Hidden Gem breweries

Third Window Brewing
Mumford
Highland Park
El Segundo Brewing Co

 

I live west of Chicago (Naperville area). I really enjoy Ike & Oak. The food is solid, and the is above average. But, what I really like about the beer is that there's VARIETY. They hit on pretty much every core style. I'm not going to a taproom that has 9 beers all of which are hazy.

Black Horizon is also a solid choice I like as well.

 

Totally agree with El Segundo. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve had from them.

 

If you haven't gone to the brewery inside of Eataly, it's pretty damned good and has a good view over Ohio

 

So many breweries fit the bill. In the Twin Cities area alone, there are...

• Dave's BrewFarm, Wilson WI
• Sisyphus, Minneapolis
• Finnegans, Minneapolis
• Waldmann, St. Paul
• Schram, Waconia and Chaska
• HammerHeart, Lino Lakes
• Shakopee, Shakopee
• La Doña, Minneapolis
• Bang, St. Paul
• Birch's, Long Lake and St. Paul
• Unmapped, Minnetonka
• Venn, Minneapolis

All of those are barely known outside of the area and at least as good as, if not better than, almost all of the biggest names in the area. Some of them are barely recognized even locally. One thing they have in common is that none of them specializes in presently trendy styles (although some dabble in them), and that of course contributes to their lack of recognition.

 

Bottle House Brewing in Cleveland.

 

Crooked Tongue in New Castle PA.

 

Funkwerks, Fort Collins, Colorado.

 

Long Live Beerworks out of Providence RI makes some fantastic IPAs. That’s their primary style but I’ve had some awesome stouts, sours, and lagers there too

 

Tell us more ...

 

Dankhouse Brewing in Heath Ohio

 

Beachwood in the general LA/OC coast area. They definitely get love in California but their quality, price, and style versatility is really top notch

 

Noble Beast in Cleveland is easily the best overall in the city.

Yet it’s never too crowded, beer and food have always been extremely consistent and top notch. Staff is super amazing, and word on the street is that they’re an incredible little company to work for. They really take care of their employees and their patrons. Everything aspect of that brewery is awesome, top-tier, and dare I say, noble!

 

North Fork: Deming WA
Wander: Bellingham WA
Skookum: Arlington WA
Garden Path: Burlington WA
Propolis: Port Townsend WA
Pfriem: Hood River OR
Ale Apothecary: Bend OR
Bend Brewing: Bend OR

 

I've heard terrific thing but haven't made it there yet ... I'll do so soon.

 

SingleSpeed: Waterloo & Cedar Falls, IA
Lion Bridge: Cedar Rapids, IA
Exile: Des Moines, IA

 

You’ll be very glad you did. Cheers!

 

Four Quarters, Winooski VT. Can I get a witness?

 

To be fair, I've had a couple folks ask me to send some Skookum barrel aged to them back on the east coast and pFriem has a fairly recognized name. Fully agree with Wander and you forgot Kulshan.