Denver is the 19th most populous city in the US and the capital of the state of Colorado It’s a famous location for a number of reasons. From its beautiful landscape to its vibrant arts, music and nightlife, outdoor markets and shopping venues, and sports and recreation centres, there are a ton of incentives for visiting Colorado’s Mile-High City. These days, though, one of its biggest attractions of all is beer!
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- Is Denver Known For Breweries?
- How Many Breweries Are In Denver?
- What Are The 5 Best Breweries In Denver?
- What Beer Is Denver Known For?
- What Is The Most Popular Beer In Colorado?
- What Are The Major Beer Festivals Or Events In Denver?
- Which Brewery In Denver Has The Best Food?
- Breweries In Denver Bring The Brews
Is Denver Known For Breweries?
Not only is Denver known for its breweries, but it has also become a veritable beer mecca! Within the state of Colorado, there are currently over 350 operating breweries, and nearly half of them can be found in Denver! It’s no wonder that the Colorado area is often dubbed the “Napa Valley of Beer.”
With a wide range of breweries, microbreweries, brewpubs, restaurants, and taverns, discerning beer enthusiasts flock to the Denver breweries on a regular basis. For it is here that they know that they will be able to sample some of the greatest brews in the US, and in many opinions, the world.
How Many Breweries Are In Denver?
Around 150 breweries are located in Denver county, mostly independent craft breweries and brewpubs, with over 80 in the city of Denver alone, generally situated in the downtown area. This is particularly useful for those adventurous souls who want to do a bit of bar-hopping, as many of the most popular breweries in Denver are located fairly close to each other.
What Are The 5 Best Breweries In Denver?
The Wynkoop Brewing Company
Known for being Colorado’s first brewpub, Wynkoop Brewing Co. has gained quite a reputation since it was founded in 1988. Offering a stellar variety of quality craft beers, they also have a delicious menu of lunch and dinner meals, as well as appetizers such as nachos, cheesy fritters, and honey-sriracha glazed wings, and more. Their tasty beverages are hand-brewed beneath their massive beer and pool hall, where visitors can play a few games of pool, or just kick back and relax, and enjoy their beer and food.
Wynkoop Brewing Co. hosts a number of events, including group tours, and can be booked for private parties and events.
Address: 1634 18th St, Denver, CO 80202
Hours: Sun-Thu 11am-12am; Fri-Sat 11am-1am
Great Divide’s Ballpark District Brewery & Taproom
Though there are many Denver breweries, not many have a beer portfolio that is quite as impressive as Great Divide’s. Another pioneer of Denver’s craft beer scene, Great Divide Brewing Co. has been winning awards for its amazing brews since 1994.
Though they have since expanded to further locations in Denver and Castle Rock, it’s their Ballpark District Brewery & Taproom on Arapahoe Street then remains their most popular venue to visit. An intimate and cosy but also lively joint, they have regular tastings and tours, provide beer takeaways, and also have an open patio for visitors to relax and enjoy their beer. For those in need of a snack, tasty food-truck options are available.
Address: 2201 Arapahoe St, Denver, CO 80205
Hours: Sun-Tue 12-8pm; Wed-Sat 12am-10pm
Odell Brewing Five Points Brewhouse
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The popular brewery out of Fort Collins has made a comfortable second home for itself in Denver. It’s beautifully decorated and painted brewhouse boasts an assortment of acclaimed beers, a large and sunny outdoor patio, and a taproom with some of the most delicious IPAs and sours to be found anywhere.
Events at the Five Points Brewhouse include tastings and tours, live music, as well as regular tournaments for Euchre, a popular trick-taking card game involving opposing teams of players. While they don’t have a kitchen, they do offer various pre-packaged snacks to go with the beer. If you’re really hungry though, one of Denver’s popularly food trucks or restaurants is sure to be close by.
Address: 2945 Larimer St, Denver, CO 80205
Hours: Sun-Thu 12-10pm; Fri-Sat 12pm-12am
Cerebral Brewing
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The bustling brewery and taproom of the up-and-coming craft beer company, Cerebral Brewing is situated in the famous marketplace district of Bluebird. Through an interesting mixture of scientific methods, envelope-pushing creativity, and a great passion for brewing, this brewery offers an exceptional, award-winning collection of uniquely delicious brews.
Like their beer, their location is a stylish mixture of modern and rustic aesthetics with outdoor seating looking over the marketplace. Regular events include live music, parties, beer tastings and launches, and much more. They also do tours and can be booked for private events, and while they don’t serve food, being in Denver’s market district, many great restaurants and food trucks are sure to be near at hand.
Address: 1477 Monroe St, Denver, CO 80206
Hours: Sunday 12-8pm; Monday 4pm-8pm; Tuesday 2pm-8pm; Wed-Sat 12-10pm
Strange Craft Brew Company
A little “off the beaten track” from the other major Denver breweries and brewpubs, Strange Craft Brew Company is situated in West Denver, though is definitely well worth the visit. Everything, from the brewery and its wide array of excellent craft beer to their “Biergarten” establishment and its friendly staff, has a wonderfully unique and creative character that you won’t soon forget. Their large patio can seat up to 80 people, and they also have no problem with bringing pets along. Their menu offers delicious pizza as well as food-truck options.
Address: 1330 Zuni St Unit M, Denver, CO 80204
Hours: Sunday 12-6pm; Mon-Thu 3pm-8pm; Fri-Sat 2pm-9pm
What Beer Is Denver Known For?
Coors Brewing Company, currently a subsidiary of Molson Coors, has been famous around Colorado for nearly a century, and across the US since at least the 1970-80s. Molson Coors produces a number of popular beer brands, and also owns famous brands such as Miller and Blue Moon.
What Is The Most Popular Beer In Colorado?
In Colorado, Coors Banquet and Coors Light have long been two highly popular beers produced by the beer giant Molson Coors.
Otherwise, with great changes occurring in the US and global beer industry trends in recent decades, Denver has been gaining a few new additions to its most-popular beer list. One to regularly make the top-seller lists is Denver Gold Amber Lager, made by Denver Beer Co.
What Are The Major Beer Festivals Or Events In Denver?
Denver is home to the Great American Beer Festival, rated as the world’s biggest beer event by Guinness World Records. Every year, in the month of October, the festival is held in the city of Denver, showcasing over 3000 beers, and drawing thousands of tourists and beer enthusiasts from around the globe to the famed Mile-High City. This year’s festival will be held at the Colorado Convention Center from 6-8 October.
Which Brewery In Denver Has The Best Food?
Wynkoop Brewing Company is well-known for having an excellent menu with delicious foods to enjoy with your amazing beers. Other Denver breweries and pubs known for their gourmet food as well as beer include:
- Bierstadt Lagerhaus – 2875 Blake St, Denver, CO 80205
- Tivoli Brewing Company – 900 Auraria Pkwy Suite 240, Denver, CO 80204
- Rock Bottom Brewery – 1001 16th St, Mall #A-100, Denver, CO 80265
- 10 Barrel Brewing – 2620 Walnut St, Denver, CO 80205
- Briar Common Brewery & Eatery – 2298 Clay St, Denver, CO 80211
Breweries In Denver Bring The Brews
Clearly, for Denver, craft beer is not just a pastime, but a full-blown obsession, and one that has become firmly entwined into the society and culture of Colorado’s great capital. With the multitude of places to visit and beers to taste, Denver breweries are a must for any self-respecting beer enthusiast that wishes to slake their thirst with some of the best brews in America.
Jake has been a craft beer and homebrew enthusiast since his college days. He loves scouring Europe for unique and unusual hops to add to his beers.
Founder of Jake’s Brew Haven – he currently hosts beer-tasting sessions at select local pubs in Baltimore.