Denver Craft Breweries: The Complete Guide

Denver doesn't just like beer. Denver is obsessed with beer. There are over 100 craft breweries in the metro area, and you can walk between a dozen of them in neighborhoods like RiNo without breaking a sweat. The Great American Beer Festival happens here every fall, bringing 60,000 beer lovers to sample 4,000+ beers.

Colorado pioneered the craft beer movement alongside the Pacific Northwest, and Denver sits at the center of it all. From basement nanobreweries to massive operations distributing nationwide, you'll find every style of beer made by people who genuinely care about what's in your glass.

Must-Visit Breweries

Great Divide Brewing is a Denver institution that's been brewing since 1994. Their Yeti Imperial Stout and Denver Pale Ale are Colorado classics. Two taproom locations - the original on Arapahoe and a newer Barrel Bar in RiNo - offer different vibes but the same quality.

Ratio Beerworks in RiNo has the best patio scene in Denver beer. The space is massive, the crowd is friendly, and the beers are consistently excellent. Dear You French Saison is the standout, but everything they make is solid.

Crooked Stave specializes in wild and sour ales that rival anything from Belgium. If you're into funky, complex beers, this is your spot. The taproom at The Source is intimate and focused entirely on the beer.

Cerebral Brewing in Congress Park makes some of the most technically impressive beers in Denver. Their hazy IPAs are phenomenal, and the small taproom has a serious but welcoming vibe.

TRVE Brewing combines heavy metal aesthetics with seriously good beer. Don't let the dark imagery fool you - these are thoughtful, well-crafted beers. The sours and wild ales are particularly impressive.

RiNo Brewery District

If you only have one day for beer, spend it in RiNo. You can walk between a dozen breweries without getting in a car, stopping for street art and food along the way.

A good crawl: Start at Epic Brewing for big, bold beers. Walk to Ratio for a patio beer. Hit Our Mutual Friend for something sour. Grab food at Denver Central Market. End at Bierstadt Lagerhaus for perfect German-style lagers.

Bierstadt deserves special mention - they make exactly one thing (Slow Pour Pils) and they make it perfectly. The 5-minute pour is part science, part theater, and the result is the best pilsner in Colorado.

Breweries by Style

If you love IPAs: Cerebral, WeldWerks (Greeley but worth the drive), Comrade Brewing, Station 26

If you love sours: Crooked Stave, Our Mutual Friend, TRVE Brewing, Amalgam Brewing

If you love lagers: Bierstadt Lagerhaus, Prost Brewing, Goldspot Brewing

If you love stouts: Great Divide (Yeti), Oskar Blues (Ten Fidy), Odell (Lugene)

If you want something unique: Black Project (spontaneous fermentation), Baere Brewing (small-batch experiments)

Brewery Tours

Coors Brewery in Golden is the big one. Yes, it's Coors - not craft. But the free tour of the world's largest single-site brewery is genuinely impressive, and you get free samples at the end. It's 20 minutes west of Denver.

Denver Beer Trail is a self-guided passport program hitting dozens of breweries. Collect stamps, earn prizes. It's free to join and a great way to explore beyond the obvious spots.

Several companies offer guided brewery tours by bus, bike, or on foot. These work well if you don't have a designated driver. Denver Brew Tours and Banjo Billy's are popular options.

Beer Bars (Not Breweries)

Sometimes you want variety rather than one brewery's lineup. Denver has you covered.

Falling Rock Tap House near Coors Field has 75+ taps of craft beer. During Great American Beer Festival, this becomes ground zero for the industry. The selection is phenomenal year-round.

First Draft lets you pour your own beer from 40 taps using a self-serve card system. It's fun for groups and perfect for indecisive drinkers who want small pours of many things.

Hops & Pie combines excellent pizza with a curated tap list heavy on Colorado beers. The vibe is casual and the combinations work perfectly.

Tips for Brewery Hopping

Pace yourself. At 5,280 feet, alcohol hits differently. The altitude makes beer more potent than you're used to. Drink water between beers and eat food.

Use rideshare. Don't drive between breweries. Uber and Lyft are everywhere, or pick a walkable district like RiNo.

Ask for flights. Most taprooms offer 4-5 small pours for $10-15. It's the best way to sample widely without getting destroyed.

Talk to bartenders. Denver brewery staff are passionate and knowledgeable. Tell them what you like and they'll steer you right.

Check hours. Many taprooms are closed Monday/Tuesday and have limited hours midweek. Weekend afternoons are prime time.