07-03-2025
Best New Brewery (2025) - USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Photo courtesy of Keepsake Brewery No. 10: Keepsake Brewery - Gastonia, North Carolina
Keepsake is a small family-run brewery and beer garden specializing in lagers, pils, and timely seasonals. Come for their Vesper black lager, which has the chocolate, coffee, and roasted malt character of a porter and the slenderness of a lager, or a Little Helper, a crisp and citrus-forward pale ale — every glass sold sends 5% of its price to a rotating nonprofit organization. Occasional food truck nights and dogs being allowed in the beer garden are an added plus.
Photo courtesy of Tracy Verch No. 9: Anglesea Aleworks - Wildwood, New Jersey
This homegrown brewery has some unique creations on its extensive craft menu. Their Beach Ball farm-style ale uses locally sourced beach plums and peaches, while Wah Wah Butterscotch is a strong amber ale that features a blend of oats, lactose, Belgian dark candy, and butterscotch. Anglesea Aleworks also offers a seasonal Señor Seapig, a mezcal barrel-aged ale. The tasting room doesn't serve food, but patrons are welcome to bring their own bites.
Photo courtesy of Rachel Del Sordo No. 8: Carbon Copy - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia's Carbon Copy is the area's first combined brewery and winery. Come for a pint of Gully, a juicy and citrusy IPA, or perhaps a glass of Keen, an English-style dark mild. The beer menu features seasonal brews, collaborative projects, and one-off releases in a spectrum of styles to satisfy all beer drinkers. The large industrial space is bright and welcoming, and their wood-fire pizzas complement the pours perfectly.
Photo courtesy of Swanson Studio - Sam Ortega No. 7: Brujos Brewing - Portland, Oregon
Brew master Sam Zermeño's father called him "brujito," meaning little sorcerer, while watching him making his first batches of craft beer in a kettle on their family driveway — thus, the name and legend was born. The Brujos venue lives up to its name, as it's full of gothic twists, chandeliers, cathedral arches, skulls, and black metal playing through the speakers. Besides the enchanting vibes, come for a pint of Sixes, their core West Coast IPA, or Populus, their seasonal hazy IPA.
Photo courtesy of Aliaksandr Buhayeu / iStock Via Getty Images Plus No. 6: Crooked Culture Brewing - Cumming, Georgia
Crooked Culture Brewing features a rooftop beer garden, a lounge with giant leather couches, and game tournaments to keep visitors occupied. It's a great family and dog-friendly space that offers some superb, truly unique and refreshing pours. The large venue is a fantastic spot for hosting private events, should you want to drink some of Georgia's most innovative beers at your next function.
Photo courtesy of Caius Farm Brewery No. 5: Caius Farm Brewery - Branford, Connecticut
The head brewer here, Caius Mergy, turned a derelict working farm into a farmhouse brewery, which resembles a Roman meeting hall and boasts a beer garden and a private hop yard to boot. Mergy is a graduate of both the Master Brewer Program at the Siebel Institute in Chicago and of the Doemens Academy in Munich. His pedigree shines through his tap selections. Daedalus is a Franconian-style Rotbier lager, Cleopatra is a New Zealand-style IPA, and Caesar is an 8.6% Imperial IPA.
Photo courtesy of Vine Street Brewing Co. No. 4: Vine Street Brewing Co. - Kansas City, Missouri
Vine Street is Missouri's first Black-owned brewery and a vibrant gathering place for beer enthusiasts, musicians, and community members. Founded by a trio of friends — a musician, a brewer, and an engineer — Vine Street set up shop in a 150-year-old historic limestone building in Kansas City's Vine Jazz district. There are bingo and game nights, music, even brewery tours several times a day. Try a That Box Fade Bro New England IPA, which is full of style, identity, and rebellion like the iconic hairstyle, or a Rainbow Tiger Paws Belgian-style wheat beer, with coriander, orange, and spice aromas.
Photo courtesy of Hot Plate Brewing Co. No. 3: Hot Plate Brewing Co. - Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Hot Plate Brewing Co. is named after co-founders Sarah Real and Mike Dell'Aquila, who had their gas turned off when they were first learning to brew, forcing them to continue their dream via brewing on a hot plate. Today, this inclusive 7-barrel brewhouse and taproom in downtown Pittsfield is an excellent third space, and home to stellar beers, coffee and tea, and home-baked goods. Sample their 12 beers on tap, which include porters, ales, lagers, stouts, and IPAs. If you can't choose, get a flight.
Photo courtesy of BE Productions No. 2: RAK Brewing Co - Frederick, Maryland
RAK Brewing is named for its creed, encouraging and performing Random Acts of Kindness, inspired by owner Joe Gatewood's continued support of charitable causes and community projects. Try a Piece of the Pie, a kettle-style fruited-sour with lemon puree, lemonade, and vanilla soft serve, or sample a Drunken Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, a sour-smoothie made with pineapple puree, cake batter soft serve, and cherry and rum flavoring. Food trucks call in at different times and dates, they do trivia nights, seating is cushy, and dogs are welcome on the patio, so you've got all bases covered.
