The 35 Most Popular Craft Breweries in America

Shipping its first keg in 1994, Saint Arnold claims to be the oldest craft brewery in Texas. When they launched their business, founders Brock Wagner and Kevin Bartol chose Houston, they said, because it was then the largest city in America without a microbrewery. Their range of beers includes several hoppy IPAs and lagers, such seasonal choices as a crisp Summer Pils and a hearty Imperial pumpkin stout called Pumpkinator, and a chocolate milk stout called Icon Blue.

The Alchemist began as a brew pub in the village of Waterbury. This evolved into the Alchemist Cannery, which quickly gained famed for its Heady Topper IPA. That offering is still made in Waterbury, but the brewery’s main facility, complete with visitor’s center, is now in Stowe.

Owned by two families, Wicked Weed started as a brewpub in 2012, and now produces 25 different craft beers, including West Coast-style IPAs and barrel-aged sour ales. Featured beers currently include Hop Cocoa, a porter brewed with cocoa nibs, and an IPA called Pernicious.

With brews like Wet Snout Peanut Butter Stout and Feisty Chihuahua Mexican Lager, Sleepy Dog has been devoted, over its nine-plus years of existence, to “Man’s two best friends” — i.e., beer and canines. It participates in dog adoption programs and teams with “local animal shelters and organizations to help bring beer lovers and dogs together.” Chicago’s Two Brothers Brewing Company bought Sleepy Dog in 2017, and the beer is now available in Illinois as well as Arizona.

Launched in 2016 in Chicago’s historic Printer’s Row neighborhood, this operation describes itself as “another great, quality craft beer in the Chicago landscape of ever-growing micro breweries.” Its catalogue includes a porter called Cannonball and an American blonde ale called Bookbinder.