Colorado liquor license types, in plain words

Hotel and restaurant

Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, a hotel and restaurant license shall be issued to persons selling alcohol beverages in the place where the alcohol beverages are to be consumed, subject to the following restrictions: ...

A restaurant or hotel pouring spirits, beer and wine; meals have to carry a real share of sales.

Beer and wine to go (FMB and wine retailer)

A retailer's license shall be granted and issued to any person, partnership, association, organization, or corporation qualifying under section 44-3-301 and not prohibited from licensure under section 44-3-307 to sell at retail fermented malt beverages and wine either for consumption off the licensed premises, or fermented malt beverages for consumption on the licensed premises or ... fermented malt beverages for consumption on and off the licensed premises ...

Grocery, convenience or gas-station beer and wine to go.

Tavern

A tavern license shall be issued to persons selling alcohol beverages by the drink only to customers for consumption on the premises.

A full bar where snacks are enough; no meal requirement.

Beer and wine (on-premises)

A beer and wine license shall be issued to persons selling malt and vinous liquors for consumption on the premises.

A bar or restaurant pouring beer and wine, no spirits.

Retail liquor store

A retail liquor store license shall be issued to persons selling only malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors in sealed containers not to be consumed at the place where sold.

Liquor store; spirits, beer and wine to go.

Liquor-licensed drugstore

A liquor-licensed drugstore license is issued to persons selling malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors in sealed containers not to be consumed at the place where sold.

A grocery or pharmacy chain selling full liquor to go.

Beer by the drink (FMB on-premises)

A retailer's license shall be granted and issued to any person, partnership, association, organization, or corporation qualifying under section 44-3-301 and not prohibited from licensure under section 44-3-307 to sell at retail fermented malt beverages and wine either for consumption off the licensed premises, or fermented malt beverages for consumption on the licensed premises or ... fermented malt beverages for consumption on and off the licensed premises ...

A beer-only spot pouring by the drink, like a bowling alley or small cafe.

Beer by the drink and to go (FMB on/off)

A retailer's license shall be granted and issued to any person, partnership, association, organization, or corporation qualifying under section 44-3-301 and not prohibited from licensure under section 44-3-307 to sell at retail fermented malt beverages and wine either for consumption off the licensed premises, or fermented malt beverages for consumption on the licensed premises or ... fermented malt beverages for consumption on and off the licensed premises ...

Beer by the drink and to go; issued now only in small counties.

Brew pub

A brew pub license may be issued to any person operating a brew pub and also selling alcohol beverages for consumption on the premises.

A restaurant that brews its own beer and pours the full bar.

Vintner's restaurant

A vintner's restaurant license may be issued to a person operating a vintner's restaurant and also selling alcohol beverages for consumption on the premises.

A restaurant that makes its own wine and pours the full bar.

Entertainment facility

An entertainment facility license may be issued to an entertainment facility selling alcohol beverages by the drink only to customers for consumption on the premises.

A bowling alley, axe-throwing bar, golf simulator or similar venue where the bar sits beside the activity.

Lodging facility

A lodging facility license may be issued to a lodging facility that sells alcohol beverages by the drink only to customers for consumption on the licensed premises.

A hotel bar or lobby pour without room service or minibars.

Arts license

An arts license may be issued to any nonprofit arts organization that sponsors and presents productions or performances of an artistic or cultural nature, and the arts license permits the licensee to sell alcohol beverages only to patrons of the productions or performances for consumption on the licensed premises in connection with the productions or performances.

A nonprofit theater, museum or music venue pouring for its audiences.

Club

A club license shall be issued to persons selling alcohol beverages by the drink only to members of the club and guests and only for consumption on the premises of the club.

A members-only bar at a veterans post, lodge or country club.

Optional premises license

An optional premises license shall be granted for optional premises approved by the state and local licensing authorities to persons selling alcohol beverages by the drink only to customers for consumption on the optional premises and for storing alcohol beverages in a secure area on or off the optional premises for future use on the optional premises.

A golf course, ski area or other fee-charging outdoor venue pouring on its grounds; a standalone license, not an add-on.

Optional premises permit

"Optional premises" means: (I) The premises specified in an application for a hotel and restaurant license under this article 3 with related outdoor sports and recreational facilities for the convenience of its guests or the general public located on or adjacent to the hotel or restaurant within which the licensee is authorized to sell or serve alcohol beverages ...

Lets a hotel and restaurant licensee pour on its golf course or other outdoor grounds; rides on that license.

Resort related facility permit

A resort complex may apply for a resort-complex-related facility permit for each related facility at the time of initial licensure, upon license renewal, or at any time upon application by the resort complex.

An extra bar, pool deck or clubhouse at a resort hotel; rides on the resort's hotel and restaurant license.

Takeout and delivery permit

The state licensing authority shall issue a permit to a licensee to sell alcohol beverages for takeout and delivery if the licensee demonstrates the ability to comply with this section.

Drinks to go and delivered from a bar or restaurant; rides on its main license.

Takeout permit

The state licensing authority shall issue a permit to a licensee to sell alcohol beverages for takeout and delivery if the licensee demonstrates the ability to comply with this section.

Drinks to go from a bar or restaurant; rides on its main license.

Liquor store delivery permit

A person licensed to sell at retail who complies with this subsection (3) and rules promulgated pursuant to this subsection (3) may deliver malt, vinous, and spirituous liquors to a person of legal age if: ...

Lets a liquor store deliver; rides on its store license.

Sidewalk service area

A temporary outside service area located on a sidewalk owned by a municipality, and that the licensee possesses in accordance with subsection (B)(2) of this regulation, may be approved by the state and local licensing authorities upon the annual filing of a temporary modification of premises application ...

Extends a bar or restaurant's licensed premises onto the public sidewalk out front; rides on its main license.

Retail warehouse storage permit

... Applications for warehouse storage permits pursuant to section 44-3-202 and rules adopted pursuant to that section ...

Off-site storage for a retailer's stock; rides on its license and is not a new place to sell to.

Not in the feed: nobody sells to these the way they sell to a bar or store.

Retail establishment permit

Except as provided in subsection (1)(c) of this section, a person operating a retail establishment may offer and serve complimentary alcohol beverages for consumption only on the premises if the retail establishment has been issued a retail establishment permit, which must be renewed annually.

A salon, boutique or gallery pouring free drinks for customers; it cannot sell alcohol.

Bed and breakfast permit

In lieu of a hotel and restaurant license, a person operating a bed and breakfast with not more than twenty sleeping rooms that offers complimentary alcohol beverages for consumption only on the premises and only by overnight guests may be issued a bed and breakfast permit.

A small inn pouring free drinks for overnight guests; it cannot sell by the drink.

Brewery taproom (sales room)

"Sales room" means an area in which a licensed winery, pursuant to section 44-3-402 (2); limited winery, pursuant to section 44-3-403 (2)(e); distillery, pursuant to section 44-3-402 (7); or beer wholesaler, pursuant to section 44-3-407 (1)(b), sells and serves alcohol beverages for consumption on the licensed premises, sells alcohol beverages in sealed containers for consumption off the licensed premises, or both.

A brewery's taproom, pouring and selling its own beer.

Winery tasting room (sales room)

"Sales room" means an area in which a licensed winery, pursuant to section 44-3-402 (2); limited winery, pursuant to section 44-3-403 (2)(e); distillery, pursuant to section 44-3-402 (7); or beer wholesaler, pursuant to section 44-3-407 (1)(b), sells and serves alcohol beverages for consumption on the licensed premises, sells alcohol beverages in sealed containers for consumption off the licensed premises, or both.

A winery's tasting room, often away from the winery itself.

Distillery tasting room (sales room)

"Sales room" means an area in which a licensed winery, pursuant to section 44-3-402 (2); limited winery, pursuant to section 44-3-403 (2)(e); distillery, pursuant to section 44-3-402 (7); or beer wholesaler, pursuant to section 44-3-407 (1)(b), sells and serves alcohol beverages for consumption on the licensed premises, sells alcohol beverages in sealed containers for consumption off the licensed premises, or both.

A distillery's tasting room, pouring and selling its own spirits.

Brewery (manufacturer)

A manufacturer's license shall be issued by the state licensing authority to persons distilling, rectifying, or brewing within this state for the following purposes only: ...

A production brewery; a taproom comes with a sales room permit.

Distillery (manufacturer)

A manufacturer's license shall be issued by the state licensing authority to persons distilling, rectifying, or brewing within this state for the following purposes only: ...

A production distillery; a tasting room comes with a sales room permit.

Limited winery

A Colorado limited winery license shall be granted by the state licensing authority to an applicant that certifies that it will manufacture not more than one hundred thousand gallons, or the metric equivalent thereof, of vinous liquors within Colorado.

A small Colorado winery or cidery, usually with a tasting room.