It’s official: There are a s**t ton of breweries in america. And what amazes us is that yearly this quantity continues to develop. Regardless of a worldwide pandemic. Regardless of a possible recession. And regardless of numerous continued challenges and ongoing provide chain points.
In truth, the Brewers Affiliation just lately reported that the {industry} reached new heights in 2021, climbing to 9,118 craft breweries. (And in case you embrace all 1,886 microbreweries, 3,307 brewpubs, 3,702 taproom breweries, and 223 regional craft breweries, the quantity truly jumps as much as 9,247.)
Final yr, 646 breweries threw open their doorways for the primary time. And whereas that quantity did technically decline from 2020, it’s nonetheless a fairly spectacular mark. We don’t have any precise stats but on what number of beer-soaked spots opened in 2022, however we’re going to hypothesize it’s across the similar.
Which is why we’re right here. Since you most likely can’t presumably go to all 600+ locations. That will be insane, proper? That will be like hitting up two breweries a day, which we suppose isn’t not possible. #2023goals
Actually, this is among the most fun elements of our job: discovering and exploring new breweries and types pushing the boundaries of the {industry} ahead.
So beneath you’ll discover a checklist of the highest new breweries we (and also you) found in 2022. For essentially the most half, these are locations that opened a taproom for the primary time or began a brand new model prior to now twelve months (however like we are likely to do, you’ll discover a couple on right here from the waning weeks of 2021).
To get a consultant checklist, we referred to as on of us throughout the Subsequent Glass workforce from totally different backgrounds and geographies. And this yr for the primary time, we put out a name on Instagram asking all of you to share your favorites!
To that finish, we’ve offered the perfect newly opened craft breweries in no explicit order aside from Fox Story Fermentation, which popped up repeatedly on IG as a solution to each your favourite breweries of the yr and favourite new breweries of the yr.
In fact, any “greatest” checklist is open to interpretation, so take these picks with a grain of salt. However with out additional ado: Listed here are our picks for the perfect new breweries of 2022.
The Greatest New Breweries of 2022
Fox Story Fermentation Challenge
San Jose, CA
Submitted by: You all through Instagram!
And Kyle Roderick, Govt Vice President of Product, Subsequent Glass…
And Grace Weitz, Managing Editor, Hop Tradition
After two of us on the workforce plus a bunch of followers on Instagram needed to call Fox Story Fermentation Challenge the perfect new brewery of the yr, the choice appeared straightforward.
Kyle Roderick
Fox Story has grow to be one in every of my favourite locations to cease on my journeys via The Bay Space this yr. You would possibly by no means guess that one of the vital inventive new breweries within the area was nestled tightly into the again of this unassuming little store. Their fridge is all the time stocked with totally different condiments, kimchis, michelada mixes, and different fascinating fermented choices that clearly encourage the unbelievable beers, combined drinks, and non-alc cocktails.This can be a robust one, however my favourite beer was both Zombie Military: Collab with Hella Coastal or Poetic Reminiscence: Collab with Yeast of Eden.
Grace Weitz
After seeing the identify Fox Story Fermentation pop up repeatedly as a solution to the query we put out on Instagram, “What Is Your Favourite Brewery of the 12 months?” I did what all good journalists do these days.
I Googled them.
Think about my shock after I found Fox Story Fermentation had arrange store in San Jose, a mere forty-five-minute drive from me. So I reached out to co-founders Wendy Neff and Felipe Bravo.
Spend any period of time speaking with each, and also you’ll be magically transported down a rabbit gap.
Right here’s only a style of what I imply: At Fox Story, Bravo has been magically whipping up beers with elements like sweet cap mushrooms, lacto-fermented lemons, or pawpaws.
For instance, a brand new mild rice-based beer referred to as Head Area contains these aforementioned lacto-fermented lemons, inexperienced tea, and domestically foraged leaves from a Ginkgo Biloba tree within the neighborhood. “You will have tartness from the lemon rind, fruity aromatics from the jasmine inexperienced tea, and herbalism from the Gingko Biloba,” says Bravo, who says that is his favourite beer he’s made this yr. “We’re attempting to make use of all these elements to create one thing particular.”
In the meantime within the kitchen, Neff oversees the fermented meals. Leveraging her background main the Superfoods program at Fb Headquarters, she creates dishes that engender exploration and nourishment. “I would like individuals to stroll away having tried one thing they’ve by no means tried earlier than and find out about one thing they’d have by no means eaten earlier than.”
For instance, an avocado toast. Ubiquitous proper? Not at Fox Story Fermentation. One thing you suppose you’ve seen in each type transforms underneath Neff’s wizardry.
Firebrand sourdough will get topped with California avocado: One will get pickled beets, Guindilla peppers and sage cream. Whereas the opposite contains cultured seed and a fermented ratatouille “chopenade.”
“It’s simply one in every of my favourite issues I’ve ever made,” says Neff, who takes tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, peppers, and basil from a Portuguese and Spanish household farm and ferments all of them collectively. “It turns into this very cool, colourful, wealthy, flavorful unfold,” she says. “These are flavors everybody is aware of however in a manner they’ve by no means had.”
And we haven’t even talked about the mocktail program. I’ve by no means seen somebody go to such lengths to make a non-alcoholic drink.
Neff’s course of for one drink usually contains making a fermented syrup, making a fermented tea, and including a whimsical rim with elements like toasted coconut sugar.
The most well-liked, in line with Neff, is a fermented strawberry lemon verbena syrup combined with butterfly pea flower rose hips and violet. It comes with a rim of lemon paste and sugar infused with rose hibiscus and damiana, an herb generally known as a strong aphrodisiac. Neff calls it her “love potion.”
“It’s a deep darkish purple base that’s glowing with a brilliant lovely sizzling pink syrup,” says Neff. “It’s so refreshing and decadent on the similar time.”
However that’s simply the ethos at Fox Story.
They wish to create an inclusive house that helps native elements via beer, meals, kombucha, mocktails, and extra, the place everybody from the neighborhood can come and be part of their magical world.
Fox Story Fermentation isn’t simply breaking the foundations, they’re fermenting them. As Neff says, “The enjoyable half is deciding no matter guidelines had been made earlier than, we now have no obligation to comply with them and we are able to create our personal new manner of doing issues.”
Good Line Beer Co.
Lubbock, TX
Submitted by: John Gross, Director, Strategic Enterprise Improvement, Subsequent Glass
Rising from the sacred, dusty, excessive plains of Lubbock, TX (residence to songwriting legends Terry Allen and Buddy Holly), comes a brand new hero: Good Line Beer Co.
Began by two of the founders of the Austin Beer Information, Chris Troutman and Shawn Phillips, who arrange store in Lubbock, the brewery has invented a mode of brewing dubbed “Mud Coast.”
Their Austin entry to among the best lager minds of our technology, together with avid observe taking and follow, follow, follow, have culminated in a real-deal brewery of their very own.
Their county was dry up till twelve years in the past with only one brewpub in the entire panhandle space, so it’s a comparatively younger market. The drinkers in Lubbock are usually not jaded or pretentious and as an alternative exude pure enthusiasm for what Good Line is doing.
“Good Line” is a reference to good traces in songs, films, literature, and so on… Books, information, movies—these items matter. (Ask Excessive Fidelty’s Rob Gordon.) These traces encourage every of the beers. For instance, “Disaster Waitress Berliner Weisse,” “Dry The Rain Moist Hop Pale Ale,” “Vary Life Pilsner,” and so on.
Good Line supplies the neighborhood a brand new place in a historic constructing to congregate to drink the freshest beer doable. No kitchen, no canning line, simply neighborhood and Mud Coast freshies made by legit music and beer followers.
Rave on, y’all.
Cohesion Brewing Firm
Denver, CO
Submitted by: Grace Weitz, Managing Editor, Hop Tradition
Right here’s what I’ve to say about Cohesion Brewing, and this could say all of it to you: I haven’t even bodily been to the brewery but and I’m including it to this checklist.
Why?
As a result of quite a few of us I’ve run into—from Monday Night time Brewmaster Peter Kiley to Midway Crooks Beer Founder Shawn Bainbridge—have superb issues to say about Cohesion Co-Founder Eric Larkin.
I really remorse that I didn’t have an opportunity to cease by Cohesion whereas consuming and consuming my manner via Denver in the course of the Nice American Beer Competition.
However I did have an opportunity to satisfy Larkin and listen to him speak about his philosophy in the direction of Czech beer at a panel in the course of the Georgia Brewers Guild Annual Symposium.
So for all these causes: I’m offered.
“Bringing individuals collectively over beer” is the purpose at Cohesion, which opened in August of 2021. And personally, I really like how that begins with a deep dive on Czech lagers.
With a pedigree that took him from Zero Gravity to Allagash to Odd13 Brewing, Larkin truly first made a reputation for himself by bringing his hazy IPA information to Colorado.
However a visit to the Czech Republic on his honeymoon along with his spouse Lisa Larkin modified all the pieces. Now the Larkins deliver Czech beer to Denver.
And I’m a hundred percent right here for it.
Look on the faucet checklist and also you’ll discover all varieties of Czech types together with pale lager, half darkish lager and particular darkish beer.
Plus, you’ll get an schooling in several Czech-style pours from the Hladinka, which roughly interprets to “excellent pour” with a thick head of froth, to the Mlíko, which interprets to “milk” and is actually only a straight up mug of froth.
Don’t make the identical mistake I did. Should you’re in Denver, go right here instantly, get educated, and drink improbable Czech beer.
Right here At the moment Brewery & Kitchen
Seattle, WA
Submitted by: John Gross, Director, Strategic Enterprise Improvement, Subsequent Glass
After years of planning and the entire many stresses that include opening doorways, Right here At the moment is lastly contributing in a significant approach to the already sturdy beer scene of Seattle.
It’s difficult to deliver one thing new to a celebration like Seattle, however with beer, design, and the house itself, Right here At the moment has pulled it off with flying hyper-colors.
Co-owners Dave Riddile, Chris Elford, and Mario Cortes have captured what it means to drink unbelievable and progressive beers whereas sitting within an early ‘90s Trapper Keeper.
I’m right here for it.
Vivid colours, impressed branding, and obsessive particulars make this house a standout.
“Mall Wave No-Coast IPA” and “Lily Mexi-Saison” on the draft wall assist the place pop like a hologram. What’s a “Mexi-Saison,” you ask? “Lily”, is called for Mario’s grandmother and is brewed with a heavy dose of corn and masa harina together with piloncillo sugar. This nod to his household and heritage makes a really scrumptious beer all of the extra compelling.
The identical laser-attention goes for the no-frills/big-thrills meals program, which sprinkles Southwest aptitude to the Pacific Northwest (learn: queso).
Neon lights, grecian busts, and TRON bleeps and bloops, oh my! Vaporwave isn’t lifeless, it’s simply having fun with some sizzling canines and sessionable pilsners over at Right here At the moment.
Root + Department Brewing
Copiague, NY
Submitted by: You all through Instagram!
We’ve been followers of Root + Department since 2018 after we shared a pint with Root + Department Head Brewer and Co-Proprietor Anthony Sorice. However for the final 4 years Sorice and co-owner Ryan Mauban have been gypsy brewing in all places from Twelve % Beer Challenge in Connecticut to, most just lately, Nice South Bay Brewing in Bay Shore. All whereas on the lookout for a everlasting residence.
The dream got here true this previous June when Root + Department threw open its doorways to a ravishing 4,000-sq-ft house underneath the Copiague Lengthy Island RailRoad Station in Copiague, NY. It’s a build-out that began two years in the past however confronted a number of delays because of the pandemic.
Now the 10bbl brewhouse and twelve to 14 faucets will showcase Sorice and Mauban’s wonderful hazies and hoppy pale ales.
“It’s not possible to have a dialog about elite producers of vastly flavorful opaque ales with out mentioning Root + Department,” says Larry Koestler, who helped us put collectively our checklist of the “5 Beneath-the-Radar Breweries with the Greatest Hazy IPAs, Based on the Specialists.” “They spherical out my private prime three favourite breweries and have lengthy established themselves as a premier producer of beers that meticulously elicit extraordinary hop character.”
Though Koestler did level out that Root + Department may not be technically thought-about under-the-radar anymore. We’d need to say that’s fairly correct, contemplating a number of of you posted their praises on Instagram. “@rootandbranchbrewing Superb beers, lovely taproom, nice employees!,” wrote @phineasphrogbeer.
With each launch from Sorice and Mauban, the brewery appears to boost the bar, particularly because the opening of their new taproom in Copiague, NY.
For instance, The Crystal Spirit, a hazy DIPA with oats and wheat, dry hopped with a mix of American hops. Or Straight to Hell, a hazy 9.5% ABV TIPA.
Koestler suspects they’re on the “cusp of changing into much more extensively recognized and appreciated.”
We are able to’t wait to observe and see that occur.
Weird Brewing
Seattle, WA
Submitted by: Libby Borchert, Account Govt – Brewery Options
I used to work with Weird Brewing Co-Founders Derek Brown and Collette Boilini at Fremont Brewing virtually a decade in the past. Again then Derek, who made some imply homebrew, all the time talked about his dream of opening a brewery. A few years later these beer nerds and love birds lastly made that dream come true! Their first beer hit the Seattle market just lately with a killer kölsch referred to as Tv Individuals. Maintain a watch out for this up-and-coming brewery and expertise!
All over the place Beer Co.
Orange, CA
Submitted by: You all through Instagram!
When 4 former The Bruery staff get the keys to Gunwhale Ales’ previous manufacturing facility and open up a brewery, you’re taking discover.
Jermey Grinkey, Daniel Muñoz, Stefan Weber, and Keith Pumilia have a collective forty years of working in alcohol drinks, together with beer and wine.
They usually deliver all that wealth of data to their very own spot referred to as All over the place Beer Co., which opened in August 2022 in Orange, CA.
Right here you’ll discover beers like Irresistible, a German pilsner with German pilsner malt and Hallertau Mittelfrüh hops. Or Bygones, a West Coast pale ale with premium pilsner malt and Mosaic, Simcoe, and Warrior hops.
“@everywherebeerco Nice beers, superior vibes and good employees 🍻,” wrote @ingriduhhh
Past the beer, what’s spectacular about All over the place Beer Co. is that these 4 white dudes are dedicated to creating an inclusive secure house for the passionate craft beer neighborhood.
@_craftandarts writes, “Oh yeah, was gonna identify @everywherebeerco too…enjoyable, open, & welcoming vibe, with stellar employees, & a extremely drinkable & inventive beer checklist—crushing it & solely 2 months previous 🍻🎨🤙”
Oh, and ask for kölsch service. Don’t ask us, simply belief us and go ask them. Go to the bar and do what we are saying.
Mahalo Aleworks
Makawao, HI
Submitted by: Kyle Roderick, Govt Vice President of Product, Subsequent Glass
Opening in late (September) 2021, Mahalo Aleworks was one of many highlights of my journey to Maui final yr. They’re positioned in a tiny procuring heart adjoining to the weekly farmers market and sandwiched between a stunning sundown vista and a newly opened Neapolitan pizza spot. They deal with Maui’s hyper-local, seasonal fruit and elements as the bottom for a variety of sours, wild ales, and different foeder-aged beers.
Favourite Beer: English Brown Ale.
Inside Voice Brewing
Decatur, GA
Submitted by: Grace Weitz, Managing Editor, Hop Tradition
We’ve been listening to rumblings about this Decatur, GA-based brewery a mere five-minute stroll from Brick Retailer Pub, one in every of our favourite bars within the nation and a should cease in case you’re visiting Atlanta.
In truth, Inside Voice Brewing Co-Founders Rhett Caseman and Josh Johnson can usually be discovered imbibing inside.
The 2 met whereas working at Monday Night time Brewing and have gone on to work at choose spots round Georgia, together with Variant Brewing and Midway Crooks Beer.
Since September 2021, the duo have been brewing beer their manner, which implies principally draft beers served unfiltered from horizontal tanks with bag liners. Together with cans of beers like Koru, a pale ale dry hopped with Nelson Sauvin and Motueka. Or Tasty City, a pale lager.
And once more…self-service kölsch service.
Is that this German custom changing into a pattern?
Oh, and you may get slices from Glide Pizza out of a takeout window.
Take heed to your internal voice…and get to Inside Voice.
Honorable Mentions
The next are already-established breweries we love that opened up a second (or fourth or seventh) location this yr!
Weathered Souls Brewing Co.
Charlotte, NC
After 5 years of racking up accolades (together with Hop Tradition’s personal “Greatest Brewery of 2020” award), Weathered Souls Brewing Co-Founder Marcus Baskerville introduced final yr that the brewery can be opening up a brand new location in Charlotte in 2022. He additionally introduced the creation of the Harriet Baskerville Incubation Program (HBIP), an initiative designed to supply alternatives within the beer {industry} for minorities and girls.
The ten,000-sq-ft facility, which incorporates twenty faucets, a espresso bar, cocktails, and full-service kitchen, opened on November 12, 2022.
At present, Weathered Souls is the one black-owned brewery within the metropolis.
“Charlotte has a tremendous craft beer scene rising proper now, and it’s rising,” says Baskerville. “There are a ton of breweries there and it has a very totally different kind of scene than what we now have in San Antonio.”
Large ups to this revolutionary brewery to proceed to develop and ship out waves of change within the {industry}.
Different Half Brewing Co. – Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA
The Different Half growth practice retains on chugging alongside. When their Philly spot opened in February 2022, it grew to become the award-winning brewery’s seventh taproom and first Pennsylvania outpost.
And it’s a doozy.
Positioned in Philadelphia’s Fishtown, this 150-seat spot has an unlimited out of doors beer backyard, two traces of twenty draft beers, a group of native canned cocktails, and a full kitchen.
When Different Half Co-Founder Andrew Burman joined us for an episode of our YouTube journey present Subsequent Exit, he advised us, “That’s it for proper now and I’m comfortable about that.”
However we’ll see!
Human Robotic
Philadelphia, PA
By some means in a crowded metropolis and beer scene like that in Philadelphia, Human Robotic manages to face out from the pack.
And that’s saying quite a bit. Particularly as a result of the whole native {industry} appears to really feel the identical manner about Human Robotic.
“Philadelphia and the encompassing 4 counties are residence to ninety breweries, however there’s one I maintain listening to about repeatedly, particularly from {industry} individuals,” says Hop Tradition Founder Kenny Gould. “And once you hear a few brewery from different individuals who work within the beer {industry}, it’s often fairly good—that brewery is Human Robotic.”
And whereas the unique Philly location opened in 2020, Human Robotic just lately reduce the ribbon on a brand new house in Jenkintown.
With a heavy deal with European lagers because of its 3-vessel German brewhouse, Human Robotic contains old-world touches throughout the taproom, however with a up to date method. To that finish, you’ll additionally discover loopy hazies and enjoyable stouts.
“We oddly attempt to push the boundaries of traditions,” says Human Robotic Head Brewer Andrew Foss in Subsequent Exit: Philadelphia. “If we had been a bagel store, we’d be attempting to make the perfect rattling plain bagel you’ve ever had in your life.”
However fortunate for us, on this case meaning Foss showcasing Weyermann malts, among the greatest on the earth, in beers like Hallertau Pils German-style pilsner, or Sylt, a Northern German-style pils.
That is an industry-respected and industry-vetted brewery. So once you hear about them opening a brand new spot, you need to most likely test it out.
Burial Beer Co.
Charlotte, NC
Charlotte is seemingly the place it’s at this yr. Among the best breweries in Asheville, Burial took their hoppy ales, lagers, pastry stouts, and barrel-aged sours (and long-winded beer names) to Charlotte.
Referred to as The Home of Relics, this location (truly the brewery’s fourth) arrange store in Charlotte’s historic Plaza Midwood neighborhood.
Sit down within the indoor lounge with classic vibes and twenty-four faucets, get away to the secluded out of doors beer backyard, be seen on the rooftop deck, or purchase beer to go within the bottle store downstairs.
And whereas beer is actually a spotlight right here, you’ll additionally discover pure wine and cider from Burial’s sister undertaking, VISUALS.
Homage Brewing
Los Angeles, CA
Even when Homage technically arrange store in Pomona, CA, we thought-about it one in every of our “7 Greatest Breweries in Los Angeles.” Nicely, after the brewery we love for its ingenious experimental barrel-aged beers, saisons, and lagers opened a location in L.A.’s Chinatown within the later half of 2021, we are able to actually name it among the finest in Los Angeles now.
On a current journey to Southern California, Hop Tradition Managing Editor Grace Weitz had an opportunity to cease by, sampling Darkish Fantasy, a schwarzbier she named one of many prime craft lagers to drink proper now.
Past the beers, the house shines, actually. Half inside and half outdoors, pure mild streams into the brewery, pouring over impeccably dressed Los Angelites sipping on hoppy and malty ales.
Bonus: Take a one-minute stroll down the road and also you’ll discover Highland Park Brewery.
And lastly, keep watch over these breweries which have plans to open up new areas in 2023: Finback Brewery, Monday Night time Brewing, Elsewhere Brewing, and Cellarmaker.
