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National Craft Beer Week runs May 16th to the 22nd, and Yelp has has compiled a list of what they say are the best “small and independent” breweries in every state. Independent brewers are defined as those that have less than 25% of their breweries owned or controlled by anyone other than themselves. There are over 9,000 craft breweries in the U.S. so this list is just a small sample of the really great ones.
In Rhode Island, Pawtucket's Crooked Current Brewery made the list, and is one of my personal favorites. Brew Master Nichole Pelletier comes up with some amazing and unique brews. In Massachusetts, Yelp says that Sam Adams is the best craft brewery. I know most of us think of Sam as a big brand these days, but apparently they still fit the "craft brewery" description.
Here’s a sample of Yelp's picks, as published by Vinepair:
- Alabama (Birmingham) - Good People Brewing
- Alaska (Juneau) - Devil's Club Brewing
- California (San Diego) - Home Brewing
- Connecticut (Salem) - Fox Farm Brewing
- Florida (Islamorada) - Florida Keys Brewing
- Georgia (Roswell) - Variant Brewing
- Illinois (Chicago) - Begyle Brewing
- Louisiana (New Orleans) - Bywater Brew Pub
- Maryland (Hyattsville) - Streetcar 82 Brewing
- Michigan (Marquette) - On Dock Brewing Co.
- Missouri (Kansas City) - Rochester Brewing & Roasting Co.
- Nevada (Reno) - IMBIB Custom Brews
- New Jersey (Merchantville) - Eclipse Brewing
- New York (Brooklyn) - TALEA Beer
- North Carolina (Fairview) - Whistle Hop Brewing Co.
- Ohio (Cleveland) - Noble Beast Brewing
- Oregon (Bend) - Boneyard Beer
- Pennsylvania (Braddock) - Brewgentlemen
- South Carolina (Johns Island) - Low Tide Brewing
- South Dakota (Sioux Falls) - Remedy Brewing
- Tennessee (Nashville) - Southern Grist Brewing
- Texas (San Antonio) - Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling
- Utah (Salt Lake City) - Kiitos Brewing
- Vermont (Stowe) - The Alchemist Brewery
- Virginia (Stafford) - Barely Naked Brewing Co.
- Washington, D.C. - Other Half Brewing D.C.
- West Virginia (Bruceton Mills) - Screech Owl Brewing
- Wisconsin (Milwaukee) - Venture Brew
- Wyoming (Ten Sleep) - Ten Sleep Brewing Company
Source: Vinepair
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