Denver – Breweries
Denver takes their beer seriously; the Colorado capital brews more beer on a daily basis than any other city in the nation.
With a bustling craft scene and more than 100 breweries, the Mile High City has a plethora of choices for any beer enthusiast. With so many unique options, it can be hard to pick just one place to sit down and grab a refreshing pint. Use this guide to help you narrow down a few of the best breweries within city limits.
Cerveceria Colorado
This Latin-themed brewery distinguishes itself from competitors by using traditional Mexican ingredients. After opening its doors in 2018, Cerveceria Colorado brews beers using ingredients such as chillies, nopal, chocolate, mole, lime, and agave.
The owners of Cerveceria Colorado collaborate with breweries located throughout Mexico to create their own unique beverages. If you have a sweet tooth, go for the Churro Stout, a milk stout made with real churros and vanilla beans. Or you could go with the Horchata Blonde, brewed with rice, flaked wheat, cinnamon, and vanilla. For a light and refreshing drink, try their Nopalito Wheat beer with subtle chile flavors.
Cerveceria Colorado also hosts unique events, including Loteria, a Mexican game of chance, every Tuesday and a Beer and Bug Pairing Night. Yes, it is exactly what it sounds like! Attendees are served four Mexican beers, each paired with a dish featuring a selection of bugs.
Featuring boldly painted walls, rainbow-colored chairs, and neon signs, this local spot creates an atmosphere perfect for what the founders intended it for: sharing pints with family and neighbors.
Great Divide Brewing Company
Great Divide Brewing Company, a staple of Denver’s beer scene for more than 20 years, is one of the most decorated breweries in the nation. With over 18 awards won at the Great American Beer Festival, this place is a must for craft beer lovers to check out.
Located in the heart of the Ballpark neighborhood, Great Divide was founded for the purpose of brewing strong beers with high alcohol content. You can try their award-winning Yeti Imperial Stout, which has malt flavor with rich caramel and toffee notes. If that doesn’t suit you, Great Divide has an abundance of other brews to try out. This includes the Samurai Rice Ale or Hercules Double IPA, which is not for the faint of heart due to the sharp hops flavor.
If you’ve worked up an appetite after taking a tour of the impressive brewery and taprooms, check out the food trucks outside that arrive between 3 and 4 p.m. daily.
Novel Strand Brewing Company
If you’re looking for a local joint with a smaller, cozier feel, head over to Novel Strand Brewing Company. Starting small, this boutique brewery only serves a handful of their perfected brews, including an IPA, a stout, and a witbier.
Located in the historic Baker neighborhood of Denver, they share a taproom with their partners Queen City Collective Coffee. There’s something for everyone, no matter what your drink of choice is.
There are even three friendly dogs a part of the staff, holding titles such as “Brewhouse Ninja” and “Head Security”. Don’t pass up an opportunity to grab a pint amongst great company in this intimate atmosphere.
Next Stop Brew Co.
Decked out with Indiana Jones-esque decor, this brewery offers 25% off on Thursdays if you bring your passport to the bar. Next Stop Brew Co. creates brews with international twists, a concept inspired by the world travels of one of their co-founders. Organized by categories such as Main Flights and Day Trips, they take a new spin on serving beer.
Istanbul is one of their core beers, landing on the Main Flights list. It’s a foreign export stout inspired by the traditional preparation of Turkish coffee. If you’re in the mood for something lighter, their Casablanca is a German-style Hefeweizen brewed with apricots and date purée.
No matter what kind of beer you enjoy, take a trip over to Next Stop to get a pint that might inspire you to travel the world.
The Grateful Gnome
This Grateful Dead-themed brewery is a casual, neighborhood brewpub known for their fun and experimental beers.
The only thing more impressive than their beer list at the The Grateful Gnome is the food menu. With over 50 deli sandwiches to choose from, no one is going hungry there. Whether you’re craving a Reuben, tuna melt, or even an Impossible Burger, The Grateful Gnome will keep you well-fed as you sip on a delicious pint. And if you’re lucky, a Grateful Dead cover band might be playing when you stop by for lunch!
Wynkoop Brewing Company
If you appreciate history, put Wynkoop Brewing Company on the top of your list of spots to check out. It was the city’s very first brewpub, co-founded in 1988 by former Denver Mayor and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper.
Each year the company produces an impressive 4,000 barrels of beer, making it one of the largest brewpubs in the U.S.
Regulars at Wynkoop suggest asking what’s on the cask-conditioned rotator tap. These ales, such as the Splatz Porter and Quinn’s Scottish Ale, have each gained their own fan base and are constantly rotated to keep customers on their toes. The brewpub also features 40 other styles of beer and doesn’t shy away from using unique ingredients, such as Rocky Mountain oysters.
People come for the famous beer but stay for the atmosphere. With 17 pool tables and other bar games, Wynkoop Brewing Company has great beer and even better surroundings.
Blue Moon Brewing Company
Blue Moon, the Belgian-style witbier garnished with a signature orange wheel, has become a nationally loved beer. But before the fame, the Blue Moon Brewing Company started out in Denver at Coors Field.
The brewery serves an abundance of beers along with their original brew, such as their hoppy Blood Orange Pale Ale, barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout, and even rich Iced Coffee Blonde Ale.
Their food is equally as delicious, as they trade the usual pub fare like burgers and fries for dishes such as Korean-inspired short ribs and a spicy Indonesian noodle bowl.
If you can’t pass up a Blue Moon at your local bar, you definitely need to check out the place where it all started.