Quick answer
Denver has over 100 breweries and is one of the best craft beer cities in America. Cerebral Brewing is the Reddit consensus #1 for hazy IPAs, while Bierstadt Lagerhaus' slow-pour Pilsner is a national destination beer. RiNo is the best neighborhood for a walkable brewery crawl.
- Best overall
- Cerebral Brewing
- Best budget
- Ratio Beerworks — $5–$8
- Last verified
- 2026-03
Top verdicts
- Cerebral Brewing: Reddit's consensus #1 — scientific approach to hazy IPAs and experimental ales.
- Bierstadt Lagerhaus: Their seven-minute slow-pour Pilsner is a legitimate destination beer.
- Comrade Brewing: Superpower IPA is on every best-of-Colorado list for West Coast IPAs.
Denver boasts a vibrant craft beer scene, with pint prices typically ranging from $5 to $9. Our top recommendation for the quintessential Denver experience is Bierstadt Lagerhaus, renowned for its German-style lagers, especially during the warmer months when their outdoor patio is open.
Denver has over 100 breweries within the metro area, making it one of the densest craft beer cities in the United States. The Mile High City's combination of high altitude, outdoor culture, and pioneering spirit has produced a beer scene that rivals Portland, San Diego, and Asheville.
We analyzed 100+ Reddit posts and 500+ comments across r/COBeer, r/denverfood, r/CraftBeer, and r/Denver — spanning 2021 to 2025. Breweries were cross-referenced with GABF medal winners, Colorado Brewers Cup results, and beer industry publications. We weighted responses from Denver residents and regular visitors more heavily than tourist one-offs.
Craft Beer Map — Denver
How we built this list
We analyzed 100+ Reddit posts and 500+ comments across r/COBeer, r/denverfood, r/CraftBeer, and r/Denver — spanning 2021 to 2025. Breweries were cross-referenced with GABF medal winners, Colorado Brewers Cup results, Hop Culture rankings, and Eater Denver best-of lists. We weighted Reddit responses from Denver residents and Colorado beer enthusiasts more heavily than tourist one-offs.
1Cerebral Brewing
Hazy IPA & ExperimentalQuick comparison
- Best for
- Hazy IPAs and experimental ales in Denver's Congress Park neighborhood
- Strengths
- 4.7★ from 969 Google reviews · Reddit's #1 consensus pick · Scientific approach to brewing
- Limitations
- Not walkable from RiNo brewery district — separate trip required
- Price / value
- $5–$9 per pint · 4.7★
- Why it made the list
- Cerebral appears in virtually every Reddit thread about Denver beer. The scientific, methodical approach to brewing produces some of the most consistent and creative IPAs in Colorado.
- What to order
- Their rotating hazy IPAs are the main draw — whatever's freshest on the board. The barrel-aged stouts during winter release season are world-class.
2Bierstadt Lagerhaus
German LagersQuick comparison
- Best for
- German-style lagers and the famous slow-pour Pilsner in the RiNo district
- Strengths
- 4.4★ from 1,397 Google reviews · Nationally acclaimed lager program · RiNo location
- Limitations
- Limited style range — lager-focused only, no IPAs or stouts
- Price / value
- $6–$10 per pint · 4.4★
- Why it made the list
- Bierstadt is among the best lager breweries in the entire country. The slow-pour Pilsner takes seven minutes to pour and is worth every second. Located in RiNo, it's the perfect anchor for a brewery crawl.
- What to order
- The Slow Pour Pils is mandatory — a seven-minute pour of Czech-style Pilsner. The Helles and Dunkel are excellent. Don't skip the giant Bavarian pretzel.
3Comrade Brewing Company
West Coast IPAQuick comparison
- Best for
- Hop-forward West Coast IPAs — Superpower is a Denver legend
- Strengths
- 4.7★ from 640 Google reviews · Superpower IPA is iconic · Consistent award winner
- Limitations
- Located in southeast Denver, far from RiNo/downtown brewery district
- Price / value
- $5–$8 per pint · 4.7★
- Why it made the list
- Comrade is the top dog for hoppy beers in Denver. Superpower IPA is on everyone's list for top West Coast IPAs in Colorado.
- What to order
- Superpower IPA is the mandatory first pour. Fresh Hop Superpower during fall harvest is even better. Try More Dodge Less Ram DIPA for more intensity.
4TRVE Brewing Company
Dark & ExperimentalQuick comparison
- Best for
- Dark ales, wild fermentation, and one of the most unique taproom vibes in Denver
- Strengths
- 4.6★ from 834 Google reviews · Completely unique aesthetic · Excellent sour and dark ale program
- Limitations
- Not for everyone — the heavy metal vibe and dark beer focus may not suit IPA-only drinkers
- Price / value
- $5–$9 per pint · 4.6★
- Why it made the list
- TRVE is unlike any other brewery in Denver. The heavy metal-inspired taproom plays doom metal, serves dark experimental ales, and attracts a devoted following.
- What to order
- Rotating dark ales and mixed-culture sours are the stars. Nazareth (berliner weisse) is approachable. Barrel-aged options are exceptional.
5Ratio Beerworks
All-RounderQuick comparison
- Best for
- An excellent all-around brewery with a standout patio in RiNo
- Strengths
- 4.7★ from 867 Google reviews · Diverse tap list · Prime RiNo location · Great outdoor space
- Limitations
- Jack of all trades — doesn't specialize like Cerebral (IPA) or Bierstadt (lager)
- Price / value
- $5–$8 per pint · 4.7★
- Why it made the list
- Ratio does everything well. IPAs, lagers, stouts — consistently diverse and good. The RiNo patio makes it the perfect first stop on a brewery crawl.
- What to order
- Dear You (French Saison) is their signature. Hold Steady (Hoppy Golden) is a crowd-pleaser. Seasonal IPAs are always well-made.
6Our Mutual Friend Brewing
Farmhouse & BelgianQuick comparison
- Best for
- Creative farmhouse and Belgian-inspired ales in a warm RiNo taproom
- Strengths
- 4.5★ from 707 Google reviews · Charming dive-bar-meets-brewery atmosphere · Unique farmhouse ales
- Limitations
- Smaller taproom can get crowded on weekends
- Price / value
- $5–$8 per pint · 4.5★
- Why it made the list
- OMF gives you that warm, fuzzy feeling every time you walk in. Specializes in farmhouse ales and Belgian-inspired styles. Pairs perfectly with Ratio and Bierstadt for a walkable crawl.
- What to order
- Their farmhouse ales and saisons are the draw. Try the Norwegian Smoked Dark Strong Ale or Wine Barrel Fermented Farmhouse Ale.
7Crooked Stave Brewing Company
Sour & Wild AlesQuick comparison
- Best for
- Wild ales, sours, and barrel-aged beers from Denver's original sour pioneer
- Strengths
- 4.8★ from 198 Google reviews · Pioneer of Colorado's sour ale scene · World-class barrel program
- Limitations
- Sour-focused — not ideal for hop-forward beer lovers
- Price / value
- $6–$10 per pint · 4.8★
- Why it made the list
- Founded on a PhD thesis about Brettanomyces yeast. Crooked Stave has been pushing sour and wild ale boundaries for over a decade. A pilgrimage for sour beer lovers.
- What to order
- Origins (flagship sour red ale) is essential. The Petite Sour series is approachable. Surette is one of the most respected American wild ales.
8Great Divide Brewery & Roadhouse
Legacy CraftQuick comparison
- Best for
- Iconic Colorado craft beers and barrel bar experience in RiNo
- Strengths
- Pioneer of Denver craft beer scene · Yeti Imperial Stout is legendary · RiNo Barrel Bar
- Limitations
- The downtown flagship can feel touristy; the RiNo Barrel Bar is the better experience
- Price / value
- $5–$9 per pint · 4.2★
- Why it made the list
- Great Divide is one of Denver's original craft breweries, founded in 1994. The RiNo Barrel Bar is excellent for barrel-aged beers. Yeti Imperial Stout is one of Colorado's most iconic beers.
- What to order
- Yeti Imperial Stout is the must-try — a Colorado icon. At the Barrel Bar, whatever barrel-aged variant is available. Titan IPA is a solid classic.
9Novel Strand Brewing Company
Mixed Culture & HazyQuick comparison
- Best for
- Creative small-batch beers blending mixed-culture fermentation with modern styles
- Strengths
- 4.6★ from 267 Google reviews · Highly creative brewing · Praised on beer lists
- Limitations
- Small taproom, limited production — popular beers can sell out quickly
- Price / value
- $6–$9 per pint · 4.6★
- Why it made the list
- Novel Strand has quickly become one of Denver's most exciting breweries. The small-batch approach means the tap list is always rotating with creative, boundary-pushing beers.
- What to order
- Whatever mixed-culture or farmhouse ale they're pouring. Hazy IPAs are excellent but the sour and wild ales are what make this brewery special.
10Black Shirt Brewing Co
Red Ales & PizzaQuick comparison
- Best for
- Red ale specialists with the best brewery food (craft pizza) in Denver
- Strengths
- 4.6★ from 944 Google reviews · Unique red ale focus · Excellent craft pizza · RiNo
- Limitations
- Narrower beer style range — focused on red ales and darker styles
- Price / value
- $5–$8 per pint · 4.6★
- Why it made the list
- Black Shirt is Denver's only red ale-focused brewery. The Craft Pizza Kitchen elevates it above the typical brewery snack bar.
- What to order
- Red IPA is the signature. Seasonal stouts and porters in winter. Always get a pizza — the craft pies are among the best brewery food in Denver.
11Hogshead Brewery
Cask-Conditioned AlesQuick comparison
- Best for
- Authentic English-style cask-conditioned ales — among the best in the country
- Strengths
- 4.6★ from 482 Google reviews · One of the best cask ale programs in the US · Cozy Highlands location
- Limitations
- Cask ales are not for everyone — served cellar-temperature, lower carbonation
- Price / value
- $5–$8 per pint · 4.6★
- Why it made the list
- Hogshead is among the best cask ale breweries in the entire country. If you appreciate English-style bitters, milds, and ESBs served through hand pumps, this is your brewery.
- What to order
- Whatever's on the hand pump. The ESB is their standard-bearer. The Mild is excellent for sessionable drinking.
12Spangalang Brewery
Five Points GemQuick comparison
- Best for
- Community-focused neighborhood brewery with excellent lagers in Five Points
- Strengths
- 4.6★ from 353 Google reviews · Strong community roots · Historic Five Points neighborhood
- Limitations
- Smaller and less well-known than RiNo breweries
- Price / value
- $5–$8 per pint · 4.6★
- Why it made the list
- Spangalang is the kind of brewery locals don't want to share. Tucked into Five Points, it combines excellent brewing with genuine community atmosphere.
- What to order
- Their lagers are the sleeper hit — crisp, clean, beautifully made. The American Wheat is refreshing on a Denver afternoon.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many breweries are in Denver?
Denver has over 100 breweries and taprooms within the metro area, making it one of the densest craft beer cities in the United States. Colorado as a whole has over 400 breweries. The RiNo (River North Art District) neighborhood alone has more than 10 breweries within walking distance of each other, making it one of the best brewery crawl destinations in the country.
What is the best neighborhood for brewery hopping in Denver?
RiNo (River North Art District) is the undisputed best neighborhood for brewery hopping in Denver. Within a two-mile stretch you can walk between Bierstadt Lagerhaus, Ratio Beerworks, Our Mutual Friend, Black Shirt Brewing, and Great Divide's Barrel Bar. The area also has excellent street art, food halls, and restaurants between brewery stops. For a secondary crawl, the South Broadway corridor offers TRVE Brewing and other spots.
What styles of beer is Denver known for?
Denver's craft beer scene is remarkably diverse. West Coast and hazy IPAs dominate at spots like Comrade Brewing (their Superpower IPA is legendary). Bierstadt Lagerhaus has become nationally acclaimed for German-style lagers — their slow-pour Pilsner is a destination beer. TRVE specializes in dark, experimental ales with a heavy metal aesthetic. Crooked Stave pioneered wild and sour ales. Denver also has strong traditions of Colorado amber ales, porters, and Belgian-inspired brewing.
How much does a pint cost at Denver breweries?
Pint prices at Denver breweries typically range from $5 to $9, with most standard pints around $6–$7. Flights (4–5 tasters) usually cost $10–$15. Specialty or barrel-aged pours may run $8–$12 for a smaller pour. Compared to major coastal cities, Denver craft beer is excellent value. Most breweries also offer happy hour specials on weekdays.
Is Denver good for craft beer tourists?
Denver is one of the best craft beer destinations in the world. The city hosts the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) every fall — the largest beer festival in the United States. The Denver Beer Trail, maintained by Visit Denver, maps out over 100 breweries by neighborhood. The city's altitude (5,280 feet) means alcohol hits harder, so pace yourself. Most breweries are walkable within neighborhoods, and rideshare is cheap between brewery districts.
What is the Great American Beer Festival?
The Great American Beer Festival (GABF) is held annually in Denver every fall (typically September or October) and is the largest beer competition and festival in the United States. Over 2,000 breweries submit beers for judging, and the public festival sessions pour thousands of beers over three days. Tickets sell out within minutes of going on sale. Even outside GABF week, Denver breweries celebrate with tap takeovers and special releases.
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