Visiting Denver

Not a fan honestly... waaaaaaay too hoppy for me. I’ll still have one if I’m out somewhere, but always go with something else if I’m at the beer store

 

@ManBearPat is not an anomaly. I still enjoy yeti, but miss the old variants. RIP espresso oak aged yeti.

 

Ironically, I’ve had much better food experiences compared to beer during the past few trips to Denver.

Jovanina’s, Leroux, Call, wolf’s tailor, plimoth, senor bear, etc all had dishes that would compare to top foodie cities across the country.

Don’t sell yourselves short on the dining options, and at the same time, y’all could tone it down about with the number of “world class” breweries you’re blessed with

 

I'm heading out for the Browns game Sunday and then a customer meeting Monday. Meeting Monday is near Columbine/Wolhurst/Highlands Ranch, any recommendations for a beer bar or brewery for Monday and MNF?

This thread was very helpful for Saturday night / Sunday

 

GO BROWNS!!!!

I have no insight into your question, but the Browns Backers chapters from the various front range cities will be meating just southeast of the Burger King on Federal boulevard. Last year it was the best tailgate around and was followed by a big ole W!!!! Let’s hope we can get another one...

 

Sadly I think I'm signed up for the work commitment part for pre-game with our customers. But hoping to break out my Victory Monday travel mug in the meeting on Monday.

 

Got mines a few weeks ago, but there hasn’t been a Victory Monday since

 

I thought my Denver based team would have pre-game covered. Any solid lunch/brunch places walking distance to the stadium to take customers?

 

I assume the Sante Fe/C-470 area is what you are referring to for your Monday meeting. In that area I don't prefer any of the local breweries and instead would refer you to taphouses:

1. Jake's Brew Bar (downtown Littleton): best place in the area for a "curated" beer list and folks working there know their stuff. Only 2 TVs though, not really sports oriented, and they might even be doing a local bluegrass jam that night. Several bonafide sports bars within 2 blocks of here and some good restaurants.

2. Pint Room Littleton: Largest set of taps possibly in the state (around 170). Plenty of TVs, food is pretty good. Service and beer knowledge can be very up and down, and with that many taps you need to find out what's fresh.

3. Parrys Pizza Highland Ranch: 100 taps and the beer buyer gets lots of great stuff, plenty of TVs for watching the game. I'm not a big fan of the food here, very suburban feel and they tend to close on the early side.

 

There is a closer Parry's to that location, as well, in South Glenn. Just as good tap list, less crowded, bigger bar, and newer interior.

 

Heading in to town Thursday night for a weekend of eating, drinking and exploring. We are staying in RiNo. I have been to OMF before, but open to any other good local suggestions. Will probably avoid the bigger breweries.

 

Avoiding Odell is a mistake, IMO. Bigger but still amongst the state's best.

Bierstadt if you enjoy lagers. Epic is also one of my favorites in the area. Freshcraft and Falling Rock for beer bars, I always enjoyed the food at Freshcraft...though still feel the sting of them dumping their schnitzel entree.

 

Prost, Black Shirt, Ratio, all good - but +1 on a visit (even if it's for honorary purposes) to Odell.
Crooked Stave, too, all depends on your tastes/desires/preferred styles. Have fun.

 

There aren't many "bad" spots in RiNo left. Unless you roll into places you never see mentioned here, you aren't going to have a bad time. Even then, for all I know they've upped their game, too. When I go down there I usually hit up Epic, Ratio, Bierstadt, Odell, and either Finn's Manor or OMF. If you're further west, Crooked, Mockery, NB, Blue Moon, and the GD Barrel Cellar are fine stops too.
I'm still a believer that the Falling Rock is the best stop in the region, so I'd prioritize them #1, though.

 

Headed to Denver early february and going to hit a lot of the spots mentioned, definitely cerebral, falling rock, bierstadt, and black project. I like NEIPAs, fruited sours and lagers, wife likes those minus NEIPAs so those seem like good places to go. I have a question though. Is weldworks worth a drive? With my wife so have to convince her it would be worth it (is there anything to do/see in greely?). If I can get cans and/or draft in Denver then that makes my decision much easier. Im also headed to breckenridge for a couple days to ski and will be hitting up Outer Range (probably on the way there and back), anything else worth hitting up in Breckenridge or on the way. Open to other nonbeer recommendations as well. TIA

 

You can find cans/drafts of Weldwerks more common offerings in Denver. Maybe try those and if you don't like them, that might answer your question on whether the trip to Greely is worth it.

 

Tough call, depending on # of days you have to play with, quite honestly. Weldwerks is a great place as is Wiley Roots a few steps away from WW, but Greeley itself? Well... maybe not. And the stretch between Denver and Greeley has to be one of the butt-ugliest drives you can make in Colorado (seriously). The other aspect we noticed (from a long ways out of town) about Greeley was the agri-smell (cow shit, etc) from miles away. It's a lingering tang over the small town, which is otherwise kinda charming. Hope this helps decide it. Enjoy your visit, regardless!

 

Thanks! I have had WW and liked it alot though that was probably 2 years ago. Id love to bring some cans home so if I can find them and draft in Denver then probably wont go.

Also probably hitting up Boulder for a day, whats good beer/food wise there? And any recommendations for Breckenridge? Thanks

 

On the fruited sour front, you're unlikely to find many better than the beers from Casey. Bottles can be found in Denver at most larger stores. Grapevine is where I'd recommend. If you make it to Breckenridge, you'll pass Basecamp in Frisco. They have a really good selection of bottles. Outer Range is just across the street from them, too. They have some of the best NEIPA's in CO. They do non-wild saisons and abbey'ish beers well, too.
Baker's and Broken Compass are both in that area and both produce really good beers as well. If you have time, Glenwood Springs is about 70 miles west of Breck. That's where Casey is located. You'll pass Bonfire and Vail Brewing on the way.

 

Avery, Finkel & Garf, and Upslope are all in Boulder. Avery has really good food and their taproom is killer. Finkel & Garf are brewing some great beers and are under the radar nationally, I think. Definitely worth trying in my opinion, and they're right down the street from Avery. If you haven't had Upslope in a while, try them again. I think a lot of people have forgotten about them for whatever reason, but they brew some bad-ass beers. I like eating at Post in Boulder, though they have locations in Denver too. It's a fried chicken place that's also a brewery. Their beers are quite good and the fried chicken and sides are top-notch.

I'm not sure about breweries to try in Breckenridge (Breckenridge Brewery is pretty sub-par, in my opinion), but if you're a whiskey guy, Breckenridge Distillery has some damn good whiskey and food, but it ain't cheap. If you're going to Outer Range, Dillon Dam and Pug Ryan's are just a few minute's drive away in Dillon. Both have good food. I prefer Dillon Dam because the bar there is awesome. The beers I've had from both are solid. More traditional brew-pub styles. If you want some imports, head over to Ein Prosit Beer Hall in Frisco. Great sausages and always a killer lineup of German beers served by the liter. One of my favorite places to go. Make sure you drive around Lake Dillon too, if you have time. It's beautiful.