According to the Guinness Book of World Records®, there is no other place on earth where a beer aficionado can find more beers on tap than the Great American Beer Festival (GABF). Beer fans flock to GABF and Denver to try beers of every style, shape, and flavor.
Denver’s burgeoning craft beer scene has tracked with craft beer’s explosive national growth: Over 123 Colorado breweries or expansions are in planning. Throughout the year, guests visit from out-of-town and it’s hard to keep track of where to go and what to drink. This week, Great American Beer Festival fans are visiting Denver and staying in Denver hotels, Eater has sought out Denver proper breweries for your visiting-and-drinking pleasure.
Here are 25 Denver brewery spots recommended by readers and friends of Eater. If your favorite spot is missing, please leave it in the comments below.
Alex Kady, a Colorado native and Denver resident for 28 years, grew up going to Bull & Bush with his family. “I still like it because it is comfortable, the beers are solid and the food is good. I can't think of any other bar in town that does a prime rib special three times a week. They have great consistent beers as well as an extensive whiskey list. With the recent tap expansion they are able to offer more experimental and guest taps. Make sure to check out the bottle cellar list.”
Andrew Grygiel, a GABF frequenter since 2010, loves the feel of the taproom at BSB. “It’s definitely a place you to to to drink beer and focus on that. I think that their beer is very good and I like the fact that they do one thing (red) and do it very well. They keep coming up with interesting variations on the red to keep things interesting. Insider tips - make certain to hold the glasses that they use correctly. They are custom made to enhance the flavor & aroma but you can get a face full of beer if you are not careful.”
Becca Siever, a Denver resident for 5 years, loves going to this patio-lovers haven. “Aside from the fact that I discovered my favorite beer of all time - the Graham Cracker Porter - at Denver Beer Co, the friendly, casual, communal vibe that Denver Beer has going on keeps me coming back as often as my schedule allows. It's a great place to meet up with friends any day of the week, and you can bring your dog to meet other dog friends. Tip: If you're hungry, you have many options: In addition to the super yummy food trucks that are always at Denver Beer, you can order food from nearby restaurants like Protos Pizza and Masterpiece Deli and as long as you're at Denver Beer then these restaurants will deliver your food to you right at the bar.”
Denver resident for the last 5 years, Brian Leppla is a fan of the new Denver brewpub. “Their tripel, imperial stout, barleywine, IPA and BIPA are absolutely wonderful.” The Golden Triangle, not typically known for its craft beer, now boasts supreme brewing knowledge from the LowDown owners.
Campbell Levy, Denver resident for 30 years, loves going to Baere and visiting with owners Kevin Greer and Ryan Skeels. “They’re great guys - they take time to chat with everyone, and they're super into beer as a whole, so they love to geek out on (any) beer, not just their own.” Campbell recommends starting with the Baere-Liner Weiss and to sample the various syrup options made from scratch. The brewery is designed with reclaimed boxcar flooring as the bartop and reclaimed pallets. “It’s super homey, and the beer will keep you coming back. Their Big Hoppy Brown is another beer I’d recommend trying. They also nearly always have about four different saisons rotating depending on seasonality.”
Chris Laughlin, Denver resident for 12 years, has been enjoying the new RiNo brewery. “Beryl's specializes in barrel-aged beer, which I love, because it adds a whole new depth to the flavor. Plus, they often have the same brew both barrel-aged and non-barrel aged, so you can compare the difference and enjoy them both for their uniqueness.” Dog-friendly, an outdoor seating area, and a variety of brews make it an enjoyable spot for Denver locals.
Courtney O'Rourke, Denver resident for 3 years and RiNo local. She loves Stem Ciders for “the atmosphere, the community, the friendly staff and it's a nice alternative to beer among the sea of breweries in RiNo. Insider tip -- like many businesses in this area, Stem really seems to understand community and collaboration. You can get a taste of that with a blend of the Remedy cider and Happy Leaf Kombucha's cranberry. It’s a delicious treat!”
Greg Garcia, Colorado native and Denver Resident for 31 years, boasts about Prost. “We love taking out of town friends to Prost because it's something they don't expect to find in the Denver craft scene. I think a lot of people think that creative craft beer has to have crazy ingredients or brewing techniques. Prost manages to put out consistently great micro-brew while adhering to totally authentic German beer styles and techniques. They also have the best software pretzels in the universe.”
Jennifer Hendrick, Denver resident for 17 years, loves the Denver brewing staple. “The tap room has a good variety, so it's easy to introduce people to the brewery scene with a beer that will fit their taste. I've always had fantastic service and I always leave having learned something new. Pro tip: try the different Yeti brews on tap. It's nice to taste the differences between the chocolate or coffee stout compared to the original Yeti.”
Jeremy Speckhals, Denver resident of 3 years, likes OMF because it is a great place to experience Denver. “In particular, OMF is a great, no-fuss brewery, the bartenders are friendly, the crowd is chill, and there are usually pretty sweet/weird food trucks outside. It’s also a great stop along the Larimer/Walnut bar crawl streets.”
John Cook, Colorado native and Denver brewery visitor for 3 years. “My wife and I have loved coming to River North since we discovered it over a year ago. At the time, we lived in Broomfield and would make it a priority to stop by whenever we were in Denver. The 'Wayward Wednesday' tappings of experimental and barrel-aged beers never disappoint!" Recently, he and his wife moved near the brewery and remains one of their favorite destinations.
Josh Clauss, Denver resident for 6 years, is notorious for finding the best brewery gems - and he’s found it in Comrade. “The brewers have medal pedigree - one owner came from Barley Brown's, part of the 2013 Very Small Brewery and Brewery of the Year. The beer has proven it out - their IPA immediately became the best in the city, and probably available in the state.” Clauss compared Comrade’s IPA to previous World Beer Cup IPA Gold medal winners, and “it stacked up to both. “Tons of seating, is dog-friendly inside, and they sell 5-gallon kegs”
Josh Rapp, Denver resident for 9 years and Avery Brewing Company brewer for 1.5 years (brewed at Stranahans for 2.5 years prior) has been impressed with Station 26. “First and foremost, Station 26 is the first new brewery in a while that is making consistently great beer. It has become a bit of a rarity to go to a new brewery opening where you try multiple styles of beer and every one of them is well done. They also really made my summer better with all of their session-able options. Their Kolsch and Cream Ale are better than water on a hot day. On top of the great beer, the brewery is built in an old fire house and has a great patio. There's always great energy there so I'll hang out for hours without noticing the time go by. In my book, Station 26 is easily the best brewery to open in Denver in the last 2 years.”
Kaitlin Jones, Denver resident for 2 years and bartender at Ste. Ellies likes the beer and the off-the-beaten-path location of Hogshead. “It has a great neighborhood atmosphere and gives out-of-towners a good sense of what a local brewery is. The Chin Wag ESB is dangerously delicious. That, and the sessionable Lake Lightning are two of my favorite beers.” Adam Dunbar of Green Flash boasts more about Hogshead: “Steve Kirby makes some of the cleanest, most reliable beers in town. When other brewers beg for new breweries to ‘hire someone who knows what they're doing,’ they are referencing hiring someone like Steve. The guy is no dummy. Want to know what an ESB is supposed to taste like? Go to Hogshead. It's not just about atmosphere there; it's about quality product that I have no doubt they're proud to stand behind.”
Lisa Bonglovanni, Colorado native and Denver resident for 3 years, loves the new Tennyson brewery. “I love the feeling of walking up to DeSteeg through the alley way and feeling exclusive for knowing it is there. As they intended, it has a very mysterious, European feel with the entrance being hidden. The beer is also delicious and the personability of the owner is fantastic.” Pro-Tip: The brewery entrance is via the alley. Ask owner, Craig Rothgery, about his Hot-Pocket inventive times with Nestle - this tinkering man built the De Steeg brew setup himself.
Long-time Colorado adoptive native and Denver resident for 5 months, Meghan Johnson likes Joyride for its homey, comfortable ambiance. “The beers are great and they are rotating, so always something new to try the next time you stop in. Edgewater is a great location right next to Sloan's, and there is always available parking!”
Michael LaVigne, Denver Resident for 3 years, loves Jagged Mountain because he is a huge fan of high-gravity beers. “They do a lot of high-ABV brews like barleywines and barrel-aged beers that are particularly good once the cold weather rolls around. Plus they seem to focus on beers made with dark malts more than many other Denver breweries. They rotate through different styles regularly so every time you go there you are likely to find something you haven't tried before. It's also very centrally located so it's a great place to pair up with another brewery visit, like, say, to RiNO, Great Divide, or the Breckenridge Brewery taproom. Since it's a new place, the interior is great. I like to try to grab a spot at one of their longer tables and make some new friends whenever I visit.”
Nashwa Bolling, Denver resident for 11 years, loves Renegade for a variety of reasons. “First, I really like their beers - the 5:00 Pale Ale is super drinkable the Redacted IPA is one of my go-tos, I LOVE their Scarlet Letter that they used to serve at the Renegade Publik House, and the one that always stands out in my mind is the Una Mas Chili Beer. But more than just their beers, it's a fun place to take people who are new to Denver or not from here because they have those beautiful garage doors that let in all that light or are open when the weather is nice. Not to mention, their staff is great, so yes, a number 1 pick for me!”
Paul Loupe, Denver resident for 12 years, loves this beer drinker's spot nestled in the industrial sector between valverde and Westwood neighborhoods. “The beer is amazing and outweighs the lack of a rooftop or view. It's so good, they won a World Cup bronze for th “Jean Claude van Blonde” - the only single barrel brewer to win from Colorado. I’ve never had a bad beer, but if they have Scotchy, Scotch Ale and you pass on it, you may never forgive yourself. Strong porters, bold IPA, and sessions too. Plus Their growlers are perfect for multi use.”
Sarah Cowell, Colorado native and Denver resident for 8 years shares about the new Utah-turned-Colorado Denver mainstay. “I love to bring out of town guests to Epic because it's a beautiful tap room with plenty of beer options to please everyone's palate, including bigger sweeter beers which I tend to favor. Even though they hail from Utah, they've brought some "epic" beers to the Colorado beer scene. And with a tap room in RiNo, they make a great starting point to any Denver beer tour.”
Thomas Appel, Man of the Can at Oskar Blues for 1.5 years, dishes on one of the highly-revered Denver breweries: TRVE (pronounced “True”). “It’s a Dive bar-meets-quality craft brewery. I think TRVE is the most unique atmosphere on craft beer. Not only does it have quality flavorful beer but it feels unlike any craft brewery in the state. No hiking, biking, skiing theme that encompass the Colorado brewery ethos. Good beer, loud metal music and a great atmosphere for when you want to get away from the normal craft beer scene.”
TJ Harris Denver resident for almost 3 years dishes on this taproom-turned-brewery local favorite. Vine Street Pub and Brewery is in the Mountain Sun and Southern Sun Pubs and Breweries family. “The beer is delicious and it can be ordered along side some of the best wings in denver. No internet or TV allows for uninterrupted conversations. And they occasionally release an aged chocolate coffee stout that I would trade almost anything for.”
Tyler DuBois, Denver native (and local) for 33 years, is the co-owner of the Real Dill. is a huge beer aficionado, and loves Crooked Stave for many reasons. “They are pioneers in the field when it comes to sour barrel aged beers. They make such unique small-batch beers, that every trip to the taproom is special and it is always worth asking the folks behind the bar what they recommend. The taproom is as unique as the brews because it is in an old steel foundry that has been re-purposed as a hip urban market. A must try for any adventurous beer lover.”
Tyler Mounsey is a Denver resident for 10 years and shares his love of Former Future - a new, whimsical brewery with bartops built out of airplane wings. “I like it because the beer menu is simple but has good variety and quality brews. Also, they do a good job of partnering with food trucks even though it's been done before. Also, they allow dogs! Walk your dog, grab a beer. Insider tip: There's a crazy good Mexican restaurant next door. You can order your food and bring it over.”
AJ Brinckerhoff, Colorado native and Denver resident for 31 years loves taking friends and family to Strange Craft. “They have an amazing lineup of great, unique (strange if you will) beers, passionate and friendly people. They always have something new and fun going on whether it be cask beers or cool collaboration brews with other local breweries. I'm am always excited to go there and see what's new!”
Alex Kady, a Colorado native and Denver resident for 28 years, grew up going to Bull & Bush with his family. “I still like it because it is comfortable, the beers are solid and the food is good. I can't think of any other bar in town that does a prime rib special three times a week. They have great consistent beers as well as an extensive whiskey list. With the recent tap expansion they are able to offer more experimental and guest taps. Make sure to check out the bottle cellar list.”
Andrew Grygiel, a GABF frequenter since 2010, loves the feel of the taproom at BSB. “It’s definitely a place you to to to drink beer and focus on that. I think that their beer is very good and I like the fact that they do one thing (red) and do it very well. They keep coming up with interesting variations on the red to keep things interesting. Insider tips - make certain to hold the glasses that they use correctly. They are custom made to enhance the flavor & aroma but you can get a face full of beer if you are not careful.”
Becca Siever, a Denver resident for 5 years, loves going to this patio-lovers haven. “Aside from the fact that I discovered my favorite beer of all time - the Graham Cracker Porter - at Denver Beer Co, the friendly, casual, communal vibe that Denver Beer has going on keeps me coming back as often as my schedule allows. It's a great place to meet up with friends any day of the week, and you can bring your dog to meet other dog friends. Tip: If you're hungry, you have many options: In addition to the super yummy food trucks that are always at Denver Beer, you can order food from nearby restaurants like Protos Pizza and Masterpiece Deli and as long as you're at Denver Beer then these restaurants will deliver your food to you right at the bar.”
Denver resident for the last 5 years, Brian Leppla is a fan of the new Denver brewpub. “Their tripel, imperial stout, barleywine, IPA and BIPA are absolutely wonderful.” The Golden Triangle, not typically known for its craft beer, now boasts supreme brewing knowledge from the LowDown owners.
Campbell Levy, Denver resident for 30 years, loves going to Baere and visiting with owners Kevin Greer and Ryan Skeels. “They’re great guys - they take time to chat with everyone, and they're super into beer as a whole, so they love to geek out on (any) beer, not just their own.” Campbell recommends starting with the Baere-Liner Weiss and to sample the various syrup options made from scratch. The brewery is designed with reclaimed boxcar flooring as the bartop and reclaimed pallets. “It’s super homey, and the beer will keep you coming back. Their Big Hoppy Brown is another beer I’d recommend trying. They also nearly always have about four different saisons rotating depending on seasonality.”
Chris Laughlin, Denver resident for 12 years, has been enjoying the new RiNo brewery. “Beryl's specializes in barrel-aged beer, which I love, because it adds a whole new depth to the flavor. Plus, they often have the same brew both barrel-aged and non-barrel aged, so you can compare the difference and enjoy them both for their uniqueness.” Dog-friendly, an outdoor seating area, and a variety of brews make it an enjoyable spot for Denver locals.
Courtney O'Rourke, Denver resident for 3 years and RiNo local. She loves Stem Ciders for “the atmosphere, the community, the friendly staff and it's a nice alternative to beer among the sea of breweries in RiNo. Insider tip -- like many businesses in this area, Stem really seems to understand community and collaboration. You can get a taste of that with a blend of the Remedy cider and Happy Leaf Kombucha's cranberry. It’s a delicious treat!”
Greg Garcia, Colorado native and Denver Resident for 31 years, boasts about Prost. “We love taking out of town friends to Prost because it's something they don't expect to find in the Denver craft scene. I think a lot of people think that creative craft beer has to have crazy ingredients or brewing techniques. Prost manages to put out consistently great micro-brew while adhering to totally authentic German beer styles and techniques. They also have the best software pretzels in the universe.”
Jennifer Hendrick, Denver resident for 17 years, loves the Denver brewing staple. “The tap room has a good variety, so it's easy to introduce people to the brewery scene with a beer that will fit their taste. I've always had fantastic service and I always leave having learned something new. Pro tip: try the different Yeti brews on tap. It's nice to taste the differences between the chocolate or coffee stout compared to the original Yeti.”
Jeremy Speckhals, Denver resident of 3 years, likes OMF because it is a great place to experience Denver. “In particular, OMF is a great, no-fuss brewery, the bartenders are friendly, the crowd is chill, and there are usually pretty sweet/weird food trucks outside. It’s also a great stop along the Larimer/Walnut bar crawl streets.”
John Cook, Colorado native and Denver brewery visitor for 3 years. “My wife and I have loved coming to River North since we discovered it over a year ago. At the time, we lived in Broomfield and would make it a priority to stop by whenever we were in Denver. The 'Wayward Wednesday' tappings of experimental and barrel-aged beers never disappoint!" Recently, he and his wife moved near the brewery and remains one of their favorite destinations.
Josh Clauss, Denver resident for 6 years, is notorious for finding the best brewery gems - and he’s found it in Comrade. “The brewers have medal pedigree - one owner came from Barley Brown's, part of the 2013 Very Small Brewery and Brewery of the Year. The beer has proven it out - their IPA immediately became the best in the city, and probably available in the state.” Clauss compared Comrade’s IPA to previous World Beer Cup IPA Gold medal winners, and “it stacked up to both. “Tons of seating, is dog-friendly inside, and they sell 5-gallon kegs”
Josh Rapp, Denver resident for 9 years and Avery Brewing Company brewer for 1.5 years (brewed at Stranahans for 2.5 years prior) has been impressed with Station 26. “First and foremost, Station 26 is the first new brewery in a while that is making consistently great beer. It has become a bit of a rarity to go to a new brewery opening where you try multiple styles of beer and every one of them is well done. They also really made my summer better with all of their session-able options. Their Kolsch and Cream Ale are better than water on a hot day. On top of the great beer, the brewery is built in an old fire house and has a great patio. There's always great energy there so I'll hang out for hours without noticing the time go by. In my book, Station 26 is easily the best brewery to open in Denver in the last 2 years.”
Kaitlin Jones, Denver resident for 2 years and bartender at Ste. Ellies likes the beer and the off-the-beaten-path location of Hogshead. “It has a great neighborhood atmosphere and gives out-of-towners a good sense of what a local brewery is. The Chin Wag ESB is dangerously delicious. That, and the sessionable Lake Lightning are two of my favorite beers.” Adam Dunbar of Green Flash boasts more about Hogshead: “Steve Kirby makes some of the cleanest, most reliable beers in town. When other brewers beg for new breweries to ‘hire someone who knows what they're doing,’ they are referencing hiring someone like Steve. The guy is no dummy. Want to know what an ESB is supposed to taste like? Go to Hogshead. It's not just about atmosphere there; it's about quality product that I have no doubt they're proud to stand behind.”
Lisa Bonglovanni, Colorado native and Denver resident for 3 years, loves the new Tennyson brewery. “I love the feeling of walking up to DeSteeg through the alley way and feeling exclusive for knowing it is there. As they intended, it has a very mysterious, European feel with the entrance being hidden. The beer is also delicious and the personability of the owner is fantastic.” Pro-Tip: The brewery entrance is via the alley. Ask owner, Craig Rothgery, about his Hot-Pocket inventive times with Nestle - this tinkering man built the De Steeg brew setup himself.
Long-time Colorado adoptive native and Denver resident for 5 months, Meghan Johnson likes Joyride for its homey, comfortable ambiance. “The beers are great and they are rotating, so always something new to try the next time you stop in. Edgewater is a great location right next to Sloan's, and there is always available parking!”
Michael LaVigne, Denver Resident for 3 years, loves Jagged Mountain because he is a huge fan of high-gravity beers. “They do a lot of high-ABV brews like barleywines and barrel-aged beers that are particularly good once the cold weather rolls around. Plus they seem to focus on beers made with dark malts more than many other Denver breweries. They rotate through different styles regularly so every time you go there you are likely to find something you haven't tried before. It's also very centrally located so it's a great place to pair up with another brewery visit, like, say, to RiNO, Great Divide, or the Breckenridge Brewery taproom. Since it's a new place, the interior is great. I like to try to grab a spot at one of their longer tables and make some new friends whenever I visit.”
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