The teams are set for the Big Game at Levi’s Stadium, and both rosters are stacked with all-star talent. But the Denver and Charlotte areas aren’t just known for their football teams — both cities boast championship-worthy breweries. Let’s take a look at some of the heavy hitters from each sports-crazy market that you need to hit up, no matter whom you’re cheering for come Sunday.
Denver, Colorado
Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project
If we’re talking barrel-aged sour ales, Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project deserves a spot in our Hall of Fame. Its focus is brewing Belgian sour beers, and the folks there are damn good at it. While its beers see distribution outside the 20-barrel brewhouse, you better snap ’em up fast if you see one in the wild.
Our MVP Pick: Nightmare on Brett, a dark, sour cherry ale
As one of the more well-known Colorado breweries, Great Divide Brewing Company takes pride in its hometown and is heavily involved in the Denver community. Great Divide offers a variety of beers, from IPAs and pale ales to imperial stouts and farmhouse ales, so it’s got a little something for everyone.
Our MVP Pick: Yeti Imperial Stout, a big, bold stout with caramel and toffee notes
The goal of Trve Brewing Company isn’t too different from ours: to provide “a rad place to hang out and drink killer beer.” Trve (pronounced “True”) was founded in 2011 and has quickly become one of Denver’s more popular breweries. These guys pride themselves on breaking the rules — they’re heavily influenced by heavy metal culture, and their brewing style is all over the place. But whichever Trve brew you choose, you won’t be disappointed.
Our MVP Pick: Hellion, an amber American table beer
Charlotte, North Carolina
NoDa Brewing is Charlotte through and through — its name was taken from a local neighborhood off North Davidson Street. NoDa’s homebrew origins influence its small-batch mindset and tendency to release unique one-off brews.
Our MVP Pick: Hop, Drop ‘n Roll, a citrusy, American-style IPA
Do you like a little science with your beer? Wooden Robot’s Head Brewer and President Dan Wade earned his master of science degree in brewing and distilling from Scotland’s Heriot-Watt University. Pretty rad, right? The brewery, located in Charlotte’s historic South End neighborhood, focuses on Belgian farmhouse beers, but it offers a mix of IPAs, pale ales and stouts as well.
Our MVP Pick: Orange You Lovely, a unique farmhouse ale brewed with blood oranges
We don’t know who’ll be the champion on the field this weekend, but with lineups like these, the real winners are the beer drinkers of Denver and Charlotte. Cheers!
