13 replies to this topic

[nitroglycerin11]

So I am flying out to Denver this weekend for a conference in Keystone Fri-Mon and will have a chance to briefly check out the scene there. I have ~6 hrs on Friday before I have to report and was looking for a can't-miss brewery and a bottle shop to hit up before heading to Keystone. Also, what are some of the brews available in the Denver area from the west coast that I should look out for (I am in Miami so we are pretty much limited to Michigan eastward and Stone down here). I will also have chances to make it into town twice for the evening. Any advice would be great. Thanks fellas.

[strangebrewer]

On my side of town I've got Mile High wine and Spirits so thats where I go when looking for odds and ends. GREAT staff and they work hard at getting in as many new beers as possible. I've heard a lot about Argonaut but haven't been there myself. There are also some mega stores that could be worth a visit. Tipsy's would probably be the easiest one to find and get in and out of if you're not familiar with the Denver area.I don't know if there are any can't miss breweries in Denver. Most of them you'll be able to find even their seasonal offerings in a good bottle shop. In the downtown area you've got Great Divide and Wynkoop. To get Wynkoop you have to go to the brewery but while their beer is good I wouldn't call it 'can't miss'. Up around Keystone you've got Dillon Dam Brewery, Backcountry, and of course Breckenridge brewery. Of the 3 Dillon Dam is probably my favorite. The pub makes some great burgers and they also have a good discount for AHA members.I don't know what beers you can find but taking a stab here is what I'd think you probably don't find often: Russian River, Lost Abbey, Deschutes, New Belgium (Other than fat tire), Avery, Lefthand, Odell's, Oskar Blues, Boulevard, The Bruery, Goose Island, Grand Teton, Redstone (if you like mead or interested in trying a good commercial example), Left Coast, Lagunitas, and I'm sure I'm missing a lot. In fact I'm impressed I remembered that many. Maybe I spent to much time standing in front of the beer rack at the Liquor store.

[ANUSTART]

You can get Oskar Blues in Miami now. I was surprised to see the familiar cans at the shop my brother goes to near Sunset Place.

[tag]

I would suggest stopping at the Falling Rock Tap House in Denver. 1919 Blake just 1/2 block from the baseball field. They have 70 taps and hundreds of bottles.The Great Northern Tavern is also a brewpub in Keystone https://www.gntavern.com/

[strangebrewer]

I would suggest stopping at the Falling Rock Tap House in Denver. 1919 Blake just 1/2 block from the baseball field. They have 70 taps and hundreds of bottles.The Great Northern Tavern is also a brewpub in Keystone https://www.gntavern.com/

Tag you know anything of Argonaut? I honestly just tossed it out there as I've heard good things but I've never set foot inside.Falling Rock is great but I'd say only if you go during non-evening/happy hour times. It gets BUSY and when that happens the service isn't all that great. It can be frustrating IMO. Particularly if you are ordering off the bottle list and they have to go hunting for a bottle. Now get there at 2PM on a Tuesday when they are bored they're more than happy to spend 10 minutes hunting through the cellar for your requests.

[nitroglycerin11]

Dillon Dam has a discount for AHA members.. I am a member, but can't find my card. Will an issue of zymurgy do?

[strangebrewer]

Not true. Yesterday I saw some Wynkoop cans at Incredibles in DTC.

Well there you go. Can't say I ever looked for their beer outside the brewery.

Dillon Dam has a discount for AHA members.. I am a member, but can't find my card. Will an issue of zymurgy do?

I never had to show my card, I just asked if they have a discount for AHA members and they gave it to me. Best of all it's off the whole bill not just your order. You could bring an issue of Zymurgy to be safe but chances are if they really challenged you, you'd have to take it to one of the brewers to get the discount since I doubt the wait staff has any clue what Zymurgy means.

[ANUSTART]

I second the suggestion for Tipsy's. It may not have the best prices, but it is right off C470 at Bowles, so it'd be convenient to someone that's not familiar with the area. They have a create your own 6-pack thing, and a very good selection of Colorado beers in single bottles. Other liquor stores do the build your own 6-pack thing, but none specifically come to mind. I rarely buy beer, when I do it's from the closest place to my house, which has a decent selection and low prices (Arrow Liquormart on Bowles, west of Wadsworth).Don't expect to find any wine or good beer at a supermarket, like in FL. You have to go to a liquor store.

[ANUSTART]

I never had to show my card, I just asked if they have a discount for AHA members and they gave it to me. Best of all it's off the whole bill not just your order. You could bring an issue of Zymurgy to be safe but chances are if they really challenged you, you'd have to take it to one of the brewers to get the discount since I doubt the wait staff has any clue what Zymurgy means.

The waitress I had there once didnt know what AHA was, so I had to show her the card. She had to take it back to the manager to figure out what was up.

[DaBearSox]

Well I guess I shouldn't rep Argonaut now that I work at a competitor but they probably have the best selection downtown. Some of their stuff doesn't fit in the cooler so if you are looking for something specific you may want to check the displays in the aisles. The only probably is they don't have a mixer 6er area. And obviously if you are in south denver in the tech center go to Incredible Wine and Spirits. I would say Great Divide is a can't miss, I love all their beers, no food at the taproom though. Breckenridge to me is MEH...I have wanted to give them a chance for awhile now but all of their beers are just bland to me...the vanilla porter is alright but its one of those drink one of them beers. Falling Rock in lodo is the s***, Wynkoop prob has the best food if you are looking for a place with grub. My favorite place for food and beer is the Vine St Pub on 17th and Vine St, it's about 5 minutes out of downtown.

[DaBearSox]

Don't expect to find any wine or good beer at a supermarket, like in FL. You have to go to a liquor store.

to elaborate on this, you may see some craft beer at a supermarket but its only going to be 3.2% and it's going to be water like.

[tag]

Tag you know anything of Argonaut? I honestly just tossed it out there as I've heard good things but I've never set foot inside.Falling Rock is great but I'd say only if you go during non-evening/happy hour times. It gets BUSY and when that happens the service isn't all that great. It can be frustrating IMO. Particularly if you are ordering off the bottle list and they have to go hunting for a bottle. Now get there at 2PM on a Tuesday when they are bored they're more than happy to spend 10 minutes hunting through the cellar for your requests.

What DaBearSox said about Argonaut. They have a big store with a better than average selection, but not really great. It helps that it is between work and home.Yeah, definitely pass on the Falling Rock if there is a Rockies game. But if you go to a Rockies game check out the SandLot brewery downstairs. That's where they keep all the good stuff.A new favorite pub of mine is the Rackhouse Pub. It's just a block from the Alameda and I-25 interchange. The same building where Stranahan's whiskey is made. They have 20 taps of Colorado brews and pretty good food too.

[strangebrewer]

A new favorite pub of mine is the Rackhouse Pub. It's just a block from the Alameda and I-25 interchange. The same building where Stranahan's whiskey is made. They have 20 taps of Colorado brews and pretty good food too.

+1Can't believe I forgot about that place. I drive past it every day on my way home and am always looking for an excuse to stop there!

[MtnBrewer]

Is Argonaut the one on Colfax across from The Fillmore?Another place you might want to check out is the Cheeky Monk. It's a Belgian cafe with a good selection of beers. 500 block of Colfax not far from downtown.