I always love to get recommendations from people that live in an area. So when a Denver-based friend recommended Vine Street Pub & Brewery, I was excited to visit and sample their beers.

My family and I visited Vine Street for dinner on our last night in Denver. I’m happy to report that we were greeted with exceptional service, good food, and excellent beer. Our server, Paul, was friendly, provided great suggestions, and ensured our experience was the best. We were also visited by management personnel (Eric and Rachel), who provided personal attention and service to make our visit the very best.

Vine Street Pub & Brewery is member of Mountain Sun Pubs & Breweries. Started in 1993 by Kevin Daly, Mountain Sun brews over 55 different beers each year. Since its beginning, Mountain Sun beers have won 10 Great American Beer Festival Medals and 2 World Cup Medals. Vine Street Pub was established in April 2008 and added a co-located brewery in April 2012.

Vine Street Pub & Brewery offers beers brewed at Mountain Sun and at Vine Street in the pub. I sampled several beers on tap. My tasting notes follow for some of my favorites (in no particular order).

Hop Harvest “Fresh Hopped” Saison (? ABV): A 2013 GABF entry, Hop Harvest pours a hazy gold color with white foam. The beer has an earthy hay, coriander, and clove aroma. Hop Harvest is medium-bodied with mild carbonation. The beer has flavors of malt, earth, coriander, and clove. Hop Harvest has a dryish finish with mild hops bitterness. I enjoyed this beer.

Blackberry Wheat (5.25% ABV): This beer pours a light reddish-amber hue with white foam. Blackberry Wheat has a blackberry aroma with subtle malt and wheat grain. The beer is light-bodied with moderate carbonation. Blackberry Wheat tastes of malt and wheat grain with blackberry and a dryish finish. Mountain Sun did a nice job of focusing on getting the fruit flavor without making the beer too sweet. This is a very good fruit beer that is great for hot summer days.

Champagne Lady Belgian Strong Golden(10% ABV): This beer pours a clear golden color with white foam. Champagne Lady has an aroma of malt and spices. The beer is medium to full-bodied with moderate carbonation. Champagne Lady has a nice malt flavor with spicy undertones and a sweet character imparted by the addition of orange blossom honey. The beer has a dryish finish with floral and citrus notes. Champagne Lady is intoxicating and sensuous.

Onslaught Ameri-Belgo Imperial IPA (9.0% ABV): Onslaught pours a hazy gold color with white foam. The beer smells of malt, earth, and floral hops. Onslaught is medium-bodied with mild carbonation. This beer has flavors of malt, earth, and clove with a nice hops bitterness, dryish finish, and floral hints. This is an excellent and potent beer.

Illusion Dweller English-style IPA (6.9% ABV): Winner of a Silver Medal at the 2010 GABF, this IPA pours a clear gold to copper color with white foam. Illusion Dweller has a nice bouquet of floral hops and citrus fruit. The beer is medium-bodied with moderate carbonation. Illusion Dweller has great flavors of malt biscuit with a nicely integrated hops bitterness and dry finish. It’s no illusion that this is an excellent beer.

F.Y.I.P.A. American-style IPA (6.5% ABV): FYIPA pours a hazy amber gold color with off-white foam. The beer has aromas of strong pine resin, blood oranges, malt, and grapefruit pith. FYIPA is medium-bodied with mild carbonation. Flavors of malt, pine resin, blood oranges, mild grapefruit, and grapefruit pith capture your taste buds. FYIPA has a nice dry finish with lingering hops bitterness. All of the flavors are nicely integrated. This is an excellent IPA that I could drink often.

Oude Bruin (5.5% ABV): This Flanders Brown style ale pours a hazy amber color with off-white foam. The ale has a fruit (grape) and tart aroma with tones of wood earthiness. Oude Bruin is medium-bodied with mild carbonation. The ale has a wonderful mild fruit (grape) and tart flavor followed by sweet malt and a sweet finish. This beer is outstanding!

If you are ever in Denver, stop by Vine Street Pub & Brewery. You’ll enjoy the beer and be treated royally.

Stayed tuned for my next post about a brewpub in Topeka, Kansas called Blind Tiger!