Beer is part of Denver's identity. The city is home to Colorado's first brewpub, hosts the Great American Beer Festival, and pours some of the most admired lagers and hazy IPAs in the country. Its whiskey makers have caught up fast too.
This is our curated ranking, based on the quality of what's in the glass and how good the taproom is to spend an afternoon in, and cross-checked with the live Google rating shown beside each one.
The Denver Moments Index
The 13 best breweries and distilleries in Denver, curated.
A curated list, cross-checked with the MICHELIN Guide where it applies. Beside each one, its rating on Google Maps, live, and a tap to Yelp and Tripadvisor to compare. Prefer the crowd's view? Sort by Google rating.
13 breweries
- 01
Cerebral Brewing
Denver taprooms · Congress Park
One of the most admired breweries in the country, known for hazy IPAs and precise lagers. The original Congress Park taproom is small and friendly, with more taprooms in West Highland and Aurora.
- Beer lovers
- IPA
- Locals' spot
- 02
Cohesion Brewing
Denver taprooms · Clayton
A Czech-style lager brewery pouring through traditional side-pull faucets. A pilgrimage for anyone who loves a properly poured pilsner.
- Lager
- Beer lovers
- 03
Ratio Beerworks
Denver taprooms · RiNo
A RiNo favorite with a punk-rock spirit, a big patio and a second taproom in Overland. Easygoing and always busy on a sunny afternoon.
- Patio
- Groups
- Dog-friendly
- 04
Great Divide Brewing Co.
Denver taprooms · RiNo
One of Denver's best-known breweries and the maker of Yeti imperial stout. The RiNo taproom is the place to taste the classics fresh.
- Beer lovers
- Classics
- Groups
05
Photo: Wynkoop Brewing Company · Google Wynkoop Brewing Company
Denver taprooms · LoDo
Colorado's first brewpub, a block from Union Station, with a full menu and room for a crowd. A piece of Denver history that still pours good beer.
- Historic
- Food on site
- Groups
- 06
Odell Brewing Five Points Brewhouse
Denver taprooms · Five Points
The Fort Collins favorite's Denver brewhouse at 30th and Larimer, with small-batch beers you won't find at the original. A relaxed stop between RiNo galleries.
- Beer lovers
- Patio
- 07
Denver Beer Co.
Denver taprooms · Jefferson Park
The Platte Street original has a garage-door patio, food trucks and an easy walk from Union Station over the Millennium Bridge. A sunny-day classic.
- Patio
- Dog-friendly
- Groups
- 08
Comrade Brewing
Denver taprooms · Southeast Denver
A southeast Denver taproom with award-winning IPAs, a morning coffee counter and an active community calendar. A worthy detour near the Tech Center.
- IPA
- Beer lovers
- Locals' spot
- 09
Station 26 Brewing Co.
Denver taprooms · Central Park
A brewery in a converted firehouse with a big lawn, food trucks and a neighborhood crowd. Relaxed and family-friendly.
- Families
- Dog-friendly
- Patio
- 10
Leopold Bros.
Distilleries · Northeast Denver
A family distillery that malts its own grain on a traditional malting floor, a rarity in American whiskey. Saturday tastings and tours are a treat.
- Tours
- Whiskey
- Saturdays
- 11
Laws Whiskey House
Distilleries · Overland
A grain-to-glass whiskey house with a second-floor cocktail lounge and tours by reservation. Thoughtful, quiet and excellent.
- Tours
- Whiskey
- Cocktails
12
Photo: P D (Philbert) · Google Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey
Distilleries · Valverde
The distillery that put Colorado whiskey on the map, with tours, guided tastings and a cocktail lounge on South Kalamath. A favorite for groups.
- Tours
- Whiskey
- Groups
- 13
New Belgium Brewing
Worth the drive · Fort Collins
The home of Fat Tire, about an hour north of Denver, with tours, a lively tasting room and a riverside campus. Tours are ticketed, so book ahead.
- Tours
- Day trip
- Groups
Good to know
RiNo has the densest cluster of taprooms, with Ratio, Great Divide and Odell's Five Points brewhouse a short walk apart. Cerebral, Cohesion and the distilleries are spread across the city, so plan the route before you set out, and leave the car behind.
Driving back from the mountains? Golden, home of the Coors brewery, sits right on the way; see our day trips from Denver. The Great American Beer Festival is the big event of the beer year; check the Denver events calendar for its next dates.
The drinking age in Colorado is 21, so bring ID. If you've just flown in, pace yourself on the first day at 5,280 feet and drink water between pours.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best brewery in Denver?
Our first pick is Cerebral Brewing, followed closely by Cohesion Brewing for lagers. Both are worth planning a visit around.
Which Denver neighborhood has the most breweries?
RiNo, the River North Art District. Ratio Beerworks, Great Divide and Odell's Five Points brewhouse are a short walk apart.
Can I tour a whiskey distillery in Denver?
Yes. Leopold Bros. runs Saturday tastings and tours, Laws Whiskey House offers tours by reservation, and Stranahan's has tours and guided tastings.
Is New Belgium Brewing in Denver?
No, it's in Fort Collins, about an hour north. It makes a good day trip from Denver.