Located next to Union Station, Hopdoddy Burger Bar has made quite an impression on the Denver burger scene. Considering that Denver has some of the best burger joints in the country, this is a remarkable feat for the year-old restaurant. While most people may associate drinking a heady draft beer with a quality burger, Hopdoddy will surprise you with its fabulous wines, cocktails and even shakes. DrinkDenver takes a tour and a taste.

Hopdoddy Burger Bar began in Austin, TX and now has restaurants all over the southwestern US. Denver is the 15th and newest location in the chain. The name refers to hops, which are used to make beer, and "doddy," a Scottish nickname for cows. Hopdoddy also means fresh, because all the beef comes from humanely raised cows and is ground on-site, while the three different varieties of buns made from scratch and baked in house every day. 

The Classic Burger is Hopdoddy’s signature sandwich with Angus Beef, Red Leaf Lettuce, white onion, beefsteak tomato, and the restaurant’s own Sassy Sauce. According to General Manager Melissa Withem, Sassy Sauce is a mixture of horseradish, mayo, and honey mustard, but the actual recipe is top secret. The kitchen also makes its own steak sauce. Guests have a bun choice of egg, wheat onion (vegan), or gluten free, the latter of which is made from millet.

For a spicy kick, try the Goodnight Good Cause burger also made with juicy Angus Beef and topped with Tillamook Cheddar, caramelized onions, jalapenos, hickory BBQ, that delicious Sassy Sauce, white onion and beefsteak tomato. Enjoy this burger knowing that $1 of every burger ordered will go to Camp Courage in Boulder a summer camp for children with cancer. Guests can also order a premium burger made with rare Akaushi Beef from Texas, as well as bison burgers, chicken, turkey, ground Ahi tuna and a veggie burger made from black bean and corn.

Wash down these tasty burgers with Colorado craft beers such as Odell Brewing, Avery, Oskar Blues, Dry Dock, Great Divide, Denver Beer Co., and Colorado Native on tap. Three taps are reserved for seasonal rotators, and good old Coors Light and Dos Equis are available in bottles. The bar also offers some unique wines from Denver’s Infinite Monkey Theorem, which come in cans. Pop the top on a Sauvignon Blanc, Moscato or Rosé with that burger.

The bar has a selection of signature cocktails that provide a twist on some traditional cocktails. The bar’s Classic Frozen Margarita features Gold Tequila, fresh citrus juices, and house-made Triple Sec. The glass is rimmed with black lava salt from Hawaii, and and the drink has a fresh lemon and tart lime taste. While the classic is frozen, the Sangrita is served on the rocks with a spicy chile salt rim. Made with Gold Tequila, fresh-squeezed orange and lime juices, the bar adds house-made pomegranate Grenadine for a bit of sweet with the sour. The Hey Neighbor! is the bar’s version of a Bloody Mary, but the drink is given some extra flavor by adding house-made beet juice to the tomato juice. The beets also provide a sweet side to the spicy, house blend tomato juice. Withem also says the beets make this Bloody Mary healthier. We’ll drink to that!

Befitting a burger joint, Hopdoddy offers cool delicious shakes made from the bar’s own cinnamon vanilla custard recipe. Enjoy Natural Vanilla Bean, Stout Chocolate, Caramel Sea Salt, Red Velvet Cake, Oreo or Nutella Chocolate Pretzel. While it doesn’t say so on the menu, adults can add a liquor shot like Chambord or Bourbon for an extra treat. For non-alcoholic drinkers, the bar serves Maine Root Sodas in a variety of flavors at a soda fountain station. Patrons are welcome to mix the flavors into any combination their heart desires. If someone wants to mix a root beer with orange, no one will judge.

Happy Hour, or Social Hour, is from 3 to 6:30 PM Monday through Friday and features $2 off all burgers, and select draft beers, wines and cocktails are only $5 each. Guests can also snack on Parmesan Truffle Fries or Green Chile Queso with fries for $5 each.

Hopdoddy is located at 1747 Wynkoop Street in LoDo.

Photos by Carrie Dow