Denver's craft beer spotlight seems to be drawn most to the River North district in recent months, but south Denver is quickly becoming its own beer mecca. From the Golden Triangle neighborhood stretching south and outward along the south Broadway corridor, an influx of diverse and high quality breweries have opened in the past couple years. One of the newest is LowDown Brewery + Kitchen, located at the northeast corner of Lincoln Street and 8th Avenue.
LowDown opened in February of this year, and its owners are well-versed in producing excellent beer and serving delicious food to go with it. Co-owners Philip Phifer and Scott O'Hearn were brewmasters at the Rock Bottom Brewery chain, and the latter brings 20 years of Rock Bottom experience to LowDown. The brewery currently has capacity for about 15 taps, most of which are LowDown beers that cover a variety of styles. The rest, which numbered four on my most recent visit, were guest taps from other breweries. LowDown also serves a nice selection of wine and spirits, so there are plenty of options to satisfy all types of customers. The food at LowDown helps it stand out from the rest as well. Phifer and O'Hearn want to focus on serving healthy, fresh, seasonal and sustainable food items. Customers will find a diverse selection of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, pizzas and more.
I've made two visits to LowDown recently, and was really impressed with the atmosphere and space. The interior is a sophisticated but casual space with high ceilings that expose pipes, brick and wooden beams. The seating area is set up well in a rectangular shape, with the bar toward the back, and the brewing equipment in view in the front corner. There's a handful of different seating format options to accommodate groups large and small, younger and older. Service is friendly, prompt, and professional - just what you'd expect in any high quality dining establishment.
Breweries are ultimately judged by their beer, though, and LowDown hits it out of the park in this area. No matter the style, the beers I've tried are excellent and well-balanced. LowDown's Belgian styles, a white ale and a strong pale ale, are two that really stood out. The Belgian strong pale ale is a delightfully complex beer that brings a fruity aroma and flavor from the Belgian yeast. Flavors of banana, lemon, pepper, and clove flow into a slightly spicy and hoppy yet smooth finish. For the hops lover, Lowdown brews two great IPAs, the Lowdown IPA and the stronger Impotent IPA, in addition to a beer called called Selfish, which is a citrusy and refreshing pale ale brewed with Pilsen malt. Some LowDown beers are flagship offerings, and some rotate in and out to make way for other great styles. For food, I enjoyed the Dylan's Dipper sandwich with herbed quinoa. This very tasty Italian sausage sandwich on ciabatta delivers some spicy heat, and pairs well with any of LowDown's beers.
The standards for craft brewing excellence in and around Denver are very high, and thanks to places like LowDown, the bar keeps rising. If or when you're in Denver, plan to head just south of downtown and check out LowDown Brewery + Kitchen for a great craft beer and dining experience.
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