One great way to learn a city is beer. This Denver crawl turns the RiNo Art District into a living classroom, with tastings chosen for your taste and a guide who keeps the pace relaxed. I especially like the pay-as-you-go setup (you control what you drink) and the way it pairs neighborhood history with actual brewery culture. One thing to consider: drinks are extra, so your final spend depends on how many pours you order.

The timing also works. You start at 4:00 pm for about 2.5 hours, which fits a Denver afternoon before dinner or a concert. If you like street art, brewery architecture, and learning why certain Colorado styles take off, this is a fun match.

Key things to know before you go

• Pay-as-you-go tastings: you sample what you choose, not a fixed menu
• RiNo Art District focus: street art and breweries in the same walking loop
• Left Hand Brewing stop: sustainability details like water conservation, solar power, and recycling
• Relaxed, flexible pacing: linger where you like it and keep moving at your comfort level
• Private tour for your group: only your people, with a local guide steering

What you’re really paying $58 for in Denver

For $58, you’re buying a guided walking experience plus smart help picking where to drink. The tour is pay-as-you-go for food and drink, so the ticket price doesn’t automatically cover multiple full meals or a fixed beer flight.

That said, the value comes from how the tour is structured:

• You get help choosing beers you’ll actually enjoy, from IPAs to specialty styles you might not seek out on your own.
• You get context for the spots you’re visiting, including the shift from older saloon culture to today’s RiNo brewery scene.
• You get a route designed for an easy afternoon/early evening without the stress of figuring out transportation between places.

Your cost at the bar will depend on you. One helpful tip from the tour’s feedback: plan for roughly three full glasses worth of beer across the walk. If you tend to taste slowly, you can control it. If you go full thirsty-mode, expect the total to climb.

RiNo on foot with a 4:00 pm start: a smart timing choice

Meeting time is 4:00 pm and the tour runs about 2 hours 30 minutes. That timing matters in Denver. You’re not racing through the day, and you’re still early enough to roll into dinner plans after.

The route starts in RiNo and ends in the River North Art District area, so you’re not wandering back to some far-off starting point. You’ll also be walking through a neighborhood that’s designed for this kind of evening: street art, breweries, distilleries, restaurants, and the kind of industrial buildings that make brewery stops feel like part of the city, not a side quest.

Also worth noting: it’s described as wheelchair-friendly, and service animals are welcome. The tour is a walking crawl, but it’s not a “you must sprint between bars” format.

Starting outside Denver Public Library’s Bob Ragland Branch

Your tour begins at 1900 35th St, Denver, CO 80216, outside Denver Public Library’s Bob Ragland Branch in the RiNo area.

This first stop is short, but it sets the tone. It’s a natural place to begin because you’re in the neighborhood already, and it gives your guide a chance to orient you on where you’re headed next. You’re also in an area known for being creatively transformed—an easy mental shift from classic downtown Denver to the newer RiNo identity.

If you’re the type who likes to know where you are before you start ordering, you’ll appreciate this. It’s also a good moment to ask basic questions like what styles your guide recommends if you’re an IPA fan—or if you want something less bitter.

RiNo Art District: why the neighborhood is part of the beer

After the library, you spend your time in the RiNo Art District, a part of Denver built around street art, large murals, and the mix of graffiti and commissioned work.

This matters because RiNo isn’t just a place with bars. It’s a whole vibe:

• Brewery culture sits next to art walls.
• Distilleries and restaurants keep the area from feeling like a one-note beer zone.
• Walking between stops keeps you from feeling locked into a single room.

This is where your guide’s role really pays off. Since beer is ordered as you go, you’re not stuck with whatever was pre-selected. Your guide can steer you toward:

• IPAs if you want hop-forward flavors
• specialty brews if you like surprises
• something more balanced if you’re trying to pace yourself

The tour is also described as relaxed and flexible. Translation: you’re not on a countdown where you have to rush. You can linger if a spot clicks.

Brewery stops you might hit, and what makes each style different

The exact order of stops can vary, and not every location is guaranteed. But the tour is clearly designed around a few types of brewery experiences, each with a different feel.

A Belgian-inspired brewery with a creative space

One stop is described as having been inspired by Belgian styles with a refreshing twist. That usually signals a brewery that leans into complex, character-filled beer rather than only chasing bitter hop intensity.

The tour description also hints at a creative, unique brewery space. That means you’re not only tasting; you’re seeing how breweries in RiNo build a visitor-friendly atmosphere.

If you like Belgian-style flavors—spice-like notes, crisp finishes, and something a little outside the standard American IPA box—this is one of the stops that can reshape what you think Colorado beer can taste like.

A massive multi-taproom venue for variety

Another possible stop involves a larger venue with multiple taprooms, live music, and a wide variety of local Colorado beers.

This type of stop is great when you’re undecided. It’s the place to sample across styles without feeling like you’re leaving the party to find another option.

Practical angle: if you start getting “beer fog” later in the crawl, a multi-taproom venue can help you pick a safer choice because the selection is right there.

A long-running brewery with distinctive ales

One brewery stop is described as being on the craft scene pulse since its inception in Denver, with a promise to produce high-quality, distinctive ales in every batch.

This is a good anchor for the tour. You get at least one classic “trust the brand” stop in the mix, which can help balance the more unusual beers earlier or later.

Left Hand Brewing and sustainability you can taste

A named stop here is Left Hand Brewing. The tour guide is set up to explain how Left Hand approaches sustainability, including:

• water conservation
• solar power
• recycling

Why I like this as part of a beer crawl: it connects the beer you’re drinking to the way the business runs day to day. You’re not just hearing marketing words. You’re getting a cause-and-effect story you can carry to your next pour.

If sustainability is a big part of how you decide what to buy—this stop turns that interest into a concrete conversation.

The fun extras: South Platte River, Zeppelin food hall, and dinner ideas

Not every person will hit every “maybe” stop, but the tour includes the kind of extras that make it feel like you’re living the city for a few hours.

The South Platte River border walk

You’ll also pass along the South Platte River, a corridor Denverites use for running and cycling. The trail connects between downtown and LoHi and continues toward Auraria.

This portion helps break up the “bar-to-bar” feeling. It’s a mental reset. It also gives you a moment to see Denver in motion, not just through taproom windows.

Zeppelin food hall as your post-tour plan

Denver has food halls, and the tour calls out Zeppelin, specifically noting it as a solid post-tour option. The variety is described as street tacos to sushi.

If you’re enjoying the beer crawl and the timing doesn’t allow a food stop, Zeppelin is a great place to keep the evening going without locking yourself into a single cuisine. It’s also easy to treat as a “recovery meal” once the last beer is done.

A Latin American–inspired spot with culinary education programs

The route mentions a local business that offers culinary education programs and serves Latin American–inspired cuisine.

Even if you don’t stop there during the crawl, it’s a strong clue for what to look for later in RiNo or nearby—places where food culture connects to community work.

A craft winery option if you want to switch gears

There’s also the option of visiting an excellent craft winery, described as offering a wide variety of wines plus unique dishes.

This is useful for mixed groups—say your friend wants beer but you want wine, or you want a lower-alcohol or different flavor finish after multiple tastings.

A concert venue within walking distance

One final “maybe” add-on: you might be near a concert venue within walking distance of the meeting area. The tour suggests joining for a beer crawl before or after a show.

That’s a practical tip. If you’ve got tickets, this helps you turn pre-show time into something memorable without dealing with rideshare hassles.

How the guide makes or breaks the crawl

In this kind of beer tour, the guide is the product. The tour is designed around that, and the feedback points to guides who keep things easy and friendly.

Two guide names show up in the tour’s past experiences: Bruce and Kristina.

• Bruce is described as easygoing with great beer info, the kind of person you can hang with without feeling rushed.
• Kristina is described as personable, accommodating, and flexible with timing, while also pairing Denver neighborhood history with beer culture.

What you can expect from a good guide here is specific:

• They’ll help you start strong based on your taste. If you’re an IPA person, they can steer you toward hop intensity. If you want something different, they can shift gears.
• They’ll keep the group moving at a pace that leaves room for lingering.
• They’ll explain what you’re drinking in plain language—so you don’t just order and shrug.

Because this is private, you’re not stuck in “everyone gets one flight” mode. Your group’s preferences can shape the choices.

Practical tips so you get the most from the crawl

A few things can help your evening feel smooth.

Plan for multiple beers. One tip shared with the tour: make room in your stomach for about three full glasses of beer during the experience. If you know you drink slowly, that’s perfect. If you go fast, you’ll want a food plan too.

Wear comfortable shoes. It’s a walking tour in RiNo, so treat it like a neighborhood stroll with stops, not a sit-down tasting.

Use the guide’s beer-pairing help. The whole point is that you can choose beers based on what you like. If you wait until you’re staring at a tap list with no clue, you’re giving up the tour’s main advantage.

Think dinner, not just beer. With options like Zeppelin and a Latin American–inspired stop, you’re not stuck when the crawl ends. You can keep the evening going with food that fits the mood.

Should you book Colorado on Tap in RiNo?

I’d book this if you want:

• a guided beer experience without having to plan a route yourself
• a neighborhood walk where beer and street art go together
• a pay-as-you-go approach so you control what you order
• a stop that includes real sustainability context at Left Hand

I’d skip it or be cautious if:

• you want fully included drinks and food with a fixed amount (this isn’t that)
• you don’t want to walk much, since it’s built as a crawl and not a van tour

If your ideal Denver afternoon is part history lesson, part brewery sampling, and part art-drenched RiNo wandering, this one fits well. The flexibility is the secret weapon—when the right spot hits, you can linger instead of sprinting to the next bar.

FAQ

What is the price of the Colorado on Tap Private Craft Beer Crawl?

The tour costs $58.

How long does the tour last?

It runs for about 2 hours 30 minutes.

Are drinks included, or is it pay-as-you-go?

Food and drink are pay-as-you-go, so you’ll purchase what you order at each stop.

Where does the tour start and where does it end?

It starts at 1900 35th St, Denver, CO 80216 and ends in the River North Art District area of Denver.

What time does the tour begin?

The start time is listed as 4:00 pm.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates.

Are service animals and wheelchair users allowed?

Service animals are welcome, and the tour is listed as wheelchair-friendly.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. Cancellation is free if you cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the experience start time.