Beer is to Denver what pastry is to Paris.

I conjured up this comparison based on a recent visit to the Mile High City. But first, hang with me while I provide some background information.

When performing travel research prior to my trip, I came across several beer-related stats. Factoids like “Denver produces more beer per capita than any other city in the United States” captured my attention. I learned about the Denver Microbrew Tour while surfing the web, and decided to give it a go. After all, what better way to experience a few of the city’s highly touted brewpubs?
You can only sign up for the tour online, which I have to admit made me a little nervous—the $23 fee is charged in advance, although you do receive a receipt and confirmation. No worries, though. On the established date our trusty guide Steve showed up as promised at the prearranged meeting site and greeted a thirsty crowd ready to sample some suds.

First on the agenda was the Great Divide Brewing Co., a rather bare-bones outfit on Arapahoe Street. No trendy furnishings or wall art here—just a small tap room with serious connoisseurs crowded around the bar. Our group was led into the adjoining brewery, where we received an explanation about the brewing process and the yeasty concoction’s circuitous journey from the fermentation tanks to the bottling line. After the education, it was time to get down to business. While the Great Divide lacked in ambience, it certainly delivered in terms of taste. Although it was all good, I particularly enjoyed the Wild Raspberry Ale and the Denver Pale Ale. And thanks to the group from Denver who brought some sourdough pretzels along to share (I guess they know the drill).

Before we knew it, it was time to drink up and head over to Breckenridge Brewery, a couple of blocks away on Blake Street. Sports fans were glued to the action on the brewery’s HDTVs while our happy group was herded to a section of tables to sample the next round. Steve explained the characteristics of the award-winning brews passed around, but when all was said and done, I was partial to the Avalanche Ale and Agave Wheat. As a waiter sailed by with an enormous burrito, I made a mental note to return for dinner.

Just as we were getting dug in, it was time to move on. Next stop: Wynkoop Brewing Company on 18th Street, reputedly Denver’s first microbrewery and one of the nation’s largest. A one-stop shop, Wynkoop tantalizes patrons with big screens, pool tables, tasty pub grub, and of course, beer. We climbed the stairs to our designated tables on the 2nd floor, where servers soon arrived carrying trays crammed with the latest offerings. I savored a glass of Patty’s Chile Beer, which was perhaps the most unusual brew of the day—it had a distinct peppery flavor, but was surprisingly mild.

Next, our increasingly jovial gang marched through LoDo (Lower Downtown) to our final destination, Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery on the 16th Street Mall. The staff ushered us past a glass-enclosed room of brewing apparatus and into the cool, dimly lit taproom, located in the rear of the building. A series of frosty, handcrafted microbrews was delivered to us, with the Falcon Pale Ale winning out as my pick of the day. By this time, I had worked up a healthy appetite, and settled on an enormous mound of chicken nachos heaped with toppings. My tablemates ordered the braised short ribs and the seared Ahi tuna, which looked ridiculously scrumptious. Note bene: The patio out front is a great space from which to sip and watch the never-ending pedestrian parade.

In the space of a couple of hours, I was treated to a diverse selection of Denver’s finest brews in unique establishments and met some great people in the process. Even those on the tour who attended as a concession to their significant others seemed to enjoy the experience of learning about the art of beer making and gleaning historical tidbits about the LoDo area.

Please shout if there are any other cool Denver brewpubs I should check out during my next visit. Or, if you’ve been on any interesting pub crawls in other U.S. cities, feel free to share your experiences. The microbrew-drinking public will thank you.