Last year the surgeon general issued a 60+ page report on the epidemic of loneliness that has been pervasive in the post-COVID world. Whatever you felt about the recent election, it had to at the very least remind you that we’re living in extraordinarily strange times. How do we find new and improved social connections amid the deepest national division in our collective lifetimes?

Beer, that’s how. Your local craft brewery has become the gold standard of post-pandemic community interaction. Beyond whatever product is delivered through the taps, craft breweries are every bit as important to the community as bars and saloons were in the Old West, or as taverns were in pretty much any other point in human history.  They are the hubs of social interaction — the great equalizer of humanity that transcends class, age, affiliation or taste.

Craft beer, as it always has been, is a driving force and motivation for real human interaction. From the most outgoing social butterfly to the most introverted wallflower, craft breweries provide an escape from the surreal disconnection of modern life.

In the west suburbs of Denver, we’re ludicrously spoiled with local spots. In a crazily small radius, we can stop by Over Yonder Brewing for some Phish live streams and an Orange Whip. We can swing by the gorgeous patio at New Terrain for some Blaster, or pick up a certain muti-medal-winning brew from Cannonball Creek. We can get a table at Table by New Image Brewing Company, fill up a crowler of seasonal favorite Grammy’s Pumpkin Pie from LUKI Brewery, enjoy a kid-free experience at Odyssey Beerwerks, or have a pour of some of the best gluten-free beer the world has to offer at Holidaily.

We could easily make an Ultimate 12-pack (and then some) of the breweries in the area, but here we’ll do our best to narrow it down to six fan-favorite West Metro brews.

Over Yonder Brewing Co. | Orange Whip

 

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Over Yonder has amassed so many fan favorites in its relatively short tenure, that it’s amazing they have the space to keep as many classics on tap as they do. Orange Whip is one such classic, with its creamy, orange-vanilla goodness, made with Madagascar vanilla beans.

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New Terrain Brewing Co. | Blaster

 

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This U.S. Open bronze medal-winning beer is a seasonal Pale Ale that features the Colorado School of Mines mascot on the can. The winning recipe features Citra & Idaho 7 hops in the boil, Amarillo Cryo cool-pooling, and a double dry hopping of Amarillo Cryo, Idaho 7 and Azacca.

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Cannonball Creek Brewing Co. | Trump Hands IPA

 

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It’s timely. It’s award-winning. It has aptly funny can art. This session IPA is a blend of German and American hops that delivers notes of white grape and citrus fruit. Trump Hands is a light-bodied brew that finishes dry with a moderate hop bitterness.

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New Image Brewing Co. | Coriolis Effect

 

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A staple Hazy. To create this sweet-then-dry IPA, New Image pairs New Zealand’s Motueka hop with Ctra, which provides distinct and tropical notes of melon and stonefruits. The addition of dry-hopped Columbus brings the underlying notes more to the surface while providing a nice, dry finish.

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LUKI Brewery | Grammy’s Pumpkin Pie

 

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Guess who’s back — back again? Grammy’s Pumpkin Pie is a fan favorite and seasonal hit. The Brown Ale is a very warm, subtly spicy and extremely fall-appropriate beer that sticks out among a swarm of sweet, overly boozy and clove-dominant pumpkin beers that line the shelves of liquor stores this time of year.

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Holidaily Brewing Co. | Favorite Blonde

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Holidaily is known for their 100% gluten-free beers. The design on the Favorite Blonde can is a tribute to Founder Karen Hertz’s grandfather, who was an optometrist (he called her his favorite blonde). The light, malty aroma with subtle hints of lemon leads to a smooth, malty sweetness with a light hop bitterness from the Cascade and Centennial hop bill.

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