The 25 Best Craft Breweries in the U.S.

Some of America's best craft breweries are descending on the Altman Building in New York City this weekend. They'll be pairing their well-crafted brews with gourmet eats at the Brewer's Association Savorevent, an opportunity for America's chefs and brewers to put their best feet forward.

As Savor creeps up on us this weekend, it has inspired us to consider the top breweries across the country. There are over two thousand breweries, big and small, crafting amazing beer in the U.S. right now.

For Jimmy Carbone owner of Jimmy's #43 and host of Beer Sessions Radio on Heritage Radio, the list of top breweries means more than just top sales or top sellers. He also takes into consideration the brewers' creativity, their full line of impressive beers and even just the beers that he's delighted to find in any restaurant, pub, or bottle shop. He shared his picks for the best 25 breweries in America with us.

Written by Clare Goggin Sivits (@beergoggins)

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Location: Seattle, Washington
Year Established: 1995
Website: elysianbrewing.com

The brewers who launched Elysian knew what great beer was. They first opened a beer hall and brewery in 1996 and over the years, their devotion to delivering great beer to the public only strengthened. That devotion just recently translated into a mister of a beer, an imperial IPA dubbed Konishiki (after a legendary sumo wrestler). It's just the latest in their line of amazing and buzz-worthy beers.

Location: Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Year Established: 1995
Website: dogfish.com

When it comes to size, Dogfish Head is number 13 in the nation. But when it comes to buzz, the brewery and its founder Sam Calagoine are probably both number one. Calagione has made a name for himself as a brewer who isn't afraid to take risks-like using corn that's been chewed and spit out before being used as a brewing ingredient. But it's his solid and reliable 60 Minute IPA, and the even more extreme 90 and 120 Minute IPAs that have made him such a success.

Location: Papillion, Nebraska
Year Established: 2007
Website: nebraskabrewingco.com

This midwestern brewery does not mess around. What started as a brewery and restaurant has grown into a sophisticated operation that produces complex reserves, like the Chardonnay French Oak Melange A Trois, a strong Belgian-style blonde with the dry and sweet characteristics of a Chardonnay. Their original beers, including the Hop God, which combines a tripel style with a west coat IPA, are also top-notch and worth hunting down.

Location: Denver, Colorado
Year Established: 1990
Website: breckbrew.com

When it opened in 1990, Breckenridge was only the third craft brewery operating in Colorado-in the shadow of Coors. Since then, many breweries have followed in their footsteps. But that hasn't slowed down the Denver brewery (named for the founder's favorite ski destination). Just this year, they created the official beer of Denver Comic Con, a limited-edition Belgian-style Witbier called "The Caped Brewsador."

Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
Year Established: 1991
Website: newbelgium.com

The third largest brewery in the country, New Belgium's Fat Tire is one of the most popular brews where it's available-and one of the most lusted after where it's not. Now that the brewers are opening a second location in North Carolina, the east coast will likely have their own Fat Tire very soon. On top of that, their Lips of Faith series, small batch brews and often collaborations with fellow breweries like Dieu du Ciel in Canada, are probably the most innovative beers in their portfolio.

Location: Brooklyn Center, Minnesota
Year Established: 1994
Website: surlybrewing.com

They're small and located in a town you've probably never heard of but Surly is growing and their aggressive canned beers deserve all the attention they get. Furious, a highly hopped American IPA, is just the start. These brewers have crafted an impressive list of beers that many die-hard beer drinkers have grown to love.

Location: Placenta, California
Year Established: 2008
Website: thebruery.com

Describing themselves as a boutique brewery, these California brewers are making beers that buck the typical brewing trend. They draw their recipes from traditional styles and then experiment with barrel aging. The unfiltered beers are incredibly flavorful, but certainly outside of the norm when it comes to what you generally see at the beer store. Creativity points: Each year, they release a new winter ale interpreting the lyrics of the Twelve Days of Christmas (next up: 6 Geese a Laying).

Location: San Diego, California
Year Established: 1996
Website: ballastpoint.com

Another top fifty brewery when it comes to sales, Ballast Point opened in 1996 and grew quickly to meet the demand for their beer. Today, the beer stocks shelves across the country with their Sculpin IPA ranking among their top sellers. And their recent collaboration with COEDO Brewery in Japan, an IPA brewed with sake rice, is giving them exposure on the other side of the world.

Location: Portland, Maine
Year Established: 1995
Website: allagash.com

Allagash White drew an audience looking for an alternative to Blue Moon, a wheat beer option by Coors that's dominated the market for too long. And while the Maine brewery's Belgian-style wheat beer is always the better option, Allagash makes many other delicious and Belgian-inspired brews. And they are even innovating with traditional Belgian brews, creating specialty and limited-release selections like the 11th Anniversary Ale, a Belgian strong ale made with Champagne yeast.

Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Year Established: 1997
Website: foundersbrewing.com

Because they make one of the most sought-after limited-release beers in the country (KBS, a bourbon-barrel aged breakfast stout), Founders has become one very buzzy brewery. The same craft that goes into KBS also goes into the brewery's other year-round and seasonal beers. Some of the best examples available include their Centennial IPA and the All-Day IPA, a sessionable (or low-alcohol) brew.

Location: Tampa, Florida
Year Established: 2008
Website: cigarcitybrewing.com

These Florida brewers are adventurous. They've certainly worked with some unique ingredients, adding local fruits like guava to the mix, and experimenting with some interesting aging processes, including their Humidor series, a collection of brews aged on Spanish cedar. By doing this, they've managed to create some incredible flavor combinations. And they're not just working with beer anymore. Over the last year, they've started producing cider and mead.

Location: Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Year Established: 1994
Website: smuttynose.com

Retro designs on the labels isn't the only thing that makes these beers a work of art. The Smuttynose beers have definitely given New Hampshire something to be proud of. Year-round options like Old Dog Brown Ale and seasonal releases like the Winter Ale have given the brewery a solid fan base but that doesn't mean they gave up on creating new and incredible brews. Their big beer series features some impressive selections that are worth seeking out.

Location: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Year Established: 1996
Website: troegs.com

Another Pennsylvania brewery with a wide range of brews, Troegs has become a favorite for their big beers, like Troegenator Double Bock. But they've continued to innovate with some amazing releases, like their recent Flying Mouflan, an American-style barleywine. And just like all great breweries, they're continuing to expand. Their limited-release Scratch beers, experimental interpretations of unique styles of beer, have become some of the most lusted-after beverages and they're going to be making more of them very soon.

Location: Downington, Pennsylvania
Year Established: 1996
Website: victorybeer.com

From their low-alcohol and sessionable Victory Prima Pils to their Belgian-style tripel Golden Monkey, Victory knows how to make a great beer. Visitors flock to their Downington location to tour the brewery and enjoy delicious food at their restaurant. But the beer is also available in several states across the country. And with their new location in Parkesburg, Pennsylvania, they'll only continue to expand.

Location: Brooklyn, New York
Year Established: 2004
Website: sixpoint.com

Brewing is a passion for these Redhook Brooklyn brewers. The care they put into crafting a beer recipe can be seen in the videos they compile for each of their beers. Their most recent reel features the Sixpoint brewers sweating over the creation of the Mad Scientists Series' Grätzer, an old-style smoked wheat beer. To bring their more popular beers, like Begali Tiger, to a wider audience, the brewery has partnered with a Pennsylvania brewery to increase their production, so we won't be surprised to see this brewery keep growing.

Location: Denver, Colorado
Year Established: 1994
Website: greatdivide.com

Representing a historic beer city (and beer state) like Denver can be tricky, but Great Divide pulls it off with an impressive lineup of brews. Their Yeti, an imperial stout, is one of their widely-loved favorites and their barrel-aged brews are even more praise-worthy. Earlier this year, they expanded their brewery, adding five 300 barrel fermentation tanks to the mix. As always, that means more beer for the rest of us!

Location: Warrenville, Illinois
Year Established: 1996
Website: twobrosbrew.com

The name of this brewery tells much of the story-it was founded by two brothers back in 1996 and they've been crafting incredible beer ever since. Even before Goose Island went corporate, Two Brothers was considered the standout small brewery in Illinois. They're only available in a handful of states now, but their reach continues to spread to new places. The beers recently returned to shelves in Pennsylvania (after a two year hiatus) and their 2013 collaboration with Aleman and Stone Brewing, DayMan Coffee IPA, gave them a chance to see the west coast.

Location: Patchogue, New York
Year Established: 1997
Website: bluepointbrewing.com

Blue Point added a brand new 90 barrel fermenter to their Long Island facility just last summer. They're continuing to craft favorites like the Blueberry Ale-the beer that likely got them on the map with many casual beer drinkers. But their loyal fans also know them for the always solid Toasted Lager and their more creative brews, like their Hoptical Illusion and their limited-release black IPA, Toxic Sludge.

Location: Cooperstown, New York
Year Established: 1997
Website: ommegang.com

This Belgian-style brewery started out as an independent American brewery but they made their Belgian-inspired beers so well, it caught the attention of Flemish brewery Duvel Moortgat. Soon the European brewer was in control and driving Ommegang as they continued crafting high-quality brews. The recent Ommegang Iron Throne, a beer brewed for HBO series Game of Thrones, introduced the brewery to an entirely new audience.

Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Year Established: 1986
Website: harpoonbrewery.com

By volume, Harpoon is the ninth largest brewery with two locations in Boston and in Windsor, Vermont. Most beer drinkers know them for their IPA and for their UFO Hefeweizen. But there's so much more to their portfolio then just a few fan favorites. They've been innovating with their barrel series brews, the Harpoon Dark in 22 ounce bottles, and several impressive seasonals released (and often reinvented) each year.

Location: Athens, Georgia
Year Established: 2002
Website: terrapinbeer.com

Started by two Georgian home brewers, Terrapin is the result of a truly innovative spirit as well as a genuine love for beer. While they're on the small side, the Athens brewery is growing-and fast. They're expansion is owed in part to buzzed-about beers like Hopsecutioner IPA and Wake 'N' Bake Coffee Oatmeal Stout, but it's how these flavorful beers consistently live up to their name that's made this brewery a household name across the east coast, and even further. They're also partnering up with breweries like Left Hand and Swiss brewer Brasserie BFM to produce notable collaborations you should aim to get your hands on.

Location: Brooklyn, New York
Year Established: 1988
Website: brooklynbrewery.com

A top 20 brewer by sales volume in the U.S. and about to open a new brewery in Europe, Brooklyn is typically known for their mass-produced Lager, Brown Ale, and a few other top-notch brews. But it's when they experiment that they really produce something special. Garrett Oliver, a James Beard Award-nominated brewer, concocts original, unique, and full-flavored brews within the Brooklyn-based brewery. Their Silver Anniversary Lager, a doppelbock version of their flagship, is a fantastic example of this.

Location: San Diego, California
Year Established: 2002
Website: greenflashbrew.com

With beer available in 35 states, not to mention Canada and Japan, this San Diego brewery has gained popularity internationally and they're still going. Next year, they'll break ground on a brand new east coast brewery location in Virginia Beach. The $20 million facility will bring the brewery's beers, including favorites like West Coast IPA and Rayon Vert, to whole new audiences across the country.

Location: Petaluma, California
Year Established: 1993
Website: lagunitas.com

Fifth largest by sales volume, the Petaluma brewery is about to undertake a $25 million expansion. And in the game of West Coast IPA vs. East Coast IPA, Lagunitas IPA is practically the definition of the former. Aggressively hopped but well rounded, it's a classic example, and the brewery continues to make instant classics with their other year-round brews and several seasonal options to boot. They're definitely one of the most well-known breweries across the country.

Location: Chico, California
Year Established: 1980
Website: sierranevada.com

One of the originals, Sierra Nevada has been brewing great beers since 1980-before the phrase "craft brewing" had even been coined. And by sales volume, they are second only to Samuel Adams. They've certainly perfected the pale ale, but they also craft many delicious seasonal and specialty brews. They are proof that creativity and talent will always result in great beers.