DIY Brew Pub/Bar Crawl Recommendations

Question

Can someone share 4 or 5 brew pubs/bars within walking distance of each other to visit on a weekday? Location downtown or even surrounding areas. It would be fun if there was ice cream or other snack opportunities along the way. Interesting views or just a fun area would be awesome. I want to organize a fun afternoon with friends. Not interested in a paid tour. Thanks!

Answer

Great plan — Denver has compact neighborhoods where you can easily build a DIY brew-pub/bar crawl on foot. My favorite walkable cluster for an afternoon with ice cream/snacks and a lively vibe is Union Station → LoDo → Larimer/RiNo. It’s roughly a 10–20 minute walking route from Union Station into the heart of RiNo and hits a mix of historic bars, brewpubs, and taprooms with easy snack stops along the way. Below are 4–5 stops that work well in sequence, short notes on why each is a good stop, and snack/ice-cream options to sprinkle in between. All places below are close enough to walk between (most legs are 5–15 minutes).

Terminal Bar (Union Station) — classic starting point with a huge beer list and a beautiful historic space right in Denver’s Union Station (easy outdoor seating on the plaza if weather’s nice). Perfect for an opening pint and people-watching.
Wynkoop Brewing Company (LoDo) — Colorado’s first brewpub; roomy and casual with a good selection for varied tastes and quick bar snacks. It's an easy stroll from Union Station and keeps the “big brewery / historic” vibe going.
Our Mutual Friend Brewing (Larimer St / RiNo edge) — inventive, award-winning small brewery with a friendly taproom atmosphere and picnic-style seating; often near food trucks or barbecue spots if you want heartier bites. It’s an easy walk upriver from Wynkoop into the Larimer/RiNo area.
Ratio Beerworks (Larimer St) — lively taproom with a varied beer lineup and a long indoor/outdoor space; great for sampling local styles and hanging out with friends. It’s one block or two from other Larimer St breweries, so you can pop in and out.
Optional: Odell / Great Divide taproom (RiNo/Blake St area) — if you want one more stop, the newer Great Divide and other RiNo taprooms are within walking distance and give you more beer variety without needing a car. (Good if your group wants multiple brewery styles.)

Snack & Ice-Cream Stops

Little Man Ice Cream — iconic Denver ice-cream spot (on 16th Street Mall / LoDo edge). Great as a dessert stop mid-crawl.
Plenty of food-hall / food-truck options by Larimer and Blake in RiNo (BBQ, tacos, pizza) — handy for a casual bite between breweries.

Suggested Route & Timing (weekday afternoon)

Start at Union Station (Terminal Bar) around 2–3 PM for a relaxed first drink and plaza energy — then walk 5–7 minutes to Wynkoop.
Spend ~45–60 minutes at Wynkoop, then stroll (10–15 minutes) up to Larimer/RiNo toward Our Mutual Friend / Ratio.
Plan ~45–60 minutes at each RiNo taproom; intersperse a food-truck or Little Man stop as needed. Walking legs are short (5–15 minutes), so the vibe stays social without driving or long waits.

Notes & Tips

Weekdays are great — shorter lines, easier seating, and happy-hours at many spots. Terminal Bar and Wynkoop often have happy hour windows.
RiNo can be lively; many taprooms allow dogs and have outdoor seating. Check open hours (some places open mid-afternoon).
Keep group size in mind — if you have more than 6–8 people, call ahead or plan to split between two tables/times.
Ride-share back or metro from Union Station if you end farther into RiNo (or finish back near Union Station). Union Station is a natural transit hub.

DIY Brew Pub/Bar Crawl Recommendations

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