Colorado’s Top 10 brewery beer gardens, patios and decks

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Colorado might not have as many breweries as we do days of sunshine, but we are getting there. Lucky for us, many of the state's 160-plus breweries recognize the upside to all that nice weather and have created great outdoor spaces in which to raise a pint and take in all that is good about living here. With summer one week from Friday officially, the time is right to scout the best beer gardens, patios and decks connected to Colorado craft breweries. Here are 10 of the best, but take note: We did not compile this list alone. Thanks to our friends on Twitter and in the craft beer community for your recommendations.

Boulder Beer Co., Boulder

The patio at Colorado's first microbrewery is surrounded by the sweet smell of beer, literally. Hops crawl up a trellis surrounding the 100-plus-seat space, the distinguishing feature on a patio that offers killer views of the Flatirons and live music every Thursday through Saturday. The patio is open year-round, weather-permitting, beckoning the apres-ski crowd in the winter. Oh, and those aromatic hops? They are put to good use harvested and used to brew an annual pilot batch called, naturally, the patio beer. 2880 Wilderness Place, Boulder

Denver Beer Co., Denver

Owners Charlie Berger and Patrick Crawford both have raised steins in Munich on their travels and wanted to evoke that experience when they opened their brewery in 2011 in a renovated 1970s-era building that used to peddle oil changes and car repair. With help from their families, the partners handmade each table and bench and then spent weeks sanding and staining them. The result is very Munchen, with a Denver accent about 100 seats ideal for downing a pint of Kaffir Lime Wheat on a hot summer day. 1695 Platte St.

Equinox Brewing, Fort Collins

Is there another brewery in the nation that delivers kegs by custom-designed tricycle? Owners Colin and Shannon Westcott are all about keeping their ever-rotating 18 beers on tap as fresh and local as possible, so all accounts must be within pedaling distance. Locals need go no further than Equinox's secluded 50-seat patio ringed by planter beds with native grasses, flowers and trees and a gate shaped like a sun. With almost 100 unique recipes to Equinox's credit since it opened more than three years ago, you never know what you'll find. 133 Remington St., Fort Collins

FATE Brewing, Boulder

Behold, the Lexus of brewery patios. The upper and lower patio at this stylishly renovated east Boulder spot that opened this year can treat about 150 patrons to Flatiron views, two high-definition TVs and marble-topped tables that reflect heat in the summer. (Ceiling heaters purr in the winter, making it a year-round destination.) The vibe is mellowed by cornhole games. The 30 taps feature both house-made brews and guest beers, and the innovative menu offers fare like blue corn grits and sugar snap peas with bacon jalapeo marmalade. 1600 38th St., Boulder

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Colorado's Top 10 brewery beer gardens, patios and decks