My first book, The Great American Ale Trail, was a curated list of 425 destinations with an emphasis on great places to pack up and visit (so amazing breweries without tasting rooms of any kind were omitted). The timing was good, perhaps too good. Since the book came out in late 2011, the size of the U.S. industry has more than *doubled* and I can’t keep up anymore (who can?). As I prepare a new version for 2016, I have the unenviable task of sifting through what is quite literally a mountain of new options nationwide—breweries, beer bars, bottle shops, huge festivals I’ve never even heard of. I’m humbly looking for some help in defining the best beer spots, especially opened since 2011 (and not in the original book) that truly define craft beer now and where it’s headed. What would you add? What would you cut? I have about 100 new slots (and must cut 25-50). Let me know! Here’s the 2011 index, click “read more”. If you have suggestions, bring ’em on. I’ll be forever grateful!
Alabama
J. Clyde Hot Rock Tavern & Alehouse
Alaska
Anchorage Brewing Co.
Bear Tooth Theatre Pub & Grill
Café Amsterdam
Chair 5
Denali Brewing Co. & Twister Creek Restaurant
Glacier Brewhouse
Haines Brewing Co.
Humpy’s Great Alaskan Alehouse
Midnight Sun Brewing Co.
Silver Gulch Brewing & Bottling Co.
Snow Goose Restaurant & Sleeping Lady Brewing Co.
The Alaskan Brewing Co.
The Alaskan Hotel Bar
The Hangar on the Wharf
The Imperial Billiard & Bar
The Island Pub
Arizona
Four Peaks Brewing Co.
Papago Brewing
Tops Liquors & Taste of Tops
California
21st Amendment
Albatross Pub
Alesmith Brewing Co.
Alpine Beer Co.
Anchor Brewing Co.
Anderson Valley Brewing Co.
Ballast Point Brewing Co./Homebrew Mart
Bear Republic
Beer Revolution
Blue Palms Brewhouse
Bouchon
City Beer Store
Eagle Rock Brewery
Father’s Office
Firestone Walker Brewery
Green Flash Brewing Co.
Hamilton’s Tavern
Hopmonk Tavern
La Trappe Café
Lagunitas Taproom & Beer Sanctuary
Laurel Tavern
Magnolia Brewing Co.
Neighborhood
O’Brien’s Pub (Beer bar & eatery)
Pizza Port Solana Beach
Port Brewing Co./The Lost Abbey
Russian River Brewing Co.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Small Bar
Stone Brewing Co. & World Bistro
The Alembic Bar
The Blind Lady Alehouse/Automatic Brewing Co.
The Bruery
The Bruery Provisions
The Church Key
The Linkery
The Monk’s Kettle
The Surly Goat
The Tap Room
The Trappist
Tony’s Darts Away
Toronado
Toronado
Triple Rock Brewery & Alehouse
Verdugo Bar
Wurstküche
Zeitgeist
Colorado
Asher Brewing Co.
Aspen Brewing Co.
Avery Brewing Co.
Big Beers, Belgians & Barley Wines
Boulder Beer Co.
Breckenridge Brew & Bar-B-Q
Breckenridge Brewery & Pub
Carver Brewing Co.
Colorado Boy Pub & Brewery
Coopersmith’s
Drydock Brewing Co.
Durango Brewing Co.
Euclid Hall Bar & Kitchen
Freshcraft
Funkwerks
Grimm Brothers Brewhouse
Left Hand Brewing Co.
New Belgium Brewing Co.
Odell Brewing Co.
Oskar Blues Grill and Brew
Oskar Blues Homemade Liquids and Solids
Oskar Blues Tasty Weasel Taproom
Ouray Brewery
Pagosa Springs Brewing Co.
Ska Brewing Co.
Steamworks Brewing Co.
The Falling Rock Taphouse
The Gold Pan Saloon
The Kitchen & The Kitchen Upstairs
The Mountain Sun & The Southern Sun
The Southern Sun
The Twisted Pine
The Yak & Yeti
Upslope Brewing Co.
West End Tavern
Wild Mountain Smokehouse & Brewery
Wynkoop Brewing Co.
Connecticut
Eli Cannon’s
Prime 16 Tap House & Burgers
Delaware
Dogfish Head Brewings and Eats
Iron Hill (multiple locations)
District of Columbia
Birch & Barley/Church Key
Birreria Paradiso
Brasserie Beck
The Meridian Pint
Florida
Abbey Wine & Beer Bar
Abraxas Lounge
Cigar City Brewing
DATZ
Oldsmar Taphouse
Red Light, Red Light
Tequesta Brewing Co.
The Lodge
Georgia
Terrapin Beer Co.
The Brick Store Pub
The Distillery
The Porter Beer Bar
The Trappeze Pub
Twain’s Billiards & Tap
Young Augustine’s
Hawaii
Humpy’s Big Island Alehouse
Koko Marina Pub
Kona Pub & Brewery
Maui Brewing Co.
Maui Brewing Co.
Idaho
Grand Teton Brewing Co.
Bittercreek Alehouse
Laughing Dog Brewing
Illinois
Delilah’s
Goose Island Beer Company
Half Acre Brewing Co.
Hopleaf
Metropolitan Brewing Co.
Revolution Brewing Co.
Sheffield’s Beer and Wine Garden
The Local Option
The Map Room
The Publican
Two Brothers
Indiana
Heorot
Shallo’s
The Rathskeller
Three Floyds Brewing Company
Upland Brewing Co.
Iowa
El Bait Shop
The Royal Mile
Kentucky
Sergio’s World Beers
The Beer Trappe
Louisiana
Abita Brewing Company & Brewpub
Bayou Teche Brewing Company
Central Grocery
Columbia Street Tap Room and Grille
Cooter Brown’s Tavern
Crescent City Brewhouse
DBA New Orleans
Heiner Brau
Lüke
Nola Brewing Company
The Avenue Pub
The Barley Oak
The Bulldog
The Bulldog Midcity
The Maple Leaf
Maine
Allagash
Ebenezer’s Pub
Marshall Wharf Brewing Co./Three Tides
Novare Res Bier Café
The Great Lost Bear
The Lion’s Pride
Maryland
Alewife
Max’s Taproom
The Brewer’s Art
The Quarry House Tavern
The Wharf Rat
Massachusetts
Boston Beer Company
Deep Ellum
Doyle’s Café
Lord Hobo
Redbones
Sunset Grill & Tap
The Moan & Dove
The Publick House
Michigan
Arcadia Brewing
Ashley’s Restaurant & Pub
Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Café
Founders Brewing Company
HopCat
Jolly Pumpkin Café & Brewery
Minnesota
Surly Brewing Co.
The Happy Gnome
The Muddy Pig
Mississippi
Lazy Magnolia
The Keg & Barrell Brew Pub
Missouri
Boulevard Brewing Company
Bridge Tap House & Wine Bar
International Tap House
Little Yeoman Brewing Co.
Schlafly Bottleworks
Montana
Angry Hank’s
Bayern Brewing
Big Sky Brewing Co.
Bitter Root Brewing Co.
Blackfoot River Brewing
Blacksmith Brewing Co.
Bozeman Brewing Co.
Carter’s Brewing Co.
Flathead Lake Brewing Co.
Glacier Brewing Co.
Kettlehouse Myrtle St.
Kettlehouse North Side
Madison River Brewing Co.
Montana Aleworks
Montana Brewing Co.
Quarry Brewing Co.
Red Lodge Ales and Sam’s Tap Room & Kitchen
Tamarack Brewing and Tamarack Alehouse & Grill
The Great Northern Bar & Grill
The Great Northern Brewing Co.
& Black Star Draught House
Worden’s Market
Nebraska
Nebraska Brewing Company
Nevada
Buckbean Brewing Co.
Freakin’ Frog
New Hampshire
White Birch Brewing
Woodstock Station Inn & Brewery
New Jersey
High Point Brewing
The Copper Mine
The Ship Inn
Zeppelin Hall
New Mexico
Marble Brewing
Santa Fe Brewing Co.
Second Street Brewing Co. at Second St.
Second Street Brewing Co. at The Railyard
The Cowgirl Hall of Fame
New York
11 Madison Park
4th Avenue Pub
Against the Grain
Bar Great Harry
Barcade
Beer Table
Bierkraft
Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden
Brewery Ommegang
Brooklyn Bowl
Brooklyn Brewery
Captain Lawrence
D.B.A.
D.B.G.B.
Defiant Brewing Company
Eagle Provisions
Empire Brewing Co.
Good Beer NYC
Gowanus Yacht Club
Jimmy’s No. 43
La Birreria at Eataly NYC
Lazy Boy Saloon
Mahar’s Public House
McSorley’s Old Ale House
Mission Dolores
Pacific Standard
Pony Bar
Radegast Hall & Biergarten
Rattle ’n Hum
Rebar
Resto
Southampton Publick House
Spitzer’s Corner
Spuyten Duyvil
Studio Square Beer Garden
Sunny’s
The Blind Tiger
The Blue Monk
The Brazen Head
The Diamond
The Gate
The Ginger Man
The Gramercy Tavern
The Half King
The Spotted Pig
The Standard Hotel Biergarten
Vol Du Nuit
Whole Foods (grocery & bottle shop)
Zum Schneider
North Carolina
Barley’s Taproom & Pizzeria
Bruisin’ Ales
Fullsteam
Green Man Brewery
Growler’s Pourhouse
Highland Brewing
Jack of the Wood Public House
Lexington Avenue Brewery
Pack’s Tavern
Pisgah Brewing Company
The Bier Garden
The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery
The Raleigh Times Bar
The Thirsty Monk
Wedge Brewing Company
Ohio
Great Lakes Brewing Company
McNulty’s Bier Market
Oklahoma
James McNellie’s Public House
Oregon
10 Barrel Brewing Co.
Apex
Bailey’s Taproom
Belmont Station
Block 15 Brewery & Restaurant
Brewers Union Local 180
Bridgeport Brewing Co.
Caldera Tap House
Cascade Brewing Barrel House
Chatoe Rouge
Deschutes Brewery
Double Mountain Brewery & Taproom
Fort George Brewery & Public House
Full Sail Brewery & Tasting Room & Pub
Goose Hollow Inn
Hair of the Dog Brewing Co.
Henry’s 12th Street Tavern
Higgins Restaurant & Bar
Highland Stillhouse Pub
Hopworks Urban Brewery
Horse Brass Pub
Laurelwood Public House & Brewery
Logsdon Organic Farmhouse Ales
McMenamins Edgefield
Ninkasi Brewing Co.
Prodigal Son Brewery & Pub
Saraveza Bottle Shop & Pasty Tavern
Terminal Gravity Brewing Co.
The 5th Quadrant and Side Bar
The Bier Stein Bottleshop & Pub
The Green Dragon Bistro & Brewpub
The Victory Bar
Three Creeks Brewing Co.
Upright Brewing Co.
Widmer Gasthaus Pub
Pennsylvania
Bridgid’s
Capone’s
Dock Street Brewing Co.
Earth Bread & Brewery
Eulogy
Grace Tavern
Jose Pistola’s
Khyber Pass
Local 44
McGillin’s Olde Ale House
Memphis Taproom
Midatlantic Restaurant & Tap Room
Monks Café & Belgian Beer Emporium
Resurrection Alehouse
South Philadelphia Tap Room
Stoudt’s Brewing Co. & The Black Angus
Restaurant & Brewpub
Teresa’s Next Door
The 700 Club
The Belgian Café
The Farmhouse
The Foodery
The Grey Lodge Public House
The Standard Tap
Tria Café
Tröegs
Victory Brewing Co.
Yard’s Brewing Co.
Yuengling
South Carolina
The Community Tap
Tennessee
Yazoo Brewing Company
Texas
Draught House Pub & Brewery
Jester King Craft Brewery
Live Oak Brewing Co.
Rahr & Sons Brewing Co.
The Flying Saucer Draft Emporium
The Ginger Man
Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que
Utah
Epic Brewing Co.
Squatters Pub Brewery
The Bayou
Uinta Brewing Co.
Vermont
Forty Putney Road
Hill Farmstead
The Alchemist Pub & Brewery
The Farmhouse Tap & Grill
Virginia
Blue Mountain Brewery
Capital Alehouse
Devil’s Backbone
Rustico
The Birch
Washington
Beveridge Place Pub
Big Time Brewery & Alehouse
Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro
Brouwer’s Café
Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen
Collins Pub
Diamond Knot
Elysian Brewing Co.
Everybody’s Brewing
Hales Ales
Latona Pub
Naked City Brewery & Taphouse
Parkway Tavern
Pyramid Alehouse
Quinn’s
Red Hook Brewery & Forecasters
Public House
The North Fork Brewery, Pizzeria,
Beer Shrine & Wedding Chapel
The Pike Pub & Brewery
The Stumbling Monk
Über Tavern
Walking Man Brewing Co.
Wisconsin
New Glarus Brewing Company
The Bodega Brew Pub
The Old Fashioned
Tyranena Brewing Co.
Wyoming
Snake River Brewing Co.
CHRISTIAN DEBENEDETTI 
PubQuest would love to help out via custom maps for the book and/or stats about the most breweries per capita, number of cities with breweries or other brewery geographic trivia. Cheers!
Thanks! We won’t have maps (because everyone has a smart phone now) but some stats might be great to add. My email is christiandebenedetti@me.com. Be in touch, thanks!
Hi Christian, I know I am biased but I think fig mountain deserves to be on the list 🙂
De Garde should definitely be included in Oregon. Also to consider for Oregon, Crux, Ale Apothecary, and Pfriem would all be good additions–I would, of course, say Heater Allen, but we don’t really have a great taproom, yet–we are hoping to re-configure our taproom and be open every Saturday by 2016 and are always open by appointment (insert winking emoji here). For other states–Wicked Weed and Burial, both in Asheville, NC, are great stops for any beer lover. In Arizona, Fate Brewing Co. in Scottsdale has some delicious beers and Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in Gilbert is doing some interesting things. I know these are all additions and that might not help much . . .
There is heaven on earth, at least for an old craft beer fan…one mile from my front door. (See the March Madness tourney below.) I was Southern Tier’s first customer, back in the days when they had two tables and six bar stools. Short fills and miscaps were stacked by the door and half price. I gave them a check for $100 just before they actually opened and told them to let me know when it ran out. It sure has been a long journey, with many good brews come and gone. Unearthly is the great survivor and Hoppe is most lamented among the deceased. How did you miss this one? It is in high-end stores in PDX…even shared one with Byron Beck.
MIH
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/03/459095
Thank you Mark! Much appreciated!