Review Denver Bar: Society Denver
You won’t find any uppity society types at Society, a spacious and welcoming sports bar in Denver. In fact, the locally focused spot tries to keep things as unpretentious as possible, with an extensive menu of locally distilled spirits, beer and even wine that comes in a can.
Located in the lively LoDo neighborhood of the city at 1434 Blake St., Society is conveniently close to Larimer Square and Union Station, making it the perfect pit stop after a day spent out and about in town.
And while most of the regulars are eagerly waiting for football season to kick off in the fall, the team at Society has exciting things in store for summer, too.
Upon arrival, you’ll immediately feel at home, thanks to the friendly staff who are eager to serve up some of the more than 50 locally distilled whiskeys (some of which are even on tap, like Stranahan’s, Breckenridge and Mile High Spirits).
Owners Wil Evans and Rich Canaday drew upon their backgrounds working at some of the best bars in the area to create a place where any sports fan (or non-sports fan) would feel right at home. The exposed brick interior, copper piping and whiskey barrels give Society a cozy atmosphere, but things are always lively on both floors of the bar.
Whether guests want to shoot pool upstairs, grab a bite to eat or catch the game, there’s something for everyone here. They even offer gluten-free burgers and fries. It’s easy to see why the place is almost always packed. And summer is no exception.
In fact, to prepare for the warmer season, Society has added even more fun. Now, the second floor of the bar has been converted into a life-size foosball game, lined with AstroTurf and all.
“The impetus behind life-size foosball is the bar crowd’s fascination with giant games — giant Jenga, giant Twister, pool played with soccer balls. Why not turn a classic tabletop game into something unbelievable?” says Evans.
The court is made of PVC pipe, which goes from one side to the other, where the goalies, defenders and forwards stand. Players have to hang onto handles that are attached to the pipes, and they can move side to side, but not vertically down the field.
There are four players per team and each game last 12 minutes; they switch from offense to defense at halftime.
Society also just installed a small stage on the main floor, where on Friday nights during happy hour, a bluegrass/Americana band will kick off the weekend.
Of course, a new season also means new delicious menu items to try. On the drink side, the latest hit is the New Fashioned, a whiskey cocktail that comes with frozen ice cubes full of bitters, sugar and an orange. For food, the Colorado Fried Chicken is a highlight. It’s smoked with apple and mesquite wood and soaked in buttermilk, flour and spices before being deep-fried.
A few bites of that dish are worth the trip to Society all on their own.
