Gone but not forgotten: 15 of Fort Collins' most-requested, but discontinued beers

Erin Udell, Fort Collins Coloradoan
·10 min read

Ready for a Fort Collins ghost story?

On particularly nice summer days, you can occasionally see the hazy image of an old bottle of Sunshine Wheat sitting at the end of the bar in New Belgium Brewing's liquid center. Don't blink, though. It will be gone before you know it.

Late at night, you can also sometimes hear the phantom hisses of a bottle cracking open. Could it be the ghost of Sunshine Wheat again haunting New Belgium with its chilling cry? Or perhaps it's Old Cherry, Abbey or Mothership Wit begging to be brewed again?

OK. So none of that is true. There are no New Belgium hauntings, but how else was I supposed to introduce this list of ghosts of beers past in Fort Collins?

With 28 breweries and decades of craft brewing history, this city has seen a lot of beers come and go. I recently wondered about these long-lost beers and found myself on an archaeological dig of sorts to unearth which are missed most by local beer lovers.

I asked the Coloradoan's Instagram followers, frequenters of the Fort Collins subreddit and brewers themselves — narrowing my findings in the following roundup. I also added a "hope scale" ranging from 1-10, with 1 indicating the beer will almost certainly not come back and 10 indicating there's a high chance you'll taste it again.

As for my attempt at a ghostly beer story, I apologize.

It was better than painting the picture of retired Fort Collins beers playing pickleball somewhere in Florida, which I also seriously considered.

Sunshine Wheat

Sunshine Wheat was retired in 2012 before being brought back briefly in 2019.
Sunshine Wheat was retired in 2012 before being brought back briefly in 2019.

Brewery: New Belgium Brewing, 500 Linden St.

Which discontinued beer was the most-missed in my unofficial polling? Sunshine Wheat, of course. The filtered wheat beer, brewed with coriander and orange peel, was a longtime favorite at New Belgium Brewing — having debuted 1991 and being discontinued around 2012, according to the brewery. New Belgium later brought back the preeminent patio beer as a variety pack throwback in 2019 and tapped it in its liquid centers for a limited time in 2021. Like the other New Belgium beers you'll see on this list, there is a possibility you may taste the sweet nectar of an orange-slice-garnished Sunshine Wheat again, as the brewery does bring back retired beers for special releases. Because of that, Sunshine Wheat gets a 7 on the hope scale.

P.S. If you're really missing Sunshine Wheat, New Belgium recommends Voodoo Ranger Atomic Citrus as a summer substitution.

So how many breweries do we have? Finally, here's a definitive list.

Abbey

Abbey, a Belgian-style ale and one of New Belgium Brewing's original beers, is pictured here in 1997.
Abbey, a Belgian-style ale and one of New Belgium Brewing's original beers, is pictured here in 1997.

Brewery: New Belgium Brewing

This Belgian-style ale — and, alongside Fat Tire, one of New Belgium's original beers — debuted in 1991 and enjoyed a decadeslong run until it was fully retired in 2021, according to New Belgium Brewing. While it's no longer available year-round, the brewery does occasionally bring it out of retirement for inclusion in New Belgium's featured variety packs. Fittingly, this one gets a high rating on the hope scale, coming in at an 8.

P.S. Missing Abbey? New Belgium recommends trying their 1554 Enlightened Dark Ale or Trippel Belgian-Style Ale.

Easy Street Wheat

An original Easy Street Wheat bottle from the early 1990s, left, sits next to a new can of the beer, which Odell Brewing brought back in May after a two-year retirement.
An original Easy Street Wheat bottle from the early 1990s, left, sits next to a new can of the beer, which Odell Brewing brought back in May after a two-year retirement.

Brewery: Odell Brewing Co., 800 E. Lincoln Ave.

Odell Brewing Co. opened in 1989 and Easy Street Wheat wasn't far behind. The American-StyleWheat Beer was released in 1991, according to the brewery, and quickly rose through its ranks to become a steadfast beer on its growing lineup. After a 30-year run, it was discontinued in 2021. That didn't last long, however, with Odell Brewing bringing back the brew in recent months. It was back on tap and in packages in Odell's Fort Collins taproom as of late June, the brewery confirmed. Is the hope scale even necessary here? I'll give it a 10 since its return is not just likely, but a reality.

Red Banshee Ale

A customer pulls a six-pack of H.C. Berger's Red Banshee Ale off a shelf in 2000. While the brewery had a loyal following, it was seized by the state over unpaid taxes in 2002. H.C. Berger owner Sandy Jones opened Fort Collins Brewery in the same space the following year, reviving Red Banshee Ale along with it.
A customer pulls a six-pack of H.C. Berger's Red Banshee Ale off a shelf in 2000. While the brewery had a loyal following, it was seized by the state over unpaid taxes in 2002. H.C. Berger owner Sandy Jones opened Fort Collins Brewery in the same space the following year, reviving Red Banshee Ale along with it.

Brewery: H.C. Berger Brewing, Fort Collins Brewery (closed)

If you traveled back in time to the early 1990s, you'd find a much smaller craft brewing scene in Fort Collins. At the time, there were three main breweries: Odell, New Belgium and H.C. Berger Brewing. The East Lincoln Avenue brewery — located where Funkwerks is now — enjoyed several years of growth and a loyal following of its Chocolate Stout beer and Red Banshee Ale, an American amber and red ale. H.C. Berger was seized by the state over unpaid taxes in 2002 but was somewhat revived — Red Banshee Ale along with it — when H.C. Berger owner Sandy Jones opened Fort Collins Brewery the following year. The brewery ultimately closed in 2017. Because of both breweries' closures, this one gets our lowest hope scale rating yet: 1. Sorry, Red Banshee fans.

Sober or sober curious? Here is your alcohol-free guide to Fort Collins, from mocktail menus to NA beer and more.

Old Cherry

Old Cherry, a fruit beer brewed with cherry juice, dates back to New Belgium's early years, but has since been discontinued.
Old Cherry, a fruit beer brewed with cherry juice, dates back to New Belgium's early years, but has since been discontinued.

Brewery: New Belgium Brewing

Like Sunshine Wheat and Abbey, Old Cherry — a fruit beer brewed with cherry juice — also made its Fort Collins debut in 1991. Dating back to New Belgium Brewing's early days, longtime brewery employee Brian Callahan even recalled delivering cases of it around town in New Belgium's old loaded-down Toyota Previa minivan, Callahan told the Coloradoan for a story on his retirement early last year. Ultimately, Old Cherry was discontinued around 2003, but has been brought back since — most notably during New Belgium's 25th anniversary in 2016. Can lightning strike twice? Perhaps. And for that reason I'll give it a 7 on the hope scale.

P.S. If you're craving some Old Cherry, New Belgium suggests trying its fruit lambic style beer Transatlantique Kriek instead.

Major Tom's Pomegranate Wheat

Major Tom's Pomegranate Wheat, right, was a favorite at Fort Collins Brewery until it closed in 2017.
Major Tom's Pomegranate Wheat, right, was a favorite at Fort Collins Brewery until it closed in 2017.

Brewery: Fort Collins Brewery (closed)

Ground control to Major Tom, Fort Collins still misses you. Fort Collins Brewery's Major Tom's Pomegranate Wheat was another easy-drinking summer favorite, with a sweet tartness punctuated by pomegranate and pink peppercorn. Alas, it wasn't meant to last. Like Red Banshee Ale, this brew became a thing of the past with the 2017 closure of Fort Collins Brewery. Because of that, it also gets a 1 on the hope scale.

Curious Cricket Cucumber Basil Kölsch

Horse & Dragon's Curious Cricket cucumber basil kolsch beer gained a following during its short-lived 2015 run, according to brewery co-founder Carol Cochran.
Horse & Dragon's Curious Cricket cucumber basil kolsch beer gained a following during its short-lived 2015 run, according to brewery co-founder Carol Cochran.

Brewery: Horse & Dragon Brewing Co., 124 Racquette Drive

Like a shooting star, Horse & Dragon's Curious Cricket Cucumber Basil Kölsch was gone in a flash back in 2015. Despite its short lifespan as a one-off brew, it gained a bit of a cult following and has been asked about since, according to Horse & Dragon co-founder Carol Cochran. If you've been missing Curious Cricket, you're in luck as the brewery brought it back as a one-off, cans-only batch this month. Since you can find a can near you — or at least you could at the time of this article's publication — I'm giving it a 10 on the hope scale.

Fat Tire Amber Ale

New Belgium's original Fat Tire amber ale was overhauled earlier this year with some changes to its recipe and name. Now known as Fat Tire Ale, the brew is America's first certified carbon neutral beer.
New Belgium's original Fat Tire amber ale was overhauled earlier this year with some changes to its recipe and name. Now known as Fat Tire Ale, the brew is America's first certified carbon neutral beer.

Brewery: New Belgium Brewing

While it hasn't been missed for too long, Fat Tire Amber Ale got several votes in our unofficial polls after New Belgium changed its recipe earlier this year. After 32 years as New Belgium's flagship beer, Fat Tire's amber ale became Fat Tire Ale back in January — boasting what New Belgium said were similar attributes to its predecessor "with a medium body, crisp finish and deep gold color." Perhaps most importantly, the new version was America's first certified carbon neutral beer, aligning with New Belgium's climate action goals. Still, people are thirsty for the nostalgia of the original Fat Tire, and that thirst may be quenched. While it's no longer in production, the brewery may bring back Fat Tire Amber Ale in featured variety packs, a New Belgium spokesperson told the Coloradoan earlier this year. With that, I shall give it an 8 on the hope scale.

Cutthroat Porter

A specially-brewed salted caramel and Tahitian vanilla bean version of Cutthroat Porter is poured at The Moot House in Fort Collins Wednesday, April 23, 2014. Cutthroat Porter was launched in 1992 by Odell Brewing Co. and discontinued in 2018.
A specially-brewed salted caramel and Tahitian vanilla bean version of Cutthroat Porter is poured at The Moot House in Fort Collins Wednesday, April 23, 2014. Cutthroat Porter was launched in 1992 by Odell Brewing Co. and discontinued in 2018.

Brewery: Odell Brewing Co.

Not far behind Easy Street Wheat, Cutthroat Porter joined the ranks of Odell beers in 1992. Inspired by classic London porters, it was brewed using dark roasted malts and had a rich color and deep flavor to prove it. This beer was ultimately discontinued in 2018, but it does come back from time to time as a taproom exclusive beer. In fact, at the time of this list's publication it was back on tap at Odell's Fort Collins brewery for a limited time. For that reason, it gets a 10 on the hope scale.

Mothership Wit

New Belgium's Mothership Wit Organic Wheat Beer, right, was shelved after declining sales in 2012.
New Belgium's Mothership Wit Organic Wheat Beer, right, was shelved after declining sales in 2012.

Brewery: New Belgium Brewing

This witbier-style beer dates back to around 2006, when it was released by New Belgium as an all-organic beer. While tweets from the brewery indicate Mothership Wit started being phased out in 2012, it was officially retired around 2016, according to the brewery. Due to New Belgium's history of bringing back retired beers, I'm going to give this one a 7 on the hope scale.

Bobby

Summer beers circa 2002 sit from left to right, Porch Swing by New Belgium Brewing Co., Bobby by Odell Brewing Co., and Snowman Summer Edition by since-shuttered H.C. Berger Brewing Co.
Summer beers circa 2002 sit from left to right, Porch Swing by New Belgium Brewing Co., Bobby by Odell Brewing Co., and Snowman Summer Edition by since-shuttered H.C. Berger Brewing Co.

Brewery: Odell Brewing Co.

Let me take you back to 2002 in Fort Collins. That year the Olympic torch made a special visit to Colorado State University ahead of the winter games, plans for a little thing called the Promenade Shops at Centerra were approved, City Park Pool was permanently closed (and then quickly saved) and Odell Brewing Co. unveiled Bobby. The German-style Kolsch ale was a departure from Odell's then-trademark English-style ales. It also fit in well with other lighter-tasting seasonal beers that were released that summer, like CooperSmith's Mountain Avenue Wheat and H.C. Berger's Summer Snowman, according to the Coloradoan's archives. Ultimately, Bobby was shelved in 2005, but Odell Brewing has occasionally brought it back to the Fort Collins taproom for enthusiastic Bobby fans, according to Odell Brewing's director of marketing Alex Kayne. Bobby was also brewed as a throwback for Odell Brewing's 25th anniversary in 2014. My money's on you being able to see your precious Bobby again. Therefore, it gets a 7 on the hope scale.

Sourado

Snowbank Brewing's Sourado debuted at the brewery in 2015 and had a strong, seven-year run before being retired in early 2022.
Snowbank Brewing's Sourado debuted at the brewery in 2015 and had a strong, seven-year run before being retired in early 2022.

Brewery: Snowbank Brewing, 225 N. Lemay Ave.

The departure of Sourado was a bitter pill to swallow for Snowbank fans and it still gets asked about today, according to the brewery. The dry-hopped session sour enjoyed a seven-year run before it was discontinued in early 2022. There are currently no plans to bring back Sourado, so I'm giving it a 3 on the hope scale.

Cache La Porter

Pateros Creek's Cache la Porter beer dates back to 2010, predating even the brewery it came from, according to founder Steve Jones.
Pateros Creek's Cache la Porter beer dates back to 2010, predating even the brewery it came from, according to founder Steve Jones.

Brewery: Pateros Creek Brewing Co. (closed)

Who remembers this easy drinking Pateros Creek porter? While Pateros Creek Brewing sat on the northern edge of Old Town from 2011 until its 2017 closure, Cache La Porter predated the brewery, having been brewed by contract back in 2010, according to Pateros Creek founder Steve Jones. As Pateros Creek's first beer, Cache La Porter was a top three seller for the brewery throughout its time in Fort Collins, and Jones said he still gets asked about it — along with Pateros Creek's Rustic Red, Snowy River Vanilla Porter, Oreo Porter and Peanut Brittle Red. Since Pateros Creek has been closed for years, I'm going to give this one a hope scale score of 1.

Ginette

The most-requested discontinued beer at Jessup Farm Barrel House is Ginette, a barrel-aged pilsner that exhausted its last batch earlier this year.
The most-requested discontinued beer at Jessup Farm Barrel House is Ginette, a barrel-aged pilsner that exhausted its last batch earlier this year.

Brewery: Jessup Farm Barrel House, 1957 Jessup Drive

This barrel-aged pilsner — a gold medal winner in the wood and barrel-aged category at the latest World Beer Cup — is made using the same barrels Boulder Spirits ages its "Ginskey" in, making batches of it particularly hard to come by or replicate. Jessup Farm Barrel House ran out if almost immediately after making it, exhausting its last batch of it earlier this year. While it has been getting consistent requests for more, it likely won't make more given how rare the Ginskey barrels are to come by, according to the brewery. This one earns a 3 on the hope scale.

Peachy King

Peachy King, a barrel-aged imperial saison, was created as a version of Funkwerks' Tropic King.
Peachy King, a barrel-aged imperial saison, was created as a version of Funkwerks' Tropic King.

Brewery: Funkwerks, 1900 E Lincoln Ave.

This imperial saison was brewed — and aged in peach whiskey barrels — as a version of Funkwerks' fan-favorite Tropic King back in 2016. It was brewed for the last time at Funkwerks in 2018 and remained on tap there until mid-2019, according to the brewery. With its necessary barrels hard to come by, there are currently no plans to bring it back. For that, it gets a 2 on the hope scale.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: 15 of Fort Collins' most-requested, but discontinued beers