Beer Breweries: 10 Best

From coast to coast the ongoing debate over the top 10 best beer breweries rages on, dependant on styles, alcohol content, recipes, and nearly every other aspect of concocting world class refreshment. Of course Anheuser-Busch and Coors are two of the most popular, but silver bullets, Clydesdales, and all the witty advertising in the world isn’t going to land any of these macro companies in the ten best. Inspired, innovative, and delicious, just the thought of each of these breweries excites the taste buds for the prospective drinking experience each time a bottle is purchased or a keg is tapped.

1. Russian River Brewing Company. If the word “Pliny” means anything to you, then you understand where we’re headed with this one. Creators of the world famous Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger, Russian River’s impressive list of current brews draw huge crowds and high prices every time a bar is lucky enough to tap one of their elusive kegs. Their list of Belgian inspired ales, such as Damnation or Salvation, is equally as amazing, and makes them the best beer breweries around.
2. Bell’s Brewery, Inc. Offering a little something for everyone, this Kalamazoo, Michigan brewery is truly innovative in its work ethic, and produces everything from fruit flavored stouts to bourbon barrel aged old ales. The fiercely popular HopSlam Ale and Expedition Stout are just two of the fine examples of craft brewing from Bell’s.    
3. Stone Brewing Company. Tucked away in Northern San Diego County, Stone continues to build a reputation as one of the most consistent quality breweries in the country. Responsible for a variety of incredible beers ranging from India Pale Ales to Russian Imperial Stouts, Stone’s maddening attention to detail has paid off huge over time.
4. Founders Brewing Company. Everything from their highly potent Double Trouble IPA to the explosively delicious Red’s Rye PA seems to be a highlight from Founders Brewing. Of course, we can’t forget the Kentucky Breakfast Stout, a painstakingly crafted beer which is aged in bourbon barrels to create a one of a kind drinking experience.
5. AleSmith Brewing Company. Nestled among many other San Diego, California craft breweries, AleSmith is responsible for one of the best American Imperial stouts available in Speedway Stout. Delicious in taste, but difficult to find, anything bearing the AleSmith emblem is worth picking up.
6. Three Floyds Brewing Company. Any brewery with a beer capable of generating so much buzz it needs its own release festival earns itself a piece of the top ten list. From their celebrated and sought after Dark Lord Stout, to the unbelievably quaffable Gumballhead Pale Ale, Three Floyds is growing larger by the day.
7. Southern Tier Brewing Company. New York brewing at its finest! Southern Tier crafts a number of excellent beers, many with high alcohol content and bold, expressive flavors. Fans of coffee, chocolate, or oatmeal stouts shouldn’t miss out on this top notch beer brewery.
8. Ballast Point Brewing Company. Yet another fantastic Southern California brewery stakes claim on the best beer brewery list, due to their incredible list of limited releases. Whether it’s Sculpin, Victory at Sea, or Tongue Buckler, Ballast Point has something to surprise any beer drinker out there.
9. Bear Republic Brewing Company. One of the best breweries in Northern California brings us memorable beers such as Racer 5, Hop Rod Rye, and Red Rocket Ale. Also offering a variety of stouts and wheat ales, there simply isn’t anything Bear Republic isn’t capable of.
10. Great Divide Brewing Company. Forget Coors, this is the real Colorado brewery to try. Known for their detailed packaging which offers food pairing suggestions and delightful descriptions of the bottle’s contents, Great Divide has all their bases covered.