as many styles as we can while still focusing on what our customers are ordering,’’ Robinson says. Some recent Colorado breweries available include Soulcraft Brewing, Outer Range Brewing Company, High Hops Brewery and Grimm Brothers Brewhouse.

“While the beer is an important part of the concept, and the beer menu is outstanding, the community space is really what the restaurant is all about,” Robinson says. “It’s a gathering place for families, friends, co-workers and co-climbers to break bread and enjoy each other’s company.”

The Spot Boulder and The Spot Denver also serve beer on tap, with a focus on supporting local breweries in the same community.

“Craft beer and climbing are all about community — creating a supportive space for people to come together and get out of their comfort zone, whether that means challenging yourself physically in the gym or trying a new style of beer from the brewers down the street,” says Patrick Bodnar, The Spot’s marketing manager.

The Boulder outpost offers two beers on tap; Denver has six rotating brews on tap and both have canned beer options as well.

“Joining forces with Avery for our first beer partnership years ago was a no-brainer to bring people together and make our events more unique and enjoyable,” Bodnar says. Dan Howley, founder of The Spot, and Adam Avery, founder of Avery Brewing Co. have been friends for years.

Avery, who is an avid climber, is happy to have the Boulder brewery’s beer available on tap here.

“As a climbing lifer and longtime supporter of our climbing community, it brings me great joy and satisfaction to know that whether you’re celebrating a send or licking your wounds from uncountable failed attempts on your proj, you can always enjoy one of our beers at the end of your session at The Spot. Though sometimes I need that beer mid-session,” Avery says.

Other breweries at The Spot have included Elevation Beer Co., Comrade Brewing Company, Tivoli Brewing Company and Telluride Brewing Company.

Having beer on tap gives climbers another reason to stick around after exercising, Bodnar explains. Many of the meetup nights finish with a “social hour” at the bar, for a chance to try new beers and meet new people. He says that members love having craft beer available and some even swing by the gym on “rest days” to grab a pint and see what’s new.

One of the primary goals of Whetstone Climbing in Fort Collins was to create a welcoming and comfortable community space. Since the hockey rink that previously occupied the building already had a bar in place, it was a natural fit to keep it going.

“While climbing might seem like an individual sport from afar, it’s really about teamwork, building trust, and community,” says Jeremiah Wall, marketing manager and event coordinator at Whetstone. “There’s also something inherently community-driven about craft breweries,” she says. “There’s something special about being able to meet the people that made it and connect with others that love it.”

After utilizing more than 23,000 square feet of climbing and fitness, climbers can head over to The Bivy, where they will find four rotating beers on tap and a variety of canned options. The selection is based on what’s new, seasonal and sounds interesting. The beers highlight northern Colorado’s robust beer culture with Snowbank Brewing, Odell Brewing Co., Horse & Dragon Brewing Co. and New Belgium Brewing.

“When there’s an opportunity to have a cold beer after a climbing session, it feels less like a performance-focused gym and more like a community space where people can do more than just climb or work out. They can hang out, relax, connect with old friends and meet new ones,” Wall says.

That community focus is a common thread through these climbing gyms. At Longmont Climbing Collective, in addition to being a destination for the community to enjoy climbing, yoga and fitness, the team also works with local businesses to create partnerships to benefit the members. “Partnering with a local brewery seemed like a great way to do just that,” says marketing manager Nick Coutu.

The gym partners with nearby Grossen Bart Brewery to supply a handful of rotating beers on tap. Coutu says that people enjoy beers at monthly meetups held at the gym, and often hang around to drink a beer when they’re done. Competitions are also popular here and often people who aren’t competing still come and enjoy a beer or two while watching the climbers compete.

Coutu draws a comparison between the beloved sport of climbing and the art of craft brewing. “Climbing is all about creativity,” he says. “Every week the setters are in here creating new problems for people to try to solve and enjoy. In our minds craft beer is very similar in that the brewers are always coming up with creative new beer for people to enjoy.”

Kristen Kuchar is a freelance writer covering food, libations, music and other Colorado gatherings.