A visit to a brewery has a vibe that makes it different from any other beer-drinking experience. Maybe it’s just the unique aroma of the brewing process, the atmospheric augmentation of glistening steel tanks, or the chance to drink with like-minded beer aficionados who made a special trip just to drink there. Regardless, the sum total always seems to improve the beer’s flavor. Oh, and the beer is so fresh could perhaps have something to do with it. So, we made a list of the Best Breweries You Need To Try.
Nowadays, entire journeys are arranged around visiting brew-producing spots. And such visits are about more than just what’s poured into your glass. When you want to mix that double IPA with fantastic cuisine, stunning surroundings, and an afternoon of fun, here is the place to go. As a result, we recommend paying these American breweries a visit at least once. Each has a deeper meaning than just amazing beer.
Highland Brewery
Address: 12 Old Charlotte Hwy #200, Asheville
As a moderate Scottish Ale is a fantastic set of training wheels for anyone wanting to break into craft brewing, Highland Brewery‘s Gaelic Ale is an excellent entry to the thriving Asheville brewing community. Highland’s brewery tours are rather typical (“does anyone know what the four main constituents of beer are?”), but the tasting room provides what visitors want: a chance to try the Oatmeal Porter, St. Terese’s Pale Ale, Kashmir IPA, and the dark, strong seasonal Tasgall Ale.
Russian River Brewing Company
Address: 725 4th St, Santa Rosa
You’ve heard of Russian River‘s famed beers like Pliny the Elder (and Younger), their collection of sours, and Blind Pig. Unless you’ve visited Santa Rosa, California, you haven’t had much of what they have to offer. That’s because the brewery that produces some of the most well-known American beers also produces a large number of draft-only beers. Have you ever tried Happy Hops, Perdition, or Hopfather? You haven’t seen everything Russian River has to offer.
Cascade Brewing Barrel House
Address: 939 SE Belmont St, Portland
Portland is home to dozens upon dozens of excellent breweries, the majority of which are well worth a visit. CBBH, on the other hand, maybe the premier location for the dedicated beer aficionado. The taproom includes rare and one-of-a-kind mutations of classic farmhouse styles. Such as straight-from-the-barrel casks and the legendary “Tap it Tuesday,”. At which brewers and blenders debut new concoctions and a different pair of guests (it could be you!) get to hammer the tap into the barrel and get showered with beer. There’s always something new to discover, and nothing is ever predictable. All you have to do is turn up.
Great Lakes Brewing Company
Address: 2516 Market Ave, Cleveland
Great Lakes is one of the OGs of the Midwestern craft movement. Also, the vast brewery is like a history tour of Cleveland’s drinking scene. It’s the cornerstone of Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood. And they are quickly becoming one of the greatest dang drinking ‘hoods in the country. After all, here is a place where you can drink beers created in the former Schlather Brewing Company. In the same room where Eliot Ness (the namesake of one of the GLBC’s best beers) drank away his Prohibition-era memories.
If you’re not interested in the past of this labyrinthine estate, live in the present with a rotating selection that includes dozens of pub-exclusive brews, best experienced in the year-round beer garden before catching the Fatty Bus to Cavs and Indians games. Oh, and if you can, try to make it there for the annual Christmas Ale release. It’s the best party half of Cleveland hasn’t seen in a long time.
3 Floyds Brewing Co.
Address: 9750 Indiana Pkwy, Munster
3 Floyds wins the nod not only for their excellent beers but also for their unusual geeky/metalhead ambiance and excellent food. You already know about the beer—Zombie Dust, Dark Lord (if you’re brave enough to go on Dark Lord Day), Alpha King, and others—but you can also order house-made beef jerky, next-level pizza, and great desserts while you drink those in the company of action figures and comic book artwork. It’s some of the best brewery food you’ll ever try.
Selkirk Abbey
Address: 6180 E Seltice Way, Post Falls
Close your eyes and imagine yourself in Northern Idaho. If you’ve never been, you’re probably picturing potato farms. If you’ve been, you’re probably picturing big trucks, rolling hills, and a sea of tallboys and cowboy hats. What you’re probably not thinking about is some of the best Belgian-style beers in the United States. Selkirk specializes in direct fire brewing, producing distinctive witbier and Belgian pale ales, as well as seasonal Saisons, fruit beers (pray for local huckleberries), and rarities like the Octavian triple. The beer alone will change your opinion of Idaho, and the possibility to get brewery exclusives is reason enough to make the trip.
Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling
Address: 4834 Whirlwind Dr, San Antonio
Ranger Creek in San Antonio gives guests a two-for-one deal: a “brewstillery” that makes both artisan beer and whiskey. On-site excursions, which cost $10 and include three tastes and a commemorative glass, teach you how both are prepared. Flights of bourbon, rye, and whiskey (plus the occasional moonshine) cost $8 in the tasting room, while the brewery’s flagship beer, the San Antonio Lager, costs roughly $5.
Kohola Brewery
Address: 910 HI-30 #55, Lahaina
Because airfare to Hawaii is at an all-time low, now is the ideal time to enjoy an impromptu trip to Maui’s Kohola Brewery. The Lokahi Pilsner, a pale yellow lager with a tropical taste from its sulfate-rich water profile, is Kohola’s best-selling beer. Another popular choice among visitors is the Pineapple Pilsner, a limited-edition, award-winning beer flavored with locally cultivated pineapple.
Tours of the brewery are $10 per person and are available Wednesday through Friday at 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Alternatively, you may visit the brewery’s tasting room. They serve three year-round beers as well as limited seasonal releases for $6 to $8 per 16-ounce drink.
Wren House Brewing
Address: 2125 N 24th St, Phoenix
Arizona’s craft beer market has exploded in recent years. With over 60 new independent breweries opened since 2013, including Wren House Brewing. While the brewery is not open to the public, Wren’s taproom sells its beers for $4 to $7. Try the Wrenovation, the brewery’s take on a West Coast-style IPA, or limited-edition beers. Just like the Jomax oatmeal stout made with Ethiopian coffee beans, or the tropical Highway Vacay Triple IPA.
Samuel Adams Brewery
Address: 30 Germania St, Boston
The Samuel Adams Brewery has expanded to include locations in Ohio and Pennsylvania, but the entire Sam Adams experience can only be found in Boston—the other locations aren’t open to the public. Tours of the brewhouse are given every 40 minutes (a $2 payment is encouraged, with all revenues going to charity). However, arrive early, especially on weekends, as tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, with no reservations permitted.
Morning Mash-In tours ($10 weekdays/$15 weekends) are also available for hardcore fans and include an early morning tour of the brewhouse, tastings, and a souvenir glass. On weekends, Sam Adams offers tours of its exclusive barrel room ($20 to $50), as well as a beer and cheese “experience” ($30).
And, there you have it! The 10 Best Breweries You Need To Try. Make sure you pay a couple or more of these places a visit, it’s a must-see. Don’t forget to share this list with your friends and enjoy the tours these breweries have to offer.
