Best Craft Beer
Russian River Brewing Company is a California-based brewery known for its innovative approach to beer styles. They produce highly sought-after beers like Pliny the Elder and Supplication, celebrated within the craft brewing community. The company specializes in both traditional and experimental brew...
Hill Farmstead’s Everett is an American Porter celebrated for its intensely rich character. The beer features a prominent dark malt backbone delivering notes of chocolate, roasted coffee, and dried fruit. It’s favored by drinkers who appreciate complex, full-bodied beers with significant depth of fl...
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company is an established California brewery renowned for its pioneering role in American craft beer. Founded in 1980, it’s notable for consistently producing high-quality beers emphasizing hop character and sustainable brewing practices. The company's Pale Ale remains a widely...
Firestone Walker Brewing Company produces a range of craft beers from its California brewery. The company’s notable expertise lies in aging beers in oak barrels, creating complex flavors and styles like their flagship Union Jack IPA and acclaimed barleywine, Parabola. They are particularly known for...
Athletic Brewing Co. has consistently led the charge in crafting exceptional non-alcoholic beers, and their Run Wild IPA is a prime example. This brew delivers a vibrant hop aroma with notes of citrus and pine, balanced by a clean malt profile. The brewing process meticulously removes alcohol while...
Firestone Walker Brewing Co. is a Californian craft brewery established in 1996. The company produces a wide range of beers, particularly celebrated for its barrel-aged ales and strong, complex styles like barleywine. It’s notable for consistently high quality and innovative brewing techniques withi...
Bissell Brothers The Substance is an India Pale Ale originating from Portland, Maine. It’s recognized for its assertive hop character and balanced bitterness, typical of New England IPAs. This beer appeals to craft beer drinkers who enjoy intensely flavored hoppy ales, particularly those seeking a t...
Allagash Brewing Company is a Maine craft brewery known primarily for its Allagash White, a highly regarded Belgian Witbier. Their beers are fermented using traditional methods resulting in complex flavors and aromas. The company’s focus on quality ingredients and brewing techniques makes their offe...
Bell’s Brewery is a Michigan-based craft brewery known for producing a wide range of classic ales and IPAs. Founded by Dave Bell in 1984, it remains family-owned and operated, utilizing time-honored brewing methods to create flavorful beers like Two Hearted IPA and Warm Hop Amber Ale. The brewery’s...
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery is an American brewery based in Delaware recognized for its experimental approach to brewing. They pioneered incorporating unusual ingredients such as fruit and spices into beers, notably their flagship 60 Minute IPA. The brewery produces a range of styles including sessio...
Deschutes Brewery is a prominent Oregon-based craft brewery known for its diverse range of beers. The company produces both classic American beer styles like IPAs and amber ales alongside inventive seasonal brews. It’s particularly favored by those seeking high-quality, small-batch options and is ap...
Barcade is a pioneering barcade chain, known for its curated selection of classic arcade games and a focus on craft beer. The atmosphere is distinctly adult-oriented, fostering a sense of community among retro gaming enthusiasts. While the game selection isn't as extensive as some larger arcades,...
Stone Brewing is a California-based craft brewery recognized for its diverse range of beers, particularly its iconic India Pale Ales. The company’s longstanding dedication to sustainable brewing practices and family-friendly atmosphere has established it as a prominent figure within the American cra...
Hop Valley has consistently delivered exceptional West Coast-style IPAs and innovative seasonal brews since its inception. Their hazy IPAs are particularly renowned for their juicy flavor profiles and aromatic complexity. A strong commitment to sustainability, including water conservation and solar...
New Belgium Brewing produces a range of Belgian-inspired beers, notably including the popular Fat Tire Amber Ale. The brewery is recognized for its long-standing commitment to sustainability practices and operates as an employee-owned company. It appeals to consumers interested in craft beer, partic...
Avery Brewing Company is a Colorado craft brewery specializing in innovative American beers. They are known for producing exceptionally strong IPAs, sessionable ales, and complex sour styles often aged in barrels. The company’s experimental approach and dedication to bold flavors appeal to beer enth...
Goose Island Beer Co. is an American craft brewery based in Chicago. The company gained prominence through flagship beers like 312 Urban Wheat and its widely recognized Bourbon County Stout. They produce a range of styles including wheat beers, stouts, and barrel-aged offerings. Goose Island appeals...
BrewDog's NA Punk IPA is a bold and flavorful take on their iconic original. Utilizing a unique process that preserves the beer's signature hoppy bitterness and citrusy aroma, this non-alcoholic version delivers a surprisingly authentic experience. While it may not be a perfect replica, it comes rem...
Bend, Oregon, is a vibrant city surrounded by the Deschutes National Forest, offering a unique blend of outdoor adventure and urban amenities. Known for its craft breweries, stunning scenery, and access to numerous trails and rivers, Bend is a popular destination for those seeking an active and rela...
Why this score?
Bend scores 8.5/10 due to its exceptional combination of outdoor adventure and urban amenities. The citys thriving craft brewery scene, coupled with access to the vast Deschutes National Forest, creates a truly unique experience. However, the high cost of living and significant seasonal crowds slightly detract from the overall experience.
Scoring methodology
Copper Kettle Brewing specializes in rich, flavorful stouts and porters, often utilizing barrel-aging techniques to create complex and nuanced flavors. Their experimental small-batch brews consistently surprise and delight. The taproom offers a cozy and intimate setting, perfect for savoring their d...
Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter is a traditional English cask ale brewed by Harvey's Brewery in Lewes, East Sussex. The brewery, which has roots dating back to the 18th century, produces this flagship beer using locally sourced ingredients, including spring water from the South Downs. It is characterize...
Richmond, Virginia, is experiencing a cultural renaissance fueled by its thriving arts scene, craft breweries, and historic architecture. Situated on the James River, the city offers ample opportunities for outdoor recreation and boasts a growing food truck culture. Its affordability and welcoming a...
Hotel Emma is a beautifully restored brewery and textile mill transformed into a unique boutique hotel in Greenville, South Carolina. The hotels industrial chic design blends seamlessly with its historic roots, offering guests a memorable experience centered around craft beer and Southern hospitalit...
Fuller's London Pride is an English premium bitter brewed by Fuller's Brewery in Chiswick, London since the 1950s. With an alcohol content of approximately 4.7% ABV, this amber ale is characterized by its balanced malt and hop profile, featuring notes of biscuit and caramel. It has become one of the...
Riverbend Brewing Company excels in traditional German-style lagers and pilsners, offering a refreshing alternative to the often-dominant IPA scene. Their commitment to classic brewing techniques and high-quality ingredients shines through in every sip. The taproom provides a welcoming, family-frien...
Woodforde's Wherry Best Bitter is a cask-conditioned ale brewed by Woodforde's Brewery, which was founded in Norfolk, England, in 1981. It is brewed in the best bitter style, a category of British beer known for moderate strength and a balance of malt character with hop bitterness. Wherry has a gold...
August Schell Brewing Company, Americas oldest family-owned brewery, operates several restaurants showcasing their exceptional beer and traditional German fare. Located primarily in Minnesota, these restaurants offer a more regional and authentic experience than some larger chains. The food is hear...
Thornbridge Lord Marples is an English India Pale Ale produced by Derbyshire's Thornbridge Brewery, known for its sweet malt and citrus hop flavors.
Adnams Southwold Bitter is a traditional English cask ale brewed by the Adnams Brewery, an independent company located in Southwold, Suffolk, founded in 1872. Classified as a session bitter, the beer is characterized by a lower alcohol by volume content, allowing for prolonged consumption without ov...
Bath Ales Gem is a British best bitter beer first brewed in 1995 by the Bath Ales brewery. It is the brewery's flagship ale, characterized by its distinctive amber color and a flavor profile that blends malt sweetness with fruity hops. With an alcohol by volume of 4.1 percent, it is widely available...
