With the number of breweries in the U.S. creeping up on that 10,000 mark it's easy to find a brewery no matter where you live. But what type of brewery is your favorite??? Sure they range in different sizes, but size doesn't matter here! Even the quality of beer doesn't matter (although great beer always helps the experience. ) Here we will discuss the venue and the venue alone...and help you decide what your favorite style brewery is best for you so when you are out and about in a new city you know where to go!
Warehouse
Probably one of the most common themed breweries in the country and maybe the first that comes to mind is the warehouse style brewery. This basic style brewery is usually a sizable, open air facility with high ceilings and the stainless steel brewhouse in plain sight. Finding a seat is hardly a problem in these taprooms and even more so now since almost all style breweries have added at least some kind of outdoor seating. This industrious sized building is great for large parties or to let the kids run around. The warehouse style brewery is a win/win for both the customer and the business in that space like this is great for brewing and at the same times makes for a fun and easy atmosphere for the customers and bar staff. Probably why the warehouse style is by far the most common!
Garage
The younger brother to the warehouse is the garage style brewery. Unlike the warehouse, however, a garage style brewery us usually smaller. Perhaps the building was an old mechanic's garage or tire place. Maybe you will see a few garage doors out front that open up into some outdoor picnic tables in the parking lot. With the smaller size comes a smaller production facility. But that smaller brewhouse may lead to some smaller batches of beer and possibly some very unique/experimental brews?? In my opinion a garage style brewery is more intimate and more likely that a bartender or assistant brewer may bend your ear a bit or perhaps give you a sample of the newest hazy ipa. Garage style breweries are possibly the absolute best at giving you that true, authentic local brewery experience.
Farm Brewery
A very popular style brewery in rural areas is the farm brewery and it's exactly what you think. These are usually large properties with tons of green space and probably some farm animals grazing somewhere. Many farm breweries even grow their own ingredients, especially hops. Many farm breweries are actually a government classification where they must use a certain amount of ingredients sourced from local farms. These breweries are great for day drinking in the sun, sitting in an Adirondack chair, and listening to the bluegrass band. A very SIMPLE yet FUN atmosphere for a brewery
The Brewpub
This broad category of brewery style usually includes a full food menu to go along with the house made beer. Brewpubs tend to resemble a family restaurant more than your warehouse or garage style brewery. The brewpub can range from those old school 1990s breweries that were one of the original local craft beer joints to a hip gastropub in the fancy part of town. In my opinion most brewpubs tend to focus more on food quality than beer quality. In our travels brewpubs are used as a refueling station. Since food options can be tough at other types of breweries (having pizza over and over and over again can get old) brewpubs are a nice pit stop for some real food. The downside is the simple, restaurant atmosphere and the quality of beer. But hey! It's a new brewery though, right?? Of course this isn't true of all brewpubs. In fact we have been to many brewpubs that did beer as good or even better than the food. Generally speaking, however, the brewpub is best served as a food pit stop or if there are no other breweries in town.
The Historic Building
The broad category of historic buding breweries covers a wide range. These properties are obviously old but each has its very own personality. One might have been a stop on the underground railroad and another may have been the home to some famous politician. Maybe it was an old horse stable or even a Civil War hospital! For these breweries draped in history there is almost always somewhere you can read about the building, either on the back of the menu or a display case with some local artifacts. Who knows...might even be haunted!
An Old Church
One of the most unique brewery settings and possibly our favorite is the church brewery! Although much more rare than other styles, the church brewery is becoming more popular. Across the country many churches have closed and sit vacant for years. These buildings are PERFECT for breweries to repurpose because of the high ceilings and open floor plan much like a warehouse. Another great aspect of church breweries is the architecture. Even after the building ceases to be a religious venue the architecture still remains...much of which can be absolutely stunning. There's something about 100+ year old religious cieling art and a brewhouse sitting on the altar below that clashes so amazingly. Sitting in old church pews while drinking a dank ipa just seems so wrong but so right at the same time.
The 5 Star
You can call this style brewery by many names...the fancy place, 5 star bar, high class, or what I've come to call them - "hoity-toity". This is not a very common style but one you may come across on your travels, especially in big cities. If you walk in and you feel under dressed in your ripped jeans and brewery t-shirt then you are probably in a hoity-toity brewery. If the bartender is wearing a tie and black apron then you are probably in a hoity-toity brewery. If there's a chandelier that costs more than your car and the bar is made out of a 300 year old oak tree then you are probably in a hoity-toity brewery. If the beer you ordered costs $15 and comes in something resembling a wine glass then you are probably in a hoity-toity brewery. For obvious reasons these style breweries are not our favorite and since you don't see them too often, they probably aren't yours either. You have officially been warned about the hoity-toity brewery!
Old Manufacturing Plant
Each one of these style breweries can be quite unique and a great atmosphere. Most come in that old red brick from the turn of the century with old wooden floors inside. Even the panel windows are noticeably antique. Nowadays newly built manufacturing facilities are all built the same. But back 100 or 200 years ago they came in all shapes and sizes which is what makes them so unique! You see these all over the U.S. but you will see the most in the north or northeast. Think of an old Ford assembly line building that now serves craft beer. I always enjoy learning the history of these buildings if possible and you may actually see a few beers named after an the old business or old product that was made right where you sip on that barrel aged sour. Like church breweries, these old manufacturing plants are great for those beer checkin pictures!
The Chain
Of all the style breweries to visit this should be only visited as a last resort, meaning it's the only brewery for 100 miles or your desperation for a new brewery drives you inside. The chain can be considered a subcategory of the brewpub since all usually have a kitchen and are more like a restaurant. The worst part about these that the beer hardly ever changes and the quality is so subpar you'd rather drink a Miller Lite or a mixed drink. At least your local brewpub has unique beers and some personality. Most people who visit chain breweries don't even know they are in a brewery. And forget asking the 20 year old server for beer recommendations...just avoid at all costs!
Firehouse
Firehouses, like former churches, make great breweries with their pragmatic construction, high ceilings, and a garage door which is almost a must at any brewery! The brewery may even keep the old fireman's pole and some other firehouse memorabilia. Even better if they share the history of the firehouse. Although the firehouse technically falls into the garage style brewery, but should be discussed as a very unique subcategory. Maybe not as ornate and architecturally impressive as some of the other style breweries on this list, the firehouse brewery definitely requires a visit!
Train Station
More common than you realize, train stations are becoming a popular brewery style. Who doesn't think drinking in a train station is amazing? How many people throughout history passed by where you are sitting? How many famous people?! Architecture plays such a massive role in the atmosphere of all the breweries on this list and train stations are no exception. Some of the more extravagant train station breweries have grand and ornate lobby areas that now serve as the taproom. Although all are quite different almost all preserved the old ticket windows, giving you a peek into the past. Great locations to "travel" back in time.
Bank
Old banks can also serve as a present day brewery. When you think of an old bank from a century or two ago you think of big concrete or marble structures with that long teller counter possibly serving as the bartop now. I'm not sure how practical it is for brewers to brew in a bank, but I'm sure the openness of the main lobby area is suitable enough. One feature you almost always see in bank breweries is the blatantly obvious vault that was too much of a hassle to remove. Good thing those bank vaults are perfect for beer checkin pics! I've even some vaults serve as the brewery gift shop.
Can You Think of More???
That's it! Well, that's it for this list, but there are certainly other locations not as common as these. Some even more interesting. I've heard of a breweries in funeral homes, military bases, caves and more. Feel free to send us some suggestions for other venues and whatever else you want to hear about. Thanks for reading. Cheers!
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