By Tina Christensen, Christensen Collective
A Friday evening in Highlands Ranch can mean a short drive to a familiar taproom rather than a trip into Denver. Clients moving here often assume a suburb this size limits their options for a night out, and the brewery and biergarten scene here says otherwise. Finding the best bars in Colorado does not require leaving Highlands Ranch, at least not for a solid taproom, a dog-friendly patio, or a proper German biergarten. Here are the spots I point people toward once they settle into a new home here.
Key Takeaways
- Living the Dream Brewing runs a taproom with food trucks, trivia, and a dog-friendly patio.
- Max Taps Co. rotates Colorado craft beer and wine with its own dog-friendly Doghouse area.
- Prost Brewing Co & Biergarten brings German beer and food to a family friendly patio setting.
- Highlands Ranch covers a real range of the best bars in Colorado without requiring a drive into Denver.
Living The Dream Brewing Took Over A Familiar Spot
Living the Dream Brewing operates its taproom at 9150 Commerce Center Circle, in the same building that used to house Grist Brewing Company before it closed. The space kept its taproom setup, with both indoor and outdoor seating and a rotating lineup of food trucks parked outside most nights. Weekly trivia, music bingo, and occasional yoga sessions round out a calendar that goes beyond just pouring beer.
A brewery moving into a space that already worked as a taproom tends to have an easier transition than starting from scratch. Regulars who used to visit Grist will recognize the layout, though I always make sure clients double check current hours before planning a visit around a specific event.
A brewery moving into a space that already worked as a taproom tends to have an easier transition than starting from scratch. Regulars who used to visit Grist will recognize the layout, though I always make sure clients double check current hours before planning a visit around a specific event.
What To Expect At Living The Dream
- The taproom includes both indoor and outdoor seating at the Commerce Center Circle location.
- Food trucks rotate through most nights, so the menu changes regularly.
- Weekly events include trivia, music bingo, and occasional yoga sessions.
Max Taps Co. Keeps The Focus On Colorado
Max Taps Co. organizes its entire draft list around Colorado breweries and wineries. The concept leans into rotating selections rather than a fixed lineup, so a repeat visit rarely means ordering the same thing twice. A dedicated Doghouse area on the patio makes this one of the more dog-friendly stops on this list.
This is the spot to bring a friend who wants a broad sample of what Colorado breweries are putting out right now. The rotating list does most of the work of introducing someone to the state's craft beer scene in a single visit.
This is the spot to bring a friend who wants a broad sample of what Colorado breweries are putting out right now. The rotating list does most of the work of introducing someone to the state's craft beer scene in a single visit.
What Sets Max Taps Apart
- The draft list focuses specifically on Colorado breweries and wineries.
- Selections rotate regularly, so the lineup changes between visits.
- A dedicated Doghouse patio area caters to guests bringing their dogs along.
Prost Brewing Co & Biergarten Brings A German Twist
Prost Brewing Co & Biergarten is one of four Colorado locations for the brand. German beer styles like lagers, pilseners, and kolsch anchor the drink menu, paired with bratwurst, schnitzel, and pretzels on the food side. The Highlands Ranch location is family friendly, with enough open patio space for kids to move around while adults settle into a table.
This biergarten's expansive patio space offers a comfortable, easygoing vibe. Groups with a wide age range tend to have an easier time here than at a standard taproom.
This biergarten's expansive patio space offers a comfortable, easygoing vibe. Groups with a wide age range tend to have an easier time here than at a standard taproom.
What Makes This Biergarten Different
- German beer styles like lagers, pilseners, and kolsch make up most of the drink menu.
- Traditional German food, including bratwurst and pretzels, rounds out the menu.
- Open patio space gives the location a more family friendly feel than a typical bar.
How To Pick Between These Three Spots
Living the Dream Brewing ranks among the top choices for a rotating food truck lineup paired with a full events calendar. Max Taps Co. works best for exploring Colorado's broader craft beer and wine scene in one sitting. Prost Brewing Co & Biergarten suits a group that wants patio space, German food, and enough room for kids to tag along.
None of these three compete directly with each other, since each one leans into a different kind of evening. The best bars in Colorado are not always the loudest or the newest, and all three of these have built a steady following in Highlands Ranch specifically.
None of these three compete directly with each other, since each one leans into a different kind of evening. The best bars in Colorado are not always the loudest or the newest, and all three of these have built a steady following in Highlands Ranch specifically.
A Quick Way To Decide Where To Go
- Choose Living the Dream Brewing for food trucks, trivia, and a rotating events schedule.
- Choose Max Taps Co. for a wide sample of Colorado breweries and wineries in one visit.
- Choose Prost Brewing Co & Biergarten for a family friendly biergarten with German food.
Frequently Asked Questions About Highlands Ranch's Bar And Brewery Scene
What happened to Grist Brewing Company in Highlands Ranch?
Grist Brewing Company closed its Highlands Ranch location, and Living the Dream Brewing moved into the same space at 9150 Commerce Center Circle. The taproom setup carried over, so the space still functions much the way it did before.
Are there dog-friendly bars in Highlands Ranch?
Yes. Both Living the Dream Brewing and Max Taps Co. welcome dogs, and Max Taps has a dedicated Doghouse area on its patio built specifically for guests bringing pets.
Is there a bar or brewery in Highlands Ranch with food beyond typical bar snacks?
Prost Brewing Co & Biergarten serves German food like bratwurst, schnitzel, and pretzels alongside its beer menu. Living the Dream Brewing also brings in rotating food trucks most nights.
Settle Into Highlands Ranch Near The Best Bars In Colorado With Christensen Collective
I use details like proximity to a favorite taproom as often as square footage when narrowing a home search for the right client, since a centralized location closest to a buyer’s favorite spots is crucial when purchasing a property. Knowing which neighborhoods sit closest to spots like Living the Dream Brewing, Max Taps Co., and Prost Brewing Co & Biergarten helps me point clients toward a home that fits how they actually spend a weekend. I always strive to factor in lifestyle choices alongside more common must-haves, such as a home’s price, square footage, and number of bedrooms.
If a Highlands Ranch home near a good taproom or biergarten is part of what you are looking for, I am glad to help you find it. Reach out to me to learn more about how I help buyers find homes near Highlands Ranch's bars and breweries.
If a Highlands Ranch home near a good taproom or biergarten is part of what you are looking for, I am glad to help you find it. Reach out to me to learn more about how I help buyers find homes near Highlands Ranch's bars and breweries.
