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Funky, Sour, and Wild: Experts Suggest 28 Places To Find Farmhouse Ale In Denver and Boulder

by Emily Hutto
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by Emily Hutto
Photo: Colorado Plus

America is recently obsessed with farmhouse, or wild ales, beers often mirrored after Belgian styles of beer fermented with wild yeast strains. These beers can be sour, tart, fruity, zesty, or herbal— they are harvest-driven beers, often brewed with seasonal ingredients.

We asked brewers and experts where they drink sour, wild, and funky ales in Colorado, and they had a lot to say. Here are 26 places to drink wild ale in Denver and Boulder. Coming soon is another map on where to find farmhouse beers in Fort Collins.


What did we miss? Email us at denver@eater.com and we'll add it to the map.

· Wynkoop Brewing On 25 Years, Gummy Bear Beer [EDen]
· Former Future Brewing Company on South Broadway [EDen]
· Lower 48's Service Bar Is a Gem That Won't Be Hidden For Long [EDen]

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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Falling Rock Tap House

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1919 Blake St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 293-8338
(303) 293-8338
Visit Website
Falling Rock is often noted as one of the country's best craft beer bars, and for good reason. The 80+ taps often sport rare sour beers like the Russian River Supplication and Quintine Saison 2000.

2. The Kitchen Denver

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1530 16th St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 623-3127
(303) 623-3127
Visit Website
Perhaps one of the most artfully crafted beer lists in town is at The Kitchen. It currently includes French, Belgian, and Canadian wild ales on tap, as well as more beers from Norway and Belgium in the barrel-aged and wild section of the bottled beer menu.

3. Wynkoop Brewing Co.

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1634 18th St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 297-2700
(303) 297-2700
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Andy Brown at Wynkoop is experimenting with farmhouse yeast and barrel aging, among many other small-batch projects.

4. Freshcraft

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1530 Blake St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 758-9608
(303) 758-9608
Visit Website
The bottled beer menu here is separated by country of origin, and extensive— so ask the knowledgable staff for farmhouse yeast and wild ale options you shouldn't miss. Freshcraft almost always has sour beer on tap, too.

5. Euclid Hall Bar & Kitchen

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1317 14th St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 595-4255
(303) 595-4255
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Euclid Hall's menu includes Duchesse de Bourgogne Flemish sour ale, La Fin Du Monde, and Petrus Aged Pale.

6. Ale House at Amato's

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2501 16th St
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 433-9734
(303) 433-9734
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The ever-changing lineup of beers at The Ale House often includes beers like the Boulevard Tank 7 saison, as well as wild ales from many Colorado craft breweries.

7. Colt & Gray

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1553 Platte St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 477-1447
(303) 477-1447
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He might be a sommelier by training, but the beverage director at Colt & Gray and Ste. Ellie Kevin Burke knows his beer. He chooses the rotating tap list, which features beers that you won't find at other Denver bars.

8. Ste. Ellie

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1553 Platte St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 477-1447
(303) 477-1447
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"We always have wild ale on tap at wither Ellie or Colt & Gray," says Kevin Burke. "And we try to keep one on both sets of [draft] lines."

9. Lower 48

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2020 Lawrence St Unit A
Denver, CO 80205
(303) 942-0262
(303) 942-0262
Visit Website
Lower48 is currently offering two beers that are brewed with brettanomyces: Paradox Brewery Nihilist, and Liefman's Goudenband. Go now— the beer list rotates!

10. Great Divide Brewing

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2201 Arapahoe St
Denver, CO 80205
(303) 296-9460
(303) 296-9460
Visit Website
Great Divide has a new sour and wild ale program. The first of its specialty releases: Peach Grand Cru. "Brewed with Colorado fruit, this Belgian-style ale marries two of our home state’s well-known offerings: great beer and fresh Palisade peaches."

11. Star Bar

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2137 Larimer St
Denver, CO 80205
(720) 328-2420
(720) 328-2420
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Of Star Bar, author of Vintage Beer (that will release March 11) Patrick Dawson says, "A dirty, dive bar with a very impressive dedication to serving sour and wild beers."

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12. River North Brewery

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2401 Blake St, Unit 1
Denver, CO 80205
(303) 296-2617
(303) 296-2617
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Here you can find the J. Marie saison, named after the owner's wife, made with saison yeast.

13. Black Shirt Brewing Co.

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3719 Walnut St
Denver, CO 80205
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"Black Shirt makes a Red Sour Mash Saison that they just call Sour Mash Saison," says Denver Off The Wagon editor Sarah Haughey. "The beer rocks! Highly recommend."

14. Crooked Stave

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3350 Brighton Boulevard
Denver, CO 80216
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The Brettanomyces-obsessed Chad Yakobson has made a name for himself through experimentation with this yeast strain known to create sour and funky beers. Crooked Stave beers are currently brewed at Epic Brewing, where you can purchase the Crooked Stave and Epic sour saison collaboration, Elder Brett.

15. Epic Brewing Denver

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3001 Walnut St
Denver, CO 80205
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Epic Brewing brews many of its beers with a proprietary yeast strain named Brainless. Look for the Brainless Golden Ale, The Brainless on Peaches, The Brainless on Raspberries, The Brainless on Cherries, and the Brainless Belgian-style IPA among its 25 taps.

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16. Cheeky Monk Belgian Beer Cafe

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534 E Colfax Ave
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 861-0347
(303) 861-0347
Visit Website
La Chouffe, Cuvee des Trolls, Orval, and Lindeman’s are just a small sampling of the sour and wild Belgian beers available at Cheeky Monk. Soon its owners will open the doors at Lost Highway Brewing Company next door, with more wild ales to come.

17. TRVE Brewing Co.

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227 Broadway, #101
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 351-1021
(303) 351-1021
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Try the Grey Watcher Grisette-style Farmhouse Ale and the Circle The Wagons saison.

18. Historians Ale House

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24 Broadway
Denver, CO 80203
(720) 479-8505
(720) 479-8505
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The Epic Brewing Sour Apple Saison, among many other locally brewed wild ales, can be found among the 40-draft lineup at Historian's.

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19. Former Future Brewing Company

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1290 S Broadway
Denver, CO 80210
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Brand new to Denver's scene and getting rave reviews is Former Future, who taps a wild yeast saison, an IPA brewed with Brettanomyces, and an American strong sour ale.

20. World of Beer

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660 South Colorado Blvd.
Denver, CO 80246
(303) 757-0506
(303) 757-0506
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As you'd expect from a bar named World of Beer, the wild ale selection here is also exotic, with extensive list of international bottled beers and sours from Petrus and Perennial on tap.

21. Stapleton Tap House

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8286 Northfield Blvd, #1525
Denver, CO 80238
(720) 449-2337
(720) 449-2337
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This tap house boasts Colorado beers on ever-changing taps, including the Funkwerks Tropic King, the TRVE Circle The Wagons, and wild beers from Trinity Brewing.

22. Colorado Plus Brew Pub

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6995 W. 38th Ave
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
(720) 353-4853
(720) 353-4853
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This brewpub only serves Colorado beers, and house-made brews by Adam Draeger, formerly of Yak & Yeti. The sour and wild selections at Colorado Plus come from Odell, Funkwerks, Crooked Stave, Black Bottle Brewing, Strange Brewing, and Verboten.

23. Crystal Springs Brewing

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876 Sunshine Canyon Dr
Boulder, CO
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Crystal Springs offers a lambic, and will debut Velvet Shank brewed with Brettanomyces this spring.

24. West Flanders Brewing Company

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1125 Pearl St
Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 447-2739
(303) 447-2739
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"Head brewer Brian Lutz was making wild and barel-aged beers long ago when few in CO had ever heard or made them," says Marty Jones. "His Woodville project of all barrel-aged and wild beers from ten years ago was ahead of its time. He does such beers now -- the recent Brett on the Broncos for example -- and has more in the works."

25. West End Tavern

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926 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 444-3535
(303) 444-3535
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One of Boulder's oldest taverns now serves wild selections like New Belgium's Transatlantic Kriek, Perennial Berliner Weisse, and several bottled wild European beers.

26. Backcountry Pizza & Tap House

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2319 Arapahoe Ave
Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 449-4285
(303) 449-4285
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Perhaps the most eclectic and developed wild ale list casually slips under the radar at Boulder's Backcountry Pizza. Not to mention the perfect summertime patio.

27. Avery Brewing Company

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5763 Arapahoe Ave
Boulder, CO 80303
(303) 440-4324
(303) 440-4324
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Home of the annual Sour Fest, Avery Brewing is surely serving something wild or barrel aged at the Boulder taproom on any given day.

28. Upslope Brewery

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1898 S Flatiron Ct
Boulder, CO 80301
(303) 396-1898
(303) 396-1898
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Go for the Belgian-style pale ale brewed with Trappist Ale yeast. This limited release beer is available in a can, too.

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1. Falling Rock Tap House

1919 Blake St, Denver, CO 80202
Falling Rock is often noted as one of the country's best craft beer bars, and for good reason. The 80+ taps often sport rare sour beers like the Russian River Supplication and Quintine Saison 2000.
1919 Blake St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 293-8338
Visit Website

2. The Kitchen Denver

1530 16th St, Denver, CO 80202
Perhaps one of the most artfully crafted beer lists in town is at The Kitchen. It currently includes French, Belgian, and Canadian wild ales on tap, as well as more beers from Norway and Belgium in the barrel-aged and wild section of the bottled beer menu.
1530 16th St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 623-3127
Visit Website

3. Wynkoop Brewing Co.

1634 18th St, Denver, CO 80202
Andy Brown at Wynkoop is experimenting with farmhouse yeast and barrel aging, among many other small-batch projects.
1634 18th St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 297-2700
Visit Website

4. Freshcraft

1530 Blake St, Denver, CO 80202
The bottled beer menu here is separated by country of origin, and extensive— so ask the knowledgable staff for farmhouse yeast and wild ale options you shouldn't miss. Freshcraft almost always has sour beer on tap, too.
1530 Blake St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 758-9608
Visit Website

5. Euclid Hall Bar & Kitchen

1317 14th St, Denver, CO 80202
Euclid Hall's menu includes Duchesse de Bourgogne Flemish sour ale, La Fin Du Monde, and Petrus Aged Pale.
1317 14th St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 595-4255
Visit Website

6. Ale House at Amato's

2501 16th St, Denver, CO 80211
The ever-changing lineup of beers at The Ale House often includes beers like the Boulevard Tank 7 saison, as well as wild ales from many Colorado craft breweries.
2501 16th St
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 433-9734
Visit Website

7. Colt & Gray

1553 Platte St, Denver, CO 80202
He might be a sommelier by training, but the beverage director at Colt & Gray and Ste. Ellie Kevin Burke knows his beer. He chooses the rotating tap list, which features beers that you won't find at other Denver bars.
1553 Platte St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 477-1447
Visit Website

8. Ste. Ellie

1553 Platte St, Denver, CO 80202
"We always have wild ale on tap at wither Ellie or Colt & Gray," says Kevin Burke. "And we try to keep one on both sets of [draft] lines."
1553 Platte St
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 477-1447
Visit Website

9. Lower 48

2020 Lawrence St Unit A, Denver, CO 80205
Lower48 is currently offering two beers that are brewed with brettanomyces: Paradox Brewery Nihilist, and Liefman's Goudenband. Go now— the beer list rotates!
2020 Lawrence St Unit A
Denver, CO 80205
(303) 942-0262
Visit Website

10. Great Divide Brewing

2201 Arapahoe St, Denver, CO 80205
Great Divide has a new sour and wild ale program. The first of its specialty releases: Peach Grand Cru. "Brewed with Colorado fruit, this Belgian-style ale marries two of our home state’s well-known offerings: great beer and fresh Palisade peaches."
2201 Arapahoe St
Denver, CO 80205
(303) 296-9460
Visit Website

11. Star Bar

2137 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205
Of Star Bar, author of Vintage Beer (that will release March 11) Patrick Dawson says, "A dirty, dive bar with a very impressive dedication to serving sour and wild beers."
2137 Larimer St
Denver, CO 80205
(720) 328-2420
Visit Website

12. River North Brewery

2401 Blake St, Unit 1, Denver, CO 80205
Here you can find the J. Marie saison, named after the owner's wife, made with saison yeast.
2401 Blake St, Unit 1
Denver, CO 80205
(303) 296-2617
Visit Website

13. Black Shirt Brewing Co.

3719 Walnut St, Denver, CO 80205
"Black Shirt makes a Red Sour Mash Saison that they just call Sour Mash Saison," says Denver Off The Wagon editor Sarah Haughey. "The beer rocks! Highly recommend."
3719 Walnut St
Denver, CO 80205
Visit Website

14. Crooked Stave

3350 Brighton Boulevard, Denver, CO 80216
The Brettanomyces-obsessed Chad Yakobson has made a name for himself through experimentation with this yeast strain known to create sour and funky beers. Crooked Stave beers are currently brewed at Epic Brewing, where you can purchase the Crooked Stave and Epic sour saison collaboration, Elder Brett.
3350 Brighton Boulevard
Denver, CO 80216
Visit Website

15. Epic Brewing Denver

3001 Walnut St, Denver, CO 80205
Epic Brewing brews many of its beers with a proprietary yeast strain named Brainless. Look for the Brainless Golden Ale, The Brainless on Peaches, The Brainless on Raspberries, The Brainless on Cherries, and the Brainless Belgian-style IPA among its 25 taps.
3001 Walnut St
Denver, CO 80205
Visit Website

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16. Cheeky Monk Belgian Beer Cafe

534 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80203
La Chouffe, Cuvee des Trolls, Orval, and Lindeman’s are just a small sampling of the sour and wild Belgian beers available at Cheeky Monk. Soon its owners will open the doors at Lost Highway Brewing Company next door, with more wild ales to come.
534 E Colfax Ave
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 861-0347
Visit Website

17. TRVE Brewing Co.

227 Broadway, #101, Denver, CO 80203
Try the Grey Watcher Grisette-style Farmhouse Ale and the Circle The Wagons saison.
227 Broadway, #101
Denver, CO 80203