As the capital of Colorado, Denver offers unparalleled urban elegance and picturesque mountain range views. The Rocky Mountains provide a magnificent backdrop for this bustling metropolitan district that sits just one mile above sea level at a 5,280-foot elevation, earning the well-deserved title of Mile High City.
Denver has a unique personality, offering a thriving music scene, world-class attractions, endless dining opportunities, and some of the best breweries in the state. Following in the footsteps of Adolph Coors, who established Coors Brewing Company in 1873 at the foot of the Rockies, today's brewers strive for similar success, putting their own unique twist on crafting beer.
Top real estate agent Elise Losasso is a third-generation native to this dynamic city and has watched the Denver breweries evolve over the years into what is now a craft unto its own with home-grown pale ales, porters, stouts, and an eclectic collection of Denver brews.
With over 150 Denver breweries to choose from, Elise has made it easier for you by compiling a list, in no particular order, of the best breweries in Denver to give you a better idea of what this great city is all about.
1. Wynkoop Brewing Company
1634 18th Street, Denver | 303-297-2700
Established in 1988, the Wynkoop Brewing Company is Colorado's first brewpub and is considered a Denver institution. Located in a basement under an enormous billiards hall, the brewery puts out a tasty array of seasonal ales, IPAs, wheat beers, and its signature Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout with 8.5% ABV.
2. Blue Moon Brewing Company
3570 Chestnut Place, Denver | 303-728-2337
One of the most successful brewers to come out of Denver is the Blue Moon Brewing Company. In 1995, they crafted a signature Belgian White wheat ale with a trace of Valencia orange that has become the number one craft beer in the country. The best-selling beer is distributed throughout the U.S. and available at most major retailers. The state-of-the-art brewery in Denver's RiNo district features more than 20 rotating limited-edition beers with a globally inspired, locally sourced food menu.
3. The Grateful Gnome Sandwich Shoppe & Brewery
4369 Stuart Street, Denver | 720-598-6863
The NY/NJ Italian-style deli is known not only for its 50+ variants of hot and cold sandwiches but also its in-house, handcrafted selection of beers that include a hazy IPA, tart cherry sour, malty amber, lemon zest Kolsh, easy-drinking lager, and hoppy IPAs. Fans of the Grateful Dead will enjoy the vibes and live music at The Grateful Gnome.
4. Call to Arms Brewing Company
4526 Tennyson Street, Denver | 720-328-8258
Call to Arms Brewing Company features a taproom in Denver that embraces the spirit of Old World charm with timeless English pub-inspired decor that features a traditional handcrafted wood bar and exposed brick walls. Floor-to-ceiling garage doors open to the dog-friendly outdoor patio with community-style picnic tables and string lights, creating an ideal setting for enjoying their vast array of handcrafted brews. Year-round favorites include a dark Czech lager, oatmeal porter, and Denver-style IPA.
5. New Belgium Brewing
3330 Brighton Blvd., Denver | 888-NBB-4044
If you like a good Fat Tire, you will love the New Belgium Brewing location at The Source Hotel in the heart of Denver's RiNo. There is no official taproom but, instead, an 8th-floor location named The Woods, where they barrel-age their beers. Offerings include a bar, full-service restaurant, and rooftop lounge with stunning mountain views of the Rockies.
6. Cerebral Brewing
1477 Monroe Street | 303-927-7365
Cerebral Brewing is all about experimentation, taking a "scientific approach" to crafting beer. The award-winning neighborhood brewery offers a wide selection of fermented lagers, hoppy IPAs, barrel-aged stouts, dark porters, and more. Creative concoctions on an ever-changing menu include Actionable Intelligence, Pink Starburst, Gooseberry, and Unstable Gateway. Local community food trucks are on-site daily for a wide variety of dining options.
7. Great Divide Brewing Company
1812 35th Street, Denver | 303-296-9460
With four locations throughout Denver, at the Ballpark District, RiNo, Castle Rock, and the Denver airport, the Great Divide Brewing Company is a local's favorite stop. They offer year-round favorites such as the Denver pale ale, Yeti imperial stout, Hercules Double IPA, and rotating seasonal flavors, specializing in beers with an alcohol content higher than 7%. A staple of the Denver beer scene for the past two decades, the Great Divide is considered one of the best Denver breweries, winning 18 awards at the Great American Beer Festival®.
8. Bierstadt Lager
2875 Blake Street, Denver | 720-821-1571
If you are looking for a good time, good food, and good beer, stop by the beer hall at Bierstadt Lager. Live music, comedy nights, yard games, pro wrestling, and plenty of other 21+ events turn the renovated warehouse into a lively venue. German beer, schnitzel, and pretzels are on par for this fun-filled brewery. Traditional specialty brews include Slow Pour Pils that stand the test of time without adding gummy worms or other trendy additives.
9. Our Mutual Friend Brewing Company
2810 Larimer Street, Denver | 303-296-3441
At Our Mutual Friend Brewing Company, expect an interesting menu selection of unique brews, such as a wine barrel fermented saison, a smoked wheat beer, and a malty stout. The refreshing brews incorporate local ingredients for a taste that locals love. The small Denver brewery is independently owned and crafted, striving to create world-class beers while serving as a neighborhood gathering place on its pet-friendly, colorful outdoor patio.
10. Crooked Stave
1441 W 46th Avenue, Unit 19, Denver | 720-508-3292
The modern artisanal brewery, founded in 2010, is laser-focused on sustainability, offering creative brews made from locally sourced, Colorado-grown whole fruits and fresh ingredients for an undeniable taste of Denver. From Juicy double-dry hopped IPAs to New Zealand Pilsner to a bourbon barrel blended Imperial stout, Crooked Stave features a wide range of unique offerings.
Don't miss The Great American Beer Festival®
If you don't have time to check out all the breweries, mark your calendar for The Great American Beer Festival®. The annual event features more than 800 American brewers from around the country. The experts serve up over 4,000 different ales, porters, stouts, and lagers as they compete for coveted gold, silver, and bronze medals. Last year, Denver breweries that took home first-place gold medals included:
- Comrade Brewing Company: American-Style IPA, "More Dodge Less RAM"
- Crooked Stave: Belgian-Style Sour Ale, "Stay The Funk In"
- Our Mutual Friend Brewing Company: Brett Beer, "Trystero"
Contact Elise Losasso to learn more about Denver real estate
Beyond the incredible breweries, Denver has so much to offer, and Elise Losasso is the perfect person to show you around the exceptional upscale neighborhoods of this fantastic town.
Considered one of Denver's top-producing real estate agents, Elise has vast knowledge of the surrounding areas and can help you buy or sell property to meet your real estate goals. Whether you are interested in moving to a luxury estate in Centennial or looking to sell your home in Cherry Hills Village, Elise can help, offering expert guidance every step of the way.
Contact Elisa Losasso to learn more about Denver and see how she can help you meet your real estate expectations with access to premier properties in the area's best communities.
Considered one of Denver's top-producing real estate agents, Elise has vast knowledge of the surrounding areas and can help you buy or sell property to meet your real estate goals. Whether you are interested in moving to a luxury estate in Centennial or looking to sell your home in Cherry Hills Village, Elise can help, offering expert guidance every step of the way.
Contact Elisa Losasso to learn more about Denver and see how she can help you meet your real estate expectations with access to premier properties in the area's best communities.