9 American Craft Breweries For Beer Connoisseurs

9 Producers of Quality American Beer

Name	Location
Geary Brewing Company	Portland, ME
Alesong Brewing & Blending	Eugene, OR
Stormcloud Brewing Company	Frankfort, MI
Stoup Brewing	Seattle, WA
Dock Street Brewery	Philadelphia, PA
Cape May Brewing Company	Cape May, NJ
Dorchester Brewing Company	Boston, MA
Caboose Brewing	Vienna & Fairfax, VA
Hill Farmstead Brewery	Greensboro Bend, VT

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In Depth

Beer is one of the oldest beverages known to mankind, though American beers haven't always had the best reputation. In recent years, however, that has begun to change, as people in the United States have started to favor small producers for their unique flavors and attention to detail. In no particular order, here is a list of craft breweries to check out if you're a sucker for a great ale or lager.

At #1 on our list, Geary Brewing Company is located in Portland, Maine, and boasts a rich history. Incorporated in 1983, it is New England's first post-prohibition era craft brewery. Geary Brewing offers a variety of specialties including IPAs, porters, ales, lagers, sours, bourbon barrel aged beer, and Maine's first craft gluten-removed beer.

This innovative brewery started a movement when it poured its flagship pale ale in the winter of 1986. Since then, Geary Brewing Company has developed an extensive line of heritage beers brewed in open fermentation. In the tasting room, guests can sample a variety of beers from the menu. Interested visitors are welcome to take a tour of the historic brew house, and purchase whichever brews spark their interest.

Since then, Geary Brewing Company has developed an extensive line of heritage beers brewed in open fermentation.

Up next at #2, Alesong Brewing & Blending, which is located in the Willamette Valley region of Oregon, takes a patient and artistic approach to brewing. 100% of Alesong's beer is matured in barrels and then consciously blended to create a complex and unique beverage. Drawing inspiration from like-minded artisans across the globe, this brewery's goal is to create beers that are innovative and idiosyncratic, yet approachable and balanced.

Alesong was founded in 2015 by brothers Brian and Doug Coombs, along with veteran brewer Matt Van Wyk, with the goal to create something a little different in the Pacific Northwest. The wild beers are fermented and matured in retired French oak wine barrels, and then consciously blended and infused with fresh fruits and herbs to add further depth.

Moving onto #3, Stormcloud Brewing Company opened June 2013 in the harbor town of Frankfort, Michigan. Tucked between the soaring sand dunes and stormy shores of northern Lake Michigan, Stormcloud specializes in brewing Belgian-inspired ales. For those who are interested, a trip on scenic highway M-22 will bring visitors to the brewery's taproom for a sampling of its handcrafted beer.

For those who are interested, a trip on scenic highway M-22 will bring visitors to the brewery's taproom for a sampling of its handcrafted beer.

Here, guests can take a tour of the brewery, complete with an overview of the brewing process and guided tastings. All participants get to take home a signature Stormcloud tasting glass or sticker. Interested beer enthusiasts who cannot make the trip to Frankfort to visit the taproom can find Stormcloud's beers in cans or on tap in stores and at restaurants all over Michigan.

Next up, at #4, Stoup Brewing is a purveyor of award-winning beers served in a thoughtful, communal space. This brewhouse is a cornerstone of Seattle's burgeoning Ballard Brewery District. Opened in 2013 by husband and wife team Brad Benson and Lara Zahaba together with Robyn Schumacher, Stoup is a lifelong dream realized by three friends who love all things food and drink.

This company's commitment to the art and science of beer is reflected in the dedication to craftsmanship and homage paid to brewing traditions refined over centuries as well as new, innovative techniques. Stoup focuses on creating high quality beer that is served in a welcoming place where people can come together, and build community.

Stoup focuses on creating high quality beer that is served in a welcoming place where people can come together, and build community.

At #5, Dock Street Brewery is a family-owned operation located in Philadelphia. In 1985, Rosemarie Certo and Jeffrey Ware founded what would be one of the first post-prohibition craft breweries in the country and Pennsylvania's first all-grain brew pub. Dock Street practices their craft in a 110-year-old converted firehouse at the corner of 50th and Baltimore Avenue in West Philadelphia.

The Dock Street tasting lounge is adjacent to the firehouse brewery. Here, a variety of beers are on tap and rotated often. Several of the drafts come straight from the conditioning tanks next door, making the offerings quite literally some of the freshest beers available. The beverages pair well with Dock Street's famous hand-tossed, wood fired pizzas or the many vegetarian and vegan friendly options available at the brew pub.

Onwards to #6, Cape May Brewing Company started with three guys and one beer. In 2011, Ryan and Bob Krill, and their father, who is lovingly referred to as "Mop Man," brewed their first batch of Cape May I.P.A. and sold it to a local bar up the street. This is what, according to the Krills, first sparked South Jersey's craft beer revolution.

This is what, according to the Krills, first sparked South Jersey's craft beer revolution.

Crafting a variety of beers with quality ingredients, many of them locally-sourced in South Jersey, is a mandate to which this company strictly adheres. The brewery's tasting room is one of the largest and most accessible in the state, with a spacious and sunny beer garden. Guests can visit "The Brewtique" gift shop or take an interactive, self-guided tour around the brewery.

Next, at #7, Dorchester Brewing Company is a facility with a public tap room serving partner and in-house brews, cider, and wine on tap in Boston, Massachusetts. It was created by a team of local professionals in 2016 who shared a deep appreciation for craft beer. The group's goal was to satisfy the production demands of the local craft beer industry while supporting the economic development of Dorchester.

Since 2016, this company has been proud to be a part of the welcoming community of Boston. In 2020, the tap room space was expanded to include an all-season rooftop greenhouse, a game room, and a restaurant. Dorchester Brewing Company aims to continue helping other brewing partners increase their beer production while serving their local community.

Since 2016, this company has been proud to be a part of the welcoming community of Boston.

#8 on our list is Caboose Brewing, which is located in the state of Virginia. This brewery aims to provide a small-town pub atmosphere in a modern environment for locals to feel at home. Whenever possible, Caboose uses local ingredients as a way to tie the business to the community in a meaningful way. Both the Vienna and Fairfax locations serve a rotating array of beers for guests to enjoy.

The popular nitrogen-infused beers have a smooth, creamy mouthfeel. These are a good choice for people who enjoy stouts and other rich beers while IPAs are a better choice for people who prefer the earthy flavor of hops. The varied menu also features brews with sour flavors, crisp and refreshing notes, and traditional malty ales.

Last but not least, at #9, Hill Farmstead Brewery is the culmination of many years of travel, insight, experience and education. The brewery is the revival and continuation of 220 years of family heritage and hand crafted history in North Greensboro, Vermont. Founded by owner and brewer Shaun E. Hill in 2010, this brewery's dedication to elegance and simplicity has garnered esteem from both the wine and beer worlds.

The brewery is the revival and continuation of 220 years of family heritage and hand crafted history in North Greensboro, Vermont.

Guided by Hill's uncompromising vision, the brewery has become a leader and trendsetter in the brewing world while respecting the past and taking inspiration from the wine and spirit communities. Since the brewery's inception in 2010, a vast variety of beers in far-ranging styles have been produced for beer drinkers to enjoy.