Liberati Osteria & Oenobeers

 

What an interesting place. The owner loves wine, and so his beers are infused with grapes. This is totally different than anything you've probably had before, and it's worth a visit to try some of the offerings. There's the whole range of beer, from light to imperial stout, with some really unusual combinations in between. It's not for everyone, but if you're in the mood for something different, here you go. Food is pretty diverse too, mostly Italian but with some other dishes as well, and though they don't have specific pairing recommendations, you can surely ask for some ideas. The place is huge, and just outside of downtown, so there's actually parking available too.

 

 

One of those places that has been years in the making. I think I first read about Liberati in 2014. After years of preparation, it finally opened on 10/30/18. All of their beers are using grapes in some capacity. The amount ranges from as little as 7% to as much as 49%. My guess is that 49% can't be a coincidence and that there is a legal reason for it.
In addition to Oenobeers, Liberati doubles as an authentic Italian restaurant and bar as well.

When you first walk in, you can't miss how spacious the place is. It's very wide open and roomy. There's a huge C-shaped bar in the middle of the room with 50'ish tables scattered around the room. The bar is really nice looking and the seats are stylish leather and incredibly comfortable. The fermenters are housed and displayed off to the left while the brewhouse is slightly tucked behind the bar. It's a neat setup and it's very professionally arranged. Disregarding the brewing equipment, it looks and feels way more like a restaurant than a brewery. I'm okay with that.

The food is really good. It definitely isn't cheap, but it's good. Sausages, veal, pastas, flatbreads, etc. are available. They do have more affordable bar snacks and bites, too. Portions are decent sized so you're unlikely to leave hungry. Especially the ravioli dishes. It's probably more of a date or night out place than a casual dining experience, though.

The beers are super unique. They aren't like the Italian lambic-inspired beers I've had and was expecting though. They're closer to more traditional styles (sac saison, IPA, DIPA, dubbel, stout, etc.) but they're spiked with grapes. Not sure when the juice/grapes are added and/or how much of it ferments, but the effect is different for different beers they're serving. The dubbel and stout both tasted VERY much like wine while others (like the IPA's) tasted like they just had added grape juice or flavor. I'm sure the % of grapes probably plays a role. Not feeling the grape thing? They have a Koelsch-style ale with only 7% juice that tastes pretty traditional. Oh yeah - they have two sub 4% abv beers that are fantastic and full of flavor. One is a small pale and one is a petit saison. I'd actually go there just for those two beers. Both have a fairly small amount of grapes added and it makes for a nice accent rather than the boldness in other items. For those of us who have to drive, it's fantastic to have multiple small beer options to try. I really liked the beers, but I have a feeling that some could be divisive. The ones that have a lot of wine character might not be for everyone. I wasn't even 100% sure I loved them initially, but they do grow on you. By the end of the glass I liked each one. The prices are a little steep, too. Admittedly the process justifies the price tag, but I can imagine sticker shock hitting some people.

I'm looking forward to seeing what Liberati does going forward. The beers are unlike any I've had, the food is good, and the atmosphere is terrific.

this is a wonderful addition to the denver beer scene, not to mention the food scene. after hearing whispers about it for years, and never hearing the term oenobeer before, anticipation for something truly high quality and unique was boiling over, and boy do they deliver. the space is huge, a colorful outside boasting a huge patio and what looks like a giant fire pit thats sure to pop off next spring. inside its spacious as can be, minimalist but artsy, with the brewery in the back on the left, a couple of dining room spaces in the front on either side, some high tops around the bar, and a long, elegant bar with the serving tanks for all the beers in there horizontally behind it. they have a lot more handles than beers right now, but they will come it sounds like. i was blown away by the beer, really and truly, like its good enough that this place will be nationally relevant soon, all of them with some amount of grapes. a few of them changed my life, including a jasmine flower and chardonnay clean saison, a 49% malbec strong ale built like a belgian dubbel, and a kolsch with chardonnay as well, those three were revelations, and while i didnt like the hoppy ones nearly as much, all of the beer in here is unique, high end, and delicious. the food is authentically italian, finer quality, and although it will price some people out, you do get what you pay for on the food side and its nice to have an alternative to the classic pretzel or food truck in a brewery these days. our group shared a good amount of the menu and all of it was nice, but the various raviolis and the eggplant parm were the winners for us. my one critique right now is the service, nice enough folks, real nice actually, but really unprofessional and seemingly confused, im sure they will work this out, but we had a messed up check, a server that forgot to bring out an entree and never checked on us, empty water glasses for the duration of our meal, beers sitting on the bar going flat waiting to be brought over, and just general poor service. i give them a pass now because its all so new, its only been a week, but they better get this fixed to match the quality coming out of the kitchen and the brew house. definitely get in here and check them out. the beers are stunning. i was hoping for a few wild ales, which i associate with the grape beers of italy and belgium, but the selection is still great, even though i hope those are on the way. i cant wait to see what they come up with next! bravo!