The 2023 Great American Beer Festival has come to an end. Breweries from all over the country gathered in Denver, CO from September 21-23 to show off their best offerings to some of the biggest beer fans in the world.
Year after year a lot of big name breweries that all beer fans recognize show up to amaze their fans. But what about the lesser known breweries that may be hindered by their location, lack of distribution, low volume of production, etc.?
Today we are going to highlight five breweries that you did not know you needed to visit until now!
Snake River Brewing – Jackson, WY
Wyoming is a state that is being overlooked by most craft beer fans yet it is quickly becoming a heavy hitter in the craft beer market. The cream of the crop is currently Wyoming’s oldest brew pub, Snake River Brewing. Snake River has been cranking out amazing beers such as Zonker Stout, Snake River Pale Ale, and Jenny Lake (Vienna Style) Lager. Snake River was named “Small Brewery of the Year” in both 2000 and 2001 at the Great American Beer Festival. This lets you know they are producing quality liquid.
Gideon’s Brewing – Bismarck, ND
The first thing most people think of when it comes to North Dakota is oil and snow. However, Gideon’s Brewing in Bismarck quickly putting the state on the craft beer map. This veteran-owned brewery has been putting out quality craft beer since moving their location in downtown Bismarck in 2019. The Prickly Pear Margarita Barrel Aged Sour stands out among their Sour lineup, along with other options such as the Dark Roast Chocolate Porter and Wildflowers Honey Lager.
Black Sky Brewery – Denver, CO
Standing out in the city with the highest brewery density is no simple task. When people think of Denver breweries, they think of Great Divide, Odell, and New Belgium. With over 150 breweries located in the city, it is a tough task to get noticed. However, Black Sky Brewery has managed to do just that. Do not let the heavy metal and dive bar feel fool you. This brewery is also not afraid to take risks when it comes to styles of beer. Beers such as their Barrel Aged Beer Creek Rye (Barrel Aged Brown Ale) and Petal To The Metal (Rose and Hibiscus Ale) show they are willing to step outside of the box to make unique and delicious beers.
Ex Novo Brewing Co – Corrales, NM
Ex Novo Brewing Co originally opened in Portland, OR in 2014. Brewery founder Joel Gregory decided to open another location of the brewery in his hometown of Corrales, NM. In addition to beer, this brewery has been focused on donating 100% of their net profits to causes that are making a change in the world. In addition to their goodwill, they are making incredible beverages such as their Sons of Scotland (Scotch Ale), Cactus Wins The Lottery (Prickly Pear Berliner Weisse), and Hawai’i 505 (Coconut Porter).
Silver Reef Brewing Co – St. George, UT
Utah is another state that has a much underrated craft beer scene. Even with tough to navigate rules when it comes to beer sales many breweries have managed to push forward and become standouts in the beer industry. While most people think of Epic Brewing when it comes to the Utah scene, one brewery in southern Utah has managed to stand out as well. Silver Reef Brewing Co is creating amazing beers on the outskirts of St. George. Their Agua Del Del Diablo (Mexican Lager) is giving big names like Belching Beaver/Deftones a run for their money in that space and their Rauchbier would have the brewers at Live Oak Brewing tip their hats to them.
Which small breweries featured at GABF would you recommend? Let us know in the comments!
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