In this article, we are going to discuss the 30 best craft breweries in the world. You can skip our detailed analysis of the global beer market, the rising popularity of craft beer, and the recent acquisition in the craft beer industry, and go directly to the 10 Best Craft Breweries in the World.
Breweries have become engines of economic development. They often do this by revitalizing old buildings that are no longer in use and usually in areas with cheaper real estate, all in an effort to minimize startup costs. However, this choice quickly becomes a boon for all concerned. New businesses begin to surround these newly opened establishments to help take advantage of the increased foot traffic, and in many cases, one singular brewery has been the impetus for the revival of the entire town.
READ ALSO: 15 Largest Beer Companies in the World and 20 Highest Quality Beers in the US.
Global Beer Market:
If your idea of relaxing at the end of the day involves cracking open a cold one, you’re not alone. Beer is the Most Consumed Alcohol in the World. As we mentioned in our article – Top 20 Beer Brands in the World – the global beer market is projected to grow from $821.39 billion in 2023 to $1.07 trillion by 2030, with a CAGR of 3.88% during the forecast period. The overall demand for premium and low-calorie beers, the rising popularity of craft brews, and the expansion of distribution networks in emerging markets are expected to continue driving growth in the global beer market over the next few years.
The Rising Popularity of Craft Beer:
The United States is the country that produces the most craft beer in the world. According to the latest figures from the Brewers Association, there were 9,761 craft breweries, brewpubs, and taprooms in the US in 2023, up by over 103% since 2015. Meanwhile, retail dollar sales of craft beer increased by 3% to reach $28.9 billion, and now account for 24.7% of the $117 billion overall American beer market. The primary reasons for this increase were an uptick in prices and the slightly stronger onsite sales growth versus distribution.
The principle strength of craft brewing lies in its vast array of beer innovations to reflect the shift of today’s consumers, as it offers its customers ‘something different’ from what they’re normally used to. Craft lovers are willing to pay a little more for beer that holds more taste, flavor, variety, and alcohol. The quality ingredients and delicious tastes that craft brews offer are not usually found in their mass-produced counterparts. Moreover, drinking craft is also a way to support your local businesses.
Recent Acquisition in the Craft Beer Industry:
The acquisitions of craft brands have slowed in the past five years since several large corporations have found little success in sales, but some industry players continue to stay optimistic. It was announced in August that Tilray Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:TLRY), one of the Largest Publicly-Traded Liquor Companies in the US, has agreed to acquire four breweries from Molson Coors, thus expanding its portfolio to a total of 20 craft beer makers. The deal will help Tilray grow its distribution network and its share in crucial markets like the Pacific Northwest, while also supporting the long-term goals of Molson Coors, according to the company.
Tilray Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:TLRY) has a highly diversified global portfolio – operating in more than 20 countries across North America, Europe, Australia, and Latin America, with businesses in medical adult-use cannabis, beverages, spirits, wellness products, and 44 consumer-connected lifestyle brands.
The craft beer and cannabis company, that was among the first to be licensed for medical marijuana in Canada, announced last year that it had agreed to acquire eight beer and beverage brands from Anheuser-Busch InBev for an undisclosed amount. As a result, Tilray is now the 5th largest craft beer business in the U.S. with a 4.5% market share, but this is expected to grow after the recent acquisition. The company has also diversified into spirits and earlier this year, its Breckenridge Distillery celebrated the wins of World’s Best Finished Bourbon, America’s Best Finished Bourbon, and Icons of Whisky Campaign Innovator of the Year: Highly Commended at the 2024 World Whiskies Awards.
The core business of Tilray Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:TLRY) is cannabis and it boasts the number one market share in Canada, as well as the leading cannabis market share by revenue in Germany. The company has lately been very active in acquiring other industry players to expand its presence and the strategy seems to be paying off. For example, its acquisition of Redecan in June 2023 has helped it gain a strong footing in categories like pre-rolls, oils, and capsules. As a result, Tilray is now the No. 1 player in the straight-edge pre-rolled category with a 46% market share, as well as a top player in the oils and capsules category combined with a 21.5% market share in the adult-use business in Canada. Another major development that could significantly benefit Tilray is the easing of federal restrictions on cannabis in the U.S.
Tilray Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:TLRY) is also included in our list of the Best Alcohol Stocks To Own According to Hedge Funds.
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With that said, here are the Best Craft Breweries Around the Globe.
A closeup shot of a beer tap pouring a golden lager.
Methodology:
To collect data for this article, we have referred to the RateBeer Best Awards, looking for the Top Craft Breweries in the World. RateBeer Best for the year 2020 (the latest year for which the awards were announced) examined more than 715,000 beers from over 35,000 brewers around the world and gave their highly coveted medallions to the best in the business.
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30. Bell’s Brewing Co.
Country: United States
Bell’s has been creating unique and inspired craft beer in Michigan since 1985. The brewery was acquired by Kirin-owned Lion World Beverages for an undisclosed amount in 2021, bringing it into the same portfolio as fellow craft pioneer New Belgium Brewing Co.
29. Browar PINTA
Country: Poland
As the pioneer of Poland’s craft beer revolution, PINTA has been making waves in the country’s rapidly evolving craft brewing scene since 2011. The craft-maker produces ales, lagers, sahti, and sour beers and was declared the Best Brewery in Poland in 2021.
28. Cycle Brewing
Country: United States
A powerhouse of craft excellence, Cycle Brewing is one of the Best Breweries on Untappd, with over half a million glowing reviews. The Florida-based brewer specializes in barrel-aged beers and its selection ranges from hoppy IPAs to rich stouts and everything in between.
27. Modern Times Beer
Country: United States
Modern Times brewed its first batch in May 2013 and since then, has expanded to include a robust and ever-growing barrel program, coffee roastery, and tasting room locations. The California-based brewer’s Monster Tones is an outlandishly delicious brew that is also ranked among the Highest-Rated Beers in America.
26. Fuller’s
Country: England
This London-based beermaker is popular for its unique premium pub and hotel experiences with award-winning ales, craft lagers & ciders, and chef-led kitchens. Fuller’s was acquired by Asahi Europe in 2019 and continues to brew its iconic beers at the Griffin Brewery in Chiswick.
25. Hoppin’ Frog Brewery
Country: United States
Established in 2006, this artisanal brewery from Ohio makes very delicious beers in the most flavorful styles. Fred Karm, the owner and brewmaster of Hoppin’ Frog, is renowned for having designed and produced 26 award-winning beers at the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup.
24. Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!
Country: Canada
First established in Montreal in 1998, Dieu du Ciel! is on a mission to continuously experiment, evolve, and create bold, exciting beers. Their product line includes a wide range of pale ales, stouts, sours, and seasonal specialties.
23. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Country: United States
When he finally started a brewery, Ken Grossman scoured salvage yards and dairies to find the tanks, pipes, and valves he needed to hand-build Sierra Nevada’s original brewhouse. He put his first batch of craft beer to the test in 1980 and the Pale Ale that followed sparked a true craft beer revolution. Still 100% family-owned and operated, Sierra Nevada is among the Largest Craft Breweries in America and boasts an annual revenue of over $320 million, turning its owner into a beer billionaire.
22. Brouwerij de Molen
Country: Netherlands
Founded in 2004 by Menno Olivier, Brouwerij de Molen has grown over the last two decades to become one of the Most Respected Craft Breweries in the World. The Bodegraven-based beermaker is now under the complete ownership of Swinkels Family Brewers, the Dutch giant formerly known as Bavaria.
One of the Best Breweries to Visit in the Netherlands, de Molen offers top-quality beers and great food, and that too at reasonable prices.
21. Stone Brewing
Country: United States
Stone Brewing was founded by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner in 1996 in San Marcos, California. Their mission was to create flavorful, amazing beers and provide an alternative choice for those who were unsatisfied with the industrialized beers dominating the market at the time. The brewery was acquired by Sapporo in 2023, in a deal worth $165 million.
20. Mikkeller
Country: Denmark
Mikkeller is a world-renowned Danish craft brewery founded by school teacher Mikkel Borg Bjergsø in 2006. The brewer has achieved massive success over the years and now boasts a network of over 250 bars and restaurants across 37 countries around the world.
19. de Garde Brewing
Country: United States
Located on the coast of Oregon, this 100% family-owned brewery employs European farmhouse traditions and specializes in a variety of wild beers. Nectarine Premiere, one of de Garde’s highest acclaimed offerings, is a wild farmhouse ale aged in oak wine barrels with nectarines.
18. Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Country: United States
An innovative Californian beer company with three state-of-the-art brewing facilities, Firestone Walker was named the World Beer Cup Champion Brewery in 2004, 2006, 2010, and 2012. The company merged with Duvel Moortgat USA in 2015, in a deal worth an estimated $250 million.
17. Surly Brewing Co.
Country: United States
The Minnesota-based Surly Brewing Co. has been a proudly independent craft brewery since its foundation in 2005. The beermaker has made special strides in the NA space and its Rosé Lager has also been included among the Top Low Carb Craft Beer Brands in the US.
16. The Bruery
Country: United States
Opened in 2008, this boutique craft brewery from California specializes in barrel-aged and experimental ales. With a strong commitment to experimentation and innovation, The Bruery takes its inspiration from the culinary world, traditional beer styles, natural ingredients, vineyards, and even junk food.
15. Toppling Goliath Brewing Co.
Country: United States
Easily one of the Best Craft Breweries in the US, the Iowa-based Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. was a runaway success and is world-renowned for its IPA and barrel-aged beers.
Rated not only as the Best Craft Beer in America but also the Top No.1 Beer in the World by BeerAdvocate and RateBeer, Toppling Goliath’s Kentucky Brunch Brand Stout is chocolate chip pancakes drenched with maple syrup, served with espresso and a shot of bourbon, all in one sip.
14. New Glarus Brewing Company
Country: United States
In 1992, Deb Carey raised the capital for a craft brewery startup as a gift to her husband Daniel Carey, establishing herself as the first woman to found and operate a brewery in the US. The Careys then converted an abandoned warehouse into the New Glarus Brewing Company’s original Riverside Brewery. The first barrels rolled out in November 1993 – the fastest microbrewery startup ever. New Glarus uses 100% natural ingredients to produce world-class, hand-crafted beers.
13. Cigar City Brewing
Country: United States
Founded by Joey Redner in 2009, this Tampa-based award-winning brewery’s ales bring to mind the sun and citrus for which Florida is known while taking cues from the cigar industry upon which Tampa was built. Cigar City is now owned by Monster after it acquired the CANarchy craft beer collective in 2022 in a cash deal worth $330 million.
12. The Kernel Brewery
Country: England
One of the most respected beermakers in London, The Kernel Brewery produces a variety of pale ales, dark ales, lagers, and mixed fermentation beers. The brewery produces 3,000 liters of top-quality beer a day, five days a week.
11. Sante Adairius Rustic Ales
Country: United States
A brewery founded on respect for quality and authenticity, Sante Adairius Rustic Ales is focused on producing well-constructed beers with an eye toward simplicity and character. Although it is highly inspired by the Belgian tradition, SARA often produces barrel-aged beers, with Westly being a great example.
10. The Lost Abbey
Country: United States
One of the Top 10 Craft Breweries in the World, The Lost Abbey is especially known for its barrel-aged Belgian-style ales and its unforgettable bottle artwork. Released in very small quantities only once every three years, The Lost Abbey’s Duck Duck Gooze is a blend of young and old barrel-aged brews and has been one of the most sought-after beers year after year since its introduction in 2009.
9. AleSmith Brewing Co.
Country: United States
The San Diego-based AleSmith artisanal brewery specializes in handcrafted ales inspired by the European classics. The brewery occupies a 109,942 sq ft state-of-the-art facility and its offerings are distributed in 28 US states and 8 countries.
8. Cloudwater Brew Co
Country: England
Cloudwater operates with the singular goal of enhancing your relaxation and enjoyment with the highest quality modern beers they can create. The independent craft brewery produces a variety of ever-evolving seasonal offerings and has the honor of being the Best Craft Brewery in Europe, according to RateBeer.
7. Founders Brewing Co.
Country: United States
Since its inception in 1997, Founders has grown to become one of the Most Popular Breweries in America. The Michigan-based brewery is now officially under the ownership of the Madrid-based Mahou Group.
6. 3 Floyds Brewing
Country: United States
Founded in 1996, the 3 Floyds brewery is known for making some of the Best Craft Beers in America and for commissioning artists to design bizarre labels for their brews. The brand also officially ventured into distilling in 2019 and since then, has accumulated over 65 accolades for its selection of whiskeys and gins, as well as newly created premium canned cocktails.
5. Tree House Brewing Co.
Country: United States
Tree House accounts for a staggering 24 of the 200 top-ranked beers in the world on Beer Advocate and considering the sheer number of breweries around the globe, it is crazy to believe that so many highly regarded beers could be made by a single establishment. It’s easy to understand why the Charlton-based beermaker is one of the Highest-Rated Craft Breweries in the World.
4. Trillium Brewing Co.
Country: United States
A New England farmhouse-inspired brewery in the Fort Point Channel neighborhood of Boston, rooted in community and shared experiences. Trillium produces hundreds of unique offerings each year, with the Headroom New England IPA being especially popular among its admirers.
3. Russian River Brewing Co.
Country: United States
Easily one of the Most Famous Breweries in the US, the Russian River Brewing Company was established in 1997 by Korbel Champagne Cellars among the majestic redwoods in West Sonoma County. After 6 years, Korbel decided to get out of the beer business and agreed to transfer the brand and all recipes to their head brewer, Vinnie Cilurzo.
2. Side Project Brewing
Country: United States
Founded in 2013 as a dream and a side project, this St. Louis-based brewery focuses on rustic saisons, fruited wild ales, bourbon barrel-aged stouts, and more. Side Project had never offered a food menu in its 10 years of business but that has now changed after the craft maker recently partnered with Adam Altnether to launch a menu at the brewery at 7458 Manchester Road.
1. Hill Farmstead Brewery
Country: United States
Established in 2010 by Shaun Hill, this award-winning craft brewery represents the revival and continuation of 220 years of Hill heritage and hand-crafted history in North Greensboro, Vermont. Thanks to its determined endeavor toward elegance, sophistication, and tasteful simplicity, Hill Farmstead has received international acclaim for its brews across various styles, most notably the American Pale Ales, IPAs, Porters, and Saisons.
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Disclosure: None. 30 Best Craft Breweries in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey.
