The Ultimate Guide to Denver’s Best Breweries

Denver is known as a destination for craft beer, and with so many breweries specializing in so many different styles, any fan of craft beer will find a lot to love in the Mile High.

While our lists, including the recently released 2026 edition of Best of Denver, typically explore options across the metro area, this time, we focused on breweries within city limits. As many food and drink businesses are making moves outside of Denver proper these days, we want to celebrate the beer makers finding success in the city, where the environment has been more challenging in recent years.

Here are our picks for the best breweries in every part of Denver right now:

Central Denver (Downtown, Ballpark, RiNo, Five Points)

Bierstadt Lagerhaus
2875 Blake Street
Bierstadt Lagerhaus opened in RiNo a decade ago and has become a mecca for lager beers in America. Its three core brews are Helles, Dunkel and its iconic Slow Pour Pils. Seasonal beers include a corn lager, as well as a Czech Dark Lager. Regular collaborations with some of the best lager breweries across the country can be found on tap, alongside cocktails, wine and spirits. Guest taps, especially Amalgam’s in-house-made hoppy creations, are top of the line.
The food: German-focused with schnitzel, fries and giant pretzels.
The vibes: Open, industrial space with lots of games. It’s a younger vibe on the weekends, with plenty of events. A long patio out front provides an opportunity to soak up good weather.

Our Mutual Friend
2810 Larimer Street
OMF has been a longstanding fixture in the neighborhood, pumping out a wide variety of beers from lagers to IPAs to stouts. It also produces less popular niche styles, such as saisons, as well as some of the most aggressive, phenol-laden smoked beers that you can find.
The food: Neighboring Pit Fiend BBQ is one of the best spots for ‘cue in the city.
The vibes: Nights and weekends can feel like a house party in the cozy, upbeat taproom. The brewery doesn’t accept bachelor parties and beer pedal groups, so that makes it a reasonable spot to hang out on the weekends and not be overwhelmed by the ridiculousness that can spill over from the Ballpark neighborhood.

Ratio Beerworks
2920 Larimer Street
Founded in 2016, Ratio Beerworks is a key pillar of the RiNo beer scene. Brews like King of Carrot Flowers Saison, Cityscapes Mexican-Style Lager and Domestica Golden Ale are crowd-pleasing winners time and again.
The food: There’s no food on-site, but the block is filled with eateries.
The vibes: Ratio is perhaps the largest brewery supporter of live music and the arts in Denver. The result is a great mix of folks, young and old, from casual drinkers to craft beer regulars.

Full Frame Beer
1139 20th Street
Started by former Jagged Mountain head brewer Alyssa Hoberer and former Our Mutual Friend brewer Jacob Kemple in 2025, the duo has breathed new life into the former Jagged Mountain space. Both the space and the beer offerings have been updated. Expect refreshing, bright, hop-forward pale ales, plenty of collaborations with local homies and an assortment of other modern beers.
The food: A $5 hot dog and chips lunch deal is always available, along with occasional food trucks.
The vibes: Bright and welcoming, matching the beers. Photography buffs will especially appreciate the decor. Events range from book clubs to workshops.

South Denver (South Broadway, Baker)

Monolith Brewing
1290 South Broadway
Long-time industry brewer Stephen Monahan took over the former Black Project space in 2023, adding fun murals and funky lights to the space. Monahan brews small batches on site, offering a wide range of typical beer styles that are constantly rotating.
The food: Empanadas from neighbor Maria Empanada will keep you from going hungry.
The vibes: Plenty of music-focused events, including free jazz and bluegrass nights throughout the week. A feather bowling club adds a unique element. With wine, cocktails and N/A beers being served, a wide range of both neighborhood and destination customers regularly fills the space.

Novel Strand Brewing
305 West First Avenue
Co-owner and head brewer Tamir Danon is at the forefront of new hop varieties, constantly tinkering and releasing new hoppy ales. Don’t sleep on the lagers though – this is one of the few breweries regularly making German-style Altbier. Both the pilsner and Schwarzbier are delicious as well.
The food: A limited selection of paninis and pastries are available, delivered fresh daily.
The vibes: Brick walls and street-facing windows make this cozy space feel just right. Wine and cocktails are newly added to the menu, making this a true neighborhood brewery bar.

West Denver (Highland, Sloan’s Lake, Sunnyside)

Diebolt Brewing
3855 Mariposa Street
Come because of the silly Instagram reels, stay for the quality beers. Father-son duo Dan and Jack Diebolt have been running Diebolt for over a dozen years. The tap list is filled with the expected – IPAs and easy drinking lagers, but with some less common beers as well. The Diebolts have a French heritage, and they honor that with several French-inspired beers, like Anton Francois, an amber ale with French ingredients. Those in the know seek out Vladislav, the brewery’s annual imperial stout and GABF winner.
The food: Limited deals like free hot dogs, but you’ll largely rely on the surrounding area’s restaurants here.
The vibes: It’s a homey atmosphere, with an intimate, brick-walled taproom. This is the type of place where you might meet some new friends or chat with the bartender for a couple of hours.

Hogshead Brewery
4460 West 29th Avenue
While there are plenty of CO2 options offered, including some low-key delicious lagers, the star of the show here is the wide range of traditional, English-style cask ales. Nobody in Denver is serving as high a quality, nor as many cask beers as Hogshead.
The food: Quick pizzas with special toppings and sauces, and occasional food partners.
The vibes: A somewhat dimly lit, pub-type atmosphere, perfect for sipping the beers Hogshead specializes in. The patio, which is more open and bright, is better for larger groups.

Seedstock Brewery
3610 West Colfax Avenue
Originally opened in 2016, the McIlvenna family took over Seedstock in 2021, and the brewery hasn’t missed a beat since. It specializes in lager beers — the Czech Pilsner is especially good — but serves everything from IPAs to stouts to cream ales.
The food: There are plenty of restaurants to bring food in from along busy Colfax.
The vibes: The front bar overlooks the brewhouse and sets the stage for old-fashioned drinking. Meet your bartender and some fellow beer lovers. Tables and patio seating provide a more typical experience.

Little Machine Beer
2924 West 20th Avenue
Little Machine is home to of the best deals in the city: all beers are $4 on Wednesdays. The menu spans plenty of typical brewery styles, and they’re well-made. From hoppy beers to lagers, bigger stouts, malty beers, fruited and sours, you’re sure to find something you like here.
The food: A variety of food trucks fill up the calendar. If you’re there during odd-hours, there’s plenty of food along Federal to bring in.
The vibes: The large, circular bar fills up fast, and when this place is busy, it’s almost like a party. The adjoining patio is spacious and offers a wonderful spot to sip beers when the weather is good.

Zuni Street Brewing
2355 West 29th Avenue
This brewery offers a little something for everyone. Expect to find IPAs, pale ales, fruited sour beers, imperial stouts, porters, seltzers, amber ales and Kolsch-style beers. There is a generous amount of non-alcoholic options as well.
The food: Food trucks are on-site seven days a week.
The vibes: Zuni has a good amount of indoor and outdoor seating – it’s a good space to bring a group, but it also works for intimacy.

Far North-Northwest Denver

Bruz Beers
1675 West 67th Avenue
Bruz is Denver’s only brewery fully focused on Belgian-inspired beers. From classic abbey ales, farmhouse and witbiers, to more modern, creative Belgian-style IPAs, it has quite a bit to offer. It has recently expanded to offer wine, cider and guest beers as well. The brewery also has a sister taproom, Bruz Off Fax, located at 1495 York Street.
The food: Rocky Mountain Pizzas, snacks, tinned fish and pretzels are always available, while rotating food trucks pull up seven days a week.
The vibes: Education events are a major focus here — the brewery’s World of Belgium Beer classes are popular in the taproom, and it even leads patrons on a yearly tour to Belgium. This brewery is about as dog-friendly as they come, too – it even hosts a dog food truck.

River North Brewery
6021 Washington Street
When it comes to major beer competitions, River North is one of the winningest breweries in Colorado. While it offers a range of beers, people seek the brewery out for its dark beers, spanning from sub-5 percent brews to the strongest beers made in Colorado, clocking in at well over 20 percent ABV. The brewery also has a taproom in the RiNo neighborhood at 3400 Blake Street.
The food: Pizza and soft pretzels, along with Saturday food trucks. Customers are welcome to bring their own food in as well.
The vibes: During busy times, like weekends and especially barrel-aged beer releases, the place is jammed with craft beer lovers.

Crooked Stave Brewing
1441 West 46th Avenue
Crooked Stave made its name on mixed culture beers. While it has taken more of a traditional production brewery path in recent years, it has won over plenty of new regulars with its Juicy West and Juicy East IPAs, NZ Pils and Sour Rose. The brewery still offers plenty of the type of funky beers that put it on the map too. 
The food: There are sometimes food trucks available, especially in the warmer months, but pack a lunch or grab some tacos or Quiznos from down the street.
The vibes: A long, cozy bar and expansive outdoor seating offer plenty of options, and be sure to check out one of the better merch racks in the city.

East Denver

Cohesion Brewing
3851 Steele Street
Masters of Czech-style lagers, Cohesion has taken Denver by storm. It’s become a place for lager fans to hang out, and people from all over the country make stopping here a priority.
The food: It hosts regularly rotating food trucks.
The vibes: One of the prettiest taprooms in Denver, with wonderful tile work behind the bar, old-European dark wood on the side nook and red brick throughout the building, combined with Czech side pull taps front and center and an expansive patio.

Cerebral Brewing
1477 Monroe Street
Cerebral has made a national splash for its hoppy beers and barrel aged stouts, while developing a pretty strong lager program in recent years. There’s a good reason why many visiting craft beer fans make it a top brewery to visit. It also has locations in the West Highland neighborhood and the Aurora Arts District.
The food: Food trucks are available six days a week.
The vibes: The original location on Monroe Street retains much of the brewery’s original scientific, lab-like feel. Roll up garage doors, brick walls and cement floors give it a familiar brewery taproom feel.

Danico Brewing Company
18490 East 66th Avenue
Danico started out strong with veteran brewer Chris Kennedy leading the opening brews, and Dry Dock alumnus Alan Simons has taken over without missing a beat. The beer list ranges from lagers to hoppy beers, stouts, sours and fruited beers.
The food: A wide range of food trucks services the brewery seven days a week.
The vibes: A gorgeous, open-space, new-construction build makes Danico an appealing place to spend time. Danico is the closest brewery to DIA, so you’ll see a mix of travelers, craft beer aficianados and Green Valley Ranch neighborhood regulars.

4 Noses Brewing
4040 Dahlia Street
4 Noses expanded into its new Park Hill location in late 2023. The 23,000-square-foot location boasts a state-of-the-art German BrauKon brewing system, cranking out the excellent range of beers for which 4 Noses is known. You’ll have everything from European-style lagers to farmhouse saisons, an assortment of hoppy ales, several fruited and sour ales, as well as imperial stouts and porters — often with flavors like vanilla and coffee added, or barrel-aged variations.
The food: Food trucks are usually on-site Tuesday though Saturday.
The vibes: Clean, open and spacious, similar to its Wild Provisions location in Boulder.

Southeast Denver

Comrade Brewing
7667 East Iliff Avenue
This spot is known for having some of the very best IPAs in Colorado. Led by its multiple GABF award-winning beers, Superpower IPA and More Dodge, Less RAM, Comrade really brings the goods when it comes to hoppy beers. It also makes a mean stout, and has both quality blonde and red ales for those looking for more sessionability.
The food: Nearby options include pizza, wings, cheesesteaks, kabobs and fast food.
The vibes: This is the classic strip-mall, roll-up-garage-door type of brewery taproom. It’s south-facing, so it gets great light most days.

Bull & Bush Brewpub
4700 Cherry Creek South Drive
The Bull has been around since 1971, brewing its own beer since 1997. Besides its own English-style leaning beer menu, it offers some hard-to-find imported and vintage beers, and an extensive list of spirits, especially whiskey.
The food: Extensive brewpub restaurant menu with tasty, filling dishes.
The vibes: This is a full-on English pub. Rich wood, decadent lighting, cozy, dark corners – the place is a vibe.