Craft breweries are opening in record numbers in the United States – a whopping 861 of them in 2016 alone. USA TODAY 10Best wants to find the best new breweries in the country, ones founded in the past three years, so we asked a panel of beer experts to nominate their favorites. For the last four weeks, USA TODAY 10Best readers have been voting daily for their favorites from a pool of 20 nominees, and the results are in.
The top 10 winners in the category Best New Brewery are as follows:
- Bond Brothers Beer Company - Cary, N.C.
- Scofflaw Brewing Company - Atlanta
- Brew Gentlemen - Braddock, Penn.
- Cruz Blanca - Chicago
- Dovetail Brewery - Chicago
- Narrow Gauge Brewing Company - Florissant, Mo.
- The Answer Brewpub - Richmond, Va.
- Fieldwork Brewing Company - Berkeley, Calif.
- The Veil Brewing Co. - Richmond, Va.
- Great Notion Brewing - Portland, Ore.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to picked the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Jack Muldowney (The Hop Review) and Ale Sharpton (AleSharpton.com) were chosen based on their knowledge and experience in the American beer industry.
Congratulations to all our winning breweries!
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The Experts
Jack Muldowney
Jack Muldowney is co-founder of The Hop Review and... Read More
Jack Muldowney is co-founder of The Hop Review and founder of Chicago-based design and illustration studio, Malt. Since 2012, he's been fortunate enough to sit down with some of beer's biggest personalities, as well as travel the U.S. and the globe to capture the industry's best stories. He's also hosted several events, including the annual fresh beer festival "Ultra Fresh", and is a two-time SAVEUR "Best Beer Coverage" nominee. Through his travels, Jack appreciates the varying perspectives of an industry that's always adapting, and enjoys sharing pints with beer enthusiasts of all types.
Jack Muldowney

Jack Muldowney is co-founder of The Hop Review and founder of Chicago-based design and illustration studio, Malt. Since 2012, he's been fortunate enough to sit down with some of beer's biggest personalities, as well as travel the U.S. and the globe to capture the industry's best stories. He's also hosted several events, including the annual fresh beer festival "Ultra Fresh", and is a two-time SAVEUR "Best Beer Coverage" nominee. Through his travels, Jack appreciates the varying perspectives of an industry that's always adapting, and enjoys sharing pints with beer enthusiasts of all types.
Dennis Malcolm "Ale" Sharpton
Dennis Malcolm Byron aka Ale Sharpton is a... Read More
Dennis Malcolm Byron aka Ale Sharpton is a world-renowned beer authority, award-winning journalist, blogger (AleSharpton.com), photographer, event planner, host, copywriter and creative director for numerous projects. While passionately traveling the globe to cover everything from automobiles, to culinary scenes, celebrity profiles, sports, hotel destinations, art and what he terms “the world’s best beverage,” Ale has contributed to more than 30 magazines and websites combined. His current media outlets include Craft Beer & Brewing, CraftBeer.com, Thrillist.com, USA TODAY, Lifestyle Publishing, City Lifestyle, Atlanta Magazine and others. Along with being featured in various publications, on the web, radio, podcasts, television and ongoing Cruisin’ For A Brewsin’ video series, Ale utilizes his Cornell University School of Hotel Administration education and vast work experience to consult in the culinary industry as well. Forbes, Smithsonian Institution, UNTAPPD and numerous others have showcased Ale’s accomplishments. Although a native New Yorker, Ale proudly calls Atlanta, Georgia his home. Follow Ale’s globetrotting adventures on Twitter (@alesharpton) and captivating Instagram (@realalesharpton).
Dennis Malcolm "Ale" Sharpton

Dennis Malcolm Byron aka Ale Sharpton is a world-renowned beer authority, award-winning journalist, blogger (AleSharpton.com), photographer, event planner, host, copywriter and creative director for numerous projects. While passionately traveling the globe to cover everything from automobiles, to culinary scenes, celebrity profiles, sports, hotel destinations, art and what he terms “the world’s best beverage,” Ale has contributed to more than 30 magazines and websites combined. His current media outlets include Craft Beer & Brewing, CraftBeer.com, Thrillist.com, USA TODAY, Lifestyle Publishing, City Lifestyle, Atlanta Magazine and others. Along with being featured in various publications, on the web, radio, podcasts, television and ongoing Cruisin’ For A Brewsin’ video series, Ale utilizes his Cornell University School of Hotel Administration education and vast work experience to consult in the culinary industry as well. Forbes, Smithsonian Institution, UNTAPPD and numerous others have showcased Ale’s accomplishments. Although a native New Yorker, Ale proudly calls Atlanta, Georgia his home. Follow Ale’s globetrotting adventures on Twitter (@alesharpton) and captivating Instagram (@realalesharpton).
Lydia Schrandt
10Best Photo Editor and Readers' Choice Production... Read More
10Best Photo Editor and Readers' Choice Production Manager Lydia Schrandt has sampled craft beers all over the world, but her favorites are brewed right in the USA. During her frequent travels, she loves nothing more than pulling up a stool at a brewery or beer bar to sample some new and interesting beers and make some new friends.
Lydia Schrandt

10Best Photo Editor and Readers' Choice Production Manager Lydia Schrandt has sampled craft beers all over the world, but her favorites are brewed right in the USA. During her frequent travels, she loves nothing more than pulling up a stool at a brewery or beer bar to sample some new and interesting beers and make some new friends.