Where to Toast the Colorado Rockies Home Opener

April has arrived and that can only mean two things; Spring weather and Major League Baseball. Denver was made for both because there is nothing better than an afternoon spent at the ballpark on a warm day. Time to get out the gloves and support the home team at the home opener verses the San Diego Padres on April 8. Game time Friday is 2:10 PM, but downtown’s bars and restaurants will be open early just for you fans. Here’s where to go before the first pitch. Can’t get off work on Friday? This is the first game of a three-game home stand against San Diego so try 6:10 PM Saturday or 2:10 PM on Sunday for more Opening Day action.

Rooftop at Coors Field
Start the party during MLB’s opening weekend. On Monday, April 4, the Rooftop at Coors Field will have Purple Monday. Come watch the Rockies play the Diamondbacks at the season opener. There will games, prize giveaways, including autographed items and Opening Weekend tickets. Enjoy drink specials and Papa John’s Pizza. For you NCAA fans, TVs will be showing the men’s final on TV along with the game. Free Parking at Lot A at 5 PM. Gate A opens at 6 PM and game time is 7:40 PM. (22nd & Blake St.)

The 1 Up
Doors open at 10 AM Opening Day. (1925 Blake St.; 303-736-2230)

Blake Street Tavern
Before the 2016 Blake Street Bombers make their debut, the Blake Street Tavern will welcome fans with a beer garden and live music from Buckstein starting at 11 AM. Enjoy brats and hot dogs and local hot sauce vendors Saso. For those not going to the game a DJ will spin for an outdoor dance party all afternoon. (2301 Blake St.; 303-675-0505)

Blue Moon Brewing/The Sandlot
The Blue Moon Brewing Company at the Sandlot is located inside Coors Field. It’s the only brewery located inside a major league ballpark. However, on game days, guests do need a game ticket to get in. Here is how it works: Afternoon games are open only to ticketholders 90 minutes prior to game time. Night games, the bar closes to the public two hours prior to the game and reopens only to ticketholders 90 minutes prior to game time. Otherwise the brewpub is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 2 to 8 PM. (22nd & Blake St., inside Coors Field; 303-312-2553)

Fado Irish Pub
Fado will open at 9 AM on Opening Day, and the patio and beer garden will be hopping. Enjoy $4 Bud Light bottles and Strongbow cans, $5 Heineken Tallboys, $15 buckets of five Bud Lights or Strongbows, and $6 Moscow Mules with Crabbies, all Deep Eddy flavors, Reyka, and Irish Mules with Tullamore Dew. (1735 19th St.; 303-297-0066)

Giggling Grizzly
The Griz is featuring $5 domestic bottles and draft beers, well drinks, and PBR Tallboys all day. Go Rox! (1320 20th St.; 303-297-8300)

Hopdoddy
On your way to Coors Field, stop in at Hopdoddy Burger Bar for games, prizes, and special pulls from the taps in the patio turned beer garden. The beer garden will feature reps from Avery and Great Divide. Not into beer? Then enjoy the Purple Haze specialty shake made with blueberry compote and house-made spiced ice cream mixed with hazelnuts and topped with whipped cream. You can get it "boozy" with a shot of Chambord or Stranahan's Whiskey. The Opening Day burger is the Buffalo Bill made with all-natural bison, apple-smoked bacon, blue jack cheese, and Hopdoddy's secret Sassy Sauce. (1747 Wynkoop St.; 303-446-2337)

Jackson’s
Jackson’s is celebrating its 20th Opening Day on Friday by opening the doors at 9 AM. Party inside and out with drink and food specials. (1520 20th St.; 303-298-7625)

Jax Fish House
Jax will open at noon on Opening Day, which is early for them. Enjoy $10 burgers and po’boys, $8 sea dogs, $1.50 oysters, $4 cocktails, and $3 Post brews. Happy hour will run from noon to 6 PM on Opening Day. (1539 17th St.; 303-292-5767)

Range
Drop in to Range at the Renaissance Denver Downtown Hotel for Brats and Beer before the game. This Colorado special includes a grilled jalapeno elk brat with sauerkraut and Colorado craft beer o’ the week for $15. The patio will be open! (918 17th St.; 720-726-4800)

Tamayo
Putting a Latin spin on the traditional Beer and Brat is the Tamayo Dog & Coors pairing, which will be offered Opening Day and every Rockies home game. Enjoy a bacon-wrapped Tamayo Dog topped with chipotle rouille, pickled chiles, and black bean puree and a Banquet Beer for $6. (1400 Larimer St.; 720-946-1433)

The Tavern Downtown
The Downtown Tavern will open at 9 AM on Opening Day, and the restaurant is taking over its own parking lot and turning it into a beer garden. Drink and food specials all day long. (1949 Market St.; 303-299-0100)

ViewHouse Ballpark
Opening Day is a celebration at ViewHouse. The doors will open early at 9 AM. Enjoy the Sonoran Dog, organic Continental sausage wrapped in Applewood-smoked bacon and smothered with pinto beans, cotija cheese, pico de gallo, and finished with sour cream and guacamole. Wash it down with the Purple Sky featuring Arctic Grape Rum, Blue Curacao, fresh squeezed lemon and cranberry juice topped with lemon-lime soda. There will be DJs all day, Rockies ticket giveaways, and Coors Light and Red Bull specials. (2015 Market St.; 720-878-2015)

Zengo/La Biblioteca
On Opening Day, neighbors Zengo and La Bibiolteca will offer a special weekday baseball brunch for $39 per person. Enjoy unlimited small plates and a Bloody Mary bar with 30 toppings and hot sauces. (1610 Little Raven St.; 720-904-0965)

Photo via Flickr user paulswansen