Craft beer has swept the nation. While the craft beer movement has distinct strongholds in places like Colorado, Oregon, North Carolina, and California, you will find great breweries everywhere. Small towns, big cities—everyone’s starting a craft brewery these days, whether it’s a brewpub, microbrewery, or an expansion of a craft beer giant. There are more than seven thousand registered craft breweries in the United States, and each of them brings something unique to the table, from flavors to distinct brewing techniques. Visitors to new cities can embark on brewery crawls, enjoy tours and tastings at individual breweries, and shop at local retailers for craft beers to take home in six packs or bombers as a unique souvenir. There are so many options out there, it’d be impossible to try them all, but there are a few breweries who manage to stand out in such a crowded field.
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
With two Virginia locations—one in Richmond’s historic German Brewing District and the other in West Creek—Hardywood Craft Brewery makes their beers with local ingredients, sustainable practices, renewable energy, and a whole lot of passion for beer. The owners are childhood friends who not only bring their passion for beer to the neighborhood, but their passion for reigniting and revitalizing a part of Richmond that had long fallen into obscurity before they built their brewery. Their beers can be found throughout Virginia and North Carolina, but are perhaps best enjoyed at the brewery itself, in the taproom or around one of the picnic tables on the expansive patio, with a group of good friends.
2408-2410, Ownby Ln, Richmond, VA 23220, Phone: 804-420-2420
Allagash Brewing Company
This Maine brewery, located in Portland, focuses on making Belgian style beers in their beautiful brewing facility and taphouse. Allagash Brewing Company uses local ingredients and sustainable practices in the production of their beer, and evidence of this can be found in ample supply on a tour of the facility, which can be booked seven days a week. The taphouse is a great place to relax with a glass of draft beer (the selection is always changing) or buy some to take home with you, and Allagash also serves delicious food from local food truck Bite Into Maine, which makes classic Maine dishes like lobster rolls, burgers, and lobster grilled cheese.
50 Industrial Way, Portland, ME 04103, Phone: 207-878-5385
Black Tooth Brewing Co
Some of Black Tooth Brewing Company’s year-round brews include the Saddle Bronc Brown, the Hot Streak IPA, and the unique Copper Mule—a cream ale with ginger and lime. But this Wyoming brewery creates much more than these classics. Their seasonal beers and limited release beers are highly sought after by Black Tooth Brewing Company’s rabid local fans, and the brewery’s characteristic label designs, with bold black and white images, are fun and distinctive. Black Tooth Brewing Co. embodies the spirit of the West, and has a welcoming and fun taproom which opens daily at noon.
312 Broadway St #3917, Sheridan, WY 82801, Phone: 307-675-2337
Lazy Hiker Brewing Co.
Lazy Hiker Brewing Co. is located in Franklin, North Carolina, among the Appalachian Mountains. In fact, many of the visitors sipping pints at Lazy Hiker are thru-hikers from the Appalachian Trail, taking a quick break from their trek to enjoy a delicious beer on the patio, or day hikers celebrating their successful hike. The beers at Lazy Hiker are named for local places, trails, and features, and some of their popular brews include the Trail Mate Golden Ale, Slack Pack IPA, and Wesser Evil Porter. Lazy Hiker Brewing Co. opens daily at noon, and while they don’t serve food, Mad Batter Food Truck can usually be found in their parking lot.
188 W Main St, Franklin, NC 28734, Phone: 828-349-2337
Lift Bridge Brewing Co.
Lift bridge, located in Stillwater, Minnesota, is so much more than a brewery. Since it was first founded in 2008, Lift Bridge Brewery has become a community staple, and though they have grown into the 6th largest craft brewery in the state, and are still best known for their beer—particularly their Farm Girl Saison and Hop Dish IPA—Lift Bridge has also expanded into other beverages as well. Their craft soft drinks, like their non-alcoholic root beer, Mini-Donut Cream Soda, and Black Cherry Soda, are sold throughout the region, as is their new line of hard seltzers, which currently only comes in a few flavors though Lift Bridge is always expanding and growing.
1900 Tower Dr W, Stillwater, MN 55082, Phone: 888-430-2337
Arts and Crafts Beer Parlor
This New York City beer hall has two distinct locations: one in Greenwich Village and another in Morningside Heights, and both locations are comfortable and inviting, or, as Arts and Crafts likes to say, “an extension of your living room.” Although Arts and Crafts Beer Parlor is not a brewery, they do feature two dozen taps of fabulous craft beer from all over the country, as well as a wide variety of ciders, seltzers, and other drinks. At both locations, Arts and Crafts Beer Parlor also features a rotating selection of art on exhibit.
Greenwich Village Location- 26 W 8th St New York, NY 10011, Phone: 646-678-5263
Morningside Heights Location - 1135 Amsterdam Ave New York, NY 10025, Phone: 917-675-6835
Barley Brown’s Brew Pub
Barley Brown’s Brew Pub is a fun and relaxed brewpub that is a great place to hang out with friends and enjoy a pint of beer and a big heaping plate of pub grub. Barley Brown’s has a taphouse and a restaurant, both in Baker City, Oregon, in a large, industrial building with tall ceilings and a laid back atmosphere. Barley Brown’s splits their beer menu by flavor profile, so visitors can choose a drink based on whether they’re looking for a mild beer, a hoppy one, a wheat beer, a bold one, or a flavored beer, and for those who have trouble making decisions, there are also samplers and flights available.
2190 Main St, Baker City, OR 97814, Phone: 541-523-4266
Confluence Brewing Company
Confluence Brewing Company tries to make its beers like the state of Iowa itself: hardworking, approachable, honest, and friendly. The large, open taproom is unpretentious, with the perimeter filled with towering silver tanks and kettles where beer is brewing, and the center full of friends at tables, laughing and chatting over pints of beer. Those interested in the process of brewing, or who are looking for a behind the scenes look at Confluence Brewing Company can book a tour on their website. Some of their most popular brews include Downtown Throwdown APA, Ash Tree ESB, Blue Corn Lager, and Capital Gold.
1235 Thomas Beck Rd, Des Moines, IA 50315, Phone: 515-285-9005
Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co.
Arizona is full of agriculture and beautiful nature, and the Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company works hard to celebrate both of those aspects and more in their mission and practices as a brewery. Arizona WIlderness Brewing Company has two locations—a brewpub in Gilbert and a beer garden in downtown Phoenix—and both have the same great selection of beers, but the Gilbert location is the original and where the beer is made. The beers at Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company range from the Don’t F#%K It Up Blonde Ale to the Carrot de Garde, made with real Arizona carrots.
721 N Arizona Ave, Gilbert, AZ 85233, Phone: 480-497-2739
Blackfoot River Brewing Co
Blackfoot River Brewing Company, located in Helena, Montana, focuses their efforts on “real good beer made by real good people.” Some of their most popular brews include Smooooooth Cream Ale, the North Fork Organic Porter, Tartanic Scottish Ale, and a line of beers like a porter and a winter ale that are specially crafted to reduce the amount of gluten they contain, for those who are sensitive to it. In the taproom, visitors can expect to find great company, free popcorn, and a traditional beer engine used to serve drinks, with weekly specials and deals for drinks and growlers, and events on site like live music.
66 S Park Ave, Helena, MT 59601, Phone: 406-449-3005
Chandeleur Island Brewing Company
Gulfport, Mississippi is the proud home of Chandeleur Island Brewing Company, an unassuming looking building next to the railroad tracks that contains a world of delicious beer, along with an industrial decor scheme, repurposed tables, and a neighborhood feel with games guests of all ages, free popcorn, and a huge aquarium. Chandeleur Island Brewing Company’s beer labels are all decorated in a classic flash tattoo style, with distinct illustrations for each brew, like the mermaid on the tangerine sour, and the shark on the Surfside Pineapple Wheat. There are big windows in the brewery looking into the rooms where the beer is made, where customers can sit and watch the action happening, and the brewery is dog friendly.
2711 14th St, Gulfport, MS 39501, Phone: 228-701-9985
Founders Brewing Co.
Some of the beers from Founders Brewing Company can be found all over the US, like Founders All Day IPA, or their Solid Gold Lager, but their beer list is full of plenty of other gems as well, like the Dirty Bastard, Breakfast Stout, Rubaeus Raspberry Ale, and Red’s Rye IPA. All these beers and more can be found on tap at Founder Brewing Co., either at its original location in Grand Rapids, Michigan, or its second location in Detroit. For more than twenty years, through ups and downs and even a pair of bolt cutters purchased when the brewery wasn’t making money and the landlord threatened to lock them out of the premises, Founder Brewing Company has not only held onto its dream of making fantastic beer, but realized it, and the results are in every glass, every bottle, and every can of their product.
235 Grandville Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, Phone: 616-776-1195
Icicle Brewing Company
Hanging out on the patio at Icicle Brewing Company has the ambiance of a Bavarian beer garden, with picnic tables, big buildings with peaked roofs and open-shuttered windows, and street lamps hung with banners and flowers. Icicle Brewing Company is named for nearby Icicle Creek, where the brewery sources the water for their products, and many of their other ingredients are just as local, with barley and hops all coming from within the state of Washington. Some of Icicle Brewing’s beers include Kickstand Pale Ale, Bootjack IPA, Dirtyface Amber Lager, and Dark Persuasion, which is a Milk Stout that tastes like German chocolate cake.
935 Front St, Leavenworth, WA 98826, Phone: 509-548-2739
Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers
Jack’s Abby is a Massachusetts brewery that specializes in lagers. A lager is distinguished from an ale because it is fermented and conditioned at cool temperatures, as opposed to ales which are fermented at hot temperatures. Some of the core lagers at Jack’s Abby include the Post Shift Pilsner, Smoke and Dagger Black Lager, Hoponius Union IPL, and the Blood Orange Wheat Radler. But they also have a regular rotation of seasonal flavors and limited edition brews, like their Copper Legend Octoberfest, Sunny Ridge Pilsner, Framing Hammer Baltic Porter, and an entire line of Kellerbiers. Jack’s Abby is a must-visit for lager lovers, and no matter the season, they’ll find something for everyone to love.
100 Clinton St, Framingham, MA 01702, Phone: 508-872-0900
Laughing Sun Brewing Co.
Laughing Sun Brewing Company, located in Bismarck South Dakota, makes great beers of all types, from the raspberry kick of their Red Dwarf Sour Ale to their Sinister Belgian Ale (be careful, it has an ABV of 9%). But the fun at Laughing Sun doesn’t stop with what’s on tap—they also serve food in the brewery, with a menu full of mouthwatering BBQ dishes, including house-smoked meats, nachos, mac and cheese, cornbread, and all the great classics. Laughing Sun also has a stage and sound system in the brewery, so they often play host to live musical acts from local and touring artists as well as other performers such as comedians, writers, and poets.
1023 E Front Ave, Bismarck, ND 58504, Phone: 701-751-3881
Marble Brewery
“Unabashedly bold” is the motto at this Albuquerque brewery. Marble Brewery has three taprooms across Albuquerque, each of which have a rotating schedule of food trucks which set up shop in the parking lot to keep everyone full and happy as they sip on pints of delicious craft beer. Marble is a true craft beer-lover’s paradise, with beers that are lovingly made from start to finish on the premises, and which put the focus on innovation. Their main location at 111 marble Ave NW is where their core beers are made, but their smaller brewhouse in Northeast Heights has 10 barrels and is where the brewers get to play and experiment, creating new beers that make Marble Brewery so cutting edge in a crowded field.
111 Marble Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102, Phone: 505-243-2739
Russian River Brewing Co.
Russian River Brewing Company is open and airy, with big windows and an expansive green lawn with red umbrellas on all the tables on the patio. It’s a fabulous place to sit back and enjoy a pint after work, with friends, or while visiting the area. Russian River Brewing is perhaps best known for Pliny the Elder, a double IPA that focuses on California hops, and it is a beer best enjoyed fresh, so it is made in small batches and each bottle is dated. Pliny the Elder is one of only two year-round beers at Russian River, along with Blind Pig, but Russian River doesn’t waste any time—they have plenty of seasonal and limited edition brews on tap at any given time.
725 4th St, Santa Rosa, CA 95404, Phone: 707-545-2337
Wooden Legs Brewing Company
Wooden Legs Brewing Company, in Brookings, South Dakota, is a gathering place. With its friendly, unpretentious location, and its comfortable, industrial-chic interior, with shiplapped wood panelling on the walls, industrial high top tables and stools, and booth seating around the taproom’s perimeter, Wooden Legs offers visitors plenty of opportunity to enjoy a rousing conversation, play a game, have an intimate chat, or just relax with a beer in hand. Wooden legs serves their own beer on tap, but also a rotating selection of guest draft beers, and they also have a full food menu, featuring pizza, sandwiches, wraps, and snacks.
309 5th St #100, Brookings, SD 57006, Phone: 605-692-2337
3 Floyds Brewing Co.
With out of this world artwork featuring bright colors and loud designs, it’s practically impossible to see a 3 Floyds beer label on a can or bottle, or on a hoodie or sticker, for that matter, and not remember it. 3 Floyds, in Munster Indiana, was founded by brothers Nick and Simon Floyd along with their father Mike Floyd, together making up the three Floyds of the name. Since 1996, they have been making great beers which can be found all over the Midwest. Their brewpub serves dishes designed specifically to pair well with 3 Floyds beers, and some of them even use the beer in their preparation.
9750 Indiana Pkwy, Munster, IN 46321, Phone: 219-922-3565
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Adam Firestone and David Walker are the masterminds behind Firestone Walker Brewing Co., a brewery which has gained so much in popularity that its products can be found all over the country. These brothers-in-laws, one of whom is originally from England, worked hard to create the distinctive taste of Firestone Walker’s beers, with an emphasis on Old World techniques and flairs as well as a New World, Central Californian twist. Since 1996, their brewery in Paso Robles has been pushing the envelope when it comes to experimentation and amazing beers, especially when it comes to barrel-aged brews.
1400 Ramada Dr., Paso Robles, CA 93446, Phone: 805-225-5911
Highlands Hollow Brewhouse
Operating since 1992, Highlands Hollow Brewhouse is the oldest microbrewery in Boise. Highlands Hollow supports local producers when it comes to their ingredients, food, and the live music they showcase in their brewery. With regular specials like daily happy hours and “Hoppy Meals” on weekdays, as well as specials for growlers and plenty of events like liver performances, Highlands Hollow Brewhouse aims to be a gathering place, and it doesn’t hurt that the beer is pretty great, too! With four core beers and more than a dozen rotating taps, with more being introduced every season, Highlands Hollow is a fun brewery that is definitely worth a visit.
2455 N Harrison Hollow Ln, Boise, ID 83702, Phone: 208-343-6820
Mother’s Brewing Company
Beers from Mother’s Brewing Company can be found all over the Midwest, but the most authentic Mother’s experience can only be found at their brewery in Springfield, Missouri. Mother’s Brewing hosts awesome events throughout the year in their taproom and backyard area, like their weekly Friday Tap Room Vibes series, which brings in some great live music for customers to enjoy while they hang out and enjoy a pint, and the annual Flyover Beer Festival, which spotlights dozens of breweries from Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, with proceeds benefiting the independent brewing industry.
215 S Grant Ave, Springfield, MO 65806, Phone: 417-862-0423
River City Brewing Company
This massive brewhouse on the banks of the St. Johns River seats over 300 people, and serves amazing food with every pint of their beer. Visitors can enjoy a view of the river, of the downtown Jacksonville skyline, and the massive kettles and tanks where the beer is brewed, all at once, while they indulge in fresh, local seafood, delectable steaks, and other unique and delicious dishes created by the River City Brewing Company’s talented chef. Meals can easily be paired with the perfect beer for every menu item, from the light and refreshing Jag Light to full bodied, oaky taste of their Kentucky Bourbon Ale. Customers who fall in love with one of River City’s beers can even take some home with them in the form of a growler.
835 Museum Cir, Jacksonville, FL 32207, Phone: 904-398-2299
Tired Hands Brewing Company
Located in Ardmore, Pennsylvania, Tired Hands Brewing Company operates out of the Tired Hands Brew Cafe. They describe their beers as “strange and beautiful,” with a tap list that includes varieties such as HopHands Pale Ale, Alien Church Reptoid IPA, Nothing Nitro Black Beer, and Frequency Illusion, a hybrid of beer and Gewürztraminer wine. Tired Hands values small batches, unique experimentation, and giving back to the community. Tired Hands Brewing Company sells their beers, ciders, and other experiments in the General Store, in bottles and cans, and also delivers throughout the state of Pennsylvania.
16 Ardmore Ave, Ardmore, PA 19003, Phone: 610-896-7621
Wasatch Brew Pub
This Salt Lake staple has been brewing great beers for the community and beyond since 1986, placing them firmly at the forefront of the craft beer revolution. Wasatch Brew Pub has grown from their roots as the very first brewery in Utah—something that, at the time, was almost unheard of in a state with a much different drinking culture than other parts of the US—to a Utah institution that was integral in passing legislation that made brewpubs legal in Utah. Wasatch Brewery continues to push the envelope by making great beers year after year, winning awards and expanding to a second location in Park City, UT.
2110 Highland Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84106, Phone: 801-783-1127
