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

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Riho

Beer Engineer

Sharing the craft beer experience through an IT engineer's perspective. As a certified beer judge in Japan, I participated in the 2024 JGBA competitions. Currently based in Seattle, I offer brewing process insights and reviews while comparing craft cultures between the US and Japan.

My mission is "creating a world where breweries' unique stories reach their audience." I support brewers by leveraging my IT skills through prompt engineering and web development. Feel free to reach out with any questions about beer and technology. Cheers! 🍻


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確認できた事実と個人的な感想を明確に分けて記載しています。

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

※ Contains affiliate links

📸 From My Instagram Visit

❓ FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

What is Our Mutual Friend Brewing known for?

They specialize in mixed-fermentation saisons, barrel-aged ales, and wild/sour beers. Their ‘Dialectica’ saison and barrel-aged ‘Perdition’ series are World Beer Cup gold medalists. A pioneer of Denver’s funky craft beer scene.

Where is the taproom located?

In Denver’s RiNo (River North Arts District) neighborhood, about 10-15 minutes from Union Station by ride-share. The RiNo area is packed with craft beer spots — perfect for a brewery crawl.

What is mixed-fermentation brewing?

Mixed-fermentation uses multiple yeast and bacteria cultures (Saccharomyces + wild yeasts like Brettanomyces, Lactobacillus, etc.) creating complex, layered sour and funky flavors — similar to traditional Belgian lambics and gueuze.

ルネちゃん
ルネちゃん
What’s the RiNo neighborhood in Denver like?
りほくん
りほくん
RiNo stands for River North Arts District — it’s Denver’s hippest neighborhood filled with murals, galleries, restaurants, and of course, craft breweries. Perfect for a day trip!
ホプくん
ホプくん
The mixed-fermentation saisons at Our Mutual Friend are truly world-class! The complexity from wild yeast and bacteria is unmatched — like Belgian tradition meets Colorado creativity!
ルネちゃん
ルネちゃん
What does mixed-fermentation beer actually taste like?
りほくん
りほくん
Imagine a light tartness with earthy, funky notes — kind of like wine but in beer form. It’s complex and layered. First sip might surprise you, but once you get it, you’re hooked!

🍻 How to Order at an American Taproom

New to American taprooms? Here’s a quick guide to ordering craft beer with confidence.

りほくん
りほくん
Don’t be shy at the bar! Staff at craft breweries love talking beer. Just point at the tap list or say what style you enjoy and they’ll guide you to something great.
Step 1Check the tap list on the board or menu
Step 2Order at the counter: “Can I have a [beer name], please?”
Step 3“Open tab or close?” → Say “Open” to pay later, “Close” to pay now
Step 4Show ID (passport) if asked — 21+ required
Step 5Pick up your beer at the counter
Step 6Add 15–20% tip when closing your tab (tablet screen)
ホプくん
ホプくん
Try asking: “What do you recommend?” or “What’s your most popular IPA right now?” — bartenders love these questions!
ルネちゃん
ルネちゃん
Want to try before committing? Ask for a “taster” or “sampler” — most taprooms offer small 2-4oz pours to help you decide!

⚠️ Disclaimer

Taste evaluations are personal opinions. Beer flavor perception varies by individual. Product information, hours, and prices are subject to change without notice. Drink responsibly. Must be 21+ to consume alcohol in the United States.

🔗 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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