Local tap houses that, in our opinion, have a good selection of brews and a commitment
to craft beer.
Ale House at Amato's
A popular spot in the center of Denver’s hip Lower Highlands district, The Ale House at Amato’s offers over 40 beer taps along with a spectacular view of the Denver skyline. Located just across from the Millennium pedestrian bridge at the corner of 16th and Central Streets, The Ale House has an abundance of outdoor seating and a spacious rooftop bar. Along with a diverse beer selection featuring local and national craft beers, an excellent food menu, full bar and great service make this a favorite spot for locals. Get there early (or make a reservation) or you might have trouble finding a seat!
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Falling Rock Tap House
The motto here is "No Crap on Tap." Indeed. This place not only has 75+ taps; It has 75+ taps of ever-rotating, high quality craft beer. East Coast, West Coast, Colorado, Europe... Good beer from all around ends up on tap -- or in bottles -- here. Also known for good pub food and close proximity to Coors Field, The Falling Rock is an iconic spot on the Denver beer scene. The very ambiance screams beer, with 2200 empty beer bottles lining the walls of the bar, creating the feel of a beer museum. There is varied seating-- booths, tables, bar and outdoor patio.
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First Draft Taproom & Kitchen
First Draft is very unique because you pour your own beer. You get a bracelet, wave it in front of the tap you want, and beer flows. You decide how much you want to pour. (For safety reasons, they limit your total amount of beer). Each beer has its own price per ounce, and at the end of your visit, your bill is automatically calculated. There are 40 taps, with a very good selection of beers -- and even a few wines and ciders. Community tables abound, so it's also a wide-open social atmosphere here. The food menu ranges from cheese to small plates, large plates and desserts.
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Freshcraft
Just steps off the 16th Street Mall, this taproom brings a reliably
strong selection
of 20 craft beers on tap, supplemented by a fridge full of 100 or so
more. The bar
area is an intimate setting, with a small adjacent outdoor patio. You
can do 16 oz.,
or 10 oz, pours... or a flight of tasters. There's plenty of food on
the menu, including
small, medium and large plates. And Freshcraft offers a unique array
of signature
cocktails-- for those who like more of a beer adventure, consider these!
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Hops & Pie
The concept here was born from the feeling that pepperoni pizza and
IPA are meant to go together. But that's just the tip of the iceberg
because Hops & Pie features all kinds of creative pizzas and an always
impressive array of beer. This place made an immediate impression on
Denver, which led to significant expansion within about one year of
opening and a featured spot on The Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins
and Dives" a few years after that. You will find about 25 beers on
tap and a collection of hard-to-find bottles.
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RiNo Beer Garden
Easy to find at the north edge of the River North neighborhood, this is a great place to grab a bite and watch some sports while you sip from an amazing collection of beers. You can choose from over 60 taps that tend to showcase Colorado beers and German imports. The 4,000 square foot patio is inspired by the classic German Bier Garden and has plenty of nice amenities: fire-pits, pergolas and several large TV monitors.
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Yard House
A huge center island bar is the focal point of this restaurant-- and
it's devoted to beer. 130 tap handles to be exact, which on any given
day feature between 115 and 125 different beers. The beer list runs
the gamut with something for most any palette. Look above the bar for
an electronic display of the "Chalkboard Series" -- a special list of
unique bottle offerings and five rotating drafts of premium seasonal
beers. If it's hard enough picking what to sip on, your
decision-making has just begun: Your beer size options range from the
"Shorty" (9 oz) to the Goblet/Pint (16 oz) .... on up to the "Half
Yard" (32 oz).
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