I realize this has been posted many times in here. Was going to bump an older thread but many are locked ... Anyway, I'll be in the Denver area in a few weeks and was looking for some recommendations. Mostly non-hazy IPA brewery recommendations and some good bottle shops. Looking for, in terms of breweries, anything somewhat unique (TRVE?) and sour stuff. Don't know the local distro but, bottle shops with Casey and the like would be a plus. I did some research on here but not many places have actual reviews, just ratings. TIA fellow beer nerds
If you're looking for non-hazy IPA: Comrade, Westbound & Down downtown taproom, Station 26. Cannonball Creek is worth the trek. Bierstadt Lagerhaus has only fantastic lagers. Cohesion is mainly Czech style. Hogshead for English & cask ales. You going to have a car? What part of Denver are you going to be around?
^ Pretty much follow this. Casey bottles will be available at beer-centric liquor stores, but don't expect 'em at a random hole in the wall store or anything like that. Here's where to look: https://caseybrewing.com/find-our-beer/
I typically have told out of towners that unless you are in the area the Westbound and Down Taproom downtown taproom is not worth visiting. It's very small and they just have things on tap you can get at stores. Worth it before a ballgame or a single drink if you're close but I don't advise going out of your way for it. The IPA breweries Dauss lised above are great recs but are very spread out. Might be worth to check the tap list at First Draft or Hops and Pie if you'd like to sample a little of each.
I live in central Denver and recently had beer loving house guests from CT. We went to Station 26 after airport pickup; Comrade; Cerebral; Bierstadt and Cohesion. I would repeat with the next set of visitors but might swap out S26 for 4 Noses Park Hill.
Yeah that sounds about perfect to me. The only other “can’t miss” brewery is Cannonball Creek. But pretty far out of the way.
Sure. I wouldn’t argue if someone said they were in the same tier. I guess I just personally gravitate to the smaller places. Plus I have some perhaps irrational anger with the breweries that have a millions hazy IPAs on tap with a new one coming out each week (a la Weldwerks).
I feel like Outer Range is at least a little divisive around here. You'll never hear anything bad about them, but I don't know if they're many people's favorite spot either. At least beer-wise. Their brewery location is pretty amazing. More than probably any place else in CO, they have that "all their IPAs taste the same" rep. I don't really disagree, either. Once you've tried In the Steep, Pillow Stacks, or Blocks of Light, you can kinda skip the other 200. I think it's because they don't usually lean super sweet so the differences in those 4-5 typical hop varieties don't pop as much. I knows tastes are subjective, but I've heard the "everything is pretty good, but kinda all the same" thing a whole bunch. It does lead to convenience, though. Every time I'm in a store I swear I see 5 new IPAs from them. Whenever I've bought any of them, I've been perfectly happy.
Piggy backing this thread rather than start a new one. Headed to Denver and wondering g what are some must have beers? I won’t have time to explore but I’ll be in a few restaurants and I’d like to be able to make an informed decision. I tend to go for hazy NEIPA style stuff, but open to anything that is a can’t miss beer really. Thanks in advance.
My kids and I will be in Aurora for one night this week before heading to Colorado Springs. Any decent breweries with a solid food menu? I’m thinking maybe Vine Street Pub but you have any ideas of places in Aurora, I would love to hear it! Thanks!!
Stanley Market is your best bet. Great for kids. Lots of food options. And Cheluna makes quality beer. Their export lager in particular is excellent.
I always forget about the Stanley Marketplace, but it's great. Lots of good food, and you carry stuff around and eat/drink where you want for the most part. Cheluna's beers are terrific, and there's a multitap beerhall + a Mr. B's in there, too. If you catch 'em on the right day, Rolling Smoke has some of the best southern pork BBQ in the area.
I have a love/hate relationship with the pour it yourself beerhall there. They usually have some good stuff on tap, but man when you do the math on what a 12 or 16 oz pour is costing you, those are some expensive beers. I don't think it's strictly allowed, but I've grabbed beer from Mr B's and poured it into a to go cup to drink there.
...don't know if you're interested in Colorado Springs breweries - but food and beer should be covered by OCC Brewing, Cerberus, and Phantom Canyon...
...they have some interesting beers, some outstanding, some pretty questionable...I haven't been to their location in ages and have no idea what their hours are...
