A Beer Lover's Guide to Denver
- ablondewithabrew
- Jun 14, 2024
- 6 min read
Is it the altitude making you feel drunker or is it just drinking so much of Denver's great craft beer?
Denver is where I fell in love with craft beer over a decade ago. Sure, I'd had some craft beer already, but we stopped for a late dinner at Fat Sully's (where to this day I still eat at least once per visit) and the Great Divide Colette I ordered forever changed my impression of craft beer.
Since this visit, I have returned to Denver several more times, including to celebrate my bachelorette party. I have needed this amount of visits to even attempt a Beer Lover's Guide to Denver. This is my list of the must-visit breweries on a trip to Denver, plus some more I would include with additional time. I even throw in some fun stuff to do, see, and eat between beers.
Must Visit Breweries
Cerebral Brewing - If I could only visit one brewery in Denver it would be Cerebral Brewing. Their Rare Trait IPA and Muscle Memory Pale Ale are two of the best core beers found anywhere. However, Cerebral always has such a variety on draft that I don't think I have ever visited without ordering at least two taster flights. I also particularly enjoy their Here Be Monsters series of barrel-aged imperial stouts.
Burns Family Artisan Ales - I actually hadn't even heard of Burns until about a year and a half ago, but after just visiting them once on my most recent trip to Denver, they will be a regular part of the Denver brewery rotation. With two Denver breweries, Burns brews small batches of balanced beers that range from lighter, more sessionable styles, to the higher ABV options that their brewer was initially known for brewing.
Bierstadt Lagerhaus - A must for anyone who loves lighter beer styles, like lagers and pilsners, Bierstadt is best known for its photogenic Slow Pour Pils, which is worth the wait for more than just the photo op. I also particularly enjoy their Helles Lager. It's worth exploring the other options available, because everything is of high-quality. I still think about the Golden Ale I drank when I visited in 2022.
Our Mutual Friend Brewing - An enjoyable walk from Bierstadt Lagerhaus (check out all the street art along the way), OMF can't be missed due to its colorful mural exterior. OMF consistently has a wide range of options from funky farmhouse ales to hoppier options. This is a great place to order a flight or two. I particularly enjoy their two-time GABF award-winning Juicy Pale Ale, Inner Light.
Breweries to Visit with More Time
Cohesion Brewing Company - Easily the next brewery I would add to my itinerary, and I know many will be upset with me that Cohesion didn't land in the above category. Cohesion has one of the most beautiful taprooms, but it is more isolated than the other breweries in the article. It is worth the small detour for its Czech style beers and methods of service.
Odell Brewing Co. - In the heart of the RiNo Arts District, it's easy to stop in Odell for a pint if you are also visiting Bierstadt and OMF. Despite being 35 years in business, Odell maintains its status as an independently owned craft brewery. It's RiNo location has an excellent outdoor space with fire pits, as well as a ten barrel pilot system producing beers exclusive to this taproom.
Great Divide Brewing - Another Denver classic dating back to 1994, Great Divide will always hold a special place in my heart, as I mentioned in the beginning of this article, for being the brewery that ignited my love for craft beer with it's flagship saison Colette. Almost a decade later, I can always count on Great Divide to have a consistent selection of beloved beers, plus enjoyable seasonal offerings, such as one of my favorites Orabelle, a Belgian style ale. I particularly enjoy their taproom located right near Coors Field before or after a Rockies game, and their location inside the Denver Airport during a long layover.
Where to Eat
Here are some spots I have enjoyed eating at on my different trips to Denver. Some of these I have returned to on multiple visits:
Atomic Cowboy - Home to both Denver Biscuit Co. and Fat Sully's (mentioned above), you can't go wrong here whether it's for an indulgent brunch or a late night slice of pizza after a day of brewery hopping. I recommend getting brunch with some friends and sharing a Giant Biscuit Cinnamon Roll and/or getting pizza after a couple of rounds of beer at nearby Cerebral Brewing.
Postino Wine Cafe - This is the second time I have raved about Postino on this website (see A Beer Loving Phoenix Vacation). I originally fell in love with Postino when I lived in Arizona, and luckily for me, Postino has three locations in Denver. I stop here at least 1-2 times on every visit. They have one of the best happy hours anywhere, which includes $6 pitchers of craft beer or $6 glasses of wine until 5:00pm daily. I highly recommend the Prosciutto, Fig, and Mascarpone bruschetta.
Avanti Food & Beverage - "A modern day food hall" located in repurposed shipping containers, Avanti has seven different restaurants featuring a variety of cuisines, a lively bar, and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.
Little Man Ice Cream - It's iconic 28-foot milk jug Lower Highland location is hard to miss and often accompanied by a line. Little Man makes high-quality ice cream in both more classic and unique flavors. The staff is friendly and encourages you to sample as many as you desire. It's a great place to stop for dessert after dinner at Avanti.
Dio Mio - Located proximate to the breweries in the RiNo Arts District, Dio Mio serves fresh pastas and shareable plates in what they describe as a "fast-casual" environment. Don't be misled though, the atmosphere is hip and food is both elevated and contemporary. Plan for a wait, but it's worth it.
Lou's Italian Specialties - A New York-style Italian deli and market, Lou's is the perfect stop for lunch before visiting some breweries. I really enjoyed their Prosciutto Mio cold sandwich, and the half was a generous portion for the price.
What To Do
Between visiting breweries and eating, here are some of my favorite things to do while visiting Denver:
Tour the U.S. Mint - The Denver Mint offers free guided tours of their secure facility where billions of coins are produced annually. Tickets are only provided in person and same day, first come first serve.
Visit a museum - Some museums I have enjoyed in Denver include the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and the Denver Art Museum. Both of these are on the list of museums that Bank of America cardholders get free general admission to the first full weekend of every month. I use my Alaska Airlines card for this benefit, and try to time vacations accordingly.
Go for a walk or bike ride - My favorite bike trail for an easy, car-free ride is the Cherry Creek Trail. The route can also be used for walking, jogging, etc. A walk I really enjoy is from downtown Denver across the South Platte River to the Lower Highlands neighborhood.
Shop used bookstores - Whenever I visit a new city, I always seek out used bookstores to explore. Some favorites in Denver include Capitol Hill Books and Broadway Book Mall. The Goodwill on Broadway has a really good used book section too.
Explore the RiNo Arts District - This trendy neighborhood has tons of murals to explore between visiting different breweries, restaurants, and shops. Check out this map of the murals located within this neighborhood.
Play shuffleboard in Union Station - Denver's Union Station's interior is beautiful, plus it has a bar, a hotel, several restaurants, an outpost of well-known bookshop Tattered Cover, but my favorite thing to do here is play shuffleboard. I highly suggest grabbing a drink, a coffee, or some ice cream and playing some shuffleboard.
Attend a Rockies baseball game - As a huge baseball fan, I always try to coordinate my visits to when the Rockies will be in town. Coors Field is centrally located, and several breweries are within walking distance to enjoy both before and after a game.
Take a day trip to Boulder - There is so much to do in Boulder that I recommend at least a day here. Only about 30 miles away, there is an easy to navigate bus from Union Station that goes right to downtown Boulder. For the outdoors lover, there are some really beautiful hikes with various degrees of difficulty. Downtown Boulder is nice to walk around with many restaurants and shops. I really enjoy shopping the used bookstores. Boulder also has several breweries, but my favorite thing to do in Boulder is bike. I highly suggest renting a bike (there are several shops that offer rentals) and enjoying the vast network of protected multi-use pathways.
This does not even begin to cover all the breweries, restaurants, and activities to enjoy in Denver and it's greater area, but these are my favorites as a more indoorsy, beer lover.
What are your favorite things to drink, eat, and do in Denver? Or, what are you now excited to try on a future visit?