Beer Towns » Denver
DRAFT Beer Town: Denver
By Jennie Dorris
Find out why the Mile-High City’s beers, bars and breweries are among the country’s best.
Appeared in: September/October 2007 Issue
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Beer Bars:
Bars:
Sleep:
Dine:
Do:
Other:
Bars
Falling Rock Taphouse1919 Blake St.
Denver CO
Few places can make a beer drinker feel like a kid in a candy shop like the Falling Rock Taphouse. The bar features nearly 70 beers on tap, another 70 in bottles, and it rotates in local seasonals faster than it can print new beer menus. Plus, the bar offers more than 30 bottled beers, as well as some of the cheapest and tastiest fried food you can get downtown.
My Brother’s Bar
2376 15th St
Denver CO
My Brother’s Bar’s eclectic crowd of easygoing hipsters and buttoned-down 9-to-5-ers mirrors its equally diverse beer list, which mixes English pub beers and great local drafts. The bartenders are the nicest in town, and if you need to take a break from beer drinking, they’ll be happy to recommend one of the bar’s superior old-fashioneds.
Govnr’s Park
672 Logan Street
Denver CO
If you want to sound like you’re from Denver, don’t say “governor’s” properly; you’ve really got to compress the word to say this bar’s name correctly. Stop by for the daily happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m.—you’ll get two-for-one drafts, and they’re not shy about big pours. And if you need a post-GABF haunt, check out Govnr’s late-night happy hour stretching from 9 p.m. to midnight.
The Skylark Lounge
140 South Broadway
Denver CO
This bar is nestled in the tattooed area of South Broadway, but it throws back to the rockabilly era with vintage décor like framed movie posters, DJs that spin ’50s music and oldie rock acts on the weekends. Saddle up to the bar and expect the friendly bartenders and even friendlier clientele to strike up good conversation.
British Bulldog
2052 Stout Street
Denver CO
After your umpteenth craft beer, your palate tends to fall apart, and you crave an old standard. Enter the British Bulldog, which keeps drafts (or “draughts,” as Bulldog spells them) of Bass, Boddingtons, Fuller’s, Murphy’s and Tetley’s, just to name a few. Another perk: The bar opens bloody early—7 a.m.—on Saturday and Sunday for English soccer.
Brewpubs
Flying Dog Brewery2401 Blake St.
Denver CO
In a word, Flying Dog is eccentric: The brewery thrives on “gonzo spirit” (ask a Flying Dog employee to explain it); British cartoonist Ralph Steadman designs its edgy bottle labels; and the brewery frequently hosts quirky art events. Stop by to check out its Open Source Beer Project, which lets you help the brewers tweak their latest beer recipe, and drink excellent brews that follow the motto “Good beer. No shit.”
Breckenridge Brewery
471 Kalamath Street
Denver CO
Breckenridge Brewery has two Denver locations. The first sits next to Coors Field, and with its expansive dining space and equally roomy bar area, it’s an ideal meet-up spot before a Rockies game. The other locale, just south of downtown, features succulent barbecue, brewhouse tours and of course, all of Breck’s brews.
Great Divide Brewing Co.
2201 Arapahoe Street
Denver CO
Great Divide has a small tasting room that separates the real beer aficionados from the average downtown drinkers. The brewery gives you four samples for free, and there are usually a few taproom-only drafts on hand that showcase some experimentation from the brewmasters.
Wynkoop Brewing Co.
1634 18th Street
Denver CO
For those of you who find drinking educational, the Wynkoop Brewery is your history lesson: It’s Denver’s oldest brewery. It also can be your poli-sci lesson, as Denver’s mayor, John Hickenlooper, still owns Wynkoop. The two-story brewpub is the place where the highly sought-after “Beerdrinker of the Year” title is won.
Avery Brewing
5763 Arapahoe Ave.
Boulder CO
If you like your beers big in flavor and even bigger in potency, Avery Brewing is worth the half-hour drive through the mountains to Boulder. Avery’s tiny tasting room houses samples of its ever-rotating seasonals (including big Belgians, stouts and English strong ales), and the easygoing staff gives daily tours at 5 p.m.
Dine
The Cherry Cricket2641 East 2nd Avenue
Denver CO
You’ll do yourself a disservice if you miss the burgers at The Cherry Cricket. It’s a bustling restaurant that has more of a huge-family-at-the-holidays feeling than an overcrowded restaurant vibe. Opt for a basket of “frings”—fries and fried-to-perfection onion rings—and brews from The Cricket’s impressive draft list that rivals most.
Pearl Street Grill
1477 S. Pearl Street
Denver CO
If you’ve got gorgeous Colorado-in-the-fall weather, walk straight through the Pearl Street Grill’s dining room and take a seat on its patio; the comfy chairs and cozy canopies can’t be missed. For a good deal on grub, visit during PSG’s happy hour; in the late-afternoon hours, you can snag its famous burgers and homemade fries for around $5.
www.pearlstreetgrilldenver.com
The Hornet
76 Broadway
Denver CO
The Hornet does a nice job marrying traditional bar food with some healthier options; don’t be surprised to see chilled cucumber soup or grilled mahi mahi on the board of daily specials. Its expansive dining room means you’ll be seated ASAP for lunch or dinner, and it should be noted that The Hornet has one of the few smoker-friendly patios in Denver.
The Bank Bar & Grill
2239 E. Colfax Ave
Denver CO
If your belly growls for beer-soaking bar food, head to The Bank. This two-story bar has a way of drawing the tattooed and late-20s crowd, so prepare for a clientele that’s hipper than you are. After you pile down an order of the beer-battered mushrooms and wings, be sure to check out the sizable draft lineup.
Wazee Supper Club
15th & Wazee
Denver CO
The Supper Club should be on a tour of great Denver historical buildings, with its Deco-style black and white tiles, telegraph clock, gaslights and other remarkable décor. A family-friendly restaurant with a welcoming atmosphere, Wazee’s the place for grub and good brews that are easy on the pocketbook. And if you’re in the market for good pizza, look no further.
Do
Denver Art Museum100 W 14th Ave Pkwy
Denver CO
Last year, a striking new wing of the Denver Art Museum opened: the angular Hamilton Building, which increased the DAM by 40 percent and now houses more nontraditional modern art. The wing brags an inventive use of space and offers interactive features—don’t be surprised if you find yourself jumping on electronic bubbles projected onto the floor that “pop” and create a piece of art on the wall.
Botanic Gardens
1005 York Street
Denver CO
Denver’s Botanic Gardens are open year-round; its more than 45 gardens sprawl both indoors and out. Check out the Japanese Garden, which features an authentic teahouse with a moon-viewing deck imported from Japan that stands among Ponderosa pines, water plants and bonsai.
Antique Row
25 E. Dakota
Denver CO
Antique Row, 18 blocks of antique and furnishing stores, is quickly becoming a Denver must-see. Want a Southwestern knickknack? No problem. Used furniture? Got it. Scandinavian rugs? You bet. Beyond that, there are stores specializing in lighting, silver and jewelry, plus a few used book shops along the way.
Walk Along the Platte River
Denver CO
The South Platte River has two hiking trails: The first is a rigorous 10.5-mile trek, but if you just want to take in the mile-high skyline, take an after-dinner stroll along the second, more leisurely path. One of the easiest places to jump on is at Confluence Park near 15th and Platte streets, but be watchful; this multi-use trail is also frequented by Denver’s bike lovers.
Tattered Cover Book Store
Denver CO
Bibliophiles simply must visit the Tattered Cover. The enormous independent bookstore (now a local chain with several locations across the city) boasts around 150,000 titles at its new store on Colfax alone. Each store sports a coffee shop to help sustain you through what could be a daylong browsing session.
Other
New Belgium500 Linden
Fort Collins CO
New Belgium has an extensive brew selection and a fascinating tour of its wind-powered brewery. Insider tip: Ask your guide’s permission to take the employees-only, playground-esque slide from the second floor to ground level. Tours are 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and on the hour from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
Odell Brewing Co.
800 East Lincoln Avenue
Fort Collins CO
Odell celebrates experimentation with a five-barrel brewing system, which the brewers often use to try small-batch brews that end up in the tasting room. (We recommend the 5 Barrel Pale Ale.) Tours are Monday through Saturday at 1, 2 and 3 p.m.
Oskar Blues
303 Main Street
Lyons CO
If you head up to Oskar Blues in the tiny town of Lyons, prepare to leave bottled beers behind. Oskar Blues pioneered brewing in cans, quieting beer snobs with the big, bold flavors of its flagship beers, Dale’s Pale Ale and Old Chub. Bring your appetite up to the brewery: It’s got a hearty, down-home menu that’ll soak up the high-octane beers. Tours are by appointment.
Left Hand Brewing Co
1265 Boston Ave.
Longmont CO
Left Hand is brewing some bomber-only beers that are so big and flavorful you’ll want to substitute them for wine at your next dinner party. Tours are only offered on Saturdays at 1 and 2 p.m., but expect the tap room, open seven days a week, to be just as educational; plus, it always offers at least one beer on a nitrogen tap.
Boulder Beer
2880 Wilderness Place
Boulder CO
What started back in 1979 in a goat shed northeast of Boulder has grown into a full-size brewpub with glass windows that overlook the brewery and a backyard garden. Keep an eye on the seasonal tap; it releases some tasty barleywines as winter approaches.
Sleep
Hotel Monaco1717 Champa Street
Denver CO
The Monaco has the friendliest staff we’ve ever encountered, and it loves the beer-drinking crowd. The Monaco boasts close proximity to the GABF, but don’t count on mountain views, as the hotel’s just a seven-story building. It has a nice attached bar, Panzano, featuring select local pours.
The Grand Hyatt
1750 Welton Street
Denver CO
The Hyatt got a facelift a few years ago, and it’s one of the nicest places within stumbling distance of the GABF. It has two bars inside: one in the lobby featuring piano music, and a lounge near the restaurant that stays open until 2 a.m. The Hyatt’s real selling point is its views; you can watch the sun set over the mountains from the 26th floor.
The Brown Palace Hotel
321 17th Street
Denver CO
If you want to rest your head where Derek Jeter does when he visits Denver, check in at The Brown Palace. In fact, every president since 1905 (except Calvin Coolidge) has stayed there. The 115-year-old hotel is a charmer, and it’s especially beer-friendly; the Palace boasts that its bar, The Ship Tavern, “opened the day after Prohibition ended.” However, make reservations now: There are just 240 rooms, and they fill up fast.
Hotel Teatro
1100 Fourteenth Street
Denver CO
Hotel Teatro is a quaint downtown hotel with just 111 rooms. Located just steps from the Denver Center for the Perfoming Arts, its rooms and lobby are decorated with old costumes from the Denver Centre Theater Company.
The Curtis
1405 Curtis Street
Denver CO
Beer drinkers aren’t middle-of-the-road folks, and The Curtis isn’t your standard hotel. Take, for example, the fact that it has a robot on hand to greet you, or the video art display in the lobby. To make your stay truly unforgettable, book a room on one of the pop culture-themed floors like “Chick Flick” or “One Hit Wonder.”
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