[Riho Brewery No.237] Our Mutual Friend Brewing (Denver) | World Beer Cup Gold Medal Mixed-Fermentation Beer Paradise!

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About me

About Me

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りほ

ITエンジニア兼ビアジャッジ

IT技術とビール愛を融合させた活動を展開中。日本のビアジャッジ資格保持者として2024年JGBAでの審査経験あり。現在はシアトル拠点で、日米のクラフトビール文化を比較しながら、情熱を注いでいます。趣味でビール関連アプリの開発も行っています(詳細はGitHubにて)。

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Hello! I’m Riho, a craft beer enthusiast.

On November 5, 2025, I visited Our Mutual Friend Brewing (OMF), located in Denver’s RiNo (River North) Art District, Colorado. This is a top-tier brewery that has earned 8 GABF medals and a World Beer Cup Gold Medal — one of the finest in the nation.

The brewery’s name is inspired by Charles Dickens’ last completed novel, Our Mutual Friend, embodying the philosophy that “beer is a common friend that connects people.” This brewery has a dramatic backstory: a former house painter self-taught himself brewing, and maintains an unwavering commitment to 100% Colorado-sourced ingredients. I walked in with sky-high expectations — and OMF delivered!

Hop-kun
Hop-kun

OMF is renowned as a mixed fermentation specialist — Hop! They combine Belgian saison yeast with Brettanomyces (Brett) to create complex flavors, aging in large French oak foeders named “Bert” and “Ernie” — Hop! “Saison Trystero” won Gold at the World Beer Cup 2018 and is a masterpiece where spiciness, fruity esters, and distinctive funk blend in perfect harmony — Hop!

Rune-chan
Rune-chan

A Denver brewery — Woof! What’s the vibe like? RiNo is an art district, right? Beer and art combined sounds amazing — Woof!!

Riho-kun
Riho-kun

RiNo is an area packed with breweries, galleries, and restaurants — just walking around is fun! Among them, OMF stands out not just for its awards but also for its incredible community spirit. A former painter self-teaches to world-class brewing level — the passion is extraordinary!

📍 Basic Information

ItemDetails
📍 Address2810 Larimer Street, Denver, CO 80205, USA
🏘️ AreaRiNo (River North) Art District / Five Points neighborhood
🚃 Transit~12 min walk from RTD 38th & Blake Station (A Line) / Bus 44 Larimer St / 28th St stop
🕐 HoursClosed Monday / Tue–Thu 4PM–10PM / Fri–Sat 2PM–Midnight / Sun 2PM–10PM
📞 Phone(303) 296-3441
🌐 Websitebuyomfbeer.com
📸 Instagram@omfbrewing
🍺 SpecialtyMixed fermentation saison · Brett ale · NEIPA · 100% Colorado-sourced ingredients
📅 FoundedDecember 2012

🌐 Online Ratings & Reviews

PlatformRatingReviews
⭐ Google Maps4.5 / 5400+ reviews
🍺 Untappd3.84 / 5109,039 check-ins
⭐ Yelp4.0+ / 5374 reviews

📖 Brewery History & Philosophy

Our Mutual Friend Brewing was founded in December 2012 by Brian Rivel, Andrew Strasburg, and Brandon Prof in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood. Starting with just a 31-gallon (~117L) small brewhouse and approximately $20,000 in capital — a true garage brewery spirit.

Particularly noteworthy is head brewer Jan Chodkowski. A former house painter who self-taught brewing and officially became head brewer in 2016. Inspired by Belgian saison brewers, he developed mixed fermentation beers that earned world-class recognition.

The core of OMF’s brewing philosophy is a commitment to 100% Colorado-sourced ingredients. Both malt and hops are sourced from Colorado whenever possible. They even performed their own malting at one point, prioritizing coexistence with local agriculture. Winning “Locally Minded Brewery of the Year” multiple times is no surprise.

The brewery’s name comes from Charles Dickens’ last completed novel, Our Mutual Friend, expressing the concept that “beer is a common friend that connects people.” They’re also dedicated to creating an inclusive space with a clearly stated LGBTQ+ friendly stance.

Hop-kun
Hop-kun

Foeders are large French oak vessels, and OMF’s two foeders — named “Bert” and “Ernie” — are the heart of their mixed fermentation program — Hop! Because foeders have a large surface area, lactic acid bacteria and acetic acid bacteria naturally colonize them, imparting complex acidity and funk over long periods — Hop! The annual-release “Biere Ovale” aged in these foeders is a true masterpiece — Hop!!

🏆 Awards (8 GABF Medals · World Beer Cup Gold)

YearCompetitionMedalBeer
2014 & 2015GABFSilver (Wood & Barrel-Aged Sour)24FPS
2016GABFSilver (Brett Beer)Dreamy Thing
2017GABFSilver (Brett Beer)Saison Trystero
2018World Beer Cup🥇 Gold (Brett Beer)Saison Trystero
2020GABFBronze (International Pale Ale)Inner Light
2021GABFSilver & Gold (2 categories)Biere Ovale / Inner Light
2022GABFSilver & Gold (2 categories)Biere Ovale / Saison Trystero
2022Good Food AwardsWinnerZappa Weirding Way

🍺 Signature Beers

① Saison Trystero ★ World Beer Cup 2018 Gold Medal

OMF’s crowning achievement — the World Beer Cup 2018 Gold Medal winner. A mixed fermentation Belgian saison combining French-strain yeast and Brettanomyces (Brett), hopped with Nugget. At ABV 6.86%, it’s compact in alcohol but extraordinary in complexity.

From the first sip, spicy pepper notes and clove aromas unfold, followed by the distinctive Brett funk (barnyard) developing slowly. A dry, champagne-like refreshing finish with an earthy, complex aftertaste. One of the finest modern Belgian saisons anywhere.

② Neon Nail ★ Flagship NEIPA

OMF’s commercial flagship — a New England IPA combining Galaxy, Citra, and Vic Secret hops, ABV 6.9–7.3%. Rich juiciness of nectarine, orange, and passionfruit with a wonderfully soft mouthfeel. Consistently rated 3.9+ on Untappd.

③ Biere Ovale ★ Annual Limited Release

An annual-release mixed fermentation saison (ABV 4.7%) aged in foeders “Bert and Ernie.” American oak aromatics, delicate acidity, and white wine and lemon peel notes interweave in a masterful blend. Back-to-back GABF Silver Medal winner in 2021 and 2022. If your visit timing aligns, this is a must-try.

📊 Flavor Profile (Saison Trystero)

Flavor ElementIntensity (1–5)Character
🟠 Bitterness3/5Nugget hop-derived · earthy and herbal
🟢 Sweetness2/5Dry finish · typical saison
🔵 Acidity3/5Soft Brett-derived acidity · champagne-like refreshment
🟣 Body2/5Light to medium · high carbonation, lively
🟡 Aroma5/5Complex spice · funk · fruity esters

👃 Aroma Profile (Saison Trystero)

🌶️
Spicy
Pepper · Clove
🐴
Brett Funk
Barnyard · Leather
🍋
Citrus
Lemon · Lime
🌾
Earthy
Earth · Herbs

🏆 Overall Rating

★★★★★
4.5/5
The World Beer Cup Gold Medal is well-deserved! A brewery where you feel the passion of a self-taught brewer reaching for world-class excellence
Riho-kun
Riho-kun

“Saison Trystero” was truly mind-blowing! Brett funk and refreshing acidity fused perfectly, revealing new dimensions with every sip. OMF’s philosophy that “beer becomes a mutual friend” is embodied in this beer. An absolute must-visit in Denver’s RiNo!

✈️ Plan Your Denver Trip

Riho-kun
Riho-kun

Denver is Colorado’s largest city, known as the “Mile High City” sitting at 5,280 feet elevation. The RiNo area is one of the nation’s premier craft beer destinations, packed with breweries, galleries, and restaurants. I recommend booking your trip early through Rakuten Travel!

✈️ Book Your Denver Trip

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🔗 Other Breweries from This Trip

More brewery articles coming soon. US Craft Beer Brewery Guide →

🇺🇸 American Craft Beer Brewery Reviews

North American brewery reports from a Seattle-based craft beer enthusiast: https://rihobeer.com/category/beer/brewpub/usa

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