Westbound & Down Brewing Denver | GABF 2025 Best Brewery
Beer
This article can be read in about 11 minutes.
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.
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
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
ホップくん
Let me analyze Westbound & Down’s 2025 GABF winners! Three golds: “How the West Was One: Mosaic (WC-IPA),” “Westbound Italian Pils,” and “Parallel Pale.” 2 silvers and 1 bronze for 6 total—tying the all-time record! The medals prove just how refined their West Coast style is!
りほくん
I was loving this IPA at the GABF venue, only to find out the medals were for their pale ale. That just shows how consistently excellent they are. The Dairy Block location is perfect too!
ルネちゃん
The Dairy Block is wonderful—great food AND beer! So close to Union Station, perfect for a stop while sightseeing!
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
★★★★★ (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.
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