Since the gold rush of the 19th century, Colorado has been a brewing powerhouse. In 1859, Rocky Mountain Brewing became the first known brewery in the state, but it only lasted for a year. Despite this, the demand for beer was high and other establishments soon followed suit. At the peak of the gold rush beer boom, there were an estimated 129 breweries across Colorado.
This is the only known image of Rocky Mountain Brewery, the first commercial brewing company in what would become Colorado. The brewery was operational and producing around 30 barrels a day by January 25, 1893. It also supplied malt to breweries in Denver and Pueblo. In the late 1960s, activists from The Movement called for a boycott of Coors to protest against unfair hiring practices. This helped spur the redevelopment of Denver's Lower Downtown district, which is now a vibrant neighborhood with plenty of restaurants and breweries.
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