Local Knowledge Series

Great Divide’s Local Knowledge, Tap Room Series

This spring, we launched  Local Knowledge, a hyper-limited, hyper-local pilot series. These single-batch, pilot brews are exclusively available in our Denver taprooms and designed to give you something new to take home each time you visit. Each 6-pack includes a bookmark boasting a different Denver Local Knowledge tip or trick submitted from bona-fide Denver locals.

Release #1: Hazy IPA April 2017

Release #2: Apricot Colette May 2017

The second of our extremely limited, small batch series. This tap room exclusive is in honor of our local beer lovers giving you a chance at some very rare Local Knowledge. The addition of the apricot plays up the tart, fruit character while not overwhelming the earthy, spiciness of the Classic Colette

Release #3 Raspberry Sour June 2017

The third release in our Local Knowledge series is an approachable Raspberry Sour. It’s a tart and juicy kettle sour brewed with over 200 pounds of raspberry puree.

Release #4: Zwickelbier July 2017

Zwickelbier with an untraditional twist. This unfiltered German ale is malt-forward with tones of bread and toasted cracker and just enough earthy hop character for a crisp finish. The addition of Mandarina Bavaria hops brings a surprise hint of tangerine and citrus.

Release #5: White Stout August 2017

A spiritual companion to a black IPA, a white stout will have you questioning your own assumptions. While this beer pours a nice golden hue, it has all the flavor and aroma characteristics of a stout. Using coffee and cocoa instead of malt allows for the roasted and chocolate flavors and aromas to come through without adding any color.

Tips & Tricks: 

• Experience a DIY art walk in the RiNo neighborhood and check out all the street art along Larimer st. Pro Tip: turn this into a bar crawl and pop into the many bars along the way. Don’t miss Matchbox for a game of bocce ball.  – Wonderbound
• One of the best & closest hikes to the city is Chimney Gulch in Golden. It’s a beautiful hike up a canyon that ends at the top of Lookout Mountain. Pro Tip: bring your bathing suit and take a dip in Clear Creek in town to cool off after the hike. – Maureen, Great Divide Brewing Co.
• Burrito Giant has the best breakfast burritos. Pro Tip: If you’re eyeing the regular size, order 2 juniors (filling to tortilla ratio is better) & add spicy pork green chile & cheese, duh. – Anna, The MBM Group
• Hungover? Get a roundhouse at the Butcher Block Café. Pro Tip: get a giant cinnamon roll for the table to split, or to take home for later. – Tobias, Two Parts
• Illegal Pete’s has the best burritos in the city. Pro Tip: order off the secret menu and get a super taco (flour tortilla with queso or guac filled with a hard shell corn tortilla and your favorite taco fillings). – Tara, Denver Local
• City Park Jazz is an amazing free weekly event during the summer at City Park. Pro Tip: bike to avoid parking issues and bring plastic cups or coozies for your booze. – Jonathan Shikes, Colorado Beer Man
• Catch Denver’s best sunrise from the Lakeview Lounge, which opens at 7 a.m. and looks east out over Sloan’s Lake Park and the city skyline. Pro Tip: it’s cash only so come prepared. – #YetiMafia Member
• Rise and Shine has the best biscuits around. Sometimes they are even made with Great Divide beer. Pro Tip: call ahead to order and skip the line. – #YetiMafia Member
• The best place to watch a sunset is Daniels Park Road. – #YetiMafia Member
• Devil’s Head Lookout, one hour south of Denver, is one of seven towers built along Colorado’s Front Range in the early 20^th century to be used by fire spotters to survey the vast expanse of the land. It is the only one that remains active today and is accessible by a 1.5-mile hike that allows you to climb into the tower. – Ed Sealover
•  Grapevine Liquors on Monaco Parkway has a secret beer cave in the back of their cooler that only locals know about. Just ask, and they’ll take you back there. Pro Tip: Don’t ask just walk back there like the local you are. – Brandon Harrelson – GDBC
• Best plan on a Vail powder day – be there by 7:45 am, one run on Chair 5, then go to Ghengis Khan. – Brian Dunn, GDBC
• Denver loves its brunch. But because of this, the lines at too many places are too long. Refuse to wait! Mezcal on east Colfax near the Bluebird has a great Mexican food brunch that’s affordable and for some reason doesn’t draw big crowds. Bloody Marys are $4, which should be the price established for all Bloody Marys under federal law. – Eric Gorski, Denver-based journalist and co-founder of The Denver Post’s First Drafts blog
• Head to Federal Boulevard late August through early October and buy a bushel of authentic roasted green chiles. Pro Tip: Hatch come from New Mexico, while the Pueblo are Colorado grown. – Jonathan Shikes, Colorado Beer Man
• Get the best classic cocktails in Denver at the Cruise Room. It’s the first post-prohibition bar in Denver and was a speakeasy before that. Pro Tip: have a drink then go on a ghost tour of the hotel. – Emma Ramey, GDBC
• One of the best vantage points of the city is located right behind the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. This location yields a stunning view of the entire city with the Rockies as a back drop. And in the summer, City Park’s fountains add an extra element of magic. – Tristan Chan Founder, PorchDrinking
• Catch a set at El Chapultepec, Denver’s oldest jazz, and blues club. Pro tip: it’s less busy on weeknights so you can get a seat and bring your cash! – Yeti Mafia member
• Watch the next big band at Hi-Dive. It’s one of Denver’s best dive bars with live music that brings in a lot of up and coming bands.  – McKenzie, Denver Local
• Drink and grab a burger at My Brother’s Bar, Denver’s oldest bar. Pro Tip: check out their website, it’s awesome: www.mybrothersbar.com – Quincy, Denver Local
• Catch an indie flick at the Mayan Theatre. Pro Tip: catch dinner and play some games either before or after the movie across the street at Punch Bowl Social.  – Yeti Mafia Member
• Curtis Park Deli – best damn sandwich in Denver.  Pro Tip: Get there before 1 pm of the daily fresh bread is likely to be sold out! – Brandon, GDBC
•  The Colorado Rapids are the best sports experience in town. Join the Centennial 38 supporters group, take their bus from a downtown soccer bar to the stadium, drink local craft beer at the tailgate, and then stand, cheer and chant for the boys for 90 minutes. The affordability, access to players and sense of community around the team can’t be beat. Great for twentysomethings, families, and everyone in between.  – Eric Gorski, Denver-based journalist and co-founder of The Denver Post’s Frist Drafts
• Red Rocks isn’t just a great music venue, it’s also a great workout space! Get your adrenaline on by running the stairs (fun fact: there are roughly 8,700 seats at Red Rocks which makes an approximate span of 2.5 miles in length). Pro tip: on non-event days go early, catch the sunrise, and avoid the crowds. – Chea Franz with Lexa PR
• The best way to watch a Rockies game for cheap with a great view is to purchase a Rockpile ticket for a game and stand above the bullpen. From this spot you get an unobstructed view of the ballpark, plus you can hear the phone ring and get a heads up on all the pitching changes. Pro tip: Get there early to secure your spot. – Alex Weissner, Lexa PR
•  The Square on 21^st is a new pop-up park right off Larimer that offers an oasis in the concrete jungle that is downtown. They host free silent discos where you can dance and drink Great Divide brews. Pro Tip: It’s only around for the summer so check it out before it’s gone. – Matt, GDBC
• Levitt Pavilion in Ruby Hill Park is the new place to catch a summer concert outside. They have 30 free concerts over the course of the summer with craft beer at each event. Pro Tip: If you want to have some drinks at the show, ditch the car and ride your bike. You can take the South Platte Trail the whole way from the city and park it safely at the bike corral! – Shannon, GDBC

Have some Local Knowledge you want to share? Tag @greatdividebrew and use the hashtag #LocalKnowledge to share your Denver tips & tricks.