2013 was the "Year of the Beer" for me and my family. I alone visited almost 100 breweries, tasted hundreds of beers maybe a thousand and with 2014 here I would like to reflect and count down my 10 favorite breweries of 2013 that I visited. I took into account the ambiance, the quality of the beer, and all around experience I had.
10. Horny Goat Brewing, Milwaukee, WI
While the beers here didnt blow me away, the waitress was great, the property is the biggest I've seen for a brewery and this place seems like party central for that community.
http://breweryinfo.blogspot.com/2013/07/horny-goat-brewery-milwaukee-wi.html
9. Great Lakes Brewing, Cleveland, OH
Been there twice this year and both times was very impressed. Always a great beer selection, very tasty food, great service and one of the best gift shops I've been to. It's also in a great part of town with 2 other breweries within 2 blocks and some great beer bars.
http://breweryinfo.blogspot.com/2013/05/great-lakes-brewery-cleveland-oh.html
8. New Holland Brewing, Holland, MI
I appreciate this brewery more now then I did in the moment. The brewery itself is beautiful in a great area of town with lots of shops and restaurants. The place is huge, food was solid, great gift shop and a huge beer list with an electronic beer menu including many different IPAs on tap. Months later I am still buying their beer when I'm in accessible cities and while none of their beers blow me away I like most of them and really appreciate their bottle art and creativity.
http://breweryinfo.blogspot.com/2013/07/new-holland-brewing-holland-mi.html
7. Ithaca Brewing, Ithaca, NY
Flower Power was always a popular beer in the family and it was nice to see the brand new facility where it is brewed. The scenery alone is worth the visit with outside seating with a hell of a view, but the great beer samplers and home grown ingredient pizza didn't hurt one bit.
http://breweryinfo.blogspot.com/2013/08/ithaca-beer-company-ithaca-ny.html
6. Troeggs Brewing, Hershey, PA
This was an impromptu visit and very glad we made it! I really like some of their beers and their brewery is gorgeous. Tons of space, the biggest gift shop I've ever seen, great tasting food and a perfect beer sampler made this random stop very memorable.
http://breweryinfo.blogspot.com/2013/05/troegs-brewery-hershey-pa.html
5. Founders Brewing, Grand Rapids, MI
Founders is a brewery in which I've tried all their beers and have yet to turn one away. Unfortunately the brewery was under construction but it didn't stop over 100 people to be there when we went. Luckily found a table, tried some beers that are exclusive to the brewery, and wow they were fantastic! On top of great service and very great beer, we just found ourselves having a great time and can't wait to go back and see the brand new facility.
http://breweryinfo.blogspot.com/2013/07/founders-brewing-company-grand-rapids-mi.html
4. Tie: Lucky Lab, Deschutes, Hopworks, Cascade, all in Portland, OR
It was tough to pick only one of these because each had something special. Lucky Lab had great ambiance and tasty beers. Deschutes has the history, good pretzels and a great beer sampler. Hopworks had fantastic food and lots of good beers to choose from. Cascade was so good we went twice and with all those sours you just can't beat it! With about 20 breweries visited in Portland they four stood out as the best.
http://breweryinfo.blogspot.com/2013/06/hopworks-urban-brewery-portland-or.html
http://breweryinfo.blogspot.com/2013/06/lucky-labrador-brewing-portland-or.html
http://breweryinfo.blogspot.com/2013/06/deschutes-brewery-portland-or.html
http://breweryinfo.blogspot.com/2013/05/cascade-brewing-barrel-house-portland-or.html
3. Wicked Weed Brewing, Asheville, NC
Very surprised by how quickly a new brewery could already knock it out of the park! Awesome ambiance, two floors of drinking with different beers offered on each floor, really good food, great service and some of their beers were just incredible. Asheville is a little far for me but if I had any reason to go back this would be it.
http://breweryinfo.blogspot.com/2013/05/wicked-weed-brewing.html
2. Three Floyds Brewing, Munster, IN
Most beer nerds know of Three Floyds and since I have recently become somewhat of a beer nerd I learned about them. After reading tons of reviews of horrible service, blasting heavy metal, and the troubles of actually finding zombie dust I was nervous. But we got there when they opened, went right to the merchant area and bought a bunch of beers (unfortunately no zombie). Sat down, ordered a few beers and had food. The service wasn't terrible, music wasn't loud but wow the beers killed it. Zombie dust, and a few others we had just were fantastic and the food was incredible also. I have continued to seek out their beer and the originality of the decor, the art work of the bottles, the food, the beer, everything makes this place so memorable and I look forward to going again some day but for now ill continue just tracking down whatever beers of theirs I can find.
http://breweryinfo.blogspot.com/2013/07/three-floyds-brewing-munster-in.html
Honorable mentions:
Oskar Blues Brewing, Brevard, NC
Great place, looking over the brewery itself is the tasting room with lots of merch, great tasting beer
and an all around great experience just very far out is the only downfall.
http://breweryinfo.blogspot.com/2013/05/osker-blues-asheville-nc.html
Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY
Just like Ithaca it had an amazing view probably even better than Ithaca. However I didn't love the beers
I did enjoy some of them. Food was good. Nice gift shop. All around worth a visit!
http://breweryinfo.blogspot.com/2013/08/brewery-ommegang-cooperstown-ny.html
And my #1 brewery of 2013 goes to....
Fat Heads Brewing, Cleveland, OH
I went to the Pittsburgh Fat Heads in 2012 but I am picking the Cleveland location since I first visited
it in 2013 and have been back 4 times. It helps we all love their IPA but each trip has brought somethin
different. I've tried 4 different IPAs they've made, had White Rajah on tap there best it's ever tasted,
had some great meals except for one the pizza was meh, and always leave with at least 1 case
and a couple of growlers. Favorite brewery to visit because its close, is always consistent and usually
has something new to offer. Plan on visiting a lot in 2014 as well.
http://breweryinfo.blogspot.com/2013/05/fat-heads-brewery-pittsburgh.html
So there you have it, my top 10. In 2014 I plan on visiting plenty more...no where near the amount I
saw this year but I can't say I'm disappointed I can't. So until next time, cheers!
