Top Elite Craft Breweries in Major Beer Cities for Beer Lovers

The Best Elite Craft Breweries in Top Beer Cities

Craft beer has exploded in popularity over the past few decades, with small independent breweries popping up in cities across the country. While the mega beer corporations still dominate the overall market, the rise of the craft brewing industry has allowed for immense creativity and innovation. This has led to the emergence of many outstanding elite craft breweries producing unique, high-quality beers.

For beer lovers, some cities have become meccas with their concentration of top-tier craft breweries. These elite craft breweries are not only producing great beer but have also had an instrumental impact on the culture and identity of their hometowns. They've helped establish their cities as major hubs for beer tourism and must-visit destinations for traveling beer geeks.

Here is a look at some of the very best elite craft breweries that have helped put their cities on the map when it comes to exceptional beer.

Founders Brewing Co. - Grand Rapids, MI

Grand Rapids has emerged as one of the country's top craft beer cities, and Founders Brewing Co. has been at the forefront of the city's beer renaissance. Founded in 1997, Founders has grown into one of the largest and most recognized craft breweries in the nation. They are renowned for their innovative and boldly flavored beers such as the intensely hoppy Centennial IPA and the velvety smooth Canadian Breakfast Stout.

Dogfish Head - Milton, DE

Dogfish Head is synonymous with off-centered ales and experimental beers. Sam Calagione, founder and head brewer, has pushed creative boundaries with ingredient combinations and techniques like aging beer in barrels previously used for spirits. Their 90 Minute IPA doubles the standard amount of hops, while Midas Touch Golden Ale contains saffron and muscat grapes. Dogfish Head has played a huge role in putting the small town of Milton, DE on the beer map.

New Glarus Brewing Co. - New Glarus, WI

New Glarus Brewing Company has established itself as a premier craft brewery known for capturing the essence of Wisconsin in its beers. One of their most iconic beers is the Belgian Red, made with Wisconsin cherries for a delightful fruit-infused sour brew. They also produce hop-forward beers like Moon Man No Coast Pale Ale and fruit and honey-infused farmhouse ales. New Glarus only distributes their beer in Wisconsin, but beer lovers come from all over to visit the brewery in the quaint Swiss village of New Glarus.

Russian River Brewing Co. - Santa Rosa, CA

Located in the heart of Northern California wine country, Russian River Brewing Co. has earned a sterling reputation among beer aficionados. Their cult-favorite Pliny the Elder double IPA is considered by many to be the epitome of the style. It packs a resiny hop wallop but with an underlying sweetness that balances out the bitterness. Russian River also specializes in barrel-aged sours and Belgian-inspired ales that deftly display the brewing artistry.

Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. - Decorah, IA

Toppling Goliath may be in remote northeast Iowa, but beer fanatics will travel far and wide for offerings like pseudoSue pale ale and Kentucky Brunch Brand Stout. Their small-batch brewing and obsession with quality has produced some of most sought-after beers that command high prices in the beer trading market. Toppling Goliath's destination brewery and taproom in Decorah has made the small town a bucket list pilgrimage for hardcore beer aficionados.

Hill Farmstead Brewery - Greensboro, VT

Situated in Vermont's picturesque Northeast Kingdom region, Hill Farmstead Brewery has earned widespread acclaim as one of the world's best breweries. Brewmaster Shaun Hill's mastery is on full display in beers like the citrus-driven Susan IPA and the French oak-aged Anna saison. Despite the remote location and limited hours, Hill Farmstead attracts huge crowds of loyal patrons eager for a taste of the exceptional beers.

Tree House Brewing Co. - Monson, MA

Tree House has become one of the most hyped breweries in the country on the strength of their super fresh, juice bomb IPAs like Julius and Haze. People line up early to get cans of their New England-style IPAs and pale ales. The buzz and demand around Tree House beers has turned their country brewery into a major destination for IPA enthusiasts looking to make a pilgrimage for top-tier hoppy brews.

Firestone Walker Brewing Co. - Paso Robles, CA

Located in California's Central Coast wine region, Firestone Walker has specialized in oak barrel-aged beers inspired by the area's winemaking traditions. Their flagship Double Barrel Ale undergoes a complex fermentation process using both wine barrels and bourbon barrels. The brewery also operates the Barrelworks facility to focus on wild ales and sours.

Wicked Weed Brewing - Asheville, NC

Asheville has emerged as the East Coast capital for craft beer, with Wicked Weed being one of the city's shining stars. They consistently crank out some of the most creative and tasty beers around. Their flagship Freak of Nature IPA perfectly showcases the juicy, tropical hop character that West Coast IPA lovers crave. Wicked Weed is also renowned for their sour and funky barrel-aged brews available at the Funkatorium.

Trillium Brewing Co. - Boston, MA

Trillium has been at the forefront of the New England style IPA craze emanating from the Northeast. Their hazy, juicy IPAs like Congress Street and Double Dry Hopped Fort Point are some of the most coveted around. Huge lines form outside their Boston breweries whenever a new release goes on sale. Trillium has done as much as any brewery to put Boston on the map as a premier beer destination.

This list just scratches the surface of the many world-class craft breweries across the country. As the independent beer industry continues to thrive, more cities and small towns will be defined by the presence of creative, pioneering elite craft breweries. Beer lovers have never had more amazing beer options to explore thanks to these innovative brewers pushing boundaries and excelling at their craft.

FAQs

What are some of the top beer cities in the US?

Some of the top beer cities based on the concentration of great craft breweries include Grand Rapids, MI, Asheville, NC, Portland, OR, San Diego, CA, Denver, CO, and Burlington, VT. These cities all have numerous outstanding craft breweries pushing the boundaries of beer innovation.

What makes a craft brewery considered elite?

Criteria that define an elite craft brewery include consistently producing high quality, innovative beers, making beers that display excellent mastery of styles, earning awards and critical praise, having a cult following of loyal fans, inspiring beer tourism, and driving economic growth in their local community.

What are some examples of popular beer styles from elite craft breweries?

Some beer styles that innovative elite craft breweries are known for include West Coast IPAs, New England Hazy IPAs, Imperial Stouts, Barrel-Aged Sours, Funky Saisons, and Experimental Wild Ales using unique ingredients or techniques.