Highest-rated breweries in Kentucky
Cold beer, anyone? American beer drinkers have their fair share of options no matter where they might live.
Indeed, a market once dominated by a handful of major brands has become far more diverse since the craft beer scene expanded sixfold between 2008 and 2016. Independent production cooled off just a little in 2023 but still accounted for a whopping 23.4 million barrels of beer and craft beer's overall market share by volume rose to 13.3%, according to the Brewers Association. For context, in 2013, there were 3,108 craft breweries in the U.S.—and as of 2023, there are 9,761, representing a 214% increase in just a decade. Cheers to that!
Why the ongoing obsession? Putting aside the fact that people simply love their brew, beer has emerged as a wildly versatile beverage category. Craft breweries explore beer to its fullest potential and tend to rank highly as a result.
Another thing about beer is that every sip tells a story. It's first and foremost the journey of the beer's own production, namely one involving water, malted grains, botanical hops, and yeast. However, it's also a chronicling of the area in which the beer was produced since every state has its own respective history, climate, geography, and resources. Then there's the tale of the people who produced it, turning their love of carbonated alcohol into a passion project and hiring all kinds of local talent.
Combine America's love of beer with endless flavor possibilities, and you arrive at a sensational pastime and a thriving national industry. With nearly 10,000 craft breweries bubbling up across the nation, each one offers its own unique qualities, some complete with guided tours and tasting rooms (and maybe some hearty gastropub fare).
Many of the nation's highest-rated breweries are so small and independent that the only way to sample their suds is to visit them in person, while others distribute their products around the country—or even across the globe.
To find some top spots near you, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated breweries in Kentucky using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, a business with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of June 6, 2024.
Regardless of the brewery's size and scope, one thing is for sure: Now is a great time for a beer!
#27. Fusion Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (5 reviews)
- Address: 1170 Manchester St. Suite 150 Lexington, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#26. BIRCUS Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (3 reviews)
- Address: 322 Elm St. Ludlow, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#25. Mile Wide Beer Co.
- Rating: 4/5 (13 reviews)
- Address: 636 Barret Ave. Louisville, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#24. Akasha Brewery Company
- Rating: 4/5 (12 reviews)
- Address: 909 East Market St. Suite 700 Louisville, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#23. West Sixth Farm
- Rating: 5/5 (4 reviews)
- Address: 4495 Shadrick Ferry Road Frankfort, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#22. Apocalypse Brew Works
- Rating: 4.5/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 1612 Mellwood Ave. Louisville, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#21. Henderson Brewing Co.
- Rating: 5/5 (4 reviews)
- Address: 737 2nd St. Henderson, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#20. Maiden City Brewing Company
- Rating: 5/5 (6 reviews)
- Address: 123 East Pike St. Cynthiana, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#19. Dry Ground Brewing Co
- Rating: 4.5/5 (75 reviews)
- Address: 3121 Broadway St. Paducah, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#18. Falls City Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (7 reviews)
- Address: 901 East Liberty St. Louisville, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#17. Pivot Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 1400 Delaware Ave. Lexington, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#16. 3rd Turn Oldham Gardens
- Rating: 5/5 (4 reviews)
- Address: 6300 Old Lagrange Road Crestwood, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#15. Hopkinsville Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (23 reviews)
- Address: 102 East 5th St. Hopkinsville, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#14. Fly Wheel Brewing
- Rating: 5/5 (8 reviews)
- Address: 218 South Mulberry St. Elizabethtown, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#13. Wise Bird Cider
- Rating: 4.5/5 (17 reviews)
- Address: 1170 Manchester St. Suite 140 Lexington, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#12. Gravely Brewing Co
- Rating: 4.5/5 (53 reviews)
- Address: 514 Baxter Ave. Louisville, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#11. Wooden Cask Brewery Company
- Rating: 5/5 (23 reviews)
- Address: 629 York St. Newport, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#10. 3rd Turn Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (31 reviews)
- Address: 10408 Watterson Trl Louisville, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#9. Blue Stallion Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (64 reviews)
- Address: 610 West Third St. Lexington, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#8. Braxton Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (108 reviews)
- Address: 27 West 7th St. Covington, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#7. Goodwood Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (51 reviews)
- Address: 636 East Main St. Louisville, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#6. Ethereal Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (71 reviews)
- Address: 1224 Manchester St. Lexington, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#5. Country Boy Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (163 reviews)
- Address: 436 Chair Ave. Lexington, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#4. Dueling Barrels Brewery & Distillery
- Rating: 5/5 (122 reviews)
- Address: 745 Hambley Blvd. Pikeville, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#3. West Sixth Brewing
- Rating: 5/5 (288 reviews)
- Address: 501 West Sixth St. Lexington, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#2. Lexington Brewing & Distilling Co.
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1,000 reviews)
- Address: 401 Cross St. Lexington, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#1. Woodford Reserve Distillery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,042 reviews)
- Address: 7855 McCracken Pike Welcome Center Versailles, Kentucky
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jacob Osborn, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states and Washington D.C.