It is estimated that there were more than 4,000 breweries producing more than nine million barrels of beer across the U.S. in the early 1870s. In 1880, the Internal Revenue Service reported there were 2,830 operating breweries in the United States, while Germany reported nearly 11,000 around the same time. Colorado had an estimated 200,000 people and twenty breweries in 1880. The total number of breweries in the US today is 2,500 with more than 180 in Colorado.This is the story of the Colorado families that brewed beer for thousands of thirsty miners in the last half of the nineteenth century as well as references to other beer-related events in Central City, Black Hawk, Mountain City, Nevadaville, Russell Gulch, Rollinsville, Idaho Springs, Georgetown, Durango, Leadville, Pueblo, Trinidad, Golden, Denver, Boulder, Aspen, Scotland, England, Germany, Colorado and the world.