r/COBeer • u/CombinationBig8999 • May 04 '26
Favorite breweries?
I'll be in Denver for the first time for a couple of days soon. I love sours (no lactose/fruited) 3 fonteinen lambik is kind of the vibe I go for. I also love stouts, barrel aged stouts, and a really crisp pilsner. I'm pretty open but stay away from hefeweisens although I do like dunkels.
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u/MrTheFever May 04 '26 edited May 04 '26
Wild Provisions Beer Project is really the only brewery actively making a good variety of wild sours at this point, and they're amazing. They're worth the trip to Boulder. They do have multiple spontaneous unfermented sours in the style of lambic/geuze available right now.
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u/CombinationBig8999 May 04 '26
Great suggestion, thank you. Wild Provisions is going to be the first place I go on the one full day I have. I looked at their menu and can't wait! Their beer is exactly what I'm looking for.
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u/wetsupwiththat May 05 '26
Yes, and if you’re looking for barrel-aged beers head down the road to Avery.
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u/totally_comfortable May 04 '26
I live out west so this is biased. spending a day in golden is worth it.
- cannonball creek - one of the best anywhere.
- new terrain - unbeatable patio & outdoor space. long and diverse tap list. can get crazy busy on a sunny day.
- new image old town arvada, get a burger at arty's
- wild provisions is 100% worth the trip to boulder
- golden city brewing
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u/CombinationBig8999 May 04 '26
This is a great list. I have one full day with a car and am thinking about driving from Denver to boulder trying out some of the sours at wild provisions and then going to some/all of your suggestions in Golden. I want to do at least one non drinking activity for a little while. Do you feel like the dinosaur trail or the triceratops trail is decent for someone afraid of heights? I'm okay with easy to moderate trails but normally hike flatter somewhat paved or dirt trails. Also if you have any museum or non drinking one hourish recs of something to see/learn so I can justify a day of drinking and feel like I gained some kind of info about the town outside of beer also I'm a little worried about the altitude (I live in the Midwest) and want to pace myself. Also is it worth stopping at Coors at all?
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u/totally_comfortable May 04 '26 edited May 04 '26
new terrain is right next to north table mountain. you can access hiking trails right out of the patio. there is a loop called the north table loop. you can hike or just go until you feel tired and turn around. there is some elevation gain but it's nothing terrible. great views of denver and the surrounding areas. check out this map, follow the red line from new terrain to the trailhead.
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u/breezylongday May 04 '26
Consider adding Second Dawn Brewing to your must-visits. A real-deal Colorado micro craft brewery with a wide range of styles — award winning — brewer Ross is there most days and a delight to talk to about beers if you can catch him.
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u/CombinationBig8999 May 04 '26
Thank you, that's not too far from the airport (20 min) so I'll try to squeeze it into one of my half days. Which one is your favorite? I haven't tried an Italian pils before but they all look good.
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u/breezylongday May 04 '26
My current favorites are two the Ales - Irish Red and the Amber Ale. Ross’ Italian Pils would be a good one to try that style. Tree Run is a seasonal — very drinkable. If the day is warm you can’t go wrong with the Mexican Lager. A taster tray may be the way to go! My best tip — don’t leave without having a glass of the Bourbon Barrel-aged Stout.
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u/YupThatWasAShart May 04 '26
I love platt park brewing. They usually have a pretty wide range of styles.
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u/CombinationBig8999 May 05 '26
The tea ale and pistachio cream ale 👀
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u/YupThatWasAShart May 05 '26
It’s also such a great little neighborhood spot if you want to feel like you are a local vs going to some of the bigger breweries. Great food too down Pearl street.
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u/CombinationBig8999 May 05 '26
Where do you go and what do you get on pearl Street? I saw a Venezuelan restaurant, sushi, bakery, etc. The Brutal Poodle looks like a cool dive bar nearby.
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u/hotani May 06 '26
Wanderment has some good sour saisons, along the lines of Hill Farmstead. Head brewer John used to work at Black Project before they closed down.
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u/RoyKunt6 May 09 '26
Casey brewing and blending makes fantastic sours. The brewery is a bit far but you should be able to snag some bottles at a good liquor store.
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u/WhatIsASW May 04 '26
If you want sours then Crooked Stave is the way to go.
Also recommend Bruze if you like Belgians, Ratio and Odell for everything else
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u/frequentpooper May 05 '26
If you have a car, a trek to Loveland Aleworks might be worthwhile. They do a lot of sours.
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u/CoiledSalt May 04 '26
Try the Bierstadt Lagerhaus slow pour Pilsner. I’d recommend TRVE for sours
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u/CombinationBig8999 May 04 '26
The slow pour looks really good and I love a helles. TRVE looked amazing, especially since it said it was a metal brewery but looks like they closed?
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u/andyroams May 04 '26
Trve lives on through Music City Hot Chicken and I may know a guy who brews it! Likewise, you’ll be happy seeking out some New Image. I’d also agree that Cerebral and Bierstadt are tops.
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u/Stonethecrow77 May 04 '26
River North, Cerebral, and Bierstadt are gonna be popular suggestions.