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The Brewery: Strange Craft Beer Company
1330 Zuni St., Unit M
Opened: May 2010
The People: Founder/head brewer Tim Myers and brew ambassador Jules Hoekstra (and the rest of the team).
The Space: The brewery is tucked away in a strip mall, catty-corner to Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Inside you’ll find an L-shaped tasting room with limited bar seats (about 10 or so) on one side and a sit-down area on the other. A south-facing garage door opens up to the parking lot, where you’ll usually find a food truck cooking up goodies.
The Brews: Typically, there are anywhere from 10 to 15 beers on tap, ranging from a Saison to a stout—with an emphasis on the hoppy styles in between.
(Seriously) Buzzed Trivia: Before the brewery took over its Lincoln Park space, it was a grow house.
Sample This: Even the fruit beer–averse should try the Cherry Kriek, which took home gold in the fruit category at the 2014 World Beer Cup. (“Kriek” means “cherry” in Dutch, so the name translates to “Cherry Cherry.”) Once you’ve got your cherry fix, order the Farmhouse Ale for something a little more substantial. The robust but balanced Belgian ale sneaks in an 8.3 percent ABV punch.
Take Home: The Grapefruit IPA. This brew easily took the crown for me thanks to its clean citrus flavor, touch of hops, and overall drinkability. A full growler goes for $13; glass growlers on their own are just $5.
Tip(s): With a location less than a mile from the Broncos’ playhouse, Hoekstra calls Strange “the unofficial Broncos brewery.” Expect it to be extra busy during the season; arrive early to snag a seat in front of one of the two TVs, order a pint, and absorb the game-day buzz. There’s a ton to do at Strange during the offseason, too: The kid-friendly brewery stocks more than 20 board games—and homemade root beer—to keep the little ones busy. Head out back for cornhole, horseshoe, and other classic games, and stop by on Saturday evenings for live music. Before you go, check the food truck schedule on the spot’s Facebook page.
Drink for a Cause: Strange will start selling pints of Heather’s IPA later this month in honor of a friend battling cancer. For every Heather’s IPA purchased, the brewery will donate $1 to a cancer charity of the namesake’s choosing. The beer will be available until the barrel is tapped, though the team plans to make Heather’s IPA an annual tradition.
