Best Breweries in Denver Colorado You Can’t Miss
LOOKING TO FIND THE BEST BREWS ON YOUR NEXT TRIP?
Being from Colorado, we have checked out several breweries, and the craft beer scene in Denver is one of the best in the country.
It wasn’t long ago that finding a local brewery meant a bit of a hunt. However, over the past several years, craft breweries have emerged in nearly every Denver neighborhood and small town across Colorado.
I’ll share not only the best breweries in Denver, but also a few you can try while exploring Colorado.
Best Breweries in Denver Colorado
From iconic taprooms to smaller, hidden gems, the Denver metro area is home to some of the famous breweries known for their creative brews and welcoming atmospheres. Some breweries do not offer food for purchase, while others have food trucks, and some provide full restaurant services.
Whether you’re planning a craft beer crawl or simply looking for the best breweries in Denver to visit, this list highlights some of the most popular and unique spots around town.
🍺 1. Wynkoop Brewing Co.
- Location: Downtown Denver
- Why it’s famous: Founded in 1988 by former Colorado governor John Hickenlooper, it’s Denver’s first craft brewpub and a pioneer in the local beer scene.
- Fun fact: Helped ignite the craft beer movement in Colorado.
🍺 2. Great Divide Brewing Co.
- Location: Ballpark District
- Why it’s famous: Known nationally for Yeti Imperial Stout, Denver Pale Ale, and over 18 GABF medals.
- Fun fact: Their original facility was in a former dairy plant downtown.
🍺 3. Bierstadt Lagerhaus
- Location: RiNo
- Why it’s famous: It’s renowned across the U.S. for its traditional German lagers, particularly its Slow Pour Pils.
- Fun fact: Known for one of the crispest lagers in America.
🍺 4. Cerebral Brewing
- Location: East Colfax
- Why it’s famous: Often cited by beer publications like Hop Culture for pushing IPA and barrel-aged boundaries.
- Fun fact: Combines beer and science with chalkboards detailing fermentation notes.
🍺 5. Ratio Beerworks
- Location: RiNo
- Why it’s famous: With a punk-rock spirit and a creative tap list, Ratio is well-known for its community events, rotating brews, and iconic Denver vibe.
Our Favorite Breweries (or Colorado Beer)
There are so many breweries to choose from, but not all of them we go to in person. A number of beers we can buy in our local stores, or if brewery is local we can pick up to go.
🍺 6. New Terrain Brewing
- Location: Golden
- Unique For: Location on North Table Mountain, a fun stop for hikers, bikers, and beer lovers. Known for its award-winning brews like Suntrip Wit and Rise & Climb Kölsch, the brewery also hosts popular live music events.
- Its huge outdoor patio, mountain views, and creative events like yoga sessions and seasonal festivals.
🍺 7. New Belgium Brewing
- Location: Fort Collins
- Unique For: Its employee-owned roots and eco-friendly initiatives, plus the original home of Fat Tire Amber Ale.
🍺 8. Odell Brewing Co.
- Location: Fort Collins
- Unique For: Family-owned with a focus on innovation; known for balanced, hop-forward beers and a stunning rooftop patio.
🍺 9. Wild Sky Brewery & Pickleball
- Location: Littleton ( Formerly Blue Spruce)
- Unique For: Colorado’s first-ever pickleball brewery, combines craft beer with two indoor pickleball courts, an arcade, cornhole, and video games—all under one roof. Their full kitchen cranks out tavern-style pizzas and burgers, and they regularly host trivia nights, live music, and family-friendly events.
🍺 10. Breckenridge Brewery
- Location: Littleton (originally Breckenridge)
- Unique For: Big beer meets local charm. Their Littleton campus is a riverside oasis with food, tours, and tastings.
🍺 11. Avery Brewing Co.
- Location: Boulder
- Unique For: Its bold, high-ABV beers with intense flavor—like ‘The Reverend,’ a Belgian-style quadrupel, and ‘The Maharaja,’ a hop-forward imperial IPA. Their modern taproom offers a wide selection in a welcoming space.
🍺 12. Over Yonder Brewing Company
- Location: Golden
- Live music hub near the foothills
- Its welcoming taproom, rotating food trucks, and commitment to live music almost every night of the week. It’s a favorite for locals who want a laid-back vibe with mountain views.
🍺 13. CODA Brewing Co.
- Location: Golden
- Beer inspired by music and science
- Founded by a molecular biologist and musician, CODA brews creative, small-batch beers with musical names and scientific precision. The brewery is known for experimental brews and collaborations with local artists.
🍺 14. Mountain Toad Brewing
- Location: Downtown Golden
- Brewery with a beer garden and community feel
- This cozy neighborhood brewery offers a dog-friendly outdoor beer garden, easy access to Clear Creek trails, and crowd-pleasing beers that reflect Golden’s adventurous spirit.
🍺 15. WestFax Brewing Company
- Location: Lakewood-West Colfax
- Right next to the iconic Casa Bonita
- WestFax is known for pushing creative boundaries with bold IPAs, pastry stouts, and barrel-aged beers. It’s a hidden gem that shares a wall with the legendary (and now owned by Matt Stone and Trey Parker) Casa Bonita.
Breweries at High Elevations
If you took the quiz on Colorado breweries and peaks, I thought it’d be fun to highlight a few breweries that may not be perched on a mountain summit—but they’re pretty close!
These breweries are located at some of the highest elevations in Colorado and offer incredible views, great beer, and that fresh mountain air you can’t beat.
🍺 16. Telluride Brewing Co.
- Location: Telluride
- Elevation: Around 8,750 feet
- Fun Fact: Surrounded by 13,000- and 14,000-foot peaks, this brewery serves up award-winning beers with breathtaking views and a laid-back mountain-town vibe.
🍺 17. Two Mile Brewing
- Location: Leadville (formerly Periodic Brewing)
- Elevation: 10,152 ft
- Fun Fact: As America’s highest-elevation brewery, It claims the crown for altitude. Brings a friendly vibe, crisp mountain air, and hearty brews that pair well with alpine adventures.
🍺 18. Broken Compass Brewing
- Location: Breckenridge
- Elevation: About 9,600 feet
- Fun Fact: Just a few minutes from the slopes, this locals’ favorite is a post-ski must-visit, especially their Coconut Porter.
🍺 19. Cabin Creek Brewery
- Location: Georgetown
- Elevation: 10,166 feet
- Fun Fact: One of Colorado’s highest-elevation breweries, right on the shores of scenic Georgetown Lake.
🍺 20. Elevation Beer Co.
- Location: Poncha Springs
- Elevation: 7,464 ft
- Fun Fact: Set midway between Salida and Buena Vista, Elevation brews with a “ski-slope” theme—its beers are ranked by difficulty (Green Circle to Double Black Diamond).
🍺 21. South Park Brewing
- Location: Colorado Springs (moved from Fairplay at 9,954 feet)
- Elevation: 6,035 feet
- Fun Fact: Situated near the Continental Divide, this brewery delivers craft beer with high-mountain flavor and unbeatable proximity to mountain adventures.
This list is just a sliver of the breweries in Colorado. With the iconic Coors Brewery being a trailblazer for breweries in Colorado, the industry has grown significantly and continues to do so.
It’s a vibe of activities like yoga and a brew, live music, trivia nights, ski waxing sessions, and more—a place for all ages and their furry friends.
