Atlanta Restaurants & Food

Denver's Great Divide Brewing Company

beer samples are $1 each- and a hefty pour gives you a good taste.
beer samples are $1 each- and a hefty pour gives you a good taste.
By Alexa Lampasona
July 18, 2014

I

know beer is usually Bob’s thing, but I have been traveling in Denver and found it worthwhile to check out their beer scene. The top breweries in the state range from Golden, Colorado’s Miller-Coor’s brewery to Denver’s microbrewery scene that includes Wynkoop Brewery and Prost Brewery.

I took a tour of The Great Divide Brewing Company, a brewery located near Denver's downtown district. The brewery was founded in 1994 and recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. With this milestone, the brewery plans to expand and add a second production facility in Denver. The current brewery is nestled in an old dairy building off Larimer Street in the "RiNo" district, which has been known for its gentrification throughout the past decade.

What started as a one-man job, with founder Brian Dunn brewing, bottling and selling his own beer, has evolved into a company with 26 different beer selections. At any given day in the tasting room, you can sample from 17 drafts, including seasonal specialties.

Check out the photo tour of the brewery.

at any given time, 17 beers are available on tap
at any given time, 17 beers are available on tap
All brewing begins with malt. The malt is mixed into the mash tun with hot water, and the starches are converted to sugars.
All brewing begins with malt. The malt is mixed into the mash tun with hot water, and the starches are converted to sugars.
The wort (basis of beer) is then transferred to the brew kettle for lautering.
The wort (basis of beer) is then transferred to the brew kettle for lautering.
heat is added to the tanks to make the liquid boil, and then hops are added. Additional flavors go in once the beer has boiled longer
heat is added to the tanks to make the liquid boil, and then hops are added. Additional flavors go in once the beer has boiled longer
then the beer is transferred to the fermentation tanks, where yeast feeds on the wort. Primary fermentation can take anywhere from 5 to 14 days, while secondary fermentation (cold conditioning) can take from 2 to 8 weeks
then the beer is transferred to the fermentation tanks, where yeast feeds on the wort. Primary fermentation can take anywhere from 5 to 14 days, while secondary fermentation (cold conditioning) can take from 2 to 8 weeks
once the fermentation is complete, the beer is bottled or kegged.
once the fermentation is complete, the beer is bottled or kegged.
The Great Divide's bottling line
The Great Divide's bottling line
beer samples are $1 each- and a hefty pour gives you a good taste.
beer samples are $1 each- and a hefty pour gives you a good taste.

About the Author

Alexa Lampasona

More Stories

The Latest

Avoid Washing Your Turkey for Thanksgiving Dinner

Why you should never wash your turkey

Featured

GA 400 Trees

Hundreds of trees on Ga. 400 are gone. Here is why.

Home Depot bought a newspaper ad for its 1979 grand opening. Then it didn’t run.

Frigid weather hits Atlanta, and sunshine won’t help much