Our Year in Beer - Top 5 Breweries of 2024!
As we wrap up another year of brewery blogging, we sat down and reflected upon the greater year that it was with some awesome experiences and countless beers to go along with it. Our travels took us to 34 different stops across 10 states, with plenty of memorable taprooms along the way. This was probably our toughest year to determine a top 5 list, but after some back and forth, here are the breweries that made our cut for 2024.
Community Beer Co. in Dallas, Texas
They say everything is bigger in Texas - and for Community Beer Co., this certainly rings true. They have a spacious outdoor area divided between a gravel lot and an elevated deck, as well as a huge indoor space and brewery itself. We were spoiled on our visit by a personal tour of the space by the owner, Jamie. Community brews one of the more popular IPAs in the state, the Mosaic IPA (or as they like to call it, “the beer that keeps the lights on”). Along with an awesome atmosphere and solid beer, they have a full kitchen offering salads, sandwiches, and mac ‘n cheese, making it the perfect spot to spend a whole afternoon or evening. With its proximity to I-35, be sure to hit this place up while in DFW!
Check out our full feature on Community Beer here.
Tall Trellis Brew Co. in Olathe, Kansas
In our opinion, Tall Trellis Brew Co. has the best outdoor patio of all breweries in the Kansas City metro. Their outdoor space features tables and chairs near the building, and picnic tables further out all surrounded by live hops growing up the trellises surrounding the space. During the summer months, they host live music on their elevated stage, and the place becomes packed with patrons bringing their own lawn chairs. The inside features a nice, earthy feel with tons of natural lighting along with live plants and natural wood. Tall Trellis maintains 14 different brews on the menu of varying styles, which makes it ideal for anyone to find something they like. This one tops the list this year as our favorite local brewery!
Check out our full feature on Tall Trellis here.
Hop Lot Brewing Co. in Suttons Bay, Michigan
You won’t find a better nature-centric brewery than Hop Lot Brewing Co. in northern Michigan. This place has the best outdoor beer garden we’ve ever encountered, with firepits, an outdoor bar, an elevated stage, and even a 75’x75’ sand playground for the kids - all nestled among tons of shade trees. Another feature we found appealing was a reservable tent, complete with a projector and seating for 50+. Could you imagine a business meeting here?! As far as beer goes, Hop Lot offers 14 unique brews at any given time with about half of those being flagships and the other half being rotators. This place has received tons of national accolades and, after visiting for ourselves, it easily made its way into our top 5 for 2024.
Check out our full feature on Hop Lot here.
Field Day Brewing Co. in North Liberty, Iowa
Field Day is one of the best in Iowa’s largely underrated beer scene, featuring a massive facility. The indoor space features multiple seating sections and duckpin bowling, which is miniature bowling. Through a large overhead door is an outdoor area overlooking a pond, and even a kids’ playground. The place is impressive on its own, but we were more impressed by the knowledgeable staff. Each person at the bar could carry on detailed conversations about the various beer styles and their brewing process. Field Day specializes in lagers and goes to great effort to ensure each one is served perfectly, with corresponding glassware and specialized pouring taps to maintain the perfect head.
Check out our full feature on Field Day here.
Aggieville Brewing Company in Manhattan, Kansas
Great outdoor spaces seemed to be the trend on our brewery travels this year, and Aggieville Brewing offers one of the best. Located behind the building, it has an almost resort-like feel with how detailed each component is. They have an outdoor bar, rows of umbrella-covered seating, an elevated stage, and a multitude of yard games set up on artificial turf. Aggieville Brewing serves 18 different beers, with most of their namesakes coming from Kansas State University or Manhattan in general. While the beer is what brought us in the door, they also have a higher-end food menu featuring pasta, smoked meats, and unique appetizers. Aggieville Brewing has quickly become a staple for us on Manhattan visits.
Check out our full feature on Aggieville Brewing here.
Photo by Jessica Strom Photography
This year’s beer travels may have slowed down slightly from years past, but we were still able to find some new favorite stops. Thanks to everyone who has followed along with our brewery travels, and to those whose paths we have crossed while sampling a new pint.
Cheers to new brews in 2025!
