Entry No. 36 — the Denver file — filed under: brewery
Alley Brews
There is no street door — the only way into Alley Brews is from the alley between 43rd and 44th, tucked behind Ohana Yoga, half a block off the Tennyson bustle that never notices it. It carries on a Berkeley tradition started in 2013 by De Steeg (Dutch for 'the alley'), later Berkeley Alley Beer Co., and as of 2025 it's women-owned by Chelsea Rhoads and Liz Hess of the Body by Beer podcast. It's an all-day hybrid: coffee and a coworking-friendly bar that flips to craft beer, wine, cocktails and NA drinks. Tiny, neighborhood, and easy to walk right past — which is exactly the point.
The story
If you walk down Tennyson Street past 43rd Avenue looking for a front door, you will walk right past it. Alley Brews has no entrance facing the street. To get in, you have to turn into the service alley running between 43rd and 44th—directly behind Ohana Yoga—and look for the door facing the pavement. The hideout carries on a micro-brewing tradition that started back in 2013 when De Steeg Brewing (Dutch for 'the alley') opened as one of Denver's first alleyway taprooms. The space became Berkeley Alley Beer Co. in 2021 before transitioning in mid-2025 to new owners Chelsea Rhoads and Liz Hess.
Rhoads (who helped launch 4 Noses Brewing) and Hess (formerly of Resolute Brewing) were already local beer voices through their podcast, Body by Beer. Rather than keeping the 35-person room purely as an evening drinking den, they converted it into an all-day hybrid hangout. The revamp introduced morning coffee and matcha service, free Wi-Fi for remote working, and a drink menu expanding beyond house beers to include wine, cocktails, slushies, non-alcoholic options, and food like nachos and jackfruit BBQ—all framed by a wall painted with a continuous-line mural by Tennyson artist Jonathan Applegate.
What it's like
You will slip through the paved alley between Tennyson and Stuart, dodging delivery vans until you spot the unmarked entrance tucked behind the yoga studio. Inside, the space holds roughly 35 people, giving it the vibe of a back-alley lounge rather than a sprawling industrial brewhouse. Expect remote workers on laptops sipping coffee during the morning, switching over to a daily happy hour from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM with discounted house pours. If you are bringing a dog, Denver health codes mandate that pets stay outside on the alley patio, but you can pop inside to grab an espresso martini or a flight before finding a seat outdoors.
The move: Find the unmarked alley door between 43rd and 44th, start with coffee in the afternoon and slide into a beer flight as it gets dark — a low-key, find-it-together hang that feels like a secret you cracked.
📍 Before you go Finding it is half the fun. The entrance sits in the alley running between Tennyson and Stuart, mid-block between 43rd and 44th; aim for the back of Ohana Yoga and look for the door facing the alley, not the street. There is no on-site lot, but Tennyson has metered and residential parking, and you can usually find a spot within a few blocks. The patio is dog-friendly (Denver rules keep pups outside only), and gluten-free brews are on hand. A sunny afternoon is the sweet spot; hours have shifted under new ownership, so check ahead. Pair it with a stroll down the Tennyson Street shops a half-block over.
- 📍 Berkeley / Tennyson Street
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoor or outdoor
Where: 4342 Tennyson St, Denver, CO 80212 — entrance is in the alley between 43rd and 44th (behind Ohana Yoga); no street-facing door
Hours: All-day coffee-and-beer; expanded hours under new ownership (verify current hours on site)
Pair it with
- Future Drawn oneLINE Gallery — Easter Art Hunt — After seeing Jonathan Applegate's continuous-line mural inside Alley Brews, walk a block down Tennyson to visit his gallery and spot original ink drawings hidden along the block.
- The Terrorium Shop — Walk four blocks down Tennyson to browse weird plant terrariums built around ethically foraged Colorado skull specimens and bones.
- Old Elitch Carousel Dome (with floor labyrinth) — Stroll half a mile down Tennyson to visit the 12-sided 1926 pavilion that once housed the Elitch Gardens carousel, complete with its hidden floor labyrinth.
- Historic Elitch Theatre — Walk six blocks south to see the restored 1890 original Elitch Theatre structure tucked away in the neighborhood.
Good to know
How do I actually find the entrance?
There is no street door on Tennyson Street. Turn into the alley between W 43rd and W 44th Avenues behind Ohana Yoga and enter through the door facing into the alley.
What drinks and food are available?
It operates as an all-day coffee shop and bar, offering craft coffee and matcha in the mornings, alongside house-brewed craft beers, wine, cocktails, slushies, non-alcoholic drinks, and food like BBQ and nachos.
Is Alley Brews laptop- and dog-friendly?
Yes, daytime visitors can use the space and Wi-Fi to work. Per Denver health regulations, dogs are allowed on the outdoor alley patio only.
Who runs the venue now?
In 2025, the venue was taken over and rebranded by craft beer veterans Chelsea Rhoads and Liz Hess, hosts of the Body by Beer podcast.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Westword · Axios · coloradobrewerylist.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-07