Best Craft Breweries in the United States

Scratch Brewing in Ava, Ill.

interior bar of scratch brewing company — Courtesy of Scratch Brewing Company / Kendall Karmanian

Five miles from the Shawnee National Forest, this farmhouse brewery incorporates foraged ingredients found on its property (for example, sassafras leaves and wild cherry bark) into its beers. Their brews were inspired by the owners' (2020 James Beard Award-nominated Aaron Kleidon and Marika Josephson) The Homebrewers Almanac and are paired with pizzas baked in a wood-fired brick oven.

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Door County Brewing Co., in Baileys Harbor, Wis.

bar interior door county brewing co — Courtesy of Destination Door County / John Nienhuis

Literally across the state from Lake Michigan, this brewery's beer garden—pouring pints that are nods to locals, like The Polka King Porter, named after late polka act Freddie K.—is a welcome haven each summer and fall for hikers and kayakers. The spot regularly hosts live music acts and serves up barbecue via DCBC Eats.

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Brewery Vivant in Grand Rapids, Mich.

exterior building vivant brewery — Courtesy of Experience Grand Rapids

This creative reuse of a church within a former funeral parlor earned Brewery Vivant LEED Silver certification (the country's first for a brewery) and is where Belgian- and French-style beers are brewed and tapped—fitting, as "bon vivant" means, in French, "the good life."

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Station 26 Brewing Co. in Denver, Colo.

exterior building night time station 26 brewing — Courtesy of Station 26 Brewing Co.

This 1960s fire station turned brewery in Denver's Park Hill neighborhood draws locals for its dog-friendly patio and indoor seating—not to mention beers (from the fruit-infused Tangerine Cream to a traditional, German-style Kolsch), hard seltzers, and a rotating roster of food trucks.

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SLO Brew in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

exterior patio SLO Brew — Courtesy of SLO Brew

At SLO Brew's The Rock, there's plenty of room to spread out al fresco by the fire pits and enjoy a pint (the brewery's fun names include the SLO Death Hazy Double IPA and Churro Stout)—you might even spontaneously sign up for a tour.

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Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, N.Y.

ommengang brewing exterior building in fall — Courtesy of Brewery Ommengang

Order a Belgian-style beer and food (such as poutine and croque madame) in this brewery's cafe, which is set on 140-acre grounds. Or, time your visit with a live-music concert, from Afternoon Jams on Sundays to Firepit Fridays.

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Jester King in Austin, Texas

arial drone image jester king brewery — Courtesy of Jester King Brewery

Beer brewed at this 165-acre ranch in Texas Hill Country isn't run of the mill—instead, there are unique options like a beer featuring 100% Texas ingredients and farmhouse cider crafted from Texas apples—the perfect pairing with pizzas baked on site.

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Dogfish Head in Milton, Del.

treehouse exterior dogfish head brewery — Courtesy of Dogfish Head

Not far from the coast, this brewery's tasting room (look for the Steampunk Treehouse sculpture) hosts beer-release parties, drop-in tastings of exclusives on tap, and fun events like Vintage & Vinyl.

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Maui Brewing Company in Maui, Hawaii

maui brewing co interior seating area — Courtesy of Maui Brewing Company

The Aloha State's largest craft brewery makes its beer in Kihei, near Wailea, and encourages "brewery to table" dining at an on-site restaurant where 36 beers are on tap—all of them are Hawaiian-inspired, like Pineapple Mana and Coconut Hiwa.

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Central Standard Brewing in Wichita, Kan.

interior seating area central standard brewing — Courtesy of Central Standard Brewing / Mollie Wetta Photography

So hip that the tasting room sells onesies for the baby in your life, this Douglas Design District brewery—founded by friends with a love for home brewing—snagged a Silver medal at the Great American Beer Festival only a year after its 2015 opening.

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Crowns & Hops, Inglewood, Calif.

Beny and Teo, owners of Crowns & Hops — Courtesy of Crowns & Hops

Put this spot on your list of breweries to visit in 2023, which is when Crowns & Hops will open its flagship restaurant and brewpub in Inglewood, Calif. Co-founders Beny Ashburn and Teo Hunter have been creating equity in the world of beer through their craft offerings for years; they ensure that people across the country can experience quality beer (such as their signature IPAs!) by distributing to select breweries in Atlanta, New York, Washington, D.C., and Portland. This next venture will create a safe space for their community through beer.

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