We wanted to find the best of America's craft beer scene, so we invited our readers to vote for their favorites. After four weeks of voting, you've helped us narrow down the nominations and find the best beer labels, the best small town beer scenes and the best beer festivals from coast to coast. And just to liven things up further, you helped us select the 10 best cideries.
Click on each category below to see the full winners list.
Best Beer Bar: Max's Taphouse in Baltimore, Maryland
Max's Taphouse named Best Beer Bar — Photo courtesy of David Stuck
Patrons who enter this brick bar in Baltimore will be blown away by the beer selection: 1,000-plus bottles, over 100 taps and four casks. From newbies to experts, all levels of beer drinkers can find something to enjoy here – including standard favorites to rare imports – and all it takes is a quick chat with one of the highly knowledgeable bartenders.
Full list of winners: Best Beer Bar »
Best Beer City: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids selected as Best Beer City — Photo courtesy of Experience Grand Rapids
Winner of two past Best Beer Scene titles, Michigan’s second-largest city sports the state’s strongest beer scene, thanks largely to the presence of the world-renowned Founders Brewing Co. Not to be outdone, there are several other brewing operations around town, most notably the Belgian-inspired Brewery Vivant.
The city’s official “Beer City Ale Trail” lists more than 80 breweries in the surrounding area, and the local calendar is constantly filled with beer festivals, events and promotions. Throw in exceptional beer stores such as Siciliano’s Market, and it’s easy to see why Grand Rapids proudly stakes its claim as “Beer City USA.”
Full list of winners: Best Beer City »
Best Beer Festival: Suwanee Beer Fest in Suwanee, Georgia
Suwanee Beer Fest is the top beer festival of 2022 — Photo courtesy of Suwanee Magazine
This Georgia St. Patrick’s Day party doubles as one of the state’s biggest and best craft beer festivals. The event at Town Center Park features more than 350 craft beers (unlimited tastings), live music, games, local food vendors and a homebrew contest.
Full list of winners: Best Beer Festival »
Best Beer Garden: The Charlotte Beer Garden in Charlotte, North Carolina
The Charlotte Beer Garden selected as Best Beer Garden — Photo courtesy of Anthony Reynolds
The Charlotte Beer Garden offers one of the largest selections of draft beers you’re likely to find in a single restaurant – some 400 beers on tap. Visitors can enjoy their beer of choice at the indoor-outdoor beer bar or on the heated patio.
Full list of winners: Best Beer Garden »
Best Beer Label: Fluffy Unicorns from City Built Brewing Company
Fluffy Unicorns has a beer label you won't easily forget — Photo courtesy of City Built Brewing Company
City Built Brewing offered a nod to the never-ending unicorn trend earlier this year when they introduced Fluffy Unicorns. This canned milkshake IPA is made with lactose, pineapple, and marshmallow. “Don’t knock it till you try it,” is the consensus coming from most customers.
Full list of winners: Best Beer Label »
Best Brewpub: Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery in Chicago, Illinois
Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery chosen as Best Brew Pub of 2022 — Photo courtesy of Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery
Forbidden Root, Chicago's first botanic brewery, specializes in nature-inspired craft beers made from wild fruits and botanicals. The brewpub's menu of seasonal dishes is designed to highlight the beers. When guests sample something they like, they can take the beer home in a growler.
Full list of winners: Best Brewpub »
Best Brewery Tour: Tröegs Independent Brewing in Hershey, Pennsylvania
Tröegs Independent Brewing offers the country's best brewery tour — Photo courtesy of Tröegs Independent Brewing
Visitors in Hershey can go on a guided production tour at Tröegs Independent Brewing, which includes a behind-the-scenes look at the wood-aging cellar, mill room, hop cooler, brewhouse, fermentation cellar and packaging line. A welcome beer is included.
Full list of winners: Best Brewery Tour »
Best Cidery: UrbanTree Cidery in Atlanta, Georgia
UrbanTree Cidery chosen as the Best Cidery of 2022 — Photo courtesy of Ali Resuta
Atlanta’s first cidery makes their ciders from scratch, harvesting and pressing apples by hand, fermenting with specially selected yeasts, filtering and aging. The apples used to make UrbanTree Hard Cider come from the Northeast Georgia mountains.
Full list of winners: Best Cidery »
Best New Brewery: Funguys Brewing in Raleigh, North Carolina
Best New Brewery? Readers vote for Funguys Brewing — Photo courtesy of N/A
Raleigh, North Carolina's Funguys Brewing is a family-friendly, pet-friendly "mom-and-pop craft brewery" serving up a number of popular IPAs and lagers, but a fan favorite is the heavily fruited smoothie style sours, better known as the "Smoothsicles." For a unique experience, be sure to try the Berry Berry Cheesecake or Fruit Punch. Food is not served at Funguys, although there are often food trucks. Guests are always welcome to bring their own food.
Full list of winners: Best New Brewery »
Best Small Town Beer Scene: Avondale Estates, Georgia
Avondale Estates offers the Best Small Town Beer Scene of 2022 — Photo courtesy of Dot Paul
The charming town of Avondale Estates, just east of Decatur, has a small downtown area packed with unique food and beverage offerings. For beer lovers, there’s Wild Heaven Beer, The Lost Druid Brewery, My Parents' Basement and Little Cottage Brewery.
Full list of winners: Best Small Town Beer Scene »
Congratulations to all these winning nominees! Remember to visit 10Best.com daily to vote in our Readers' Choice contests.
