Anthony J.
Yelp
Tucked away in the narrow streets of an old industrial development, located just north of the locally designated "brewery row" (Mountain Ave. & Lincoln Ave.), the Horse and Dragon Brewery can be found brewing its way into the craft beer landscape that makes Ft. Collins a destination among beer enthusiasts in America. With just a few minutes separating it from other more well establish breweries such as Funkwerks, Fort Collins Brewing and O'Dells, the Horse and Dragon has strategically placed itself near some tough, but welcoming competition. Although you would find that parking might be more challenging than their more mature brewing neighbors, you would be hard pressed to find any less passion and purpose to the business of brewing great beer.
As you walk in, you'll find most tables sprawled around a fairly spacious taproom with chairs that were artistically designed from recycled palates. The bar itself is surrounded by a hand carved counter top that illuminates from beneath to showcase a dragon which does honor to the brewery's namesake. If you're undecided on what to try, the servers thoughtfully look to find the appropriate beer for your adventurous visit. They seem to be fairly keen on not only how to describe the beer, but also how their individual beers differentiate themselves from their competition's similar versions to the style. As one that appreciates genuine beer geekery, I have to commend that.
In my few visits here since their opening I have found that they tend to stay fairly busy during most days, but if you're looking to come here on the weekend, come early because space is very limited later in the afternoon and you might find yourself adventuring on to somewhere else that has a place to sit and enjoy your brew. They will generally have a food truck outside ready for your beer imbibing appetite, which is always good and at a reasonable price.
As for the beer itself, I have to admit that these are very professionally done versions to their respective styles. The L3 IPA is excellent and right on par with the quality of those craft breweries in town that package their beer. Other notables are the Sad Panda Coffee Stout and the Flagstone Copper Ale are also excellent examples of their styles. Honestly, any curious beer lover would love everything currently on their tap. I am reserving the 5th star in my review because time will tell if they earn it through consistency and ingenuity.
I will be making several trips here in the future and look forward to each one. I am confident that these guys will be brewing up some amazing beers in the future. I would recommend that anyone and everyone give them a shot on your next brewery tour through Fort Collins. Cheers!
