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Top Places To Celebrate Oktoberfest 2012 Around Denver

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Great Divide Brewing Company (credit: CBS)

With cooler temperatures and fall weather comes the one time of year when beer connoisseurs can celebrate the beverage they love. From football to festivals, the fall season is punctuated by Oktoberfest. And even without a pair of lederhosen, you can still raise your mug as heartily as they do in Germany. Here are some of the top local pubs and breweries in Denver to toast the last quarter of the year, good friends and of course, beer.

Oktoberfest at Festival Park
Festival Park
300 2nd St.
Castle Rock, CO 80104
www.downtowncastlerock.com

Date: October, 6, 2012

Need a break from the bright lights and manic pace of the city? Castle Rock will host a day-long Oktoberfest celebration at Festival Park from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Kick back in the brisk, open air of fall and enjoy more than 70 food, craft and vendor booths offering a family-oriented environment that also features activities for your little ones. The event will be punctuated by live German bands and beer to create the quintessential Oktoberfest experience. Parking is available along 2nd and Perry Streets.

Denver Beer Company
1695 Platte St.
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 433-2739
www.denverbeerco.com

The Denver Beer Company is one of Denver's finest breweries and a local hot spot. It will officially kick off the Oktoberfest celebration on September 29 the right way, which will include a live band, pig roast, stein-holding contest and the release of a German-style Märzen brew. But if you missed the festivities last weekend, don't panic. The Denver Beer Company will be celebrating all month long with a number of seasonal, fresh-brewed beers using Colorado fresh hops. Additionally, it will exclusively release a beer in partnership with the Mayor of Denver using fresh pumpkins from Denver Urban Garden, making this a must-stop visit during all of your Oktoberfest celebrations.

Related: Top Bars With Drinking Games In Denver

Cheeky Monk Belgian Beer Cafe/Royal Hilltop Tap Room
534 E. Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO 80203
(303) 861-0347
www.thecheekymonk.com

Dates: October 9, 11 and 13, 2012

The Cheeky Monk Tap Room is celebrating the Oktoberfest season with a variety of events guaranteed to attract both men and women alike. Ladies are first with the Great American Beer Festival kickoff event entitled "Beer Event for Women," scheduled for October 9th from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. It is also offering brewers a chance to flex their beer muscles during the 2nd Annual Cheeky Challenge on October 11th from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Get a team together and compete against some of your favorite brewers. Each team will compete in fun but challenging games, followed by a special tapping of Saison du BUFF with Stone, Dogfish Head and Victory beers. Finally on October 13th, Cheeky Monk is sponsoring a breakfast with The Bruery at 8 a.m. For more information and a complete breakdown of event details, click here.

Flying Dog Brewery & Taproom
2335 Arapahoe St.
Denver, CO 80205
(303) 292-5027
www.flyingdogales.com

One of Denver's signature taprooms offers a host of special brews and scheduling to celebrate the Oktoberfest season. From an exciting showcase of beer (which will exclusively feature craft brews not normally available in Denver) to special hours of operation during the Great American Beer Festival, the Flying Dog Brewery should top your list for places to visit this month. This is an exclusive peek at what will be offered on tap beginning Saturday, October 13, while supplies last. Expect to see the limited annual release of Citra Single Hop Imperial IPA and the El Dorado Single Hop Imperial IPA. In addition, Flying Dog will be offering a German Gose-style brew entitled It Gose Like This, a German Märzen-style called Dogtoberfest and Nocturnal, among many others. To partake in the select brews, it is a minimal fee of $1.50 per sample or $5 for a full pour (which includes a free glass with your first one). Bottle prices range between $4 and $5.

Breckenridge Brewery & Pub
471 Kalamath St.
Denver CO 80204
(303) 623.2739
www.breckbrew.com

Dates: October 6 and 12, 2012

Colorado's most trusted and proudest brewery rounds out the list of places you absolutely must visit this Oktoberfest season. With a location in both Denver and Breckinridge, city goer and nature lover alike can indulge in some of the finest Colorado brews. In addition to the brewery's regular feature of seasonal ales and malts, it will also be sponsoring some fall festivals and events to help you enjoy the season. On October 6th in City Park in Denver, Breckenridge Brewery will partake in the Cultivate Food, Ideas and Music Festival. Continuing the clever event themes just six days later, the brewery will be participating in the Beer For Brains - The Colorado Affair from 9 p.m. until 11 p.m. at the Ghost and Plate Tap in Denver. Breckenridge Brewery's taps are as full as its event calendar for October, and Oktoberfest makes a stop to the brewery something you simply can't afford to miss.

Related: Top Daily Happy Hours In Denver

Marian is a freelance writer with a passion for music, entertainment and nightlife. She writes regularly on assignment for Examiner.com as their Pop Music Journalist. You can view her page here.

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