Top 14 Must-Visit Breweries in Denver This Year

There’s nothing like a refreshing pint in the Mile High City.

Much like the West Coast cities of Portland, Seattle, and San Diego, Denver is one of the best places to explore the bustling craft brewing scene.

According to Visit Denver, brewing in the city is nothing new. When miners and pioneers flocked to the state during the 1850s gold rush, many of these fortune seekers were also looking for some liquid gold — beer — to quench their thirst.

Adolph Coors, founder of Coors Brewing Company in Golden, Colorado, established one of the state’s first breweries — but as Prohibition took over the nation, Colorado’s beer scene quickly dried up, according to Visit Denver. Of course, other craft brew cities can tell a similar story.

Though brewing bounced back after Prohibition was repealed, it wasn’t until the 1980s that homebrewers began taking over by starting up their own local businesses, thanks to a law passed by President Jimmy Carter in 1978 that allowed people to brew in their homes, according to the Colorado Brewers Guild.

Some of the city’s first breweries, like Wynkoop Brewing Company, kicked off the microbrewing trend, making the state a “breeding ground” of quality craft brewers, according to the Colorado Brewers Guild. And today, the city hosts the Great American Beer Festival, where beer lovers can sample the nation’s best craft brews.

Colorado from up above

Methodology: We decided to take a sampling of some of the best and most recommended breweries from a number of expert and user-rated sites, including RateBeer, Tripadvisor, The Beer Connoisseur, and Beervana. We also took into account breweries that have been featured in other publications and local beer forums. While the breweries listed below are not necessarily ranked, each one has a special feature, whether it’s an attached restaurant, awards, honors, tours and tastings, an interesting space, or a unique method of brewing. All breweries were established or are headquartered in Denver and the Denver metropolitan area. Therefore, some beloved spots, like Left Hand Brewing Company in Longmont and New Belgium Brewing in Fort Collins, could not be included since these places are either part of other metropolitan areas or generally not considered to fall within the Denver suburbs. Here are 14 of the best breweries in Denver.

Wynkoop Brewing Company

Wynkoop is the brewery that kicked off the craft scene in Denver. It was first established in 1988 by four beer lovers, including Colorado’s former governor and mayor John Hickenlooper. Though it has humble beginnings as a homey brewpub in LoDo, it’s now a Denver institution that’s not afraid to experiment with flavors such as gummy bears, green chiles, and Rocky Mountain oysters (yes, you read that right).

Blue Moon Brewing Company

While Blue Moon has gone on to become a nationally loved brand, it all began in Denver in 1995. This company is particularly known for brewing its signature Belgian White beer with a hint of Valencia orange. Based on a Nielsen data survey, Blue Moon has become the number one craft beer in the U.S., according to the brewery’s website.

Cerebral Brewing

You don’t have to think too hard to realize this brewery is one of the best. Known by its signature brain-like hop leaf logo, Cerebral Brewing is a “scientific” approach to beer. The company was started by a former doctor of physical therapy who sought out brewing as a hobby — at first, anyway. Now, the company creates tons of dynamic concoctions like a fruited sour beer, an imperial coffee stout, and an array of IPAs and sours.

Call to Arms Brewing Company

Started by brewers from Avery Brewing Company in Boulder, this relaxed and unpretentious beer company is focused on bringing good beer to good people. Perhaps it’s a little old-fashioned — they typically forgo crazy flavors and experimental techniques — but Call to Arms is dedicated to local, traditional tastes in their beer and food, so it’s also a sustainable company that’s a neighborhood staple.

Trve Brewing Company

You better be hardcore if you want to try a brew from Trve (pronounced “true”). This company has been around since 2012, and they brew craft beers that have names like “Bloodaxe” and “Ageless Fire.” Some of their beers include French farmhouse ales, oak-fermented saisons, and cultured sours — and you can wash it all down with a fried chicken sandwich thanks to their partnership with Music City Hot Chicken.

Crooked Stave

Founded in Denver in 2010, Crooked Stave has already become both a Denver and Fort Collins staple. The modern artisanal brewery takes a progressive approach to brewing, focusing on creativity and sustainability first and foremost. Many of their beers are brewed with local, Colorado-grown ingredients and whole fruit.

Renegade Brewing

It’s not a Colorado beer without a little rebellion. Renegade Brewing’s story began when founder Brian O’Connell was given a homebrew kit for Christmas in 2005. In 2011, the brewery served its first pint. Now that it’s a household name, Renegade’s creative brews — including the Redacted Rye and Endpoint Triple IPAs — are a favorite among locals.

Great Divide Brewing Company

Great Divide, which opened in 1994, is one of the older craft breweries in Denver. Now, with four locations, it’s become a Colorado success story. The brewery has won more than 18 awards from the Great American Beer Festival over the years and has a barrel bar and taproom where you can enjoy their signature brews.

Dry Dock Brewing Company

Dry Dock is technically located in Aurora, but since it’s considered a Denver suburb, we’re including it. And Dry Dock is such an essential Colorado brewery, it would be a shame not to. Like many breweries in the state, it started with some homebrewers who wanted to turn their side hustle into a full-time business. Since opening in 2005, the company has taken home some serious awards, including silver for their Coconut Bligh’s Barleywine at the Great American Beer Festival 2020.

Bruz Beers

If you’re looking for Belgian-style beer, you’ve come to the right place. Bruz Beers’ taproom is expansive and relaxed, but their beer certainly isn’t. Crafting a wide range of lagers, ales, witbiers, and other Belgian brews, Bruz has a ton of hearty, refreshing, and fairly alcoholic offerings. Try the Quadrupel ale, a local favorite.

Cerveceria Colorado

A craft brewery concept from Denver Beer Company, Cerveceria Colorado uses time-honored Mexican ingredients in their beers such as cinnamon, chiles, nopal, chocolate, mole, lime, and agave. The company’s mission is to build a bridge between the diverse cultures of Colorado by opening their colorful, inclusive, and welcoming taproom.

Novel Strand Brewing Company

This company calls itself a “boutique” brewery since it focuses on small batches and an especially compact menu. The offerings include an IPA, a stout, and a witbier most of the time, which is different when compared to other Denver breweries and their mile-long menus. But this new little contender is starting slowly in order to bring the best beer possible to their customers.

The Grateful Gnome

Perhaps it’s a little stereotypical for Colorado to have a Grateful Dead-themed brewery, but the locals definitely don’t mind. And this brewpub isn’t just a craft brewery with lots of fun and experimental beers; it’s also a delicious, New Jersey-style sandwich shop with more than 40 different sandwich varieties. If you’ve been looking for the perfect lunch place, this is it. And yes, Dead cover bands play there sometimes.

Ratio Beerworks

This Denver microbrewery relies on a 20-barrel system that churns out eclectic beers like the Paradise Peach Hazy IPA and Major Nights Salted Sour Lime Ale. And while most come to Ratio for the beer, the ’90s-inspired brewery is also known for bringing live music and art exhibits to its location in the uber-hip RiNo neighborhood.