Music + kid friendly taprooms in Denver?

My wife and I have taken our two boys into most taprooms with no problem. We always go early to avoid the crowds. Most live music at the breweries around here won't start until later in the night. TRVE is entirely to loud to bring any kid of any age into! We like to go to taprooms with some kind of patio area so the boys don't feel cooped up. Odell has a great patio area. Great Divide and River North have pretty small taprooms so I'd try to get there early and grab a table. Also, Highway U.S. 36 going from Lyons into Estes Park (RMNP) is being worked on. Lots of closures and delays. Sorry my response was all over the place! Have a great trip.

 

Quite frankly kids are welcome everywhere. There aren't any ball pits or anything but I've never heard of a brewery/taproom here that takes issue. Some like Copper Kettle and Stapleton Taphouse have various board games and playing cards around to entertain.

I can't help much on the music, I rarely pay attention. The only other brewery that I noticed that proclaims their taste in music is Black Sky, which also has a metal theme.

Otherwise I hear basically oldies, 80s (which isn't old yet dammit), blue grass is popular. But I couldn't tell you if a brewery plays any style in particular.

 

This could be helpful... http://www.5280.com/magazine/2013/02/ultimate-guide-craft-brewing-denver

 

I recently got back from a Denver trip with my wife and 4 year old son. The two spots I would recommend are Backcountry pizza in Boulder (better than hops and pies IMHO) and Grist Brewing in Highlands Ranch they had board games for the kids.

 

I wouldn't consider music a selling point, or maybe I should say point of emphasis, for any of the FC breweries. Equinox is the first place that comes to mind in FC when I think taproom and music, they seem to lean towards the aforementioned bluegrass music and they do provide live music on Thursdays (I think...never been, just see random postings on their Facebook page). They're another place with board games, I have seen children there in the past plenty of times too.

Odell has music playing and if the weather is nice outside, I'd say would probably be the most kid friendly place of the bunch in FC. Can't say I pay much attention to the music they play, as their selections usually aren't my thing, but probably in line to more upbeat classic rock/bluegrass. They also built a stage outside so do have live music there at times as well. Can't say how regular that is (or isn't).

 

Not a brewery, but Lowry Beer Garden is a great kid friendly place. There's a play area, board games, and usually plenty of other kids running around. And always a solid rotating selection of Colorado beers on tap.

Station 26 is worth checking out- good beers, big patio, lots of kids, usually a food truck. And we've taken our kids to Dry Dock on occasion- not as much room to run, but the popcorn machine can keep them entertained long enough to try a flight.

 

I've taken my kids into almost all the places on that list. I waited to head to TRVE until I had a babysitter. It's not the greatest for kids.

 

LBG on a Friday/Sat/Sun afternoon and evening during the summer is pretty much insane. It looks like a postapocalyptic world where children took over and are running amok! It's just controlled enough to make it work though and the food makes up for it.

And don't get me started on S26 - I like their stuff but, to absolutely NO ONE'S surprise, they have been completely overrun by MFS (Mother Fucking Stapletonians). I can't go to that brewery after 5pm or on a weekend anymore. I swear to christ that people who move to Stapleton have to first check off a box "Will you promise to be a shitty parent?" on their lease or mortgage docs before they let them move in. As a parent - KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR FUCKING CHILD, assholes, and respect that this is FIRST A BREWERY, maybe your terrible kids shouldn't be running around and screaming at a BREWERY.

Whew. Much better. /rant

 

Southern Sun is a good place for kids, but to hell with the music.

 

If the bartender with the huge beard is at Backcountry, there's a good chance you're hearing the Wu-Tang Clan. And Wu-Tang is for the children so you should be set.

 

I highly disagree with your descriptions of Avery, Backcountry, and Funkwerks. But that's okay - more awesomeness for me!

 

And the Stapleton monster rears it's ugly head again
There was a fun thread about the vibe there on the Westword Facebook page last week.
No matter what you read from either side of the equation - the reality is much more extreme.
I think it might be the most divisive taproom in the state, and none of it relates to the beer.

 

There's a restaurant with beer on tap for families that is perfect for kids.
It's called Chuck E. Cheese.
M'just sayin'...

 

The issue at Station 26 (aka. the Stapleton brewery ) isn't families or individual children. It mainly relates to their patio being perceived as a public park rather than a business...especially one selling beer.

 

Hahaha, yeah - that comment was started from me. I wrote that in the Beer Man blog about the Top 10 Patios and the Editor in Chief picked it for the Comment Of The Day and the shitstorm went on from there, haha...