Americans love craft beer. The nation is home to well over 7,400 breweries (and that number continues to grow), as well as thousands more beer bars and brewpubs.
The sheer variety of quality beer on the market today can be overwhelming. We want to narrow down the field, so we're asking you to vote for your favorites in seven categories.
Click on each category below to vote:
Best Beer Bar
Selection is key at these top beer bars — Photo courtesy of iStock / tedpagel
It's not an easy feat deciding what you want when going out for a beer at one of these 20 bars, nominated as the best in the U.S. by a panel of beer experts. Each offers a stellar selection of draft and bottled beers, many with a focus on regional or Belgian selections.
Pair that with a relaxed atmosphere and knowledgeable bar staff ready to help any guest become a beer junkie, and you've got a recipe for a great beer bar.
Best Beer Festival
Which festival is the best celebration of brew? — Photo courtesy of iStock / Kosamtu
Beer festivals not only offer attendees the chance to sample numerous brews – sometimes even rare and one-off pours – but also allow beer fans to dialog with their favorite brewmasters, sample paired foods and learn about a host of topics related to beer and brewing.
Best Beer Label
These beer labels make a good first impression — Photo courtesy of iStock / RossHelen
Oftentimes our first impressions of a new beer, chosen out of the myriad options now available at just about any grocer or bottle shop, come from the branding. A good beer label stands out from the crowd, piques our curiosity and represents the beer contained behind the label.
Best Beer Scene
Which city is best for beer? — Photo courtesy of iStock / monkeybusinessimages
These 20 American cities were chosen by a panel of beer experts as having the best beer scenes in the nation – stellar selections of established and up-and-coming breweries, beer bars, brewpubs, beer festivals and even thriving homebrew communities where novice brewers can get their foot in the door.
Best Brewery Tour
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the grain to glass process — Photo courtesy of iStock / Rike_
The only thing better than sipping a pint of your favorite brew is getting a behind-the-scenes look at where it's made. We asked a panel of beer experts to nominate their favorite brewery tours in the United States, and now we need you to pick a winner.
Best Brewpub
Good food and good beer equals a winning combination — Photo courtesy of iStock / Sebastian Fahrni
What's better than a craft brewery? A craft brewery with an on-premise bar where you can sit back, relax and enjoy a cold one. These 20 brewpubs, nominated as the best in the U.S. by a panel of beer experts, serve their own house beers, often alongside guest taps and a menu of tasty food options.
Best New Brewery
Which newcomer is your favorite? — Photo courtesy of iStock / aurigadesign
Craft breweries are opening in record numbers in the United States, hundreds each year. USA TODAY 10Best wants to find the best new breweries in the country, ones founded in the past three years (since the beginning of 2017), so we asked a panel of beer experts to nominate their favorites.
Remember, you can vote once per day in each category. The 10 nominees with the most votes in each category will be announced on 10Best.com on Friday, March 27.
