America is experiencing a great brew awakening with more cities making their mark on the emerging craft beer scene. As more and more people try their hands at the fine art of brewing IPAs, sours, stouts, pilsners, and the like, you may be wondering who does it best? So, we've compiled a list of our favorite cities to visit in search of the best frothy glass of beer.
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is your one-stop shop for all things beer. It's the city with the most breweries per capita in America with an average of 28.1 breweries per 100,000 residents. In 1994, Oscar Wong opened Highland Brewing Company, becoming Asheville's first original craft brewery. This brewery paved the way for dozens of others opening its doors in this sleepy town, which would come to be known as "Beer City, USA," a title it has won four times since 2009. Try an award-winning beer at Wicked Weed, or head over to their sour branch, Funkatorium, for the East Coast's first sour beer-dedicated tap room. Feeling adventurous? Make a stop at Burial Beer in South Slope for some unique "death-themed" brews such as "This Golden Carriage to Oblivion" (a fruity IPA) or "Manifestation of Time" (a Vienna lager). Asheville has had such an impact on the beer scene that industry players Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. of California and New Belgium Brewing of Colorado have opened up expansion breweries in the area.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Home to some of the most popular and iconic domestic beers — Pabst, Schlitz, and Miller — Milwaukee has earned itself the nickname "Brew City." Pabst Brewery earned its place in history after the Great Chicago Fire in 1971. The demand among the workers rebuilding the city was so high that they couldn't pack up ice cold cases of beer fast enough as it flew off the shelves. Because of its deep history and love affair with the drink, Milwaukee is now undergoing a craft beer renaissance that rivals many major cities — for them beer brewing isn't a trend, but a way of life. Sprecher Brewing Co. kicked things off in 1985 when Randal Sprecher, a former brewing supervisor at Pabst Brewing Company, opened the first craft brewery in the city since the Prohibition era. Also be sure to check out the landmark Lakefront Brewery for innovative beers, pieces of the city's history, and family-style dining options. And what would a trip to the Brew City be without an excursion to the famous Miller Park to catch a Brewers game? Come on, even its baseball team is beer themed!
Billings, Montana
For great brews and great views, look no further than Billings. As Montana's largest city, this bustling town boasts the only self-guided walkable brewery tour in the state. Historic Montana Avenue is the corridor of the brewery district, with the 1.5 mile stretch hosting six breweries, a distillery, and a cidery. Montana Brewing Co. has earned itself six medals at the Great American Beer Festival since 2008 and is a must-try for beer lovers. Another warm and inviting brewery is Thirsty Street, owned by a welcoming husband and wife who brew all kinds of beers from IPAs to sours. A great part about Billings is its access to many outdoor recreation options, like Yellowstone National Park. New people pass through town every day looking for a cold beer after a long hike, and the camaraderie here is incomparable.
Portland, Oregon
Portland sells more craft beer than anywhere in the United States, accounting for nearly 40% of beer purchases. With more than 60 breweries in town, there's no shortage of places to try. One of our favorites is Ecliptic Brewing, which was founded by Oregon craft brewing icon John Harris. The word "ecliptic" is defined as earth's yearly path around the sun and their menu reflects that with seasonal changes that rotate every 6 weeks according to the old world calendar: Samhain, Winter Solstice, Brighid, Spring Equinox, Beltaine, Summer Solstice, Lammas, and the Autumnal Equinox. Another place to try out is Breakside, which has been touted as Best Brewery in Oregon, Brewery of the Year, and has won dozens of medals for a variety of its innovative, experimental, and diverse beers. Portland is also home to North America's largest annual craft beer festival — the Oregon Brewers Festival — drawing in 85,000 beer lovers who enjoy sipping the cold beverage with a beautiful backdrop of Mount Hood.
Birmingham, Alabama
In May of 2009, the Free The Hops' Gourmet Beer Bill was signed into law in the state, which raised the limit on alcohol by volume (ABV) in beer from 6% to 13.9%. In 2011, the Brewery Modernization Act was passed, which allows breweries to sell on-premise like a brewpub. These new legislative landmarks paved the way for local craft brewers to begin opening up tap rooms that have sparked neighborhood revitalization and growth. Make a stop at Cahaba Brewing Company, which is known for its locally sourced ingredients and giving back to local charities. Every Wednesday, Cahaba partners with a non-profit organization at its taproom to help benefit a good cause. As the oldest and largest brewery in Alabama, Good People Brewing is known for its humble but delicious beers like the Coffee Oatmeal Stout and Mumbai Rye IPA. This brewery believes that coming to its tap room is about spending time with friends and family while enjoying beers together around the table. The Birmingham beer scene is all about good and southern hospitality and a must-try if you're in the area.
Portland, Maine
Portland — the one on the east coast — is a small city with just 66,000 residents, but boy do they love their beer! While Portland is home to a larger brewery, Allagash Brewing Company, there are many smaller brewers who are able to hold their own. Bissell Brothers opened in 2013 and now has the largest taproom in Maine (but still be prepared to wait in line). Bissel's Substance Ale can be found on tap throughout Maine. If you want a quick way to try a bunch of different breweries, book a tour on the Maine Brew Bus for an afternoon of sips and enthusiastic brewers waiting to tell you their stories.
Denver, Colorado
The microbrew scene in the Mile High City is buzzing with more than 70 breweries in the city and surrounding environs. Coors, the largest brewing facility in the U.S., is located just outside of the city in Golden, Colorado. Coors, which started brewing its beer with Rocky Mountain spring water in 1973, helped launch the city's love for beer. For a city institution, try one of the beers at Wynkoop Brewing Co., which lies in the heart of LoDo (Lower Downtown) and is surrounded by landmarks such as Coors Field and Union Station. Wynkoop is known for its innovative beers which are brewed with everything from gummy bears to green chilies. Another one of Denver's iconic breweries is Great Divide, whose expansive and revolving tap selection impresses locals and beer connoisseurs alike. Finally, for a true beer lover, you won't want to miss the annual Great American Beer Festival, held each fall for more than 30 years. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, this festival is where you'll find more beers on tap than anywhere else in the world.
San Francisco, California
When you think of San Francisco, a few things may come to mind — the Golden Gate Bridge, big tech, Full House — yet we're willing to bet a leader in the craft beer movement doesn't make that list. The Golden City is very much a big player in the craft beer industry and they have one man to thank: Fritz Maytag. In 1965, his exceptional brewing skills saved Anchor Brewing from closing its doors forever, turning it into a craft brewery and inspiring a new wave of craft brew masters across the city. Originally established in 1896, this historic brewery is located in the Portrero Hill neighborhood. Stop by to taste their iconic "Steam" beer — a thick amber lager with rich flavor whose name derives from the unusual 19th-century fermenting process.
Since Maytag's heroic gesture, craft beers have skyrocketed in popularity, forcing craft brewers to relentlessly search for new and exciting ways to up their craft brew game. Breweries like Laughing Monk, located in the Bayview neighborhood, are working with local community gardens to create one-of-a-kind beers that are unique to the neighborhood. Be sure to taste their "Bayview Gold," a beer with chamomile that produces soft floral notes and a light pineapple citrus flavor. Next, head over to Seven Stills Brewery & Distillery for tastings of both beer and whiskey. You'll be amazed by their "Beerception" — a beer that has been aged in a whiskey barrel that was made from that same beer. Are you following? And at some point during your beercation in San Francisco, be sure to taste an IPA — it's the city's claim to brew fame. According to locals, Cellarmaker Brewing Company brews some of the best IPAs around.
Seattle, Washington
The state of Washington has perfected the making of many beverages — coffee (Starbuck's, hello!), wine, and spirits (more than half the country's distilleries reside here) — so it's no surprise it also excels at brewing tasty beer. In fact, the state is home to more than 300 breweries (whoa!), a majority of them in or around the Seattle area. While the beer options are endless, Fremont Brewing seems to be a local favorite. Visit its famous Urban Beer Garden, located in the Fremont neighborhood, to taste one of their legendary, locally-sourced IPAs. Be sure to allow yourself plenty of time here to enjoy the hefty beer list. After that, head a few blocks west to the West Woodland neighborhood for a tasting at Rueben's Brews, The Taproom. There's no shortage of variety in Rueben's beer list — ciders, hazy IPAs, and everything in between. If you find yourself overwhelmed by the amount of breweries to try, join one of the guided Seattle Brewery Walking Tours. You'll visit top-notch breweries for tastings and brush up on the craft brewing history of Seattle — all while touring this beautiful city.
Austin, Texas
Austin locals thrive on craft beer, so it's a good thing the city's ever-expanding brewery scene offers plenty of opportunities for beer-drinking. And with most breweries offering beer gardens and food trucks, the breweries around town have become ideal hangout spots. For "old-world," European-style beer, visit Live Oak Brewing Company located just north of the airport in Del Valle, Texas. Relax in the "biergarten" while sipping a hefeweizen (their most popular), with flavors of vanilla, clove, and banana, or try the iconic smoke beer (or "rauchbier"). The brewing process is a bit old-fashioned compared to other modern breweries — their brewers take the time to roast the malt over an open fire in order to give it a rich, smoky flavor.
Next, head downtown to the Holly neighborhood for an education in sour beer. Blue Owl Brewing "sour-mashes" traditional-style beers (the process of adding bacteria to give it that sour taste) then packages them in gorgeous, vibrant beer cans. New to sours? They recommend you try "Little Boss," a sour wheat beer with a refreshing taste. If this ain't your first rodeo when it comes to sour beer, try the "Van Dayum!," a dry-hopped red ale with rich malt and piney American hop flavors.
At Save the World Brewing Company, you can feel good about drinking beer. This brewery is a 100% philanthropic brewery that gives away all their net profits to charities like Food for the Hungry, Meals on Wheels, and Highland Lakes Habitat for Humanity. While it's a bit of a drive — located in Marble Falls, some 50 miles outside of Austin — you can sip your beer knowing it will have a positive effect on someone in need. Plus, they serve tasty beer, artisan meats and gourmet cheeses, and offer plenty of games and activities to keep you entertained.
St. Louis, Missouri
Unless you’re a local history buff, you may not assume St. Louis has a long history of craft brewing and microbrewing. But here, small batch brewing dates all the way back to the immigration of Germans in the 1800s. They took advantage of St. Louis’s subterranean caves for naturally climate-controlled storage for their brews. In 1860, 40 St. Louis breweries produced 200,000 barrels of beer annually, and today, nearly 40 new breweries reside in St. Louis — thanks to the resurgence of craft beer — many of them winning national and international acclaim.
Earthbound Beer is a nano-brewery that created “Fuzzy Pickle,” a Gose dry hopped with Sorachi Ace hops, featuring a dill and lemon grass aroma. Earthbound has recently found a home in a building purposefully erected over some of St. Louis’ infamous subterranean caves back in 1867. The owners of Earthbound Beer have revived the location as it was intended, while updating the main floor to be a beautiful brewpub. Visitors can be treated to a guided tour through the brewery by booking one on their Eventbrite page.
Another critically acclaimed St. Louis brewery, 4 Hands Brewery, has taken on philanthropic endeavors to help local communities. Proceeds from the sales of their popular brews, “City Wide” and “State Wide,” are donated to local Missouri non-profit organizations. When visiting the brewery, be sure to also test out their award-winning mosaic-hopped IPA, “Incarnation,” or cheers to the fall season with “Absence of Light,” a seasonal peanut butter chocolate milk stout that makes for a great treat after chowing down on some of their amazing smoked brisket nachos. Did we mention Missouri has one of the lowest taxes on beer and spirits in the country?!
