Being the carnivorous animal that I am, I could keep adding to this Denver burger bucket list till the cows come home, but for now let's narrow it down to the cream of the crop, the leader of pack, the head rooster, if you will. When it comes to handcrafted burgers, the possibilities are endless, and these Mile High burger joints have creations to suit every fancy. Whether you're after a surprisingly divine beef patty with bacon, cheddar, egg and onion between two glazed donuts or a classic old school burger with lettuce, tomato, and all the fixings, you can find it at one of these ten lip-smacking, waist-expanding burger spots in Denver. MOO-ve over McDonald's, we've got handcrafted on our minds.

1. Crave Real Burgers

The wizards at Crave in LoDo are creating melt-in-your-mouth masterpieces using fresh ground, hand-formed certified Colorado Proud beef, along with gourmet and whimsical ingredients that take this American classic to the next level. Candied bacon, roasted poblanos, coffee-dusted onion strings, and glazed donut buns are just a few of the innovative accoutrements that elevate their burgers to award-winning status. Thank you, Crave Burger Gurus. Thank you, indeed!

2. Highland Tap & Burger

This LoHi haunt is another home-grown, Colorado-born business dedicated to building, supporting, and growing our local community - and they've got some darn fine food and drinks to boot. Their fun, friendly atmosphere and spacious sunny patio make for a jolly good setting to savor your Rocky Mountain Lamb Burger with Duck Fat Fries and slosh it all down with a local brew from one of 18 rotating taps featuring Colorado's finest. I'll Tap that!

3. TAG Burger Bar

Renowned local Chef Troy Guard has done it again, folks! His Denver pride shines through with hand-crafted burgers boasting names like Congress Park, The Highlands, and Colorado Proud, made with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients and a whole lot of love. Or perhaps you'd like to try the Lady Gaga, Italian Stallion, or Godzilla on for size? I'd say a post-TAG siesta is imminent.

4. My Brother's Bar

My Brother's Bar in Downtown Denver is a beloved neighborhood haunt where Neal Cassady and friends used to belly up to what is indisputably the oldest still-operating bar in the city. There's no sign out front, no reservations accepted, and no shortage of perfectly juicy old-school burgers or uniquely interesting booze-soaked barflies.

5. Cherry Cricket

This Cherry Creek classic is a build your own burger Denver landmark where they've "been slinging burgers, brews and good times since 1945." If it ain't broke, don't fix it. "The Cricket is a place where a delicious burger, a cold beer, and good friends will always be waiting. No matter how much things change around here, that never will."

6. Big Daddy's Burger Bar

The original Bad Daddy's opened nearly ten years ago in North Carolina and has since spread to 18 locations in four states, and luckily Colorado is home to eight tasty franchises. One of Bad Daddy's most insanely popular creations is the Bad A** Burger, which boasts a massive 10oz beef patty, housemade American cheese, buttermilk fried bacon (WHAT!?), horseradish mayo, lettuce, tomato, and pickle. Now that's a mouthful!

7. City, O' City

Whether you're a vegan, vegetarian, or full fledged carnivore, you can't deny the deliciousness oozing out of the City O' Burger - and it's 100% meat free. Take a quinoa and pinto bean patty, top it with specialties like Gruyere, lemon aioli, fried jalapeños, and a chimayo blackberry jam, and you won't even miss the meat. (Vegan options are also available.)

8. Hopdoddy Burger Bar

This "burger-minded and beer-hearted" franchise in Union Station proudly offers all-natural, humanely raised beef ground in-house daily, served up on a made-from-scratch fresh baked bun, along with piping hot hand-cut fries made to order. Try a fire-filled El Diablo with pepper jack, habaneros, serranos, and chipotle mayo or cool it down with an Ahi Tuna Burger topped with sprouts, teriyaki, honey wasabi, and pickled ginger. And for goodness sakes, save room for a shake! They've got Caramel & Sea Salt, Nutella & Chocolate Pretzel, and more!

9. Park Burger

On the hunt for award winning burgers and a hip, family-friendly atmosphere? Look no further! With four locations in Platt Park, Highlands, Hilltop, and RiNo, you're guaranteed to find a Park Burger near you. This neighborhood restaurant is slinging high-quality burgers, fries, beer, a full bar, boozy shakes, and handcrafted milkshakes like Caramel Health Bar and Cookies & Cream. I smell a brain freeze coming on!

10. 5280 Burger Bar

Amidst the hubbub and tourist (traps) of Downtown Denver's Central Business District is a true hidden gem serving up scrumptious chef-crafted burgers made with local, fresh, all-natural ingredients. Start with Colorado-raised bison, lamb, or beef, throw it on a scratch-made fresh baked bun, slather on some homemade condiments like Beer Mustard or Ring of Fire Sauce, sprinkle on toppings like fried onion straws and pecan smoked bacon, and you've got yourself a perfectly sloppy belt-buster of a burger. (Note: Next door is the delightful 5280 Ice Cream, churning out desserts, scoops, sundaes, shakes, and other sweet treats.)

Yep, all this salty, juicy burger chatter has me in the mood for a sugar rush. Cool it down at 5280 Ice Cream or any of these other heavenly Denver ice cream shops that are sure to freeze. (I mean, please.)