Midwestern beer culture is as diverse as its people and geographics , tracing back to the waves of immigration that shape the region and its brewing establishments . Midwestern beer speaks volume about our ever - changing weather pattern and the teemingness of readily usable farm - fresh constituent . Hence the influence on craft brewing with a great appreciation of Central European styles , foeders , new types of hops , and an infusion of flavour like cherries and cranberry . The following 14 new brewery represent some of the Midwest ’s best up - and - coming craw so if you find yourself traversing the nation ’s heartland , or see these beers on store ledge , give ‘em a try .
Hailstorm Brewing
Hailstorm ’s presence in the slyness - brewage community mouth to its name – it ’s a force to be suppose with . Beers such as Jesus Toast and Dominatrix verbalise the shine of the brewery ’s portfolio , and the Maibock even brought a facile medal at the 2015 Great American Beer Festival ( GABF ) . Hailstorm is a place where craft - brewing excellency meets the welcoming and inviting ambience associated with a Chicago neighborhood tavern . It ’s staffed with down - collared journeyman who love clear - mic alive music and provide patrons with a host of ale , along with some stout , saisons , and plenty more .
Carbondale Craft Beer
Not far from the Shawnee National Forest , you ’ll find the home of niggling Egypt beer . We ’ll part with you the Great Pyramid - edifice metaphors , all you demand to know is that beer is all that matters in this cervix of the woodwind . After getting his starting time in a soundly saturated market in California , Ken Rhude moved to Illinois to explore his dream of opening a brewery . Not only has he succeeded , but his unfiltered Belgian Hefeweizen won the GABF Au medal in 2014 . Having recently moved into a larger installation to ramp up statistical distribution , it might not be prospicient until everyone in the Midwest gets a taste of Little Egypt .
18th Street Brewery
From glorious label nontextual matter to groundbreaking brewage , eighteenth Street is proving to beer lover that they are n’t any average brewery . It brews funky sours , including get together on a gun barrel - work Belgian with Denmark ’s Alefarm Brewing . Brewers also lately created Euro Tight Pants , a DIPA coaction with Swedish brewery , Sahtipaja . 18th Street ’s versatility and skillfulness are not surprising when you consider its founder , Drew Fox , catch his start at Pipeworks and bask a relationship with Spiteful , two brash , modern , and successful Chicago breweries . 18th Street has also succeed “ good beer ” and “ near brewery ” honor , collaborated with breweries in Arizona and Texas , and of late expanded to a second location – not bad for three geezerhood of oeuvre .
Firetrucker Brewing
This Iowa brewery may not be heaven , but it ’s certainly a oasis for outstanding beer and Midwestern cordial reception with beer - nerd evaluation sites routinely grade their beer highly . The brewery bestow in different local artist every two months to sport mind - melting visuals in the infinite . The beer is visual , too . For instance , Cat in a Tree Ginger Beer is as diaphanous as a looking glass of blanched wine . But , they also brew a concourse of hoppy ales , stout , and porters , such as the 2 Alarm Red ( ale ) , Acova Black Walnut brown ale , and Pumper Truck Porter .
Central Standard Brewing
In the pump of tornado back street , Central Standard Brewing ( CSB ) has ridden a whirlwind of success to become one of the Kansas ’ most obtrusive up and come breweries . Although the brewery is Modern , CSB ’s beer maker possess 20 years of combined brewing experience . In summation to the typical craftsmanship selections , they brew the domain ’s first puncheons and foeders , as well as an classification of Belgians , wild ales , sours , and mixed zymosis . Meanwhile , the large , but cozy , taproom includes access to a spacious out-of-door terrace .
River’s Edge Brewing Company
What do three friendly family line living on the same dirt road public lecture about when they hang out and drink in home brew ? They hash out open a brewery , of path . River ’s Edge reflects those humble grime - route origins by extend ease food , merriment games , good beer , and space for friends and family to enjoy good conversation – no wall - to - wall video at this position . River ’s Edge is located in suburban Detroit and sit on the shores of the Huron River that flows into Lake Erie , but it ’s often places like Belgium , Poland , and England that influences the beer . Indeed , they won the GABF flatware medallion for their Belgian Dubbel Entendré , serve a carbonated and smokey Polish beer telephone Grodziskie , and put up plenty of English ales .
Fair State Brewing Cooperative
Fair State provide more than just the typical perk associated with a brewery membership ; they offer part possession . Members also aid design the beers , such as their of late brew Baltic hall porter describe as “ cold fermented with lager yeast … brewed with Beechwood smoked malt , Wisconsin maple syrup , and a hint of Black Pepper . ” From their traditional ignominious lager beer – the Schwarzbier – to tidy sum of sours , and a pils , there ’s a riches of key European brewing occurring at Fair State . And for hop head , they have plenty of ales , too . That type of versatility allowed them to recently receive the award for best new brewery in Minnesota and inclusion in one of the world ’s top ten new breweries , according to Ratebeer .
HammerHeart Brewing
Raise a dry pint and exclaim , “ Skål ” because HammerHeart is a brewery that mashes up Norse , Gaelic and Heavy Metal civilization . But , make no mistake , Hammerheart beer is more than just something Ragnar Lodbrok might drink ; it ’s refined . In fact , it ’s been process in places like Standard Market ’s “ The Cube , ” a Chicago - arena establishment recognize for its raiment of Malva sylvestris , fine wine , and craft beer vertu . You might need to partake in the Laurentian porter - mesquite smoked with spruce bakshish , the Barrel Aged Dublin Raid – a peat smoked Irish red ale , or the Fimbulvetr – an oak tree smoke wheat IPA .
Logboat Brewing Company
Proudly American , and proudly Missourian , Logboat worked tirelessly to pull together stainless tanks made in the USA , and the inside of the brewery serves as somewhat of a local museum . The brewery includes an expansive out-of-door quad they look up to as the boatyard – it has the feeling of the world ’s nerveless backyard . Brewers are n’t hear to reinvent craftiness beer at Logboat ; they make the beer they like to drink . Logboat just so happens to make the beer improbably well , as shown by their 2015 GABF Gold Medal for its Belgian - Style Blonde .
Zipline Brewing
Zipline is stormily devote to preservation , sustainability , and overall environmental stewardship . Indeed , they even donate their spent grain to a place called “ Beer Paws , ” who transform it into dog treat . The brand caters to fitness partisan , adventurists , and risk takers – it shows in their beer . Zipline ’s untroubled to tackle any brewing style , include cask - elderly , rye whiskey , New Zealand hoppy ales , stout , and hibiscus - infused saisons . The brewery advance the GABF Gold medal for their German Altbier – the Copper Alt . It seems the only danger that does n’t exist with Zipline involves drink in their beer – it ’s almost warrant to please you .
Fargo Brewing Company
North Dakota ranks fifth in the res publica in beer expenditure ( telling ) , yet brewery remain sparsely located throughout the state . Fargo Brewing Company wants to rectify that . In only a few forgetful year , it has transitioned from service department brewery to spread taproom in 2013 , followed by a 2d fix in 2016 . Fargo Brewing Company also earn North Dakota ’s first brewing medal , the 2015 GABF Bronze for the Fargo Original Lager . Of naturally , if hearing the name of the brewery evokes memories of Steve Buscemi ’s gruesome execution , you might enjoy the Wood Chipper IPA , to which they notice , “ We ’d give our left foot for another pint ! ”
Rhinegeist Brewing
In only three years , the honor - gain ground Rhinegeist has evolved from cub brewery to one that ’s included in New Belgium ’s “ Fat Tire and Friends 25th Anniversary Riff - Pack , ” where Rhinegeist and other breweries , such as Firestone Walker and Allagash , brew an original take on Fat Tire . Abiding by a work - hard , take on - laborious adage , the brewery – which once served as a bottle plant over a century ago – hosts motorcycle shows , whiffle lump game , and concerts . The Rhinegeist name is derived from their locating near Cincy ’s historic Over - the - Rhein German Brewery District . Rhinegeist proffer a legion of ale , such as Truth ( IPA ) and Zen ( Session - APA ) , and they have cider , gose , saisons , and heap of barrel - cured beer .
3 Sheeps Brewing Company
Brewing beer that ’s “ one off of normal ” 3 Sheeps puts new twisting on old recipes , and it ’s cultivate . They ’ve get ahead several award , include the Gold Medal for IPA at the Great International Beer Festival in 2013 with their entrance , Really Cool Waterslides IPA . That was follow with a Gold Medal at the 2014 US Open Beer Championship for their wintertime brew , Ewephoria – a ginger chocolate stout . Ewephoria ’s name speaks for their sexual love of puns and humourous beer descriptions – take the metre to record their website , you wo n’t repent it . There ’s even an app to find 3 Sheeps beer , which includes many sessionable year - cycle offering .
Wisconsin Brewing Company
This brewhouse is clearly passionate about the Badger State as most of the taproom ’s forcible feature article arrived from Wisconsin , and most of what is brewed contain ingredients harvested from local farms . The warmth for beer has result in an heroic and diverse beer menu . beer maker have even collaborated with PBR to brew a pre - prohibition “ Old Tankard Ale . ” There ’s also a partnership with the University of Wisconsin , whose students from the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences compete to develop a beer that gets brew and lot by Wisconsin Brewing Company ( and must make them campus heroes ) .
sign on up herefor our daily Chicago email and be the first to get all the food / drunkenness / fun in town .
Courtesy of Rhinegeist Brewing
Courtesy of Hailstorm Brewing
Courtesy of Joey Potts, 18th Street Brewery
Courtesy of John Sepanic
Courtesy of Central Standard Brewing
Courtesy of Davin Haukebo-Bol.
Courtesy of Repor Photography
Courtesy of Rhinegeist Brewing
Courtesy of Wisconsin Brewing
