Usually, it’s wineries and coffee houses that get all the love, so we thought we’d offer up some breweries that claim a lot of hype. It’s challenging to narrow down the “best” breweries since it often depends on personal taste and preferences. However, we’ve found some renowned and highly regarded breweries known for their craft beers and contributions to the industry.
1. Russian River Brewing Company Santa Rosa, California
Known for their outstanding IPAs, including “Pliny the Elder.”
Bragging Rights: They’ve won dozens of awards from the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup and were also named “Brewery and Brewmaster of the Year” at both the GABF and World Beer Cup—not once, but twice.
2. Tree House Brewing Company Charlton, Massachusetts
Famous for their hazy, New England-style IPAs and stouts.
Bragging Rights: According to Worcester Business Journal, Tree House Brewing Co. in Charlton was ranked the fourth best brewery in the world in 2019 by RateBeer, an online beer reviewing community.
3. The Alchemist Stowe, Vermont
Home of the immensely popular, cult favorite “Heady Topper,” it’s one of the early pioneers of the hazy IPA style.
Bragging Rights: In 2013, the Alchemist’s Heady Topper ranked No. 1 out of the top 250 beers in the world by Beer Advocate magazine according to cask.com.
4. Three Floyds Brewing Co. Munster, Indiana
The Midwestern brewery proudly crafts a wide and, as they say, “not normal” range of quality ales and lagers.
Bragging rights: As seen on RevolverMag.com, it’s a mecca for heavy metal craft beer and is regularly rated among the best craft breweries in the world, thanks to its production of heavily hopped beers like Alpha King, Zombie Dust, and Gumballhead.
5. Founders Brewing Co. Grand Rapids, Michigan
Recognized for their diverse lineup of high-quality beers, especially their barrel-aged series.
Bragging Rights: In the 2023 World Beer Cup, they received the silver award in the Old Ale or Strong Ale category for their Dirty Bastard beer which has seven varieties of imported malts, and what Founders Brewing describes as having “a right hook of hop power.”
6. New Belgium Brewing Company Fort Collins, Colorado
Famous for their flagship beer, Fat Tire Amber Ale, as well as its Voodoo Ranger IPA.
Bragging Rights: In the 2023 World Beer Cup, they received the bronze award for their Voodoo Ranger Juice Force IPA in the Experimental India Pale Ale category.
