When in Rome, err, Denver
According to the GABF countdown clock at Falling Rock, there’s about 22 days until the start of the Great American Beer Festival. Could be a little more or a little less. Counting is hard.
The festival is sold out, but there are always tickets for sale on Craigslist and other such sites. But whether you got tickets or not, Denver has a lot of beer to offer outside the hallowed – scratch that – beer-drenched hall that is the Festival. Why, just within a few miles of the Convention Center, there are more than a dozen beer-centric establishments.
Before I get into what those are, I want to impress upon you that Denver does in fact have more to offer than just great beer. We have whiskey too!
This town is wonderful, and I implore you to explore it, should you find the time and the sobriety. Our local Yelpers are fantastic, so trust that site if you need a quick lookup. Grab a reindeer or wild boar hot dog, see a show or a show or a show, grab a book, or maybe even take a hike. And if you like dive bars – and I love dive bars – we have a few of those too.
But, in the end, you’re here for the beer. So let’s get to that.
I made a map on Google maps of about 15 beer places within 2-3 miles of the Convention Center. There are hundreds, if not thousands of them within 100 miles of downtown, so I decided to stick to walk-able and bike-ride-able from downtown. If you want a more complete map of the region, check out beermapping.com. Oh, and speaking of bicycles, we have an awesome bike rental program too.
Click the map to see the whole thing
In no particular order, here are the establishments I’ve pinned on the map. If you know of another I should add, please let me know. Click on the map for addresses, directions, etc.
Falling Rock
75 taps, 120 bottles, events every day, this is generally a good place to be. Full writeup.
Great Divide
It’s no secret I love this place. I think I mention them in every single article I write. Do yourself a favor and go there.
Euclid Hall
Brand new spot in town, tons of awesome beer and food. My friend Ryan is pimping out their tap list.
Mellow Mushroom
New location right downtown. 36 beers on tap, from the cold yellow fizzy to the crazy Belgians nom noms.
Strange Brewing
They just got started a few months ago and are rocking out. Go try their brews and support new micros.
Star Bar
Old dive turned into new dive with craft beer and liquors. You didn’t have a good time if you didn’t stop here.
Breckenridge Brewpub
One of the biggest production breweries around here, and right next to Coors Field to boot!
Cheeky Monk
Tons of Belgian awesomeness on tap and in bottles, plus great food. Try the mussels! Full writeup.
Vine Street Pub
Part of the Mountain Sun family, this place is one of the coolest spots in Denver. Great beer and guest taps too.
Thin Man
Funky little bar with a coffee shop attached. Right next to Vine Street.
Rackhouse Pub
I go here a bit too often. Amazing beer, liquor, food, and people. Full writeup.
Colt & Gray
I told the bartender I liked scotch, whiskey, and new things, and he made me a pre-prohibition style Old Fashioned. Amazing.
Wynkoop
Started by our current mayor in 1988 and still rocking right downtown.
Uptown Brothers Brewing
Yet another new beer place in Denver. Tons of good stuff now, brewing their own soon.
Pints Pub
Largest single malt scotch collection in.. America? At least this side of the Mississippi. They brew there as well. Full writeup.
[...] When in Rome, err, Denver [...]
Thanks for a great writeup, PJ!
I live in Denver (right next to GD:Tap Room, actually) – & I didn’t know about a handful of these places. In particular, I’ve walked past Star Bar a million times but never gone in. That’ll change this weekend!
Dan that’s awesome! Definitely check Star Bar out. Justin, the owner / bartender, will show you a good time. I’ve had… issues… going for only 1 drink and leaving 3 hours later..
I won’t be making it to the Great American Beer Festival this year
But WILL be at the beer bloggers conference in Boulder!
I’ll be coming into town a bit early too (probably on that Thursday) and being so close to Denver I seriously might have to add another day or so to the trip to visit some of these places and breweries like Great Divide.
This is an AWESOME list, LOVE it! You put a good deal of time into it I can see especially with the extra write ups, I really appreciate that even if I’m not going to make it there this year! Thanks!
Ilya
You could easily spend a week in Denver and not be bored. Let me know if you’re around before that conference, we’ll grab beers for sure.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Ashley V Routson, ratebeer, Beer Mapping Project, hookedonwinter (PJ), Pão e Cerveja and others. Pão e Cerveja said: RT @beermapping: RT @hookedonwinter Great beer places to visit near #GABF — http://bit.ly/bfr3q5 [...]
The Breckenridge you mention (Ballpark) does’nt brew. The production brewery is at 471 Kalamath, it also has better food and a lot more fun.
FWIW: Pints Pub doesn’t just have the largest selection of scotch west of the Mississippi….. It has the largest selection of scotch outside of Scotland (as in, largest in the world)
Mmmmm…biker jim’s hotdogs. Sooooo good!
Thanks for the list PJ! This list will come in handy.
It should be noted that Wynkoop offers pretzels so wonderful that we ordered a second basket immediately after devouring the first.
[...] around the city have scheduled their own events that highlight all things beer. Check out this link to see some of the establishments within walking/biking distance of the convention center for a [...]
[...] My buddy, beer blogger and Denverite PJ Hoberman has posted some excellent “to do” items for your GABF week. Check it out in his Hoppress piece HERE. [...]
this… is… too… awesommmmmme! it shall be used.
I’m re-posting my “Five things to do in Denver when you’re sober” story tomorrow with updated links. This is one of them. It’s awesome!
I’ll be at #BBC10, so I hope to see ya there!
This post might alleviate the sober condition.
Need a copy editor for my commenting. Title is “Five things to do in Denver when you’re (mostly) sober.”
Can’t imagine going to Denver and being COMPLETELY sober.
haha ok, that makes much more sense.
PJ,
Thanks for the tips. This will be my first time attending the GABF. Hopefully we can grab a beer. I will be at the Saturday early session.
Cheers