6 Craft Breweries With Award-Winning Beers

Edited by Ezvid Wiki Editorial on 26 January 2020

The days when your friends would be satisfied with a case of whatever's cheap are long gone. Now your contact list is filled with beer snobs, so if you're organizing an outing or preparing for a party, you need to be prepared. These craft breweries are here to help, putting knowledge and passion into every batch as they revolutionize modern alcohol consumption. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.

6 Craft Breweries Generating Serious Buzz

Name Location
Duck-Rabbit Brewery Farmville, NC
Westerham Brewery Company Westerham, Kent, UK
Lonerider Brewing Company Raleigh, NC
Throwback Brewery North Hampton, NH
Peticolas Brewing Company Dallas, TX
Due South Brewing Company Boynton Beach, FL

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In Depth

The worldwide landscape of beer production has been transformed by the explosive rise of craft breweries. Often featuring unconventional styles, bold flavors, and strong drinks, these independent creators tend to approach brewing as an art as well as a business. In no particular order, we present six small breweries offering distinctive and highly acclaimed beers.

Leading off at #1 is the Duck-Rabbit Brewery, located in Farmville, North Carolina. Driven by the vision of its founder and head brewer, Paul Philippon, this craft operation specializes in dark beers, distinguishing themselves in a market where these styles are less well represented. Their flagship offering and best seller is their award-winning Milk Stout, a sweet and creamy brew featuring lactose sugar and highly-roasted malt.

Guests at Duck-Rabbit can sample a varied selection of their brews in the taproom, as well as touring their facilities to see the crafting process. The company has been recognized as a tourism partner by the Greenville-Pitt County Convention and Visitors Bureau; they have also received numerous awards for their creations, like their Gold Medal finish at the North Carolina Brewers' Cup for the Duck-Rabbator Dopplebock. Dedicated fans can check out their website for merchandise, news, and blog posts.

The company has been recognized as a tourism partner by the Greenville-Pitt County Convention and Visitors Bureau; they have also received numerous awards for their creations, like their Gold Medal finish at the North Carolina Brewers' Cup for the Duck-Rabbator Dopplebock.

Next on the list, #2, is the Westerham Brewery Company, proudly restoring a historic tradition of brewing in the town they call home. They strive to source their ingredients locally, from hops grown by Kent farmers to yeast strains inherited from the old Black Eagle Brewery, using them to produce a wide variety of acclaimed craft beers. They've been recognized with an impressive array of honors, like their 2019 gold placement at the SIBA Independent Beer Awards, for the Wally Winker's Death by Chocolate stout.

In addition to carrying on the tradition of beer in Westerham, the Brewery Company has helped revive the historic Carpenters Arms pub. They also serve drafts at The Royal Oak, another local establishment, and in their on-site Tap Room. Visitors can schedule a tour of the brewing area, or stop by for events like monthly open evenings and musical performances. And those especially interested in the craft can take part in the Brewer for a Day experience and get a hands-on feel for the process.

Next in the order at #3 is the Lonerider Brewing Company, based in Raleigh, North Carolina with a mission to create excellent beer from quality ingredients. With the tagline "Ales for Outlaws", and a distinctive Wild West theme, they've position themselves as creators of brews for connoisseurs of bold flavors and unconventional tastes. Their selection includes a number of award-winning offerings, like the Cowboy in Black I.P.A., which earned a gold medal in the 2018 U.S. Open Beer Championship.

Their selection includes a number of award-winning offerings, like the Cowboy in Black I.P.A., which earned a gold medal in the 2018 U.S. Open Beer Championship.

The Lonerider operation has grown to include a distillery producing craft whiskeys, like the bourbon they age inside casks that previously held their Russian Nitro Stout, Deadwood. The brewery has two taprooms, called hideouts, in Raleigh and Wake Forest, both open to visitors and available for private events. The company believes in giving back to the community, and has raised hundreds of thousands for various charitable causes. Fans of their outlaw style can buy branded merchandise online.

In the #4 slot is Throwback Brewery, a small brew house, farm, and restaurant, inspired by a vision of high-quality food and drink sourced and crafted locally. With a commitment to sustainability, they are pursuing the goal of brewing their beers entirely from ingredients grown in and around the New England area. Aiming for creations with a distinctive regional character, they use malt from Massachusetts and hops from Maine - as well as growing some of their own. The menu at their eatery is likewise derived from local farm products.

Throwback has received many accolades for their creations, such as the 2019 Reader's Choice Awards for Best Brew Pub and Best Local Brewery, from Taste of the Seacoast Magazine. The farm itself also serves as a space for community gatherings, hosting fun events like arm wrestling competitions or the ShakesBEERience play reading program, as well as offering a venue for private parties and tours of their operation. They even offer a beer delivery option in the form of a restored and converted vintage milk truck.

Throwback has received many accolades for their creations, such as the 2019 Reader's Choice Awards for Best Brew Pub and Best Local Brewery, from Taste of the Seacoast Magazine.

Our #5 is the Peticolas Brewing Company, the first-ever craft brewery located in Dallas, Texas. Its founder, a former attorney, fought for changes to the city's municipal codes to be able to open up shop, and the company has continued to advocate against restrictions on small brewers. With a logo inspired by Peticolas' love of soccer and modeled after the crests of Football Clubs, this hub for local culture defines itself by the passions of the team behind it.

Peticolas Brewing has won numerous local and national awards, including recognition as 2018's Grand National Champion at the U.S. Open Beer Championship. Their taproom offers brewery tours, ping pong, and a wide selection of drafts; it also hosts a runner's club and community events like game nights, soccer viewing parties, and even classic car shows. They have a number of spaces available to rent for private functions, and their store sells apparel and other gifts for those who connect with their signature style.

We'll wrap up our list with #6, the Due South Brewing Company, a veteran-owned operation based in Boynton Beach, Florida. They got their start in 2012 serving a small selection of beers in their in-house taproom, and have since developed an extensive catalog supplying outlets throughout the region. Visitors to the brewery can taste their signature flavors, play games, and see the brewing process up close. Due South also has an online store for fans looking to show their love.

Due South also has an online store for fans looking to show their love.

Each year the Due South Brewing Company hosts Trench Day, a festival celebrating the release of their award-winning Mariana Trench Imperial Stout, a dark brew flavored with vanilla and cocoa. Guests can enjoy unlimited samples for three hours, while viewing and exploring the facilities. Another specialty release, the Land, Sea, and Air amber ale, was created to raise money for the Wounded Veterans Relief Fund. Those interested in news and events from the company can find it on their Brewer's Blog.