Denver happy hours run on a simple formula: a metro unemployment rate of 3.4% means a lot of working professionals looking to decompress, and a per capita income of $72,800 (Census ACS) means they have the budget to be selective. That competition forces bars to actually compete on price and quality — not just slap "happy hour" on the same menu. The result is one of the best after-work drinking cities in the Mountain West, with deals ranging from $3 craft pints at RiNo taprooms to $10 craft cocktails at LoDo steakhouses.