The Best Breweries in Denver Right Now

For the best beer in Denver, head to these breweries.

If it’s not known for its outdoor way of life, Denver is most certainly known for its love of beer. There are 400+ breweries throughout the state of Colorado, with more than 150 sitting in Denver alone, meaning you probably can’t walk more than a few blocks without stumbling upon one. The greatest part about Denver’s collective love of beer—aside from the fact that it promotes such community and camaraderie—is that the brewers and beer-slingers here all have their own unique twist to offer. You can take a seat at a spot in LoHi that specializes in German-style brews or get your ultimate sour fix just beyond Sloan’s Lake. The spectrum of beers available is vast, and the folks behind the magic stay plugging away at their craft each and every day so that Denverites may cheers and rejoice with their IPAs, amber ales, porters, and stouts. Here are some of the absolute best breweries in Denver, in no particular order.

Call to Arms Brewing Company
Call to Arms Brewing Company

Berkeley
This brewery has a perfect locale, opening itself up to all the foot traffic of Tennyson Street while occupying a tucked-away space that feels like you stumbled upon a Secret Beer Garden (and maybe you very well did). The taproom is cozy, the patio spacious, and the beers quite obviously made with love. There’s a quality brew for everyone here, whether you’re into oatmeal porters, Denver-style IPAs, or dark Czech lagers, all three of which are some of Call to Arms’ year-round favorites.

Station 26 Brewing Co.
Station 26 Brewing Co.

Park Hill
This Park Hill brewery resides in what was formerly a Denver fire station, hence the name. And if you thought other Colorado breweries were laid back, just you wait. There’s plenty of space for sipping and mingling, indoors or out on the dog-friendly patio, and while Station 26 doesn’t have its own kitchen, a fleet of local food trucks are always in rotation. Seasonal is taken seriously here, featuring winter beers like the Naked Eternal Descent Russian Imperial Stout, but classics like the brewery’s flagship Juicy Banger IPA are classics for a reason.

Zuni Street Brewing Company
Zuni Street Brewing Company

LoHi
This brewery is, as you might’ve guessed, just off LoHi’s Zuni Street, and conveniently sees much of the Downtown Denver or fresh-off-I25 traffic, plus a ton of neighborhood regulars. Head brewer and owner Willy Truettner has some unique experience under his belt, having studied German-style brewing hands on in Munich, prior to launching his Denver brick and mortar. Now (and since 2017), Truettner brews a variety of German- and Belgian-style beers, from Kolsches and lagers to stouts and golden ales. Definitely test out the award-winning Belgian wheat beer, Way West Wit.

Our Mutual Friend Brewery
Our Mutual Friend Brewery

Five Points
Small but mighty, the beers here simply never quit. You may have noticed OMF’s vibrant and enticing exterior, or maybe the swell of lively conversation from its patio drew you in. However you got here, settle in for refreshing, thoughtfully crafted beers that incorporate local ingredients however and whenever possible. You’ll find standards on the tap list, from hoppy IPAs to dark and malty stouts, but smoked wheat beer like One Sunday Morning or wine barrel fermented saisons like Slow Tale keep the menu selections interesting and unique.

Cerebral Brewing
Cerebral Brewing

Congress Park
Cerebral purports to combine scientific methodology and an artistic viewpoint to every brew it churns out. The menu is constantly changing, with limited releases coming out nearly every couple of weeks. The beers are always creative, with names like Unstable Gateway, Actionable Intelligence, and Luminous Glow, showcasing flavors like Gooseberry, Lemon Meringue, and Pink Starburst. Keep an eye out for their second location in the Aurora Arts District, coming soon.

The Grateful Gnome Sandwich Shoppe  Brewery
The Grateful Gnome Sandwich Shoppe & Brewery

Berkeley
Just across from the Oriental Theater is a sandwich shop, brewery, bar, and a Grateful Dead listening party all under one roof. You want food? There are 58 varieties of sandwiches, both hot and cold, including several that feature Taylor Ham. The beer veers towards the traditional, with several hoppy IPAs joined by the slightly more outlandish Tart Cherry Sour and lemon zest Kolsch.

Crooked Stave Denver Taproom
Crooked Stave Denver Taproom

Sunnyside
Crooked Stave is another one of Denver’s great OGs of all things sour. Opened in 2010, the brewery stays serving a range of fruited, hopped and legitimately massive brews. This is one of the city’s real institutions, and has always been emblematic of the community’s tendency towards keeping things on the cutting edge. To best understand the place, try the signature Sour Rose, fermented in oak with raspberries and blueberries, then move on to one of its IPAs, pilsners, or petite sours. Limited or seasonal releases are often unique in their flavor profiles—like the Horchata Stout or Excelsior Chai sour—but are also worthy of sampling while you can get them.

Odell Brewing Co
Odell Brewing Co

Five Points and Sloans Lake
If you’ve sat at a Denver bar and asked about any sours on tap, the chances are high that said sour was Odell’s Sippin’ Pretty. But beyond its bright pink, fruited sour honing in on acai, guava, and elderberry are many a refreshing brew, from an array of other sours (like a lemonade and tropical) to crushable IPAs to golden ales to its limited-time Chocolate Milk Stout. The Sloan’s Lake outpost is also a pizza kitchen, serving up crave-worthy food pairings for your drink of choice and has a dog-friendly patio, rooftop patio, and live events on the reg.

Novel Strand Brewing Company
Novel Strand Brewing Company

Baker
Novel Strand keeps a tight menu of beautifully executed brews made from exceptional ingredients and a general commitment for doing things the long way—unsurprising for a head brewer who is, quite literally, a microbiologist. Currently on the menu under “Classiques” is Ninja Sh!t, a special Schwarzbier brewed with all German malt, Hallertau Tradition hops, and proper German lager yeast, fermented and layered over the course of more than eight weeks. If a “crisp, clean lager with the softest, sneakiest kiss of darkness” sounds up your alley, that’s the one to try.

 Briar Common Brewery Eatery
Briar Common Brewery + Eatery

Jefferson Park
When you step into Briar Common, it feels a little bit more like a restaurant than a brewery. While the beers are certainly reputable, the food menu is approached with a zeal that’s more advanced than many of its peers. There are a variety of stacked burgers and sandwiches, including a grilled ham and cheese, plus fish and chips, Nashville hot chicken, and shareable snacks too. Try out the High Desert, a French rye saison with rosemary and lemon peel, or the Bees Knees raspberry honey blonde.

Great Divide Barrel Bar
Great Divide Barrel Bar

Ballpark, RiNo, DIA, and Castle Rock
At least as far as Denver’s city limits go, it’d be hard to argue that there’s a brewery with a portfolio as impressive as Great Divide’s. Year in and year out, the now four locations have served refreshing suds across the spectrum, and now is as good a time as any to raise a glass at the cozy Coors Field location or the impressive facility on Brighton Boulevard. Sample “Year Round Favorites” like the Yeti imperial stout, Denver pale ale, or Wild Raspberry fruited ale, rotating seasonal flavors, or even its line of Whitewater hard seltzers.

New Belgium Brewing
Courtesy of New Belgium Brewing

RiNo
Part of The Source Hotel and Marketplace, New Belgium is not only filling the taps at The Woods with some of its favorites but also brewing a handful of specialty suds in its facility on the ground floor. Best of all is the view of the Rockies, which provide a perfect backdrop for knocking back a Fat Tire.

Dos Luces Brewery
Dos Luces Brewery

Platt Park
Dos Luces is by no means a traditional beer brewery, generally specializing in Peruvian and Mexican beverages including chicha, pulque, tepache and hard agua frescas. Every in-house beer is brewed using blue corn that’s malted in Colorado, meaning even gluten-free beer enthusiasts can enjoy whatever’s on tap. But guest rotations are regular, too.

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Colin St. John is a Thrillist Contributor.
Colin Wrenn is a Thrillist Contributor.
Erica Buehler is a Denver-based freelance writer and editor. Follow her @e_buehler on Instagram and @e_buehler_ on Twitter for more updates on Denver food and other Mile High shenanigans.