Denver, the vibrant capital of Colorado, is now established as a global reference in the universe of craft beer. Renowned for its creativity and brewing dynamism, the city attracts beer enthusiasts from around the world, who come to explore a scene in full effervescence.
Since the beginning of 2021, Denver has welcomed new breweries, enriching an already bustling landscape of flavors and innovations and now peaks at 400 breweries of all sizes.
Join us through the streets of Denver, where each brewery, each beer bar reveals not only a slice of the city’s history but also genuine taste innovations. Prepare to dive into the narrative of a city where beer is more than a tradition, it’s a cultural revolution that combines audacity and finesse.
165 Years of Beer in Denver
The history of beer in Denver is marked by pioneers such as Charlie Papazian, an iconic figure in modern craft brewing in the United States. In 1978, after founding the American Homebrewers Association, he launched the famous magazine “Zymurgy”, thereby helping to unify and invigorate the community of amateur brewers.
Papazian is also the founder of the Great American Beer Festival, inaugurated in Boulder in 1982, which quickly established itself as a major event for emerging breweries and helped to propel the Denver brewing scene onto the map of the United States.
The Wynkoop Brewing Company, founded in 1988 by John Hickenlooper and three partners, is another important milestone in this story. Located in the LoDo district of Denver, Wynkoop was Denver’s first craft brewery and played a crucial role in revitalizing this once neglected neighborhood. Wynkoop is recognized for its innovative beers and experimental approach that have helped make Denver a recognized center for craft beer.
The Tivoli Brewery, which dates back to the city’s early beginnings in 1859, also illustrates Denver’s long brewing history. Founded to serve thirsty miners, Tivoli has become an institution, testifying to the deep rootedness of beer in Denver’s cultural and economic fabric since the gold rush days.
The Beer Microbrew Tour: Discovering LoDo Neighborhoods
The LoDo Beer Microbrew Tour invites you on an in-depth exploration of the coolest or most unusual breweries in Denver, set in a charming and historic urban setting, during a guided tour. Within LoDo, the neighborhood where it all began, you will discover an incredible variety of craft beers that you can’t find anywhere else:
- Rock Bottom: Make your choice between innovative blue or black beers, which are out of the ordinary and offer a unique taste and visual experience.
- Osaka Blues: Discover three shades of beers, each one stronger than the last, in a rising power of flavors and sensations.
- Westbound & Down: Taste two distinctly fruity beers, perfect for those who appreciate sweet and refreshing notes in a typically American setting.
- Wynkoop: Don’t miss out on trying very… bold beers such as those infused with jalapeno or the one made from the famous Rocky Mountain oyster (and we’ll let you find out for yourself what that is!).
This tour is really made for those who are curious and would like to experience the diversity and creativity of Denver’s brewing scene, with a small touch of history, and the atmosphere in the group heats up with each new step!
The Oak Beer Spa: A Unique Experience
The Oak Beer Spa in Denver offers an unprecedented wellness experience where the pleasures of craft beer meet the luxury of spa treatments. Inspired by an original idea from Poland, this unique concept was launched in early 2021 by a French-American couple, who are also preparing to open a second SPA!
- Infrared Sauna: Relax and detoxify your body with the deep heat of infrared rays, which promote intense relaxation without the overwhelming heat of a traditional sauna.
- Beer Hydrotherapy Bath : Enjoy a frothy bath enriched with hops and barley, complemented with seasonal medicinal herbs for deep relaxation and benefits for the skin, hair, and mind, and end your shower using beer-based products.
- Zero Gravity Massage: Experience a full body massage in a zero gravity massage chair, for deep relaxation and an almost space-like experience.
Your visit to the Oak Beer Spa is an opportunity to immerse yourself in a world where self-care takes on a new dimension, full of hops! In addition to treatments, the spa offers a beer bar where visitors can taste a selection of local craft beers, but also THE Spa beer. What a pleasure to immerse oneself in the jacuzzi with a beer in hand.
Beer Festivals: The Great American Beer Festival 2024
The Great American Beer Festival (GABF), which will take place from October 10 to 12, 2024 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, is a must-attend event for craft beer enthusiasts. Known for being one of the largest beer festivals in the United States, this annual event brings together over 800 breweries and offers a tasting of about 4,000 different beers (no, even with a lot of ambition, you will not be able to taste everything in 3 days).
The GABF is also a prestigious competition where the best beers are judged and rewarded. The festival attracts brewers, industry professionals, and beer enthusiasts from all over the country, offering an exceptional platform for exchange and learning more about the trends and innovations of the sector.
Denver, a must-visit for craft beer
Denver is not just playing in the big leagues of craft beer; it’s redefining the rules. With its 400 breweries, this city is a true paradise for hop lovers. Between the historic districts of LoDo and RiNo, every street, every bar, pulsates to the rhythm of beer taps. Innovation? It’s everywhere, from Rock Bottom’s blue or black beers to Wynkoop’s jalapeño creations.
But Denver goes further with unique concepts like the Oak Beer Spa, proving that beer isn’t just a matter of tasting, but a real lifestyle.
And for those who still have doubts about its status, the Great American Beer Festival further establishes the scene each year: Denver is the undisputed capital of craft beer in the United States. So, lovers of good brews, Denver awaits you, ready to convert you if it hasn’t already.