Ouray Brewery is pretty much situated in the middle of the San Juan Mountains. I do not know the exact geography but when you sit on the rooftop of Ouray Brewery you can see 360 degree views of snowy mountain peaks.
The brewery is well situated on the main street in the charming town of Ouray, Colorado. If you like beer and adventure, then this will be a great experience for you! The town is so small that you can easily spend an entire day hiking, biking or jeeping around in the mountains, and within just a few minutes you can be seated on a swinging bar stool having a beer at Ouray Brewery.
Of course, the true star of the show at Ouray Brewery is the beer itself. Boasting a diverse and ever-changing selection of handcrafted brews, the brewery caters to a wide range of palates. From crisp and refreshing ales to bold and robust stouts, each pour is a testament to the skill and creativity of the brewing team. With that said, let’s get into our experience.
Entering Ouray Brewery
You are asked to wait outside until a host comes and invites you inside the restaurant. There are a ton of signs outside and on the door that say to wait outside. For a first impression, this is really not a great look for a business. I understand that the space inside is limited and the staff do not want a bunch of people waiting in the tight space. But… there really should be a better and more inviting way to accommodate your waiting patrons.
We visited Ouray Brewery a couple of times on our most recent trip, once with some family. We had a member of our party that was so uncomfortable waiting for the host outside, that he was ready to go to another restaurant down the street. A host came just in time and took us to our table, but again just not a great first impression.
The Beer
The beer at Ouray Brewery is delightful and varied. This visit I had a brown ale and it really hit the spot. When we went back with family, I once again had the brown ale and I even recommended it to those in our party.
Again, I really have no complaints with the taste of the beer. I do believe that the beer is overpriced, but pretty much everything in Ouray is overpriced including food and drink, so it is just something to prepare for beforehand.
We did not let the prices impact our experience too much, but it is something worth noting. When you are paying a premium, expectations naturally rise a bit, and fortunately the quality of the beer mostly lives up to that.
The Atmosphere
Once you get past the initial awkwardness of waiting outside, the atmosphere inside is actually one of the best parts of Ouray Brewery. The space itself is tight, but in a way that feels lively rather than cramped. There is a constant buzz of conversation, and you can tell pretty quickly that this is a place people look forward to coming back to after a long day outdoors.
But the real draw is upstairs.
If you can, make your way to the rooftop. This is where the experience really shifts from “good brewery” to something more memorable. Sitting up there with a beer in hand, surrounded by the San Juan mountains in every direction, it almost feels like the setting is doing as much work as the brewery itself. It is one of those places where you find yourself slowing down without really trying.
It is also where the earlier frustrations start to fade a bit. Once you are up there, settled in, it becomes easier to understand why this place stays busy and why people are willing to wait.
Final Thoughts on Ouray Brewery
Ouray Brewery is one of those places that you will probably end up at if you are spending any real time in Ouray—and for good reason. The beer is solid, the location is unbeatable, and the rooftop alone is worth the visit.
At the same time, it is not without its quirks. The entrance process can feel off-putting, prices are on the higher side, and service can vary depending on when you go.
But in a town like Ouray, where the setting does so much of the heavy lifting, those trade-offs tend to even out. You come for the mountains, for the day spent exploring, and the brewery becomes part of that rhythm—a place to land, unwind, and take it all in.
If you go in expecting perfection, you might notice the rough edges. If you go in expecting a good beer after a long day in the San Juans, you will probably leave happy.
And if you can grab a seat on that rooftop, you will understand why people keep coming back.
