Lowry Beer Garden is like a little gem in the area. Lowry doesn't really have a lot going on for it and the only other bar is very expensive (that's right I'm looking at your Tavern). Then there's nothing, for a long ways. You can go more ghetto or towards Cap Hill or Stapleton but when you live in Lowry this is what you got.
Downside: They have 1 Rose wine, and it sucks. Â Since it's also the only place really in Lowry and they allow children you're going to get a lot of children. From an adult with no children prospective this sucks a lot. From parents prospective two birds one stone. From the beer garden prospective that's more money, so go f- the complainers go get your beer from some place more expensive.
During the winter they have a big canvas up, there's less children and it's warm enough in there. Food I never found very special except Giant Pretzel.
This place is clearly finding their own right now for pricing, happy hour, food and even service so since it's been around for only about half a year and is the cheapest closest bar to my house I'll cut them some slack.
Oh how I wish this place were closer!!! Â Bahhhhhhh! Â This place is right next to the old Lowry airplane hanger/museum! Â It is sooooo cozy with its white lights and ambiance. Â There are picnic tables that make it easy to sit with family and friends and all be able to enjoy each other! Â There are board games everywhere and even a blanket bin! Â YES! A bin full of blankets, so if you get chilly while you are relaxing and playing games, you can get SUPER COZY!!! Â Love this!
Okay, on to the beer collection. Â There are tons. Â Whether you like draft beer or you take it in a bottle, there are many options for you! I just went with a hefeweizen! Â Light crisp and bubbly. I wasn't too hungry when I got there, which stinks because the food looked soooooo good! Â There fries and onion rings were flying out the kitchen window. Â Everywhere I looked I was surrounded by a greasy burger or a pile of fried food. Â However, it was no fast food joint. Â Everything was presented in a way that made you mouth water. I will definitely be back for the food. Â I did try a pretzel though! Â Which was super hot, and soft, and fluffy inside. Â I helped myself to a little mustard as well as some cheese sauce. MMMmmmmm healthhhhyyyyy (not).
If you are taking a night off your diet and want to have a relaxing time with some close friends. Â This is your place. It is definitely worth a little drive! I will be back!
Food - excellent
Un-controlled children - annoying.
I came here with a groupon for lunch. The staff was very friendly - unfortunately for me i picked a day when they had Avery take over - meaning they were only pouring their beers... Â It would have been cooler to have options, but it was an interesting concept.
I chose a burger that was amazing, so delicious. Everything costs - as in, fries are extra from the burger, etc etc...
The location is a cute partial hanger, lots of communal tables - but very very close together. Note: order food on the left side, beer thru the right side!
The other down side is the number of families that come, they even come without either parent having a beer. I guess it's great that the food is that great - but the name of the place is a "beer garden" not a garden for your kids to run a muck, not a place to bring your kids to play games and watch tv.
I did like that there is a notice that it is "adult" only time after 9pm, so if i come back, it will be later in the evening!
If the burger was not so delicious i would have knocked the stars down to 2!
Our first visit was a spur of the moment decision and we've been hooked ever since. In Philly, there was a German style beer garden that we frequented and we were happy to find a decent replacement. We've now come here quite a few times.
First, the beer selection is pretty stellar, but as I wine drinker as well, I'd have to say their reds have been pretty tasty as well.
We've tried a lot of their food so far. My husband, mostly the brats, he gets them mostly as a vessel for their house made mustards that he loves. I usually go for something new each time. Their chicken wings are some of the best I've had, but the fried pickles are our favorite. We get them EVERY time. At first, they were speers, but lately, they have been chips. But either way, they have been SO GOOD.
As for the atmosphere, we really haven't gone during really peak hours yet so I can't speak on the "night life" aspect, but I do agree with an oddly large amount of kids. I'm guessing since it's a "neighborhood" joint. It doesn't really bother me, but I think it's why I haven't thought of it as a place for a night out.
Oh! The staff! On a whole, they are incredibly nice, accommodating, and pretty funny as well. There was only once where one gentleman was real grumpy, but I'll chalk that up to a bad day!
May be good for beer but definitely not for the food.
Food was mediocre. Hummus had little flavor and really watered it down. Shrimp salad was average, nothing but 5 shrimp, greens and few small pieces of other. Burgers and fries were alright and 5 year old could not get her mouth around the big bun. Only hype with the kids was the pretzel and cheese. Skip the food!
If I were a stay at home mom who lived in the burbs with my 3 children I would spend a lot of time here. A lot.
We had a groupon so even though we live on the west side of town we decided to head over for a weekend lunch. The bratwurst was good as were the fries and chips but what I couldn't get over was the number of children hanging out here. And the number of parents getting their drink on at 11a. Hey, whatever, this place has games for the kiddies to play so I guess all is well.
It's probably a different vibe on a weekend night but we still found this place enjoyable on a Saturday afternoon.
Been here a few times. Â Good rotating beer on tap, which is what I care about. I'd come more if they rotate to other local breweries lots like renegade, Â strange and nano breweries like Wit's End. Still, this is best place for good beer and attitude by far on this side of town. Prost!
Review Source:The food was better than expected, and the condiment bar is terrific. Â You can get a plain burger or brat and then dress it up free with a variety of delicious mustards or sauerkraut. Â The kids meals are a very good deal, and the place is very friendly and has a great atmosphere. Â The beer selection is tremendous, and the prices during happy hour ($3 for a bunch of great drafts from 3-6) are hard to beat. Â We went in the winter, but I would imagine to see the full glory of this place you would need to be there when it was warm outside. Â I would recommend the fries, which are very good, instead of the sweet potato fries, which are not as good and cost more.
As some people have noted, you order at the counter and then they buzz you when the food is ready. Â I personally like this system, and it saves on tipping, making the place an even better value.
If you want an authentic German beer garden experience this is it! Â Always something interesting on Tap. Â I like a place that changes out beer offerings not the some ole thing all the time. Â The bartenders knowledgeable, friendly happy to let you have a taste before committing to a beer. Â Big plus
I have only had the brats, Yummy with different topping choices and great Fried pickles and sweet potato fries.  Excellent  prices too.
Big community tables, games to keep the kids occupied while the adults have a brew. Â it is our go to place for meeting friends for lunch.
I have been in summer and winter. In summer they had live music it is a very festive place. Â It is cozy in the winter not dark at all. Â We have had a great time watching the games on Sundays.
Thanks Lowry Beer Garden for staying true to the beer garden atmosphere!
Not to happy with the beer garden.
My first complaint was that you can order drinks from a wait person, but have to go up to get food, but you can also get drinks when you go up. Â Too confusing and very annoying to have two separate tabs.
The burgers were decent, but the rest of the food was too fair food like. Â The pretzels and cheese didn't come close to those in other German themed restaurants. Â And the chilli on the fries tasted canned, not acceptable in Colorado.
The other thing that gets me is that this place seems to be the hang out for all the neighborhood kids. Â Kids are running around and spilling ice cream. Â There are games everywhere for kids, and kids were tossing frisbees around and almost hit me a few times.
It seemed more like a circus, than a beer garden. Â I was quite disappointed. Â The burger being good and the good beer selection are what earned it the second star.
This place was surprisingly hard to fine and the address on their website and my garmin did not agree. I had to drive around to find it and it's incredible tiny and hard to find but that's really besides the point..just wanted to rant. ^_^
We had a good time but that's because of the friends not the place. Â It's just beer garden with a tent and a bunch of benches. Â I think there were waitresses there but think they only took food orders cuz we kept having to wait in line for 10 minutes to place a drink order which is really annoying considering it was cold in there. Â The drink prices were reasonable and it seemed like they had good food.
If you like the concept of being in a small tent, sitting on benches, and waiting in a line for beer then this is the place for you! Â However, if that's not your cup of tea, I'd look elsewhere.
There's a great beer selection and decent food. The downside of this place is that you order beer from the bar or your table, but you can only order food from the bar. You get a buzzer to get your food. Why not serve food and beer like every other place does. Perhaps this is a permitting issue in the city of Denver? Some sort of being a bar versus restaurant? Either way it brings down the experience a bit. That said, this is a great place to sit outside in the summer and enjoy a cold one with a turkey burger.
Review Source:Boy, do I hate to do this, but I must.
I love love love the concept here: Â a German-style beer garden, boasting many local brews on tap, tucked away in family friendly Lowry. Â What's not to love?
Right? Â Right!? Â Sadly, there were no stars in my eyes for Lowry Beer Garden.
Without the outdoor patio being conducive during the colder months (although I saw heat lamps posted around, they weren't being utilized yet; will they be? this may solve my problem with LBG), everyone was crammed inside the enclosed area of the garden. Â It was loud and crowded. Â And way too many children running around like it was a play ground.
Okay, I get families want to come out and enjoy the evening with their kids. Â But please keep them under control! Â I was sitting outside waiting for friends while the small children were running ON the table that I was sitting at. Â I got up and waited outside of the outdoor space because I didn't want to my epitaph to read "trampled by small children while waiting for a beer."
So November's atmosphere doesn't work for me. Â At all. Â But Lowry Beer Garden is certainly offering some amazing brews on tap. Â I tried Prost's Dunkel since I haven't been to the brewery yet, and loved it! Â Awesome beer! Â But I couldn't quite enjoy myself fully because of the overly noisy, claustrophobic-inducing space and seating arrangement, chalk full of small children.
These are things that I do not enjoy about going out and seek to avoid them. Â This isn't any knock against Lowry Beer Garden itself, just that the atmosphere here isn't what I'd care to return to. Â I wouldn't *not* return if a friend suggested meeting here, but it's not somewhere high up on my list. Â But I may come back next spring/summer to check out the patio and see if that makes the atmosphere more palatable for me...
A teetotaler co-worker had raved about this place (the food), so when the opportunity arose to go there with said co-worker, other co-workers, some friends, the BF, and his daughter, we jumped at the chance. Beer is beer, and at the very least, the food would be good.
It was happy hour when we got there, so the drinks were cheaper. The beer was fantastic and the selection was good. The bartender was friendly and knowledgeable about the beers they had available on tap. Unfortunately for us, we didn't know the benches pulled away from the tables and we were crunched right up in there (I blame the teetotaler co-worker who sat at an adjacent table and didn't give us the 411 on this until the next day). Food prices were high, especially when you consider you are ordering from the counter and picking up your food when it is ready (no table service). However, the burger and fries were excellent.
I will definitely be returning as it looks like it would be fabulous to be there enjoying a beer while the snow fell, and the beer is great
We're neighborhood locals, so this place is a staple for us. Â We have tried some really interesting and different beers - just ask the bartender, and they give you recommendations and tasters until you find something you like. Â It's a laid-back venue, great for just hanging out with friends. Â The food is good! Â A variety of bugers (most recently my husband had the Ahi Tuna burger, and he was impressed), fries, fried foods, etc., but it's clear they use quality ingredients and it's super tasty. Â We also like the giant hot pretzel with spicy cheese dipping sauce. Â
They do have a happy hour, although it's not really advertised, as far as I can tell. Â From, I believe, 3-6pm, beers are 1/2 price. Â Can't complain about that!
I've been here twice...the first was just for drinks on a Sat night. I was surprised to see kids running around, but it was 8pm and they seemed to disappear by 9:30. We had a tab with a waitress and at the bar. The second time I came for lunch. They have a M-Fri special of a burger + fries + pop (or you can upgrade to a beer for $3 more) for $10. I went with this and I decided to grab a side of fried pickles as well (which turned out to be my favorite thing of the bunch). The food wasn't amazing, but it wasn't bad. I gave it four stars more because of the location (near to me), free available parking, and the atmosphere. There are ping pong tables outside and boardgames you can play inside. I also love places that have cafeteria-style seating.
Review Source:I want to go back right now! Â I loved the laid back atmosphere at Lowry's, and the beer selection and food were both fantastic. Â I wish we had more mellow bars/restaurants like this in LA. Â I found it funny that kids are allowed and that my friend and I were sitting at a table surrounded by tables of professionals in suits, young hipsters, and a family with a toddler- quite a mix here! Â
They have a great selection of local beers and knowledgeable staff. Â On my first time there, our server/bartender was Dustin. Â When I asked for recommendations and told him what I tend to like best, he proceeded to set me up with 5 (very generous) tastings of his top picks for me. Â After trying them all, I chose the Tommyknocker Bock, made in Idaho Springs, CO. Â We decided to have dinner there at the bar and so I ordered the German Veal brat, topped with the "B.O.M.B."- bacon, onion, mushrooms, and blue cheese. Â It came out in an almost hoagie-like bun, and the whole thing was delicious and HUGE. Â We also shared sides of sweet potato fries and fried pickles. Â Now I know some people are grossed out by the idea of fried pickles, but try them! Â To our surprise, Lowry's serves their pickles as spears instead of coins, fried in a light crust and served with ranch. Â Be careful when you bite into them, that you don't pull the super hot spear out of the fried shell. Â Yum! Â I also thought that they made some of the best sweet potato fries I have ever tried. Â
Obviously, there are many bars and breweries to choose from, but if you are in the area, the Lowry Beer Garden is great for all ages. Â They have a decent happy hour, and there is also a very generous weekday lunch special: "$9.95 for a burger or brat + any topping + fries or
choose one of the large salads. Both include a soft drink. Upgrade to a beer for $3!" Â I liked the place so much, we stopped by for one last beer on my way to the airport. Â Cheers!
Reading previous reviews, I stayed away from the Lowry Beer Garden. $7 for beer? Food not so good? Service is confusing and not really existent? Not for me, doesn't matter how close to home you are. I mean, I'm not a beer drinker anyway so every time I passed by the place I acknowledged it like every other neighbor who hangs Christmas tree lights on their patio.
But then I heard they have a full bar. Full bar? You mean I don't have to nurse a beer bloat just to be social? And wine too? Hmmm. I'll eat before I go.
And then, after 10 minutes I knew it'd be a good time. Like the coworker whose cubicle was next to yours for a year before you figured out they are your new bestie? Yeah, like that.
It's not rocket science. You go to the counter, you order your food/drink, and you pick it up when it's ready. It's not a nuisance people, it's logic.
Open/exposed seating + Running a tab = Dine and dash.
Indeed, it's the open seating that provides the character for the place. Imagine recess for adults-hot dogs, home-made chips, and board games while you sip away in the sun. So pay up front and be happy that you don't have to wait for your server when you want to leave.
Reason for four stars: I may be a kid at heart, but all those years of competitive sports took a toll-would love some bar stools with a back rest. I'm betting the moms and dads who've lifted their kids all day will be thanking you too. And second, when a beer has as much alcohol as a glass of wine, I'll pay as much but $5 for a pretzel makes me glad I ate at home.
I went to the Lowry Beer Garden for the first time last night with a friend who had simply raved about in on Facebook. I'm relatively new to the Stapleton/Lowry part of town and was looking forward to getting out and exploring the East side of the city. My final impression...."meh."
So here are the pros: the place is huge. I can't imagine not finding a place to sit even on a more traditionally busy night than a Tuesday. I loved the lighting on the patio; lots of string lights and it was a warm night so we sat outside. Super cute atmosphere. They have old-school board games (Jenga, Connect 4, etc.) and my friend told me she and her hubby are up there frequently watching TV and playing a game and enjoying beers. The sweet potato fries were delicious, the brats were fantastic, but the seafood wasn't prepared well but hey, it's a self-service bar menu...we weren't expecting seafood to be a speciality. It wasn't bad, just extremely overdone.
And the BIGGEST pro: their Gluten Free menu. Finally!! Gluten Free beer that isn't cider beer or Budwiser (ick) that is on the standard menu! There are about 5-6 choices in total which is the most I've ever seen in Denver. Gosh, I haven't had a Raspberry Ale since I was in college. That alone was huge. In addition, we were told that if you order Gluten Free food, they work to maintain good prep standards. For example, they have two friers of french fries to reduce cross contamination (or so we were told). Now, should full-blown Celiacs eat here? I'd be weary, but a 'highly intolerant' like myself had zero issues. And again, let me repeat: beer that is GOOD that isn't cider! Wahoo! This alone is what is keeping me from giving it 2 stars.
Cons: as others note, the self-service concept is horribly unclear. Thankfully it wasn't busy at all so my fumbling around at The System was OK. But you can see the nightmare potential that other reviewers note. Really, a few signs would go along way, especially given the most people are assuming a Quick Serve Style like Noodles or Wahoos and not a style that mirrors the cafeteria at Loveland Ski Area. Second, the beer is a bit on the pricey side - I too noted bottles in the range of $7. But there's a huge huge selection so well, buy something cheaper folks if you're bothered by it and vote with your dollars. Like others, I noted a few small kids running around (it was a warm night) but I can't blame management for that - that's the parents. And you're in a family neighborhood, not Cherry Creek. So set expectations properly. Lastly, a bit of cook's training on the grill to not wildly overcook on the outside and undercook in the middle the burgers and seafood would be helpful.
But here's my biggest gripe: The entire reason I was there was because - coincidently - the day my friend raved about her first experience here on Facebook they offered a "spend $10 get $20" coupon on a major ad service. It was the driver to my invitation to her to go together and try it out. ("Hey - I just bought this, come with me!") But buried in the 'fine print' of the offer is that it's only good at lunch time.
Given that 1) I'd lead with that story at the register to the guy and 2) the place was essentially empty on this Tuesday nite and 3) management buried the qualification in the fine print, I was sorely disappointed that the response was 'you absolutely can't use it tonight, you'll have to come back.' I mean, I get you're trying to drive lunch business. And for those that read the fine print on their phones - great. They will respond appropriately. But for those customers that miss it in the deal app (it's like reading the fine print on a newspaper coupon - who does that??) Â I'm shocked that management didn't own some responsibility for burying the qualification in 'fine print' Â instead of writing the headline to be "Spend $10 get $20 for lunch at the Lowry Beer Garden" like every other restaurant does! **And** it's a slow night! So just honor it. Make me - your ideal brand new customer who's excited to explore the neighborhood - happy. It hits your bottom line regardless if it's lunch or dinner. Â Because now I'm left with a nickle/dime impression of the management for all of my return trips.... should I actually return in the future.
Great place to grab a beer outside with friends, plus it's a really cool location next to Wings Over the Rockies. Haven't tried the food, but it looked good -- and the beer selection offered a lot of variety. This is a very family friendly place -- which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but sometimes the rug rats should be left at home, especially while people are downing multiple adult beverages and swearing like sailors (that would be me).
Review Source:I just moved to Denver a few months ago and this place is already one of my favorite spots. I first heard about it after they followed me on Twitter. They followed ME! Talk about effective grassroots marketing...
First of all, it's important to understand what this place is, as I've seen several negative reviews about Lowry. These reviews to be a result of customers wanting Lowry to be something it's not. If you're looking for somewhere to enjoy some of the finest craft beer in a relaxed atmosphere then this is your place. Did I mention they have a huge bookshelf of games?? Awesome.
Located right in the old Lowry Air Force base, LBG is very unsuspecting. Immediately on one side you are right up against an old aircraft hangar, and on the other side a huge model Air Force plane. The garden itself is filled with picnic tables, string lights above and a few ping pong tables should you be so inclined. They have numerous heaters outside for night time when it gets chilly, and there is also an inside area with bar tops and the ability to close it off to the outside area if the weather get too extreme.
I am a craft beer enthusiast and I've never been disappointed by the selection. Everytime I go, there are at least 3 or 4 new taps of both Colorado and worldwide selections. They also have a wide variety of bottles. The bar staff are very knowledgeable about the beers and are happy to let you sample the new beers they have, as well as recommend beers for you if you are struggling on what to get. The prices are about what you would expect for craft beer.
When I go to Lowry, I'm going to enjoy beer. With that said, I think the food is excellent. I've only ever had chicken sandwiches, pretzels and regular/sweet potato fries but every time they have been delicious. Again, the prices are reasonable.
Another complaint I've seen is the lack of waiter/waitress service. I, personally, find this to be a minor issue since I go to Lowry for the fact it is a beer garden. When I go I'm aware it's not a restaurant or a bar. I don't mind going up to the bar for a beer or to order food. There are rarely lines and I would rather get things myself than bother someone who is looking after other tables. Personal preference though.
In conclusion, this is one of the best places in town to enjoy beer with friends, relax and play games outside and eat. If you go with that in mind you won't be disappointed.
Don't go here if you like your burger well done! Â Two of us asked for our burgers to be well done (one beef, one bison) and they both came RED in the middle! Â GROSS!!!
And the fries were mostly small pieces in the bottom half of the box, with longer ones on top. Â Onion rings were just ok.
Our party really liked their brats, though.
We sat 'inside' rather than outside because the place was very busy, with lots of noisy kids running around being a pain. Â Why don't parents control their kids when they take them out? Â I do not like children and hate to have the little buggers stand next to me screaming.
Don't waste your time going here unless you can put up with noise, kids, and mediocre food.
I won't be back.
Wow. I am in LOVE with this place. Outdoor seating (and TONS of it!) Delicious Beers. Pretzels. Enough said. I came here last weekend on Friday night after a show at the Soiled Dove. It was such a gorgeous night out that I knew we needed to continue our beer session somewhere outdoors and I'm so happy I remembered that this was here. It was a quick walk over and we were easily able to grab a seat. It was probably 10:30 when we arrived. The one thing that caught me off guard was that it was d e a d here. I mean maybe 20 people? Perhaps because it was a holiday weekend? Who knows. If it's like this all the time then it is even more incentive for me to make my way over here. I had a delicious white IPA and also a terrible one. Neither of us liked the one from Copper Kettle which I was bummed about.
Can't wait to come back, especially now that the weather is cooling off at night again. Beer, hoodies, friends, boots, and more beer? I'm totally in.
What a gorgeous place to kick back and relax! Â I got the bufflao dog here with the baja toppings and it was fricking delicious. Â The hotdog was sorta spicy but that made it even more tasty. Â I really enjoyed the avocado with it as well from the baja topping and the nicely toasted bun was awesome. Â I also tried their variety of mustards which I ended up not using after awhile because the dog was spicy and it was already packed with flavor! Â I also tried the fried pickles, which I was pretty skeptical about at first being that I pretty much hate pickles, but the cash register lady adamently suggested it, so we went with it. Â For a non pickle lover, they were great, but I guess anything fried and with ranch wins me over too :). Â The beer was also just as delicious as always.
I really liked the outdoor seating and decorations. Â They even had ping pong tables and board games to place, making it a cool hangout. Â EVEN BETTER, was that they had pumps of sunscreen for people to use while staying there!! Â DEFINITELY my kinda of place :).
I like this place. It's a county fair meets Oktoberfest vibe that is very welcoming. The service is very fast and the food and drinks are great.
I do have a few issues with it though. I agree with the other yelpers that have talked about the confusion over counter vs. table service: they absolutely need to figure that out. Â I also agree with yelpers who have complained about the beer prices as they are above standard Denver beer market. One of my beers was $7...
Finally, there isn't much they can do about this but  a big HEAD's UP: there are tons of kids. Seriously.  Like, "summer camp kids running everywhere you feel like you can't curse almost stepping on them running around you in circles" tons of kids. I love kids but this was insane. When we got there, some kids were climbing on people's cars...(?) and the child madness didn't stop. SOO keep that in mind. I also  don't know if it's like that every day or not.
Love
I am in Love.
First and foremost, I wish to comment on the food. Â I have had the buffalo burger twice now and fully enjoyed each one. Â They were cooked perfect with regard to how lean the meat is. Â I have had a slew of the sausages and toppings and love them all. Â They are plump and juicy with the fat content needed to make a great beer even better.
Fries...I ran a restaurant that made their fries from scratch and I can tell you it's no easy task and you essentially pay someone to wash potatoes for hours at a time and end up washing dishes yourself because the dishwasher is cutting, washing and blanching fires. Â It's a tremendous pain in the ass and a chore to get it right.
LBG gets it right. Â The fries are perfect stalks of starch that go great with both burgers and sausages alike. Â They are salty enough and I usually finish them which is rare for me as I usually only eat four or five anywhere else.
Lastly, I want to address all the people that don't seem to understand the concept of a beer garden and clearly have no idea the risk involved to have that many open seats with people drinking.
The city doesn't just give you your liquor license and tell you to have a great day after giving you a hug and a playful slap on the ass. Â As time goes on in this business, the liquor board seems to plan more and more stings to insure that these establishments are abiding by the rules set forth by the state.
In order to comply with these rules, certain measures are taken by all restaurants and clubs to see that the people that are drinking are of age. Â This includes, wristbands and policy protocols that limit what kind of ID is used and enforce that policy so that everyone is treated fairly. Â You can't accept on "just because" and then turn down the next vertical ID because the person is suspect. Â What's good for the goose is good for the gander.
It's a great restaurant/beer garden that is running their business in the smartest way I could think of. Â I wouldn't change a thing.
Please, don't change a thing.
What a great spot. Â With the backdrop of massive US Airforce planes and a huge hangar museum. Â The beer selection is great and the food looked good. Â Hanging out playing ping pong and drinking some beer, makes for a superb Top Gun day out. Â All this on July 4th on our way back from hiking and on our way to see some fireworks.
I am definitely planning a trip back to do the museum, hang out in the beer garden, and listen to some live music.
DT
The hubbo and I stopped by Saturday night around 9 and were very happy beer-drinking game-playing patrons. It was not crowded, getting a beer was a cinch (both at the bar and tableside), there was an immense selection of both tap and bottle beer, the music was an acceptable level and the game Sequence kept us occupied til closing (midnight).
I know people are upset about the kid thing, but I am childless and think it is great that there is a bar I can go to with my friends that have kids. I will give an update when/if I get some grub.
My only complaint is that this is not closer to my house!
I stopped in here for dinner one Friday, as their concept sounded interesting. At first it's a bit confusing, but after a bit you realize this place is set up like a food stand at a community ballpark - picnic tables out front, food and drink on different ends of the back. I liked how it's all open air, though wonder how that plays out when the weather isn't as nice as the day I went. That said, it's awesome when the weather is great.
Lots of tasty craft beers, and equally as many sausages. First you pick the meat, of which there are many unique options such as pheasant and wild boar. I went with the elk jalapeno cheddar. Then you select a "topping", which is more like selecting a style. I did The Coloradan, which added melted pepperjack, roasted poblanos, and chipotle mayo. This combo was very delicious.
My primary issue though are the prices. Meat + style is more than Biker Jim's, and I felt like it was a bit smaller than Biker Jim's or Uber Sausage. The sides are pricy, especially for one person. I like that the other two places I mentioned have sides for $2 or do half orders, while here the cheapest option is fries at $3. I feel like those could easily be $1.50, and the toppings for the sausages could be reduced by $0.50. I did not notice any sort of combo deal. It did seem like they had a lot of people working (too many in my opinion), so perhaps a better balance of staff could help? Just a thought...I was there a bit early for the rush perhaps.
In the end it was a very tasty experience, and they do have a nice selection of Colorado beers, which I really appreciate. Factoring in the price, portions, and comparing to other places in town I would give a solid 3.5 stars. I think I would enjoy this place more with a group so we could split sides. A larger portion and/or lower prices would easily net 4 stars. If you live in the area, I think you'd enjoy it as a hang out on nice summer evenings.
I've made some changes to this review after Joe emailed me to tell me that people we know mutually are calling me a jerk for writing it. Â I'll just keep it to the point without any embellishment, and for the record, the least of my worries is if people think I'm a jerk or not.
The articles on this bar from Westword and Denver Post were very unclear at representing this SELF-SERVICE concept. I was expecting something different. Â Had I known this is NOT a full-service establishment, I probably wouldn't have bothered going in. Â As Joe told me, there are no wait-staff, only runners, so I guess I misunderstood how food and drinks are served here. If I want to wait in line for a beer or food, I'll happily go to a Rockies' game, or go to the liquor store and the grocery and wait in line to pay for my items.
Having to pay each time an order is placed just doesn't make sense to me, I had to wait in line several times to buy rounds and I had to bring someone with me to get our limit so we could buy enough drinks for our group. Â I was not allowed to start a tab at the bar after asking the bar staff, not sure why Joe told me that was the case. Â So I left with six different receipts and transactions on my bank account for one visit to one bar.
If the young man holding the order sign would have told me that they don't have waitresses instead of saying he would send one over right away, I would have been fine with that. Â He even said he would have menus sent over. Â They obviously never came. Â I did not get a chance to try to order food or see the menu other than online before going in, so I can't comment on the food quality. Â I just didn't feel like waiting in line again. Â This obviously just isn't the type of place for me.
Joe said he did not ignore me, he just didn't see me walk by him on the way to the beer line, otherwise he would have bought me a beer. I appreciate that and give him the benefit of the doubt. Â I see people from my spin classes in the community and sometimes don't recognize them right away. Â I give him a star for promptly responding to my review.
My best to the Lowry beer garden, I'm sure it will be a great success.
Updated review
I feel like I'm taking crazy pills! Â I've been to the beer garden a handful of times and really enjoy the atmosphere/food/beer, but the food set up is nonsensical. Â I've read the Yelp reviews and there is a constant theme ... "Cool idea, good beer, fun atmosphere ... but please don't make me get up to order AND pick up my food". Â Yeah yeah I've heard the canned answers both in person from the wait staff and on Yelp ... "We're a traditional German beer garden and that's the set up". Â I really want to love this place but it irritates me that the constant gripe on Yelp is being swept under the rug with a canned answer that isn't a solution. Â Like I said before, I like everything about this place minus the food setup.
First time visitng Lowry Beer Garden and I would go again. Â The reason is because it is kid friendly ( I have two). Â Despite other reviews where people found the children to be a problem they are missing the point of a beer garden. Â If they don't want to see children.. go to a bar.
I did not mind having to pay-as-you-order, but was there  during a slow time and could see how that might be a problem.
My only other suggestion is they get a better selection of beers on tap. Â The bottle selection was huge, but I do not go to a beer garden to drink out of bottles. Â
I think with a better system of ordeing food and drinks, combined with a better selection tap beers would take Lowery Beer Garden to the next level.
Their are some universal things that  all yelp reviews can critique on - service, sanitation, price point and their are just the things that  rub that particular reviewer the wrong way. I will have to say this review is going to run the way of the later. This place has super friendly staff, the beer selection is well thought out, the music selection is awesome , price point is great, but.......
There is a bar in Houston, that is a dog park/bar and this place reminds me of that, but its over run with children ...lots and lots of children. I know this is in no way the L.B.G fault but it borderlines on ridiculous and this was at 8 o'clock at night. On top of that the it took forever , like over 20 min to get a beer both from the bar and ordering from a waitress, and you have to close out after every time. And although the food looked really good we couldn't order from our waitress and  didn't really feel like the hassle was worth it. And this place is LOUD, so loud in fact it didn't really make talking with the other patrons easy , and isn't that the whole point of a social beer garden?The last thing that rubbed me the wrong way was all the sad puppies tied up out front.... now I know this is a Denver licensing issue, but it still made me sad.
My whole point of going to a beer garden is to relax and enjoy a nice pint, meet new people and enjoy pleasant conversation, this unfortunately is not that type of place. This place is obviously doing something that people like, I just happen to not be of that type  I wish the L.B.G would ban children after 8 o'clock and turn the music down some, allow some of the more low key childless couple types to enjoy this concept too. Will definitely try this place again, but maybe just at 11 o'clock on a Tuesday night.
I really love the idea of this place, and want to give them 5 stars (really, I do). Â I just cannot get over the fact that you have to pay as you go for beers. Â With a large group all paying separately (and no cash between us) it got super confusing, frustrating and took way too much time away from my beer drinking. Â Also, why can we get table service for beer but not food? Â When I'm spending time with friends enjoying happy hour on your lovely patio, why would I want to leave to wait in a huge line to order food? Â These are seriously two very big flaws in the system for me.
Otherwise, I really loved this place. Â The beer garden was fun and comfortable. Â The craft beer selection was really great (though I'll stick to happy hour prices, thankyouverymuch.) Â The food all looked uber-amazing. Â We had the Giant Pretzel which despite it's 12" size, was devoured in minutes because it was so tasty. Â I would have loved to have more of the food, but once the line built up I was over it. Â Make this a little more customer friendly by offering normal table service, and you're a 5-star establishment all the way. Â
Yep, I'll be back.
I heard through the grapevine about the recent opening of this place so I went to check it out. Â I only had about an hour to kill so I kind of hurried my way through the experience. Â The name doesn't disappoint, as it is a good CO take on the German beer garden, with full picnic-style outdoor seating and covered areas for rainy days. Â The additional touches of ping pong tables and tvs are nice as well.
While the beer selection stays true to the local CO varieties, I still expected a bit more selection. Â Don't get me wrong, there are great local micro-brews on draft and bottled, but I expected a bit more national microbrew selection as well.
I didn't have a chance to eat any of the food, but what I saw coming from the kitchen does make me want to go back. Â The selection seemed nice and the food looked like upper-scale versions of backyard BBQ food.
Lastly, as I only expected beer, I was pleasantly surprised to find they offer a full bar selection as well.
More like the Lowry Kindergarten...
My husband, sister and I went to the Lowry Beer Garden at about 6pm on a Thursday evening after work, looking forward to enjoying some good beer in a nice, relaxing outdoor setting. However, it was clear as soon as we got there that we should have waited to arrive until past bed-time - there were children running around everywhere. I understand that Lowry is a neighborhood of young families, but sharing a picnic table with children whose mother warned me to move my purse or it would get spilled on, was not what I anticipated at a beer garden.
I like kids - and I'm sure their parents like to drink beer, but this is not Chuck-E-Cheese. If we go back, we will definitely be doing so after 8pm. Would advise other adults without children to do the same.
That said, the beer selection was good and we shared a giant pretzel with a spicy cheese sauce that was delicious!
Glad to have another restaurant/bar in Lowry, and you have a huge opportunity here. Â With that, we are not restaurant experts but we go to them a lot. Â Really, a lot. Â In packs. Â And spend hundreds of dollars. Â Love the concept of the beer garden, love the spot, nice design. Â So a few suggestions for success:
1. Your most likely customer in this neighborhood is 30/40 something parents of kids, the singles who live here are going downtown. Â Hence the bouncers (and the state fair wristbands) may be overkill.
2. Â Let us run a tab at the table. We are not 22 yr old dine/dashers. Â See #1.
3. Â Love the ping pong but we grew up in the competitive era of ping pong (the 80's) so we are going all out for the love of the shot. Â You may need to move the tables further from the old people eating so we don't kick dust all over them. Â See #1
4. More speakers in the courtyard. We are old and can't hear. See #...you get it by now
5. Â Please bring us our food
Thanks for bringing us another option!
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