Best breweries in 50 major cities
For as long as we have farmed cereals like wheat, barley, and rice, we have fermented at least some of them into beer. 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 as an antibiotic. 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 more than $106 billion in 2024, and it's expected to reach nearly $123.7 billion by 2030. The number of craft breweries 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 bold, hop-forward IPAs. In the Midwest, lager-focused breweries honor the region's German roots. The South has developed a distinct beer identity, blending regional ingredients like pecans, honey, and citrus, while New England has pioneered fruit-driven styles that define modern craft brewing.
To find the best breweries in 50 major cities around the country, Stacker compiled a list using data from Yelp. 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 250a nd 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
- Read more on Yelp
Los Angeles, California: Macleod Ale Brewing
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (792 reviews)
- Categories: Pizza
- Address: 14741 Calvert St Van Nuys, CA 91411
- Read more on Yelp
Sacramento, California: Midtown BierGarten
- Rating: 4.3 / 5 (531 reviews)
- Categories: Brewpubs
- Address: 2332 K St Sacramento, CA 95816
- Read more on Yelp
San Diego, California: Akash Winery & Vineyards
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (684 reviews)
- Categories: Brewpubs
- Address: 39730 Calle Conteno Temecula, CA 92591
- Read more on Yelp
San Francisco, California: Drake's Dealership
- Rating: 4.1 / 5 (2,459 reviews)
- Categories: Pizza
- Address: 2325 Broadway Auto Row Oakland, CA 94612
- Read more on Yelp
Denver, Colorado: Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (1,796 reviews)
- Categories: Breweries
- Address: 1535 Pearl St Boulder, CO 80302
- Read more on Yelp
New Haven, Connecticut: Willimantic Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (530 reviews)
- Categories: American
- Address: 967 Main St Willimantic, CT 06226
- Read more on Yelp
Washington, D.C.: Sweetwater Tavern
- Rating: 4.1 / 5 (1,383 reviews)
- Categories: Steakhouses
- Address: 3066 Gate House Plz Falls Church, VA 22042
- Read more on Yelp
Miami, Florida: 3 Sons Brewing
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (576 reviews)
- Categories: Beer Bar
- Address: 236 N Federal Hwy Dania Beach, FL 33004
- Read more on Yelp
Orlando, Florida: Ulele
- Rating: 4.2 / 5 (4,857 reviews)
- Categories: Seafood
- Address: 1810 North Highland Ave Tampa, FL 33602
- Read more on Yelp
Tampa, Florida: Ulele
- Rating: 4.2 / 5 (4,857 reviews)
- Categories: Seafood
- Address: 1810 North Highland Ave Tampa, FL 33602
- Read more on Yelp
Atlanta, Georgia: Wrecking Bar Brewpub
- Rating: 4.2 / 5 (821 reviews)
- Categories: New American
- Address: 292 Moreland Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30307
- Read more on Yelp
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
- Read more on Yelp
Boise, Idaho: Sids Garage
- Rating: 4.2 / 5 (429 reviews)
- Categories: Breweries
- Address: 3525 E Longwing Ln Ste 180 Meridian, ID 83646
- Read more on Yelp
Chicago, Illinois: The Perch
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (582 reviews)
- Categories: New American
- Address: 1932 W Division Chicago, IL 60622
- Read more on Yelp
Indianapolis, Indiana: Half Liter Beer & BBQ Hall
- Rating: 4.3 / 5 (654 reviews)
- Categories: Barbeque
- Address: 5301 Winthrop Ave Ste 2 Indianapolis, IN 46220
- Read more on Yelp
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
- Read more on Yelp
New Orleans, Louisiana: NOLA Brewing
- Rating: 4.2 / 5 (458 reviews)
- Categories: Pizza
- Address: 3033 Tchoupitoulas St New Orleans, LA 70115
- Read more on Yelp
Boston, Massachusetts: Winter Hill Brewing
- Rating: 4.3 / 5 (199 reviews)
- Categories: Cafes
- Address: 328 Broadway Somerville, MA 02145
- Read more on Yelp
Baltimore, Maryland: The Millworks
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (1,401 reviews)
- Categories: Art Galleries
- Address: 340 Verbeke St Harrisburg, PA 17102
- Read more on Yelp
Portland, Maine: Cushnoc Brewing
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (264 reviews)
- Categories: Pizza
- Address: 243 Water St Augusta, ME 04330
- Read more on Yelp
Detroit, Michigan: Batch Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (518 reviews)
- Categories: Brewpubs
- Address: 1400 Porter St Detroit, MI 48216
- Read more on Yelp
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
- Read more on Yelp
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
- Read more on Yelp
St. Louis, Missouri: The Schlafly Tap Room
- Rating: 4.1 / 5 (792 reviews)
- Categories: Sandwiches
- Address: 2100 Locust St Saint Louis, MO 63103
- Read more on Yelp
Omaha, Nebraska: Vis Major Brewing Co.
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (132 reviews)
- Categories: Gastropubs
- Address: 3501 Center St Omaha, NE 68105
- Read more on Yelp
Charlotte, North Carolina: Brewers At 4001 Yancey
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (726 reviews)
- Categories: New American
- Address: 4001-A Yancey Rd Charlotte, NC 28217
- Read more on Yelp
Raleigh, North Carolina: Fullsteam
- Rating: 4.3 / 5 (515 reviews)
- Categories: Beer Gardens
- Address: 726 Rigsbee Ave Durham, NC 27701
- Read more on Yelp
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
- Read more on Yelp
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
- Read more on Yelp
Buffalo, New York: Big Ditch Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.2 / 5 (881 reviews)
- Categories: Brewpubs
- Address: 55 E Huron St Buffalo, NY 14203
- Read more on Yelp
New York City, New York: Bar Hygge
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (528 reviews)
- Categories: Brewpubs
- Address: 1720 Fairmount Ave Philadelphia, PA 19130
- Read more on Yelp
Cincinnati, Ohio: Nine Giant Brewing
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (399 reviews)
- Categories: American
- Address: 6095 Montgomery Rd Cincinnati, OH 45213
- Read more on Yelp
Cleveland, Ohio: Noble Beast Brewing
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (533 reviews)
- Categories: Chicken Wings
- Address: 1470 Lakeside Ave E Cleveland, OH 44114
- Read more on Yelp
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
- Read more on Yelp
Portland, Oregon: Barrel Mountain Brewing
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (631 reviews)
- Categories: Beer Gardens
- Address: 607 E Main St Battle Ground, WA 98604
- Read more on Yelp
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Bar Hygge
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (528 reviews)
- Categories: Brewpubs
- Address: 1720 Fairmount Ave Philadelphia, PA 19130
- Read more on Yelp
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Spoonwood Brewing
- Rating: 4.0 / 5 (497 reviews)
- Categories: American
- Address: 5981 Baptist Rd Pittsburgh, PA 15236
- Read more on Yelp
Providence, Rhode Island: Offshore Ale
- Rating: 4.1 / 5 (522 reviews)
- Categories: Bars
- Address: 30 Kennebec Ave Oak Bluffs, MA 02557
- Read more on Yelp
Charleston, South Carolina: Frothy Beard Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (389 reviews)
- Categories: Pizza
- Address: 1401 Sam Rittenberg Blvd Charleston, SC 29407
- Read more on Yelp
Memphis, Tennessee: By the brewery
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (64 reviews)
- Categories: Breweries
- Address: 496 Tennessee St Memphis, TN 38103
- Read more on Yelp
Nashville, Tennessee: TennFold Brewing
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 (462 reviews)
- Categories: Cocktail Bars
- Address: 2408 Lebanon Pike Nashville, TN 37214
- Read more on Yelp
Austin, Texas: Pinthouse Pizza
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (1,074 reviews)
- Categories: Brewpubs
- Address: 4236 S Lamar Blvd Austin, TX 78704
- Read more on Yelp
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
- Read more on Yelp
Houston, Texas: Karbach Brewing
- Rating: 4.2 / 5 (1,012 reviews)
- Categories: Pizza
- Address: 2032 Karbach St Houston, TX 77092
- Read more on Yelp
San Antonio, Texas: Cibolo Creek Brewing
- Rating: 4.3 / 5 (557 reviews)
- Categories: American
- Address: 448 S Main St Boerne, TX 78006
- Read more on Yelp
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
- Read more on Yelp
Richmond, Virginia: Wharf Hill Brewing
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (293 reviews)
- Categories: Breweries
- Address: 25 Main St Smithfield, VA 23430
- Read more on Yelp
Seattle, Washington: Resonate Brewery + Pizzeria
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 (517 reviews)
- Categories: Beer Bar
- Address: 5606 119th Ave SE Ste A Bellevue, WA 98006
- Read more on Yelp
Milwaukee, Wisconsin: The Explorium Brewpub Greendale
- Rating: 3.8 / 5 (410 reviews)
- Categories: Salad
- Address: 5300 S 76th St Unit 1450a Greendale, WI 53129
- Read more on Yelp
Note: This content was created with the assistance of AI tools and has been thoroughly reviewed, fact-checked, and edited by Stacker'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 Stacker article originally written by Rory Moulton and Abby Monteil.
