Top Microbreweries in the Northeast U.S.

I don’t think there will ever be a time when I stop loving Yuengling Lager. It’s not often that I’ll order beer other than Yuengling while I’m out and about, much to my husbands dismay. He, on the other hand, is obsessed with IPA’s, microbrews and all things beer.

Luckily, I am starting to spread my beer wings and am accepting new flavors to my palate. With my new found appreciation for beer, I thought it would be a good idea to look at some of the best microbreweries in the Northeast.

Vermont – The Alchemist Pub & Brewery

I have a friend that just took her summer vacation to Vermont to go brewpub hopping. There are too many microbreweries to count, making this an ideal vacation for the beer loving couple or group of friends.

In Vermont you’ll find The Alchemist Pub & Brewery. Converted into a brewery in 2003 from the old town post office, owners Jennifer and John Kimmich seem to be right on the money with this brewery. In addition to crafting their own beers, the Kimmich’s abide by a farm-to-table restaurant style which I am all about.

The Alchemist keeps 5 brews continually on tap but also has a wide selection of other beers including: Belgium inspired, American and hoppy style, keeping every beer drinker happy.

The Kimmich’s have achieved high reviews from doing what I wish every restaurant/brewpub would do. Care about the product they produce. By using the best ingredients they can find, The Alchemist has, in a relatively short period of time, catapulted itself into an “it” spot for beer lovers.

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Delaware – The Dogfish Head Brewery

In tiny Delaware you will come across the holy grail (in my husband’s mind) of beer. The Dogfish Head Brewery, located in Rehoboth Beach, DE. After opening in 1994, Dogfish Head was able to hone their craft and create new brews easily, since they were brewing up to 3 times a day in the beginning! With this extremely tiring workload freedom, Dogfish head has crafted some of the most interesting beers I’ve seen.

The company is very progressive and tons of fun (ummm are you hiring, Dogfish?). When you have fun and love what you do, typically a stellar product is produced. Dogfish has proven this with their large selection of awesome beers.

Be forewarned though, they are potent. I generally try to steer my husband away from their 120 minute bottle, since he can never have just 1 and 2 is definitely too many! Not all of their beers are so strong and like I said, the selection is so large that you’re sure to find one to suit your wants.

Added bonus: There is a tour where you can sample and learn all the ins and outs of Dogfish life.

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Maryland – The Brewers Art

Though small, I had to give a mention to a personal favorite, The Brewer’s Art, located in Baltimore, MD. A fine dining restaurant, Brewers Art (BA) serves up some deliciously crafted beers in addition to their tasty food.

My favorite is the Beacon ale but the huge seller is their Resurrection ale. Resurrection is so popular, many bars in Baltimore are featuring it on their beer menu and BA recently began distributing canned Resurrection to Baltimorians delight! Brewmaster Chris Cashell said of Resurrection’s creation, “During the fermentation of the first batch of this Abbey-style ale, the yeast ‘died’ and was ‘resurrected’”, by Cashell. I wish I made mistakes that resulted in fabulous goblets of beer!

BA was also named the Best Bar in America by Esquire magazine. You can’t lose with this Baltimore gem. Trust me.

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Pennsylvania – Tröegs Brewery & Victory Brewing Company

Brothers Chris and John Trogner have been brewing since 1997. Tröegs Brewery is located in Harrisburg, PA and they use a combination of traditional English brewing techniques with newer Americanized ways. Brewing nine different beers, Tröegs has really made a name for themselves, not just in Pennsylvania but up and down the Northeast coast.

The same as the rest of the breweries listed, the Trogner’s have a passion for good, high quality beer and it shines through with their brewing. I usually stick with their Pale Ale but they have a wonderfully hoppy Hopback Amber Ale and many seasonal ale’s that get you counting down the seasons.

I love when breweries give tours. Tröegs does not disappoint and offer their tour year round. If you find yourself in Harrisburg, this is a quality entertainment idea, just don’t forget to buy a couple of cases on your way out, this stuff goes fast.

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Located outside of Philadelphia, in Downingtown, PA, is the Victory Brewing Company. Trained in Germany, these brewers are not messing around.  Using imported ingredients, the quality is some of the best I’ve ever had. It really does remind me of beers I’ve had in Europe. With a team of 8 brewers, Victory strives for perfection, and I believe they have found it.

My brother-in-laws eyes have widened in delight when we’ve produced cases at Christmastime, friends talk about it as though it’s a myth. Victory beers elicit a response I have not seen before with other breweries and beers.

A gift I always give my husband during the holiday season (at home alone so no one else will take any) is the Hop Wallop. Victory describes this beer as a, “vivid, robust ale. As our annual homage to the hop harvest, expect loads of aromatic splendor and bitter beauty.” Hoppy indeed, this one is hoarded by my husband and always results in sadness when he drinks his last bottle.

Victory Brewing Company also offers a tour (yay!) and of course you’ll get to sample some fresh, delicious beer. Worth the trip? Most definitely.

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There are so many awesome breweries in the Northeast (and across the country) it was hard to decide who to feature. These are some of my favorites but I’d love to hear about your favorite breweries, perhaps I can road trip to them throughout the year! Send me your suggestions below, please.

Happy drinking, my friends!

–Rachel

(Thanks to screamingstones for the cool feature image!)

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