12 Craft Beers You Have To Try in Denver
1. Old Bums and Beat Cowboys – Fiction Beer Company
From a writer’s perspective, it doesn’t hurt that this brew is inspired by Jack Kerouac’s On The Road. The fact that Fiction Beer Company, which relates each of its beers to the book that inspired it, has created a pale ale that still goes down easy after the first couple is definitely something worth writing home about.
Photo: Fiction Beer Company
2. Sun Drenched- Denver Beer Company
Appropriately brewed in honor of Colorado’s 300 days of sunshine. This beer is a sauce-y combination of IPA and American wheat. The light citrus flavor makes it a perfect summertime drink to complement those lazy beer garden afternoons.
3. Jean-Claude Van Blonde- Wits End Brewing Company
We all have a little action hero in us, especially after downing a few of these. One of the most sessionable blondes in the Mile High City.
4. Yeti Imperial Stout- Great Divide Brewing Company
For locals, this beer is a no-brainer. It is dark and effective. Simply put, it will get you sauced enough to stick a Yeti sticker on the front of your bike helmet before you push home.
5. Colorojo- Wynkoop Brewing Company
Red ales are perfect for Colorado. Especially when they are Imperial Red Ales, and even more so when they come from the governor’s brew pub. At 8.2% ABV, it gets the job done in addition to being delicious.
6. Wanderlust- TRVE Brewing
There is something about metal heads running a brewery that just feels right. Wanderlust is the perfect Belgian style ale to get you whetted up for a night of bar-hopping on South Broadway.
Photo: Beertographer
7. Quandary Quadrupel- River North Brewery
The name says it all with this Belgian-style quadrupel. It weighs in at 9.6% ABV but hits the tongue both fruity and malty.
Photo: River North Brewery
8. Cherry Kriek- Strange Craft Beer Company
A dark wheat that tastes like cherries. This one is an ambi- a brew that can be appealing both in summer or winter.
9. Dunkel- Prost Brewing Company
Prost focuses specifically on German beers and they do it well- the Dunkel is a prime example of a smooth dark beer that even your pilsner-drinking friends will like.
10. Downtown Julie Brown- Hogshead Brewery
If you like traditional British beer, this English Brown is the best in the Mile High. It blends hazelnut and chocolate with a hoppy finish.
11. Fresh Kill Cougar Slayer- Jagged Mountain Craft Brewery
This brew is aged in wine barrels and has a taste of blackberries. With a saison influence, it manages to come off as crisp and refreshing.
12. Lao Wang Lager- Caution Brewing Company
Asian spices from Lao Wang Noodle House make this a beer unlike any other in town. First taste will bring more questions than answers; namely what the hell is in this beer?
Photo: Westword
