Left Hand Brewing Co.

Left Hand Brewing Company began in December 1990 with a homebrewers kit founder Dick Doore received from his brother. According to Dick, "it was all downhill from there." By 1993, Dick had teamed up with college buddy Eric Wallace and they resolved to start a brewery.

In September 1993, they incorporated as Indian Peaks Brewing Company, and purchased a former meat-packing plant next to the St. Vrain river outside downtown Longmont, CO. A few weeks after beginning production, it was discovered that the name Indian Peaks was already in use by another Brewery, so the name was changed to Left Hand, in honor of Chief Niwot (the Arapahoe word for "left hand") whose tribe wintered in the local area.

Left Hand's doors opened for business on January 22, 1994. Their first batch of beer was Sawtooth Ale, which has since become their most popular brew. In October of that year, Left Hand took home two medals at the Great American Beer Festival, a Gold Medal in the bitter category for Sawtooth Ale, and a Bronze Medal in the Robust Porter category for Black Jack Porter.

1998 was a big year for the still young brewing company. In April, Left Hand merged with Tabernash Brewing, and doubled the size of their brewery. In June, they began packaging 12 oz. bottles for 6 packs (up to that point they had been bottling 22 oz. bottles and kegs exclusively). In November, they started their own distribution business, Indian Peaks Distribution Company.

By 2009, the Tabernash line has been phased out, and Indian Peaks Distribution Company sold. In their thirteen years, they have accumulated fifteen medals and one honorable mention at the Great American Beer Festival, eight medals at the World Beer Cup, a Gold Medal at the International Stockholm Beer & Whiskey Festival.

Left Hand produces approximately 35,000 barrels a year, and they currently distribute their beer in over twenty-seven states.