Behind the Brew: Our Mutual Friend Brewing Company

Meet Our Mutual Friend Brewing Company, a company that has crafted a taproom and environment befitting all walks of life.

Location: Situated on the east side of Larimer Street in RiNo, OMF started slinging pints in early 2012. Since then, they’ve grown not only their tap list, but also their following, due in part to their neighbors—fellow grassroots entrepreneurs with an undying passion for their endeavors. This 10-block sprawl of Larimer Street (from 25th Street through 35th) is rich with eateries, boutiques, and bars that, just five years ago, were simply an idea waiting to happen.

Ambience: What’s more inviting than a massive rainbow-striped mural that nearly jumps off the white brick building it adorns? One look inside the taproom and you can tell OMF knows what their patrons want—good music, quality beer, and a space that fosters conversation. Overall, it’s moderately sized with a multitude of seating options: stools nestled up to a narrow counter that runs the length of one wall, a large community table in the center of the room, a handful of four-tops in the far right corner, and eight-ish stools to belly up to the bar, which is located in the far left corner. Vinyls are always spinning and the large bookcase surrounding the taps is packed with beerology books and random knick-knacks bound to spark chatter. Windows to the right of the bar offer a dimly lit peek into their brewing room.

On warmer days, OMF pops open the garage door on the north side of the building to expose their patio, which is packed with picnic tables. A waist-high fence around the perimeter of a veranda is all that separates you from the adjacent parking lot. No one would describe it as glamorous, but that’s not really OMF’s MO anyway.

Who You’ll Meet: OMF’s lack of shtick means all are welcome. This brewery is all about doing what they know and doing it well: serving up great craft beers and bringing people together. On any given day, cyclists, out-of-towners, hipsters, Larimer residents, business owners, and even other local brewers can be found sipping one of OMF’s brews, a sure sign that their efforts to cultivate a community are ripe and flourishing.

On Tap: This is a brewery that goes beyond perfecting their own pursuits; collaboration brews regularly grace their tap list, offering patrons fresh options of exclusive beers. Although “shiny and new” can be appealing, don’t miss out on OMF’s staples. As someone who’s tried many-a sour beer and never found one that I really loved, I’m going to say that their barrel-aged golden sour, 24FPS (5.5 percent ABV), is a must-try. (Note: 24FPS won a silver medal at this year’s GABF.) The Segale Rye Pale Ale (5.5 percent) and Novo Coffee Stout (6 percent) are perfect for the chilly fall weather.

Make a Night of It: Plan to do your own food and beverage crawl down Larimer Street; swing into Los Chingones, The Meadowlark, or Ratio Beerworks for more beverages, then make your way down to Finn’s Manor, a quirky, artistic indoor/outdoor bar and plaza that features a rotation of eight different food trucks. Don’t miss Night Shift‘s bao buns, or the lumpia—fried, savory pastries similar to spring rolls—at A Taste of the Phillippines.

More: On a recent visit to OMF, the tap list included three variations of their Bad Motorfinger imperial vanilla coffee porter, a collaboration brew with Koala San Brew. Two of them were aged in local whiskey distiller A.D. Laws‘ bourbon and rye barrels. As if you needed any more reasons to stop in.

Visit: Our Mutual Friend is located at 2810 Larimer St.