Located just east of Denver, Aurora has become a star in the beer world. While other cities in Colorado garner outsize portions of limelight, Aurora slides by as a stealth beer mecca. The city’s ales and lagers can compete with any out there, and for most Denverites, getting to an Aurora brewery is a drive of only a few minutes. Here are four to check out.

Dry Dock Brewing Company: One of the most highly decorated small breweries in Colorado — with medals from the Great American Beer Festival, the World Beer Cup and the Colorado State fair — Dry Dock is no longer a locals-only secret for Aurora beer geeks. The brewery’s beers have been available in liquor stores for a few years now and its drafts can be found in some of the best bars and restaurants in Denver. One of coolest parts about Dry Dock is that it’s connected to a homebrew store, which sells kits to that include ingredients and instructions to make beer at home. Dry Dock brewmasters are constantly experimenting with new recipes while serving up their near-perfect regular offerings, which include Apricot Blonde, Double IPA, Enterprise IPA, Vanilla Porter, Breakwater Pale Ale, Hefeweizen and Amber Ale (15120 E. Hampden Ave.; 303-400-5606).

Copper Kettle Brewing Company: With an always interesting rotation of beers, Copper Kettle has largely succeeded in its goal to build a neighborhood brewery. Regulars are very loyal to this suburban brewhouse, and when you try the Mexican Chocolate Stout, which was inspired by a 500-year-old Aztec recipe and won a gold medal at GABF 2011, it’s easy to see why. Other beers include Bavarian Helles, The Dreaded Brit Extra Special Bitter (ESB), Reynard Belgian Pale Ale, Smoked Porter, Copper Hopper American IPA and Oak Aged Double IPA (1338 S. Valentia St., #100; 720-443-2522).

Dads and Dudes Breweria: Dads and Dudes plays on the immortally excellent combination of beer and pizza — spent grain from the brewing process is used to make the crusts. That’s not to say D and D’s doesn’t make great beer, either. With a steady rotation of new and seasonal brews, the standard beers include Dank IPA and Liquid Resume Pale Ale , which won a 2010 National Homebrewing Competition for best pale ale in Denver. Other brews poured over the years include 80 Schilling Scottish Ale, 303 Wheat, Ollie’s Brown Ale, Grapefruit Wheat and a Peanut Butter Cup Porte. (6730 S Cornerstar Way, Suite D; 303-400-5699).

Caution Brewing Company: The good folks at Caution brew some of the more offbeat beers in the greater Denver area. Lao Wang Lager is a spiced Asian lager. Wild Blonde Ale is made with organic wild rice from Minnesota. Hippity Hops Chrysanthemum IPA contains the flower as well Chinese rock brown sugar. Also check out Honey Matrimony Brown Ale, Toaster Bat Black Smoked Robust Porter and Big Bunny Cascadian Dark Ale (when available) as well as the seasonals. The taproom features fresh baked pretzels from the Baker Street Pretzels, as an added bonus (12445 E. 39th Ave., Unit 314; 970-315-2739).