12 Volt Tavern

Definitely a dive but basically chill, weekends can get a little crazy not too bad though come on it’s Arvada. I like to go during the week and throw darts

Our cool bar in town. All of the staff is super accomodating and always shows us a good time.

Plain and simple, this is a dark dive bar. One that you stop in at for a couple of PBRs and then meander on. They have a good juke box and a pool table as well.

I was at the 12 Volt the night Erik V (1 star reviewer) and his friend were there and think the rudeness started on Erik’s side of the bar. He had an expired ID and tried to get served with some other document. Guess Cheapskates doesn’t care…
Why do I like 12 Volt? Friendly and funny bartenders. Yes some are relatively new which us why owner Marty hangs around to lend a hand. Plus he mixes the bar’s custiom shots — pineapple blueberry tequila is surprisingly good. Cold beer, warm people, classic dive bar feel. Perfect.
Plus they don’t put up with crap so they won’t get shut down.

This place is great if you wanna get hammered to enjoy your time. Hopefully this place changes before the light rail is active.

This is what a dive bar should be. From NYC, to Chicago, this place ranks with the most solid. Thanks for not changing and being the Px for life.

I’ve got to say, I love to travel and end up in random bars. My experience tonight at 12 volt was awful… the bartender is barely of age and will tell you the owner is present in order to not hook you up. Obviously not a great way to make tips. My friends and I played darts and were forcefully thrown out due to alyssa… the rude bartender… would have loved to spend my money here. Dont expect much. I would advise checking out ANY of the other bars in the area, and there are plenty. Do your self a favor.
Oh, alyssa said we could not enjoy happy hour even though we had arrived with plenty of time… apparently they run their clock 20 minutes quick to avoid hooking up their patrons.
STRAY AWAY
Be advised, I enjoy many many bars,
have never felt so unwelcome. Check out CHEAP SKATES, right across the street

So Great! They will get you drunk, all the girls want to get bottomed out! Sometimes the bartenders want to get bottomed out too! PBR and MD ²⁰⁄₂₀ for life.

I love this bar. It’s a grungy paradise for the «dark sheep» of every family. The staff will treat you great, the bands they have are awesome. And the bartenders are tough and beautiful.

This was my first «Dive Bar» as my friends called it. I suppose its exactly that its not fancy by any means and you have some questionable people sitting at the bar. I cam with a group of friends and we always had drinks at our table. Pricing seemed to be pretty reasonable.
Their location was pretty good. Very accessible you just have to find the parking out on the street. Easy walk and lots to see on your way. I would probably come back to this location.

This place is great! Right downtown and usually pretty crowded; great, fun bartenders. young & hot?! Yes they are! Great Juke. get dat did!

Nice hangout. Dive, I say no more. Lol. Great coin operated jukebox! People there are always having a great time.

This is one business I will never patronize as long as they refuse to obey the law.
In Colorado, we have the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act that forbids smoking within 15 feet of the entrance of any building. This business is in Arvada, CO where that distance has been expanded to 25 feet. The distance is meaningless since people frequently smoke directly in front of the main entrance, and the city refuses not only to enforce the law, but to do anything about the illegal smokers.
To me, that’s fine. I’m used to cities selectively enforcing the law, and choosing on whom the law will or will not be enforced. Arvada ia notorious for that. So, for you smokers, live it up! The city, and this establishment will do nothing to stop you, or even curtail you. You are pretty much free to smoke as you wish, and where you wish just like in the 1970’s.
For those of us who do not smoke, however, it is a different story. We recognized both the right of smokers to choose to smoke, and the right of those who choose not to smoke to me allowed to breath smoke-​free air. We non-​smokers will just go somewhere else, and leave you smokers alone.
I am fine with both the city’s refusal to protect the rights and health of its citizens. That is their prerogative. They, just as this establishment, value money more than human life. I do not. I will take my business elsewhere.
There do exist establishments in close vicinity to this one that offer drinkers the same or better value in a smoke-​free environment as required by state and local law.

I came here on a Friday night and the place was full and service was great. The bartenders were great and kept the beers coming. The bouncer guy was also nice and friendly. But I’m sure he can throw it down if he had to. Great place. friendly crowd. I’ll check it out more.

This place fits me like spandex on that damn Lance Armstrong. Between the cheap beers that just kept coming, the jukebox that played songs I haven’t heard in years and the heart-​attack inducing toliet, I was in love from the moment I walked through the door. Of course, it probably does not hurt that i’m always half lit when I enter this fine establishment, but hot damn, it is a glorious dump. The waitress called me «honey» (I’m a sucker for that) and it got louder and louder the later it got. Oh, and it was only Thursday. Now if that isn’t a ringing endorsement for a dive bar, then I don’t know what is. Just remember that when you wake up the next morning with your new gang name written on your inner thigh in sharpie.
Cheers 12 Volt!

Definitely a dive bar. If that’s your thing, go here. If I’m in the area, I’d probably stop by again.
Anyways, it was friendly enough and got the service that we deserved. From what I noticed they didn’t have any food, but they did offer free popcorn that they pop for those that want some.
It’s been a while since my first (and last) visit so I am unsure if there’s anything different since then.

Usually when I find my way up to Arvada, I can be found at the DNote. But recently, I ventured across the street to check out the 12 Volt and boy, what a difference the other side of Old Wads makes!
The 12 Volt immediately reminded me of local bars in Wisconsin: long bar with plenty of stools, a pool table, dimly lit lighting, and a bit grimy and rough around the edges. Initially I was put off, but as I sat and chatted with a friend and soon other locals, I relaxed and strangely enough, found myself at home.
There wasn’t much on tap, but the beer was flowing, cheap and delicious. And our bartender was a total sweetheart!
While I wouldn’t go out of my way to hit up the 12 Volt, unless a cool band was playing here, I wouldn’t mind popping in again if the mood strikes. It certainly is an interesting place!

Cheap beer. Cool little bar with pool, darts and video games. But the bartendress was aweful! She was talking to her boyfriend in the corner the entire time and when she did bring you a beer she just rolled her eyes and walked off. And this is me tipping $ 3 on $ 2.25 beers! If it was busy, that would be one thing, but it was cleared out.
Nice looking bar but you should be more careful– you managed to alienate the manager of one the only record stores in town… which has the exact clientele you would like to attract.

As Carolyn stated, it’s a little bit of Colfax or Broadway in Arvada.
Somehow, I ended up with 2 for 1 drinks while drinking late at night. Who has a late, late night happy hour on a weeknight? Apparently, the 12 Volt.
The place is dark. Like Lion’s Lair dark. It’s filled with a good mix of blue collar folks, guys from grindcore and metal bands that grew up and moved to the burbs and the occasional outsider. Yet, it retains a low-​key, bring-​all-​comers attitude.
If you want a break from the suburbs, the 12 Volt is the perfect escape.

I have been here about 4 times.
Don’t get me wrong, I love cheap drinks and dive bars, but even dive bars should have good service.
If you go, don’t be surprised if the bartender disappears, often, to smoke cigarettes outside. Maybe you are allowed to refill your own drink. I don’t know. I didn’t try.
There are so many good Happy Hours nearby. I don’t think that I can see myself returning.
If dive bars are your thing, there is a much better one around the corner — Red Jacks Saloon.