ISO: Exceptional breweries that opened in 2020

US only? If not, I can suggest two.

Third Moon Brewing of Milton, Ontario.

https://thirdmoonbrewing.com/

Reverence Barrel Works of Cambridge, Ontario.

https://www.reverencebarrelworks.beer/

The former has already climbed to near the top of the list of top breweries in Canada according to your partner site. They have already taken over as the top maker of all the ‘hip’ styles (NEIPA, Pastry Stout, Fruit Sours). Moreover, they have been incredibly accommodating when one orders beer from them. They will set up times outside of normal pick-up times for one to drop by and collect his or her purchases.

The latter makes barrel aged beers almost exclusively. They use a variety of barrel types and brew wild beers, stouts, barleywines, Wee Heavies to name a few. Beers range from traditional to innovative. Everything has been very good at minimum. They also brew one of the best local Helles lagers, their only non-barrel aged beer to date.

Both have jumped into my regular rotation in 2020.

 

Human Robot in Philadelphia

https://www.humanrobotbeer.com/

Their lagers are exceptional; they also brewed the best NEIPA I’ve tried this year; they’ve got those super-fruity “sours” for an occasional sugar rush; and they have cool, short-run glassware for people into that thing. One of the best breweries in SEPA.

Doors opened in February, the poor bastards.

 

TennFold Brewing in Nashville, TN is putting out some amazing beers. Plus its a restaurant with pizza, subs and awesome wings

 

The slough brewing collective out of Watsonville, ca.
Extremely tiny. Had previously been a brewery called elkhorn slough brewing. Had also been mostly taproom only. Finally opened under new ownership and name in 2020 doing Crowler fills only.
The new owners are passionate enthusiastic young guys, and inherited a fairly large barrel aging program and unique recipes from previous brewer/owner. So I feel they have a lot of potential depending on which direction they go.

https://www.thesloughbrewing.com/

 

Here in NW Washington, Otherlands Beer opened smack in the middle of the pandemic. The duo that opened the place had previously worked at Cambridge Brewing and more recently Wayfinder.

Otherlands is the rare brewery that opened with their beers completely dialed in, almost as if they had been open a dozen years already. In just a few pints they became my favorite local brewery with their immaculate lagers, refreshing take on hoppy beers, and farmhouse ales.

 

I've been waxing poetic for a few months now about Odd Bird Brewing in Stockton, NJ. Small brewery that opened in late Jan/early Feb. The quality of the beer was high coming right out of the gate and they do many of the classic styles really well. Six of the seven beers I've had from them to date were exceptional (their Saison was the only one not up to snuff so far). Their Kölsch was probably the best beer I had all year and their English Bitter wasn't far off. Bonus points for almost always having something on cask, a rarity these days.

 

Backbeat Brewing in Beverly, Mass was open four days before being ordered to shut down. They have 24 taps and three beer engines. Always a wide variety of styles including several rotating NEIPAs, a year-round brown ale, nitro Irish stout, a really great blonde ale, but their bitters on cask are what bring me back. Served at perfect cellar temp and with the right carbonation (ie not flat).

 

The best new 2020 brewery experienced by me opened in Las Vegas, Nevada just before the COVID shutdowns, Beer District Brewing. Opened by an award winning home brewer, what impresses me most about this brewery is the fact the produce very good to excellent beers across many styles, including styles like Dopplebock and Belgians you don't see at many places. Their imperial stouts are excellent. I go to Vegas for 3-4 weeks each year to visit family, and this is one of my Top 3 in a growing and improving Vegas beer scene.

https://beerdistrict.square.site/s/order

https://untappd.com/BeerDistrictBrewing

 

https://www.steinhardtbrewing.com/contact-us.html

If you like Belgian beers and wild fermented sours, Steinhardts in Frederick, Md opened a taproom/brewery this year in downtown. He was bottling and selling in stores for last couple of years but now has a great brewery/taproom open and was packing the place well this summer. In the age of hazy IPAs and pastry stouts, glad to see the local residents embracing great beers from other styles.

 

Brato in Brighton, MA should count as a 2020 opening since they just started brewing beer in house this month despite opening last year. World worked against them for a long time. Good guys and good brews.

 

Cartridge Brewing in Kings Mill Ohio!
The sheer fact that somebody decided to pour millions of dollars in to the restauration of an historical site, with immense stipulations due to the nature of the former business (gunpowder/lead) is incredible. If you ever make it to the area, plan a full day!!! Ride or walk the Little Miami Scenic Trail and stop at this brewery. You will not be disappointed!
I have no affiliations with this business, just a big fan of the idea!
Abandoned since the 1940s, this building has new life and they are brewing some great beer there!!!
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/59423/

 

Bricksworth Brewing in Burnsville, MN (southern suburb of the Twin Cities).

www.bricksworthbrewing.co

From the same family that owns Blackstack in Minneapolis.

I've had four of their beers so far, and they're all very good to exceptional. They also make very good artisanal pizzas there. They haven't been able to have on-site patrons yet due to the pandemic, but their space looks like it's going to be really cool as well.

 

Fidens brewing out of Albany NY.. opened late 2019 but have really honed it in in 2020 and a big time favorite now

 

New to the already crowded Fort Collins scene is Stodgy Brewing and they’ve hit the ground running.

Have only been in a few times, as it is quite new, but have had probably 4 or 5 of their offerings... all home runs that have been true to style.

Doesn’t seem like they’re trying to simply cash in on trends and are trying to be a good community member. They also boast an incredibly cool taproom/Biergarten that’s rustic and comfy.

 

Unfortunately because of COVID I haven’t explored new breweries. I do have to agree with @thebeers on Human Robot. I got a chance to buy a few crowlers and had some beers outside this summer and they were all great. Their hoppy beers were great and they brew some great lagers are I feel they are already a standout brewery in Philly.

I do want to give an honorable mention to Humble Forager in WI. The two beers I had from them were good, but I just don’t feel having one great super fruited “sour” and one good NEIPA just isn’t enough data to make a complete judgement.

 

I am not sure when Black Flannel in Essex, VT opened, but it was either late 2019 or at some point during 2020. They absolutely nail kolsch, lager, black ipa, and other genres often overlooked or unbrewed. They also brew a 5% "pastry" stout (German Chocolate Cake) that is, in my opinion, up there with Gunner's Daughter as the best low-abv flavored stout out there. Although the ratings only partially reflect how good Black Flannel is, it is one of the best breweries in VT

 

Fair Isle Brewing in Seattle opened up in January specializing in saisons and they’re phenomenal.

 

Sadly, I don’t believe a single new brewery opened in Ireland this year. Mind you, if breweries were growing here at the same rate as they are in the States then every family in the country would be running a brewery by now, so maybe it’s not so bad.