Odell Brewing Company was founded in 1989 by Doug, Wynne and Corkie Odell in a converted 1915 grain elevator located on the outskirts of downtown Fort Collins. Odell’s was just the second microbrewery to open in Colorado.

Starting in his kitchen in Seattle, Doug had spent ten years refining recipes and playing with brewing processes until he settled on the brewery's first two recipes, although not yet the names – 90 Shilling and Easy Street Wheat. After brewing and kegging his beer, Doug would deliver it, pick up empties, and make sales calls out of his old mustard-colored Datsun pickup.

In 1994 the brewery constructed a 8000 square feet (743.2 m²) building and brewed 8,300 barrels of beer. In 1996, Odells amended its draft-only commitment and added a bottling line to start packaging six packs for the drink-at-home fans. Numerous small expansions ensued. In 2009, the brewery again expanded, doubling its plant size to 45000 square feet (4,180.6 m²) and increasing its beer sold to 45,000 barrels .

In 2010, the company employs 62 co-workers and distributes in 9 states and Great Britain.

Distribution

Odell beer is found in the following states:

• Arizona
• Colorado
• Kansas
• Minnesota (May 2010)
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• New Mexico
• South Dakota
• Wyoming

Odell Beer is also exported to Great Britain.

Beers and Awards

90 Shilling

• Bronze, English-Style Brown, 2006 Los Angeles County Fair
  Los Angeles County Fair
  The inaugural Los Angeles County Fair, now known as the L.A. County Fair, opened Oct. 17, 1922, and ran for five days through October 21, 1922, in a former beet field in Pomona, California. Highlights of the Fair’s first year were harness racing, chariot races and an airplane wing-walking...
  
  
• Bronze, American Amber Ale, 1991 Great American Beer Festival
  Great American Beer Festival
  The Great American Beer Festival is a three-day annual event hosted by the Brewers Association, held in Denver, Colorado, in mid to late September or early October. This year, 2011, the festival runs from 29 September through 1 October. The GABF brings visitors from around the world to sample more...
  
  

Easy Street Wheat

• Bronze, American Wheat Beer, 2006, Los Angeles County Fair
• Gold, American-Style Hefeweizen, 2005 Great American Beer Festival
• Gold, American-Style Hefeweizen, 1993 Great American Beer Festival

5 Barrel Pale Ale

• Gold, Classic English-Style Pale Ale, 2006 Great American Beer Festival
• Silver, Classic English-Style Pale Ale, 2006 Los Angeles County Fair
• Silver, Classic English-Style Pale Ale, 2005 Great American Beer Festival
• Silver, Classic English-Style Pale Ale, 2005 Los Angeles County Fair

Cutthroat Porter

• Bronze, Brown Porter, 2006 Los Angeles County Fair
• Gold, Porter/Stout, 2005 Stockholm Beer & Whiskey Festival
• Bronze, Brown Porter, 2005 Los Angeles County Fair

IPA

• Gold Medal, American-Style India Pale Ale, 2007 Great American Beer Festival
• Silver Medal, American-Style India Pale Ale, 2007 North American Beer Awards

Irish Red

• Bronze Medal, Pro-Am Brewing Competition, 2008 Great American Beer Festival

Levity Amber Ale

• Silver, Best Bitter, 2006 Los Angeles County Fair
• Silver, Best Bitter, 2005 Los Angeles County Fair

Seasonal/Single Batch Series

• Isolation Ale (Winter)
• Imperial Stout
• Extra Special Red
• Double Pilsner
• Town Pump Pale Ale
• St. Lupulin Pale Ale