Innovative DENVER breweries

Hogshead specialises in British style session and cask beers. Call to Arms has a nice selection of beers inciuding some more obscure styles.

 

There are a fair number of places that are so innovative you can't even drink their beer.

 

I hear Coors has a Radler.... thought that was pretty innovative of them.

 

Maybe Former Future. Their black project series beers are doing some pretty cool stuff.

 

Baere Brewing had about six or seven different barrel aged beers last time I was in there; including, an incredible Frambruin. Definitely would recommend checking them out. TRVE is also across the street.

 

True words, but he won't be able to find any Black Project at the brewery since each release has sold out.

 

In all seriousness, I think most of the places that are truly going the experimental/innovative route are putting out a lackluster product. Former Future, Mockery, (and of course, Avery) would probably be exceptions.
At least unless you consider making high quality beer innovative.

My opinion of course, but for every Dogfish Head there are 3-4 breweries making a mess and selling it for $6 a pint.

 

Black Shirt runs the gamut on styles but they're all red in color...so there's that. Pretty solid offerings and good atmosphere.

Caution: Brewing tends to use a lot of different spices and stuff. Atmosphere is pretty tame but the brews are solid if you're into "innovative" ingredients.

 

Saint Patricks in Littleton is an all-lager brewery.

Grimm Brothers always has some unique, old style beers going. Their taproom is out of your driving range and not sure if many/any places would carry those pilot beers on draft down in Denver, but might be worth keeping a lookout for by the odd chance you come across it.

 

while driving from DIA stop by Stapleton tap to see a great selection from beers across the state. check their facebook page for an update taplist. otherwise check out falling rock for lots of options.

while in Denver:
Strange: pushing some fun fruited beers, other styles as well
Wit's End: pushing the styles and won both GABF and World Beer for Jean Claude von Blond
Hogshead: great British style and you can do a cask/ CO2 comparison of a few on tap
Crooked Stave: sours and other things funky. don't go if you don't like funk
Caution: spiced beers and other fun concoctions.. Their Earl Grey is a fun beer
Former Future: now has sours on tap all the time and maybe you get lucky with a new release.

 

I'd second Call to Arms since they're brewing some obscure historical (essentially extinct) styles. And Caution and Wit's End definitely like to play with some funky ingredients. Copper Kettle could be another good one.

 

Denver Beer Co.....

 

i wanted to mention Baere as most of the usual suspects have been mentioned...but I see @MtnSoup beat me to it.

IMO this brewery is much, much better than when it opened and I would expect it to start showing up on an increasing number of local top ten lists as time goes on.

I also think Caution is appropriately mentioned here as being truly creative with Danny's unique use of asian ingredients.

 

I thought Platt Park had some more innovative stuff the last time I went in (Japanese lager, vanilla-forward cream ale, watermelon berliner weisse). Plus that brewery just rocks and I like recommending them.

 

Couldn't agree more. It was all over the place when they opened - likely in no small part to the fact they had no brewing equipment (as they got screwed by a small manufacturer). Now...well, I'd say they're creating some of the better beers on that entire side of Denver. They consistently have 3-4 sours on tap, and it's a rare day when they have less than 10 total beers to choose from. Their barrel-aged stouts are really impressive. Aged in Laws barrels. Can't wait for the rye versions. Their Baere-Liner is great - had a gin barrel aged version the other day there that was very interesting. They're definitely experimenting with different things...

 

I love Platt Park, I wish it was my neighborhood brewery