Westbound & Down Brewing Denver | GABF 2025 Best Brewery

In October 2025, I visited Denver (デンバー) during GABF (Great American Beer Festival) week and stopped by Westbound & Down Brewing Company at the Dairy Block (ダイアリーブロック). I loved their IPA at GABF, only to discover the award winner was actually a pale ale. The dry, multi-layered hop aroma truly embodied the spirit of the West.

What is Westbound & Down Brewing Company?

Westbound & Down was born in 2015 in Idaho Springs (アイダホスプリングス), Colorado. Founders Geoff McFarlane, Dan Brown, and Jed MacArthur built it with the vision of “Elevating Adventure Since 2015.” They expanded to Lafayette (ラファイエット) in 2021 and Denver’s Dairy Block in July 2022, then acquired Aspen Brewing and Capitol Creek Brewing in 2023.

Brewmaster Jake Gardner (former Hogshead Brewery Head Brewer) leads a team producing everything from West Coast IPA and Italian Pilsner to barrel-aged stouts. At the 2025 GABF, they won “Brewery of the Year” in the 5,001-15,000 barrel category with a record-tying 6 medals, sending shockwaves through Colorado’s craft beer scene.

Basic Info & Access

Name	Westbound & Down Brewing Company – Dairy Block
Address	1801 Blake St, Denver, CO 80202（Free Market内）
Access	About 6 min walk from Union Station, within walking distance of Coors Field
Hours	Check official website or Instagram (@westboundanddown) for hours
Food	Takeout from Dairy Block restaurants welcome
Taps	10+ varieties (incl. seasonal)
Website	westboundanddown.com
Instagram	@westboundanddown

Venue: A Stylish Hideaway in the Dairy Block

Denver’s Dairy Block is a gourmet and shopping complex near Union Station and Coors Field. Westbound & Down’s taproom occupies the Free Market space within.

The refined industrial interior features over 10 taps pouring a wide range of seasonal styles. You can bring food from Dairy Block restaurants, making it a welcoming spot for locals and tourists alike.

Visiting during GABF week, the place was packed with beer lovers from across Denver. The staff were friendly and happy to discuss their styles and awards.

Beers I Tried

I went with an IPA—the impression from GABF was unforgettable. What blew me away was the dry, multi-layered hop expression. I was doubly surprised to learn the GABF award-winner was actually “Parallel Pale”!

Beer Name	Westbound IPA / Parallel Pale (at visit)
Style	West Coast IPA / American Pale Ale
Appearance	Clear golden to pale amber
Aroma	Multi-layered: pine, citrus, white pepper, dry herbs
Flavor	Dry, crisp bitterness; complex hop flavors; strong West Coast character
Finish	Clean, lingering finish with slowly fading hop bitterness
Overall	GABF record-tying excellence in every sip. Dry yet never monotonous; brilliantly layered hops

Web Reviews & Ratings

Yelp（Denver店）	4.0-4.5 / Many positive reviews as a top Denver craft beer spot
Google Maps（Dairy Block）	4.3-4.5 / Highly rated by locals & tourists; praised with Dairy Block vibe
Untappd	Colorado Pale Ale: 3.8/5 (~5,000 ratings) / Highly recommended visit
RateBeer	Recognized as high-quality brewery (see official site for latest)

Awards & Highlights

2025 GABF	Brewery of the Year (5,001-15,000 barrel category) Gold x3（How the West Was One: Mosaic、Westbound Italian Pils、Parallel Pale） Silver x2（Infinity Pils、Scenic Route） Bronze x1（Westbound IPA）
2024 GABF	Don’t Hassle the Hef、Western Justice、Infinity Pils — medals
2023 GABF	金1（WC-Style IPA）、銀1（NZ IPA）、銅1（American Cream Ale）
2019 GABF	🏆 Mid-Size Brewpub of the Year 受賞
Expansion	Acquired Aspen Brewing & Capitol Creek Brewing in 2023; 5 Colorado locations

Recommended for Craft Beer Fans

For those wanting to explore West Coast IPA more deeply, a craft beer tasting glass is recommended. It brings out the complex hop aromas beautifully.

📦 Search for “craft beer tasting glass” on Rakuten

Overall Rating

Beer Quality	★★★★★ (6 GABF 2025 medals, tying all-time record)
Atmosphere	★★★★☆ (Stylish Dairy Block; outside food OK)
Access	★★★★★ (Walking distance from Union Station & Coors Field)
Value	★★★★☆ (Standard Denver pricing; great value)
Recommendation	★★★★★ (Must-visit in Denver, esp. during GABF)

For West Coast IPA and pale ale, Westbound & Down ranks among America’s very best. Their 6 medals and Brewery of the Year at GABF 2025 are no fluke—you feel the excellence in every sip. When visiting Denver’s Dairy Block, don’t miss a pint at Westbound & Down.

References

• Original Instagram post: @lobeerve No.214
• 公式サイト: westboundanddown.com
• Untappd: untappd.com/WestboundDownCo
• Dairy Block: thedairyblock.com

Instagram投稿

Instagram

www.instagram.com

{ “@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@type”: “Article”, “headline”: “Westbound & Down Brewing Company in Denver, CO | GABF 2025 Brewery of the Year”, “author”: { “@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Riho” }, “datePublished”: “2026-06-11”, “publisher”: { “@type”: “Organization”, “name”: “rihobeer.com” }, “about”: { “@type”: “BreweryOrWinery”, “name”: “Westbound & Down Brewing Company”, “address”: { “@type”: “PostalAddress”, “streetAddress”: “1801 Blake St”, “addressLocality”: “Denver”, “addressRegion”: “CO”, “postalCode”: “80202”, “addressCountry”: “US” }, “foundingDate”: “2015”, “url”: “https://www.westboundanddown.com” } }

FAQ

Q1. Where is Westbound & Down located?

Located in Denver, Colorado. The original is in Idaho Springs; Denver is a taproom.

Q2. What are the best beers?

Both IPAs and lagers are excellent. West Coast IPA is especially popular; seasonal releases are must-tries.

Q3. Is it family-friendly?

As a brewpub, check the official website before visiting with children.

Q4. What are the hours?

Hours vary by season. Check the official website before visiting.

Q5. Can I buy growlers?

Check the website or ask at the store for takeout options.

{“@context”:”https://schema.org”,”@type”:”FAQPage”,”mainEntity”:[{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Where is Westbound & Down Brewing Company?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Located in Denver, Colorado. The original is in Idaho Springs; Denver is a taproom.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”What are the best beers at Westbound & Down?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Both IPAs and lagers are excellent. West Coast IPA is especially popular; seasonal releases are must-tries.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Is Westbound & Down family-friendly?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”As a brewpub, check the official website before visiting with children.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”What are the hours?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Hours vary by season. Check the official website before visiting.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Can I buy growlers?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Check the website or ask at the store for takeout options.”}}]}