Editor’s note: We are republishing this story for Colorado Gives Day. Please give generously to non-profits that are making Colorado a great place. We hope this story provides some inspiration.

By Kristen Kuchar

The only thing better than drinking a well-crafted Colorado beer is knowing that it could benefit the people and places around us as well. It’s not hard to find a Colorado brewery doing good for others. Besides great beer, breweries are often focused on their community and are committed to the people who love their beer. While there are many more across the state, here are six Colorado breweries that are giving back.

Odell Brewing

Odell Brewing Company is committed to giving back to charitable partners and making a positive impact on the environment through the Kindling donation program. The team focuses on providing support and resources for at-risk children, single-parent families, the elderly, and disenfranchised community members, as well as organizations that protect and preserve the environment. Some 2021 partners include The Growing Project, Wilderness Restoration Volunteers, The Gathering Place, and Cultural Enrichment Center of Fort Collins – an organization that addresses the needs of middle school and high school African American students in Fort Collins.

Oskar Blues Brewery

Oskar Blues Brewery’s Can’d Aid organization gathers volunteers to make a positive impact in the community – whether it’s curating a love for art and the outdoors or getting water to those who need it most. This is done by maintaining multi-use trails, donating bikes and skateboards to children, donating musical instruments, and much more. The organization has also donated more than 2 million cans of drinking water to people in need throughout the U.S. With recycling and sustainability efforts, such as tree plantings, river cleanups, and recycling, the equivalent of 73 million cans have been recycled.

Currently, the brewery is giving away a 1965 Ford Mustang in an online drawing that ends on Oct. 1.

Left Hand Brewing Foundation

The Left Hand Brewing Foundation was launched in response to the flooding Boulder County faced in 2013. The group was able to raise $76,000 in relief efforts for Longmont. The company now supports primary needs, community support groups, arts and cultural activities, housing projects, medical research, and issues and emergencies in Longmont and beyond. They continue to donate a portion of profits from festivals to specific beneficiaries, and host any local non-profits at the event for free. The Foundation has partnered with Love Hope Strength, Longmont Humane Society, and The Future Arts Foundation, to name a few.

To support the group while also drinking great beer and having a good time, check out the Oktoberfest party in the Left Hand Beer Garden, running through Sunday.

Breckenridge Brewery

From all the beer sold this summer from Breckenridge Brewery, 1 percent of all proceeds will benefit the National Parks Conservation Association – an organization that works to protect and preserve National Parks throughout the country. Between 2019 and 2020, Breckenridge Brewery raised roughly $60,000 for the National Parks Conservation Association and has a goal of $100,000 for this year.

Lady Justice Brewing

The concept for Lady Justice Brewing was to brew great beer and make the world a better place at the same time. During their 2010 service in AmeriCorps, the three eventual founders asked themselves – why can’t we brew beer and give back to our community? Since then, more than $20,000 has been donated to more than 30 organizations, including Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, Dream Culture, Aurora Mental Health Center, Love146, Women’s Wilderness, and many more.

14er Brewing

The brewers from 14er Brewing are all about making good beer that still allows for an active Colorado lifestyle. One percent of sales are donated to the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, a non-profit based in Golden that builds and maintains hiking routes and educates hikers on sustainable recreational practices.

To visit a handful of other Colorado breweries, try out Denver Microbrew Tours and their guided tours of Denver’s best neighborhoods, art and breweries.