Best breweries in 50 major cities
Best breweries in 50 major cities
For as long as we have farmed cereals like wheat, barley, and rice, . The Mesopotamians produced beer from bread and documented its ritual consumption on stone tablets. Ancient Egyptians, who recorded the world's first beer recipe on papyrus scrolls, drank it during religious ceremonies. The Nubian culture in the central Nile River Valley used beer . In 2,100 B.C., Babylonian King Hammurabi enshrined regulations for tavern keepers and brewers in his famous Code of Hammurabi.
Beer became so inextricably linked to the ancient grain-growing civilizations of Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa that the Greek writer Sophocles (450 B.C.) considered beer, alongside vegetables, meat, and bread, to be a vital component of a healthy diet. (In an era when the average Greek lived about 35 years, Sophocles, it should be noted, lived to the ripe age of 90.)
Fast forward many centuries, and beer production is now an exacting science comprising complex flavor profiles, exotic additives, carefully measured formulas, and humongous sterilized stainless-steel vats. Gone is the thick, syrupy brew favored by Germanic tribes and disdained by Ancient Romans.
Instead, breweries nowadays turn out flavorful, easy-drinking beers, along with more challenging concoctions for adventurous drinkers. The American market alone was valued at in 2024, and it's expected to reach nearly $123.7 billion by 2030. The in the United States reached nearly 9,800 in 2024, according to a report from the Brewers Association.
Today's breweries are as diverse as the landscapes that shape them. The Pacific Northwest is renowned for its . In the Midwest, honor the region's German roots. The South has developed a , blending regional ingredients like pecans, honey, and citrus, while that define modern craft brewing.
To find the best breweries in 50 major cities around the country, compiled a list using data from as of September 2025. To be considered, a brewery needed at least 500 votes. If fewer than three breweries in the city had at least 500 votes, the minimum threshold was lowered to 250 and then further to 50.
Read on to discover the best breweries in the largest metropolitan areas in the U.S.
Phoenix, Arizona: Craft 64 - Scottsdale
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (1,189 reviews)
- Categories: Cocktail Bars
- Address: 6922 E Main St Scottsdale, AZ 85251
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Los Angeles, California: Macleod Ale Brewing
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (792 reviews)
- Categories: Pizza
- Address: 14741 Calvert St Van Nuys, CA 91411
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Sacramento, California: Midtown BierGarten
- Rating: 4.3 / 5 (531 reviews)
- Categories: Brewpubs
- Address: 2332 K St Sacramento, CA 95816
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San Diego, California: Akash Winery & Vineyards
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (684 reviews)
- Categories: Brewpubs
- Address: 39730 Calle Conteno Temecula, CA 92591
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San Francisco, California: Drake's Dealership
- Rating: 4.1 / 5 (2,459 reviews)
- Categories: Pizza
- Address: 2325 Broadway Auto Row Oakland, CA 94612
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Denver, Colorado: Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (1,796 reviews)
- Categories: Breweries
- Address: 1535 Pearl St Boulder, CO 80302
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New Haven, Connecticut: Willimantic Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (530 reviews)
- Categories: American
- Address: 967 Main St Willimantic, CT 06226
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Washington, D.C.: Sweetwater Tavern
- Rating: 4.1 / 5 (1,383 reviews)
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Address: 3066 Gate House Plz Falls Church, VA 22042
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Miami, Florida: 3 Sons Brewing
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (576 reviews)
- Categories: Beer Bar
- Address: 236 N Federal Hwy Dania Beach, FL 33004
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Orlando, Florida: Ulele
- Rating: 4.2 / 5 (4,857 reviews)
- Categories: Seafood
- Address: 1810 North Highland Ave Tampa, FL 33602
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Tampa, Florida: Ulele
- Rating: 4.2 / 5 (4,857 reviews)
- Categories: Seafood
- Address: 1810 North Highland Ave Tampa, FL 33602
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Atlanta, Georgia: Wrecking Bar Brewpub
- Rating: 4.2 / 5 (821 reviews)
- Categories: New American
- Address: 292 Moreland Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30307
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Honolulu, Hawaii: Off The Wall Craft Beer & Wine
- Rating: 4.2 / 5 (573 reviews)
- Categories: Burgers
- Address: 1170 Auahi St Ste 140 Honolulu, HI 96814
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Boise, Idaho: Sids Garage
- Rating: 4.2 / 5 (429 reviews)
- Categories: Breweries
- Address: 3525 E Longwing Ln Ste 180 Meridian, ID 83646
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Chicago, Illinois: The Perch
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (582 reviews)
- Categories: New American
- Address: 1932 W Division Chicago, IL 60622
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Indianapolis, Indiana: Half Liter Beer & BBQ Hall
- Rating: 4.3 / 5 (654 reviews)
- Categories: Barbeque
- Address: 5301 Winthrop Ave Ste 2 Indianapolis, IN 46220
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Louisville, Kentucky: New Albanian Brewing Company Pizzeria and Public House
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (350 reviews)
- Categories: Pubs
- Address: 3312 Plaza Dr New Albany, IN 47150
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New Orleans, Louisiana: NOLA Brewing
- Rating: 4.2 / 5 (458 reviews)
- Categories: Pizza
- Address: 3033 Tchoupitoulas St New Orleans, LA 70115
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Boston, Massachusetts: Winter Hill Brewing
- Rating: 4.3 / 5 (199 reviews)
- Categories: Cafes
- Address: 328 Broadway Somerville, MA 02145
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Baltimore, Maryland: The Millworks
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (1,401 reviews)
- Categories: Art Galleries
- Address: 340 Verbeke St Harrisburg, PA 17102
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Portland, Maine: Cushnoc Brewing
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (264 reviews)
- Categories: Pizza
- Address: 243 Water St Augusta, ME 04330
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Detroit, Michigan: Batch Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (518 reviews)
- Categories: Brewpubs
- Address: 1400 Porter St Detroit, MI 48216
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Minneapolis, Minnesota: Namaste India Grill & Brewhouse
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (257 reviews)
- Categories: Breweries
- Address: 3673 Lexington Ave N Ste L Arden Hills, MN 55126
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Kansas City, Missouri: Boulevard Brewing Tours & Rec Center
- Rating: 4.7 / 5 (266 reviews)
- Categories: Beer Gardens
- Address: 2534 Madison Ave Kansas City, MO 64108
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St. Louis, Missouri: The Schlafly Tap Room
- Rating: 4.1 / 5 (792 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 2100 Locust St Saint Louis, MO 63103
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Omaha, Nebraska: Vis Major Brewing Co.
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (132 reviews)
- Categories: Gastropubs
- Address: 3501 Center St Omaha, NE 68105
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Charlotte, North Carolina: Brewers At 4001 Yancey
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (726 reviews)
- Categories: New American
- Address: 4001-A Yancey Rd Charlotte, NC 28217
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Raleigh, North Carolina: Fullsteam
- Rating: 4.3 / 5 (515 reviews)
- Categories: Beer Gardens
- Address: 726 Rigsbee Ave Durham, NC 27701
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Albuquerque, New Mexico: Nexus Brewery and Restaurant
- Rating: 4.2 / 5 (1,249 reviews)
- Categories: Southern
- Address: 4730 Pan American E Fwy NE Ste D Albuquerque, NM 87109
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Las Vegas, Nevada: Las Vegas Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (516 reviews)
- Categories: Sports Bars
- Address: 3101 N Tenaya Way Las Vegas, NV 89128
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Buffalo, New York: Big Ditch Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.2 / 5 (881 reviews)
- Categories: Brewpubs
- Address: 55 E Huron St Buffalo, NY 14203
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New York City, New York: Bar Hygge
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (528 reviews)
- Categories: Brewpubs
- Address: 1720 Fairmount Ave Philadelphia, PA 19130
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Cincinnati, Ohio: Nine Giant Brewing
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (399 reviews)
- Categories: American
- Address: 6095 Montgomery Rd Cincinnati, OH 45213
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Cleveland, Ohio: Noble Beast Brewing
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (533 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 1470 Lakeside Ave E Cleveland, OH 44114
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Columbus, Ohio: Wolf's Ridge Brewing
- Rating: 4.2 / 5 (1,159 reviews)
- Categories: Venues & Event Spaces
- Address: 215 N 4th St Columbus, OH 43215
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Portland, Oregon: Barrel Mountain Brewing
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (631 reviews)
- Categories: Beer Gardens
- Address: 607 E Main St Battle Ground, WA 98604
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Bar Hygge
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (528 reviews)
- Categories: Brewpubs
- Address: 1720 Fairmount Ave Philadelphia, PA 19130
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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Spoonwood Brewing
- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (497 reviews)
- Categories: American
- Address: 5981 Baptist Rd Pittsburgh, PA 15236
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Providence, Rhode Island: Offshore Ale
- Rating: 4.1 / 5 (522 reviews)
- Categories: Bars
- Address: 30 Kennebec Ave Oak Bluffs, MA 02557
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Charleston, South Carolina: Frothy Beard Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (389 reviews)
- Categories: Pizza
- Address: 1401 Sam Rittenberg Blvd Charleston, SC 29407
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Memphis, Tennessee: By the brewery
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (64 reviews)
- Categories: Breweries
- Address: 496 Tennessee St Memphis, TN 38103
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Nashville, Tennessee: TennFold Brewing
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (462 reviews)
- Categories: Cocktail Bars
- Address: 2408 Lebanon Pike Nashville, TN 37214
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Austin, Texas: Pinthouse Pizza
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (1,074 reviews)
- Categories: Brewpubs
- Address: 4236 S Lamar Blvd Austin, TX 78704
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Dallas, Texas: Union Bear Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (1,125 reviews)
- Categories: Brewpubs
- Address: 5880 State Hwy 121 Ste 101 Plano, TX 75024
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Houston, Texas: Karbach Brewing
- Rating: 4.2 / 5 (1,012 reviews)
- Categories: Pizza
- Address: 2032 Karbach St Houston, TX 77092
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San Antonio, Texas: Cibolo Creek Brewing
- Rating: 4.3 / 5 (557 reviews)
- Categories: American
- Address: 448 S Main St Boerne, TX 78006
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Salt Lake City, Utah: Bohemian Brewery
- Rating: 4.2 / 5 (1,276 reviews)
- Categories: Czech
- Address: 94 E Fort Union Blvd 7200 S Midvale, UT 84047
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Richmond, Virginia: Wharf Hill Brewing
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (293 reviews)
- Categories: Breweries
- Address: 25 Main St Smithfield, VA 23430
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Seattle, Washington: Resonate Brewery + Pizzeria
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (517 reviews)
- Categories: Beer Bar
- Address: 5606 119th Ave SE Ste A Bellevue, WA 98006
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Milwaukee, Wisconsin: The Explorium Brewpub Greendale
- Rating: 3.8 / 5 (410 reviews)
- Categories: Salad
- Address: 5300 S 76th St Unit 1450a Greendale, WI 53129
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Note: This content was created with the assistance of AI tools and has been thoroughly reviewed, fact-checked, and edited by 麻豆原创's editorial team to ensure accuracy, reliability, and alignment with our editorial standards.
This story features data reporting by Rob Powell and was adapted from a 麻豆原创 article originally written by Rory Moulton and Abby Monteil.
