Hogshead Brewery — Restaurant in Denver

As one of only a very few places in the entire country that specializes in "real ale," aka "cask-conditioned" beer, Hogshead is a real find! They do a lot of traditional British styles, and do them well. All my British friends, acquaintances and chance meetings are surprised to find anything so genuinely authentic and traditional, anywhere!! (Anyone who says otherwise doesn't know what they're talking about!) These styles are hard to find, and I'm personally partial to them, so I'm extremely pleased to have this in my own neighborhood 💖. For those that don't know much about "real ale," let me recommend the CamRA website: https://camra.org.uk/ and particularly https://camra.org.uk/campaign_resources/camra-definition-of-real-ale/. Now that they're adding also brewing some actual lagers (a very different beer-making process, not just force-carbonated ales), their selection is really rounding out for all seasons. Again - delicious beers that are worth seeking out. Just don't be expecting to find styles of beer that are outside their specialties - there are limits to what a small, specialty brewer can do. It may be disappointing for those seeking a "New England-style hazy IPA" or a "Belgian Sour," or any number of other types of beer. Unfortunate, perhaps, but true. And as a "taproom," they don't do guest beers from other breweries, or have a full liquor license. I've seen this be a surprising disappointment to some visitors who don't know what they're walking into, but as they say - "it is what it is." The current ownership team seems to be dedicated to making improvements - both physical and social. I'm off to one of their events in a few moments, and looking forward...

Awful customer service!!! Would never recommend or return this place. Went in by myself to use the bathroom and grab a quick beer before walking the area with my partner and the older bartender was great . Beer was good, but after walking we both returned to the brewery to use the restroom again and sit outside. After using the restroom I went to wait at their picnic tables for my partner to finish and as he was walking out the doors to sit with me, a different bartender yelled for him to “Maybe try buying a beer next time” in a nasty tone. To which I responded from outside the open doors that I had bought and drank a beer there (less than 30 minutes before with a diff bartender). Another customer chimed in to defend me and my partner by saying that I had sat at the bar and had a drink so the bartender said “oh thanks”. My partner and I were so embarrassed from being verbally accosted in front of other patrons that we got up and left instead of enjoying more time there. How can an establishment expect customers to return and purchase drinks if you yell at them before they get the...

Delicious cask beers. Porters are to die for. Perfect pours every time.

We are local in the neighborhood, and this place is our go to for a quick date night. I always get the same thing, Gilpin Black Gold on cask swoon but my partner likes to try different ales each time and he is never disappointed. The pints are on par if not better than the UK, and the patio atmosphere is definitely a classic Colorado brewery feel. We love this place!

Reading other reviews, it seems like some folks are upset that Hogshead doesn't do "samples of their beer" and I just want to kindly say, get over it. Not every brewery is gonna be run the same way, and each business gets to decide the worth of their product. If you are interested in trying a few different beers, put some money down and get a flight. Then if you like a specific thing you tried go back for a pint, or for another flight if you didn't find the one. If you want to sip on a bunch of samples, than maybe you should go somewhere else, and leave Hogshead's delicious beers for...