Breweries abound in Denver, and the patios at breweries prove endless. While we won’t get to most of those, these five spots are calling to us right now. So slap on some sunscreen and a hat, and enjoy these beer gardens. After all, this is where you want to be when the sun is shining and the weather is sweet.
Wonderland Brewing
Broomfield’s Wonderland Brewing is a small-batch brewery that goes big on fun and even bigger on space. This dog- and family-friendly playground has an outdoor stage, a firepit, and an 18-hole mini golf course sprinkled with quirky Western-themed yard art. If that’s not enough, there are courts for pickleball, cornhole, and basketball.
If you prefer spectating to participating, take your pick from the beer-garden-style patios. Yes, plural. Inside the space you’ll find a ton of classic and limited-edition video games and pinball machines. For food, visit the Wonder Grill, an in-house food truck minus the wheels. 5450 W. 120th Ave., Broomfield, wonderlandbrewing.com
Lowry Beer Garden
Head here to take in 9,000-square-feet of lush outdoor space, complete with open-air seating and a cozy covered pavilion. This brewery is a love letter to Colorado’s craft beer culture, with communal Oktoberfest-style picnic tables big enough for up to 500 people. It’s the perfect place to meet new friends to share a pretzel with.
With 16 beers on tap and over 40 in bottles and cans with a focus on Colorado companies, the beer selection is as thoughtful as it is extensive. The kitchen whips up casual favorites like locally-made brats, fresh-baked pretzels, house-ground burgers, and hand-cut fries. You’ll find it both kid-friendly, if they stay put, and dog-friendly, if they behave. Bonus, for three years running Lowry Beer Garden made USA Today’s 10 Best list for beer gardens in the country. 7577 E. Academy Blvd., Denver, lowrybeergarden.com
Odell Brewing Co. Sloan’s Lake
The sister taproom to the original Odell Brewing Co. opened in spring 2021, and is a prime spot for those seeking good beer with a view. This location, housed in a building that once served as an auditorium on St. Andrew’s Hospital campus, includes two bars with 16 tap handles and a standout rooftop patio with stunning views of Sloan’s Lake and the Rocky Mountains.
The brewhouse features a 10-barrel system brewing experimental beers you can only find here. The design concept invites patrons to “catch a brew by the park,” echoing the friendly, festive atmosphere of Odell’s main brewery in Fort Collins. The rooftop deck, adorned with hops growing in planters and retractable awning canopies, has a light and airy feel. It’s also dog-friendly, thanks to an exterior staircase. Add in some handmade pizza and a lively calendar of events and you’ve got a recipe for a perfect outing. 1625 Perry St., Denver, odellbrewing.com lowrybeergarden.com
Denver Beer Co. South Downing
While the flagship location on Platte Street charms with its renovated 1970s-era building and Munich-lite vibes, the South Downing location is the outdoor allstar. It comes with its own beers too, making it not only a welcoming hub for the South Denver crowd, but a destination for beer fans.
Find more than 10,000-square-feet of sunny patio space with picnic tables and grassy lawns for lounging and playing, plus fire pits too. The in-house kitchen crafts seasonal foods, and there’s Right Cream right next door for a sweet frozen treat. No matter how you do it, keep in mind the space is also kid and dog friendly too. 2425 S. Downing St., Denver, denverbeerco.com
New Terrain Brewing Company
Adjacent to the Golden Bike Park and a dog run, the brewery resides snug against the eastern slope of North Table Mountain in Golden. It’s a favorite haunt for the area’s active crowd, who follow the brewery’s own trail from North Table Mountain Park right to the sprawling beer garden’s door.
The expansive patio has lots of seating options, fire pits, and a stage for live music, and there’s a food truck on site for every hour that the place is open. The brewery’s busy calendar is replete with baby goat nights, yoga on tap, specialized bike demo experiences, and the weekly Music by the Mesa live music series on Thursdays. The garden is kid-friendly and the same goes for dogs, which you’ll certainly see any given night. 16401 Table Mountain Pkwy., Golden, newterrainbrewing.com
