Dive in to The Best Wings in Denver for Messy Hands and Faces

By Will Coonradt

Like anyone’s “favorite” list, the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But we’ve compiled a few must-tries around Denver that serve messy, tasty chicken wings. Enjoy!

Hearth & Dram: Crispy smoked wings

In addition to offering the largest selection of whiskeys in Denver (roughly 600 choices), Hearth & Dram also has some smackin’ good wings. Tossed in a Korean barbecue sauce and smoked, the wings are juicy inside with a crispy, flavor-poppin’ skin. Try them with a dram of A.D. Laws Rye Whiskey. 1801 Wewatta St., Denver

Goosetown Tavern: Smoked wings

Smoked wings have a special place on any wing list because they aren’t frozen wings thrown in a fryer. Let’s be honest, it takes talent to smoke a wing properly. With a peppered rub and depth of smoke, the accompanying hot sauce and blue cheese are hardly vital. Show up on Thursday for Motown Thursdays and dance the night away. 3242 E. Colfax Ave., Denver

Fire on the Mountain: Mind-blowing sauces

Featuring more than 12 sauces, this northside wing shack has a sauce to please anyone’s palate, from sweet barbecue and Thai peanut to their famous volcano sauce, El Jefe. They offer a nice selection of craft beers and those of you who are heat hounds can put your tolerance to the test with the El Jefe Challenge: 15 blazin’ wings, one napkin and just three minutes to finish them off. 3801 W. 32nd Ave., Denver

D.P. Dough: Late-night cravings

Whether you’re closing your tab at the pub or you find yourself encountering a post-work, late-night craving, D.P. Dough has you covered at its five locations around the Front Range. Savory, sweet or spicy, they have bone-in or boneless that are big on flavor. Or, if wings are not your speed, turn to the house-made calzones. 1228 E. Colfax Ave., Denver

Vine Street Pub & Brewery: Big and meaty

A favorite spot for many locals, Vine Street sticks to the basic sauces of barbecue and buffalo, while serving up massive, crunchy drums. Pair them up with a Prime Time Pilsner and enjoy! 1700 Vine St., Denver

GQue Championship Barbecue: Dry rub

Serving up wings in Lone Tree and Westminster, GQue Championship Barbecue has some of the best dry-rubbed wings around. They are slowly smoked, deep fried and then tossed in their house dry-rub or buffalo sauce. Numerous accolades have been bestowed on the team at GQue for their barbecue prowess (hence their name). 5160 W. 120th Ave., Westminster; 8433 Park Meadows Center Drive, Suite 143B, Lone Tree