The best Colorado brewery patios, food, vibe and more — from a beer guy who’s been to them all

Castle Rock resident Paul Myhill knows Colorado’s beer scene intimately, having visited all 467 breweries, brewpubs and taprooms throughout the state. That’s why we followed up with him to pick his brain about where drinkers can find the best local India pale ales, toast-worthy patios and the most underrated beer town the Centennial State has to offer.

The Colorado brewery with the best view: Cabin Creek Brewing (Georgetown)

A lakefront paradise awaits at Cabin Creek Brewing in Georgetown, Myhill said.

“You’re not looking at majestic mountains but I love lakes, I love water. So to be able to sit out and see the calming foreground of the lake, that’s just how I’m wired,” he said.

Where to find Colorado’s best brewery patios: River North Arts District (Denver)

Patios became essential to breweries’ survival during the pandemic, but there wasn’t just one that Myhill could recommend. In some neighborhoods, patios extended into streets and parking lots, especially in Denver’s River North Arts District. Several blocks in the neighborhood are still closed off to cars to give diners and pedestrians more breathing room.

“All the patios are encroaching on the road and make it more of a festive atmosphere. Whether you’re at Odell or Ratio, you’re feeling that sense of energy… that hubbub and excitement of feeling integrated into an entertainment district and things are going on around you,” Myhill said.

The most underrated beer city: Colorado Springs

Myhill called the Springs the most up-and-coming beer region in the state.

“There used to not be much of a reason to go to Colorado Springs for beer,” he said. “Beyond Phantom Canyon Brewing Co. and Bristol Brewing Co., it’s now having some really first-class breweries like Goat Patch Brewing Co. and Cerberus Brewing Co.”

Where to find the best European styles: Hogshead Brewery, Cohesion Brewing and Bierstadt Lagerhaus (Denver)

Growing up in England, Myhill is partial to European beer styles. And there’s no better place to experience worldly brews than in Denver, he said.

For traditional English ales served from the hand pump beer engine at cellar temperatures, head to Hogshead Brewery. For traditional Czech styles and service, the newly opened Cohesion Brewing is a must-hit. And for world-class German styles, go to Bierstadt Lagerhaus.

Colorado’s best IPAs: Outer Range Brewing Co. (Frisco), Comrade Brewing Co. (Denver)

Hopheads in Colorado have been raving about Outer Range Brewing Co. and its lineup of New England style IPAs – Myhill included.

“We ordered all 23 beers at Outer Range. Everyone was looking at us like we were nuts,” he said. “Not all of them were IPAs, but 75% of them are, so you’re trying all the different nuances. Most are hazies, but the best IPA experience on this journey was Outer Range.”

Craving something from the opposite coast?

“There’s no other finer West Coast IPA in the state than Comrade,” Myhill said, adding the Superpower IPA is his go-to.

The brewery with the best food options: Spice Trade Brewing (Greenwood Village)

A visit to Spice Trade Brewing in Greenwood Village reminded Myhill of going to the pub in England, where the after-bar snack was typically a comforting curry.

He loved “a lot of things that tickle the Indian- and Thai-type palate” that he tried there, including a Korean burger and a lamb burger.

Where to find the best funk-forward beers: Primitive Beer (Longmont) and Paradox Beer Co. (Divide)

Myhill loves the flavors imparted on beer by barrels, especially since they are something of a rare breed in Colorado. Primitive Beer in Longmont and Paradox Beer Co. in Divide emphasize barrel-aging and wild fermentation, adding uniqueness to their menus.

“Those breweries have real open fermenters, coolships as they’re called,” he said, “so you know they’re getting a nice, good, wild, spontaneous thing going on. Even if they’re seeding it a little bit, it’s a great natural thing.”

Breweries with the best ambiance: Foam & Folly Brewing (Grand Junction), Dos Luces Brewery (Denver), Raices Brewing Co. (Denver), Crooked Stave (Denver), Wild Provisions Beer Project (Boulder)

Myhill wants to feel immersed in the atmosphere of a brewery and attests “the best decor you have is your brewery equipment.” He’s also a self-described “artsy-fartsy” type, so when it comes to ambiance, a brewery needs both to please his aesthetic.

“If I’m going into a place that has a great eclectic mix of art, the new Foam and Folly Brewing is where I could stare at the walls each day,” he said. “Places like Dos Luces and Raices Brewing in Denver where you have all this incredible Aztec and Mayan themed art on the wall. To me, it’s the whole visual immersive experience.

“Then you put me in that foeder room at Crooked Stave with all the massive wood foeder vessels and to me, that is an ambiance. I’m there in the midst of these beautiful wood structures,” he added. “It’s the same thing at Wild Provisions in Boulder.”