Boulder County’s IPA Powerhouse: Why Westbound & Down Brewing Is One of the Best Breweries in the Country
In a state overflowing with great beer, earning national recognition is no small accomplishment. Colorado is home to hundreds of breweries, many of them exceptional. Yet only a handful consistently rise above the rest. Westbound & Down Brewing Co., based in Lafayette, Colorado, has done exactly that—cementing its reputation not just as a local favorite, but as one of the very best breweries in the United States.
Their recent inclusion in a national ranking of the 30 best breweries in the country reflects years of disciplined brewing, thoughtful growth, and a refusal to settle for “good enough.” This isn’t a brewery chasing trends. It’s one executing at a high level across styles, experiences, and brand—while continuously improving along the way.
What Really Defines a Top-Tier Brewery
Great beer is the baseline for any respected brewery. But when it comes to identifying the very best in the country, the criteria go far beyond what’s simply in the glass. Questions of innovation versus reliability, tradition versus trend, and consistency across styles all come into play…