5) Denver Beer Company: Vibe, vibe, vibe. Could be the range of beers, could be the packed tables outside overlooking one of over a dozen new construction projects in Denver, could be the bike-toting crowd of attractive beer-guzzlers clamoring to be served, could be the dogs and proximity to Confluence Park and South Platte River Trail. Whatever the formula is, Denver Beer Company seems to have it. Recommended Beer: Summit Sunrise Rye Beer (local favorites are the Graham Cracker Porter, Incredible Pedal IPA, and Sun Drenched, an IPA / Pale Ale hybrid.)
4) Prost: Because sometimes, you want a giant stein of beer. This German-run and themed establishment is over two pedestrian only bridges into the Lower Highlands (LoHi) neighborhood, and has a lovely space that includes a wide open view of Denver's Lower Downtown area (LoDo). This is a great place to recharge between higher ABV ales, if you prefer that to water. Or pair with water. Recommended Beer: Kolsch (local favorites are the Kolsh, and the Marzen Oktoberfest, when in season).
3) Crooked Stave: The newest of the breweries on this list, the Crooked Stave shares space with some great restaurants and retailers in a beautifully-designed marketplace called The Source. Crooked Stave specializes in everyone’s (but not everyone’s) favorite beer fad: the sour. They do a great job with barrel aged sours in particular, and even sour skeptics will find something here that they like --- from the list of guest taps if nothing else. Recommended Beer: Nightmare on Brett (Brett Ale aged in Whiskey Barrels). I am told that the locals are embracing the Sour side, but experimental small batch nature of of Crooked Stave has not produced a totem.
2) Cerebral Brewing: I’m a sucker for the New England style, so perhaps it’s a foregone conclusion that Cerebral, which specializes in those hoppy little juice-bombs we all enjoy here in MA, would make the list. But this place boasted an eclectic crowd of sophisticated beer-dabblers, great and friendly service, and a burger truck parked outside. I’d be foolish not to mention it. Cerebral is located just south of City Park and East of the Bluebird Theater along world famous Colfax Avenue, a place where you find what you aren't looking for. Recommended Beer: Rare Trait IPA (local favorites are the Rare Trait IPA and You Do You a DDH Pale Ale).
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1) Avery Brewing Company: While this is certainly the largest brewery on my list (by a lot), I simply cannot hide the fact that Avery, based on my visit, is doing everything right. A massive and gorgeous space, amazing food (I had pork poutine and buffalo chicken legs and thighs --- yes, please), a diverse beer list ranging from IPAs to Stouts and some fantastic barrel-aged sours, with a few brewery-only experiments from time to time. I can’t help but give them the gold medal of my trip. Also, they have a beer called Trogdor: The Burminator. Enough said. Recommended Beer: Nox Reposado Barrel-aged dark sour. (local favorites are White Rascal and Ellie's Brown Ale).