Denver LoDo Craft Beer Tour: 10+ Tastings & Brewery History

Ten Beers, Four Breweries & the Seamy Side of Denver History

You taste 10+ craft beers across four breweries in Denver's Lower Downtown, guided by someone who knows the brewing history and the city's stranger past. The tour includes a souvenir taster glass and covers Wynkoop Brewing, Westbound & Down, Oskar Blues, and the stories of how a geologist built Denver's beer culture. Plan for a walking tour on foot through cobblestone streets. That's what lets you see the red-brick buildings and the neighborhood's seamy history along the way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each3 stops

1. LoDopassing by
2. Dairy Block5m
3. Larimer Squarepassing by

Explore Denver's LoDo craft beer scene

• Visit Wynkoop Brewing Company
• Walk through LoDo neighborhood
• Explore Dairy Block complex
• Drink at Westbound & Down brewery
• Pass by Larimer Square
• Pass by Daniels and Fisher Clock Tower
• Visit Oskar Blues Grill & Brew

The experience

You're standing in a 19th-century warehouse on a Denver street you've walked past a hundred times, and suddenly the bartender is explaining why this place, Wynkoop Brewing, matters. It's not just the beer. In 1988, a failed geologist named John Hickenlooper opened this brewpub and accidentally started a movement that turned Denver into a beer city. That's the kind of detail that sticks with you, and it's exactly what a Denver craft beer tour in LoDo should do: make you see the neighborhood differently. Your guide walks you through the history of each brewery as you taste your way through 10+ beers, teaching you how to actually taste them instead of just drinking them. The guide explains the brewing process at each stop, so you're not just sipping. You're learning why these beers taste the way they do.

The route itself is a walk through Lower Downtown's cobblestone streets and red-brick buildings, and it's not all polished. You'll pass through Denver's original red light district, hear about grave robbers and other seamy Denver history that the tour guide throws in between tastings. One stop takes you to Westbound & Down, a Colorado mountain brewery with an outpost inside the Dairy Block, a stylish urban complex that's become the center of LoDo's food and drink scene. Another is Oskar Blues Grill & Brew, a 130-year-old building that was just renovated into a restaurant, bar, and music venue with a drumstick chandelier and a guitar pick-covered bar. You'll walk near Larimer Square (Denver's oldest block, with Victorian buildings and twinkling lights), and see the Daniels and Fisher Clock Tower, a 1910 Renaissance Revival landmark with a 16th-story observation deck. It's the kind of tour where the beer is good, but the city context makes it memorable.

The whole thing is on foot through LoDo, so wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather. You need to be 21 with a photo ID, and the tour includes a souvenir taster glass so you can keep track of what you've tried. A local guide leads the group, which stays small enough that you're not herded through like a brewery chain. Public transportation is nearby if you need it, and the area is wheelchair accessible throughout. The minimum age is 21, no exceptions, so this isn't a family outing, but it's the kind of afternoon that makes you understand why Denver's beer scene matters and why LoDo is where it all started.

What’s included

• Your day includes a local guide, 10+ craft beer tastings across four breweries in Lower Downtown Denver, a souvenir taster glass, and all beverages.
• The tour covers Wynkoop Brewing Company, Westbound & Down in the Dairy Block, Oskar Blues Grill & Brew, and brewery history lessons plus Denver's seamy past along the way.
• Public transportation is nearby, and the entire route is wheelchair accessible.

Options for this experience

4 options

Saturday 12pmGuide in English · 12:0010+ Beer Samples on the LoDo Craft Beer Tour

Friday 3:15Guide in English · 15:15A 2.5-hour walking beer tour with 10 samples and bits of history. Meet at Wynkoop Brewing Company, 1634 18th Street, Denver, CO

Saturday 3:15Guide in English · 15:15A walking beer tour lasting 2.5 hours, with 10 samples and bits of history, starting at Wynkoop Brewing Company (1634 18th St, Denver, CO 80202)

Sunday 3:15Guide in English · 15:15Lasting 2.5 hours, this walking beer tour includes 10 samples and history tidbits. Meet at Wynkoop Brewing Company, 1634 18th St, Denver, CO 80202

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 2h 30m, runs Friday to Sunday at 15:15 and 12:00, from US$ 58 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 14 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesFriday and Sunday: 15:15Saturday: 12:00 and 15:15Another time? ›

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (21 and older) · Under 21: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Denver Microbrew Tour

Is this one for you?Right for anyone 21+ who wants to understand Denver's craft beer culture through the breweries that built it, without arranging transportation between stops. The tour is on foot through cobblestone streets, which is what lets you see the neighborhood's history and red-brick buildings as you go.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How many breweries do you visit on the Denver LoDo craft beer tour?

Four breweries: Wynkoop Brewing Company, Westbound & Down, Oskar Blues Grill & Brew, and one other stop. You taste 10+ beers total across the tour.

What's included in the Denver craft beer tour?

A local guide, 10+ craft beer tastings, a souvenir taster glass, and all beverages. Entry to the breweries is included.

Do I need a photo ID for the Denver beer tour?

Yes. You must be at least 21 years old and bring a valid photo ID. No exceptions.

Is the Denver craft beer tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas and surfaces in LoDo are wheelchair accessible, and transportation options are wheelchair accessible as well.

What should I wear on the craft beer tour in Denver?

Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress appropriately for the weather. The tour is on foot through Lower Downtown's cobblestone streets.

Can I bring children on the Denver LoDo craft beer tour?

No. The tour is 21+ only. Infants and small children cannot participate.

What is Wynkoop Brewing and why is it important?

Wynkoop was Denver's first brewpub, founded in 1988 by a group including John Hickenlooper, who later became Colorado's governor. It helped pioneer Denver's craft beer movement.

Do we stop at Larimer Square on the tour?

No, but you pass near it. Larimer Square is Denver's oldest block with Victorian buildings and twinkling lights, visible from the tour route.

Is there parking information for the Denver beer tour?

Do not park at a 2-hour parking meter in the area. Public transportation options are available nearby.