The best beer gardens aren't really about beer.
Sure, the pints matter. Afterall, this is Colorado, where craft brewing has become something of a state pastime. But after spending an afternoon in the patio of a beer garden, it won’t take long before you feel something else behind it all. It’s the spirit of community: laughter drifting across a patio, dogs sometimes stretched out beneath picnic tables, the glow of mountain sunsets and strings of patio lights. The feeling that, for a few hours, everyone belongs to the same gathering.
Beer gardens trace their roots back to 19th-century Bavaria, where brewers opened outdoor spaces beneath chestnut trees to serve cold beer and bring communities together. Colorado has embraced the tradition in its own way, pairing local craft brews with mountain views, sunshine and a culture that celebrates being outdoors.
Flats Beer Garden
Flats Beer Garden
The Flats Beer Garden: A New Life for an Old Landmark
In Golden, The Flats Beer Garden sits at the edge of the foothills. Colorado has many views of the mountains, but this one? It feels like you’re sitting on the base, and it’s stunning. With a patio and firepits, it’s common for people to lounge and just take in the scenery for hours.
But it wasn't always this way.
For more than 40 years, the building was known as Rocky Flats Bar & Grill and Rocky Flats Lounge, a longtime neighborhood watering hole and Green Bay Packers bar famous for its Friday fish fry. According to owner Johnny Martinez, the potential had yet to be realized.
With more than 20 years in hospitality, Martinez had helped friends open taprooms and assisted others in launching bars and restaurants before The Flats Beer Garden presented an opportunity to create something of his own. A visit to a traditional biergarten in Europe further affirmed the concept. Martinez was struck by how naturally the open-air gathering spaces encouraged connection, something he believes translates perfectly to Colorado's outdoor culture and craft beer scene.
Today, the transformation is immediately apparent. Guests gather beneath Colorado's famously blue skies. Families spread out at tables. Dogs roam alongside their owners. Local craft beers flow from taps selected in a true Colorado fashion.
The patio has also become the backdrop for some of life's biggest moments for a few guests. Martinez recalls engagement proposals, weddings and adoption events with local dog rescues among his favorite memories.
Yet for all the attention the views receive, Martinez believes the heart of The Flats lies elsewhere.
"What really makes us unique is the friendly neighborhood watering hole vibe that we aim to keep thanks to the amazing staff," he said. "The locals and regulars love us for our unique personalities and fun-loving spirit.
RiNo Beer Garden
RiNo Beer Garden
RiNo Beer Garden: An Unexpected Escape in the City
Denver's River North Art District is known for colorful murals, creative energy and bustling city streets. What many don't expect is one of the city's largest patios hiding right in the middle of it all.
At first glance, RiNo Beer Garden doesn't reveal much. Then they walk through.
"People that haven't been here, when they walk out on the patio, they realize how big it is and are surprised by all the flowers around," says General Manager Noah Farrell. "We kind of look like a dive on the outside. You would never expect it, and then you come inside and it's like, 'Oh.'"
Opened in 2017, RiNo Beer Garden was built with the surrounding arts district in mind. A giant mural anchors the property, while the location places visitors within walking distance of many of the neighborhood's most famous street art installations.
Farrell describes the patio as one of the largest in Denver, complete with flowers, growing hops, dozens of televisions and enough room to host everything from wedding welcome parties to corporate gatherings.
And, of course, the drink selection is equally impressive.
"We have like 60 beers on draft," Farrell says. "We have a lot of different selections from mostly local to some European."
Colorado breweries feature heavily on the menu, including favorites such as Avery Brewing, Great Divide, Dry Dock Brewing and Denver Beer Co.
Much like The Flats, the drinks are only part of the story.
The real draw is what happens when people gather there. Sports fans pack the patio for major events. Coworkers spill in after work for happy hour. Friends linger beneath the misters on warm summer afternoons.
Despite being surrounded by one of Denver's busiest neighborhoods, it somehow feels tucked away from it all. And in a state where people spend as much time outdoors as possible, that feeling may be worth as much as the beer itself.
Whether perched beside the foothills in Golden or hidden among murals in Denver's arts district, Colorado's beer gardens continue a centuries-old tradition in a distinctly Colorado way. They offer great beer, certainly. But more importantly, they offer a place to slow down, pull up a chair and join the gathering already in progress.
When You Go:
Flats Beer Garden: flatsbeergarden.com
Rino Beer Garden: rinobeergarden.com
Visit Denver: visitdenver.com.