Best brewery patios in the Denver area

From hiking and mountain biking to yoga with llamas, there are seemingly endless ways to enjoy summer in the Rocky Mountains. And because this is Colorado, most adventures also end with a beer.

Get yourself outdoors and enjoy a cold one at these five epic brewery patios along the Front Range.

Sanitas Brewing Co.

The vibe: Pulling into the nondescript, industrial complex in Boulder where Sanitas Brewing Co. resides, you might wonder what the fuss is about. But step inside and you’re greeted with a brightly lit taproom accented with modern touches and, on nice days, the garage doors are wide open, beckoning drinkers to the sprawling patio and beer garden. Mature trees shade the numerous picnic tables that can seat large groups, and the train track that runs along the perimeter offers a rustic charm, especially when a locomotive is parked there. Even better: When a train rolls by, Sanitas offers discounts on select beers. On weekends, the brewery gets very busy, so couples and small groups should expect to share a table.

The beer: Sanitas Brewing Co. boasts that more than 150 different styles have rotated through the taps since it opened in 2013. Offerings vary widely, but in the summer the brewery serves several different lagers, such as a lime lager and a Munich lager, as well as a seasonal cherry saison. Year-round beers include several IPAs, a passion fruit sour and more.

Is there food? McDevitt Taco Supply has a food cart on site.

Dog friendly? Yes, and it’s a popular place for pet parents as well as those with human children.

3550 Frontier Ave., Unit A, Boulder. 303-442-4130. sanitasbrewing.com.

Denver Beer Co. – South Downing

The vibe: Patio vibes have seemingly always been front-of-mind for Denver Beer Co., whether it’s welcoming beer lovers to its flagship location on Platte Street or the taproom in the heart of Olde Town Arvada. But at its newest location, which opened March 2021 on Denver’s South Downing Street, the patio is the destination. We’re talking more than 10,000 square feet of outdoor space that includes covered and uncovered areas with picnic tables and a grassy area that folks can post up in camping chairs or play lawn games. Add in a few fire pits and cold beer and it’s practically patio paradise.

The beer: Expect to find Denver Beer Co.’s staples, including Juicy Freak IPA and Graham Cracker Porter, as well as rotating taps and a variety of house seltzers. The South Downing taproom has a small, one-barrel brewing system and often serves recipes unique to that location.

Is there food? The onsite restaurant DBC Eats turns out beer-friendly fare such as burgers, loaded fries and buffalo cauliflower. The brewery’s sister business, Yum Yum Ice Cream, is next door.

Dog friendly? Yes, and it’s a popular place for pet parents as well as those with human children.

2425 S. Downing. St., Denver. 303-433-2739. denverbeerco.com/taprooms/south-downing.

Ratio Beerworks – Overland

The vibe: Located in the Overland neighborhood of South Denver, Ratio Beerworks’ second outpost feels like something of a secret. To get there, you drive by auto shops and soon-to-be high-rise apartments, and you might pass right by it if you’re not looking closely. But inside the big metal gate (designed by local artists with Perspective Design Fabrication), drinkers will find a more chill, often less crowded version of Ratio’s flagship location in RiNo, complete with muraled walls, brightly colored chairs and artsy metal pergolas. The interior of this location also boasts cozy booth seating, and when the large, garage-style windows open to the patio, the brewery becomes one lively space.

The beer: Ratio Beerworks is known for offering a little bit of everything, but its Domestica American standard ale is a popular choice and won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 2021. Dear You, a French saison and 2020 GABF award winner, is fizzy, crisp and an apt pairing for summer days.

Is there food? Tacos Tequila Whiskey has a food truck on-site that is open Thursday and Friday from 4 to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m. through October.

Dog friendly? Yes.

2030 S. Cherokee St., Denver. 303-997-8288. ratiobeerworks.com.

New Terrain Brewing Co.

The vibe: Nestled in the foothills of Golden, New Terrain Brewing Co. is a magnet for adventurers who stop by after exploring the nearby hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails. (Seriously, you may very well see horses tied up or grazing out front.) But they’re all there for the same reason: to enjoy a variety of exciting beers against the backdrop of the mountains. There’s also an outdoor stage that regularly hosts live music, including every Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m.

The beer: With nearly two dozen recipes on tap at a time, New Terrain’s menu is arranged by style so drinkers can find what they’re looking for quickly, whether that’s something light and crisp like the Pillow Drops pilsner; something bitter and bright like Golden Haze New England PA; or malty and roasty like the Trailbock maibock. And if you order a flight, samples come in a vertical flight stand that’s begging to be on Instagram.

Is there food? A rotating cast of food trucks drives through New Terrain almost daily. Check the website for the schedule of options.

Dog friendly? Yes, and it’s a popular place for pet parents as well as those with human children.

16401 Table Mountain Parkway, Golden. 720-697-7948. newterrainbrewing.com.

Odell Brewing Co. – Sloan’s Lake

The vibe: When Fort Collins’ Odell Brewing Co. opened a second satellite taproom and pilot brewery in Denver in spring 2021, it was an instant hit. And the rooftop patio that overlooks Sloan’s Lake was a big part of why. This taproom is substantially bigger than the one in RiNo, with 8,725 square feet of dining and drinking space spread over two indoor floors and the aforementioned rooftop. The patio can hold 132 patrons at one time and snagging a spot can be competitive on busy nights and weekends. But those who do are rewarded with ample sunshine and a bar serving Odell beers by the pint.