Colorado Farm Brewery Transforms Family Farm with Fully Estate-Grown Beer
San Luis Valley, CO — A farming family in Colorado’s San Luis Valley is making waves in the craft beer world by producing 100% estate-grown beer from grain to glass, forging a powerful bond between the land and their brews.
Josh Cody, co-owner and brewmaster of the Colorado Farm Brewery, emphasized the brewery’s unique approach: “We live in a very special place in this beautiful valley.” The brewery grows its own barley, wheat, rye, hops, and even cultures its own yeast—all sourced from the family farm itself.
The story began in 2006 when the Cody family nearly sold the farm after the death of Josh’s grandfather. His grandmother’s refusal to give up the family legacy led Josh, then out of state, to return and find a new path forward. With a deep connection to the land and its history, the family turned to beer production as the farm’s lifeline.
They started by growing and malting their own grains before opening a public brewery on the property. Today, the entire brewing process remains tightly integrated—water from their own well, yeast cultured in the grandmother’s kitchen, and spent grains fed to local livestock.
Water chemistry plays a crucial role. The San Luis Valley’s ancient lake bed soil produces water with a high pH of over 9.0, requiring careful adjustment before brewing. This mineral-rich environment creates a distinctive “terroir” that Josh wants drinkers to taste in every glass.
Embracing sustainability, the brewery recycles wastewater for irrigation, minimizing waste and environmental impact. Their innovative spirit now extends to a new product: a non-alcoholic hop water made entirely from estate-grown ingredients. This hop water mimics beer’s flavor profile without alcohol, catering to designated drivers, families, and non-drinkers visiting the farm.
Josh describes the brewery as more than a production facility—it’s a community hub where families gather, children play, and neighbors connect. The brewery’s focus on place, legacy, and sustainability offers a compelling model for farms and craft producers nationwide.
This evolving project highlights how agricultural tradition and craft innovation can revive rural economies and create authentic, locally rooted products that resonate with consumers across the United States.
What’s Next?
Colorado Farm Brewery’s continued experimentation with estate ingredients and sustainable methods positions it as a leader in hyper-local craft brewing. The upcoming launch of their hop water promises to expand their audience while preserving the environmental and cultural values embedded in every brew.
For beer lovers and sustainability advocates, this farm-to-glass approach is a story of perseverance and innovation shaping the future of American craft beer—right from the soil of the San Luis Valley to your glass.
