The Best Breweries of 2017

2017 was strong for craft beer. The growth of the industry continued with seemingly endless new brewery openings nationwide. To celebrate each year, we put together a list of the best creations as reviewed by our panel of judges with our annual Top 100 Beers of the Year. This year delivered 11 world class beers (100-96) and over 102 exceptional beers (95-91). We also acknowledge the highest ratings for the most populous styles with The Beer in Review. Last but not least, the brewers that brought us the highest rated beers collectively are featured here with The Best Breweries of 2017. Enjoy!

How We Award
We look at the top three highest-scoring beers (as rated by our judging panel) for each brewery in the calendar year.

We then consider how many of the three fall into the 100 to 96: World Class category and the 95 to 91: Exceptional category.

The brewery with the most world-class beers followed by the most exceptional beers is awarded the Brewery of the Year.

If two or more breweries have the same number of world-class and exceptional beers, then the brewery with the highest point total wins.

In the event of a tie, a fourth reviewed beer is counted as a tiebreaker.

Without further ado,
here are the best breweries of 2017.

2017 Honorable Mentions

Breckenridge Brewery
Littleton, CO
Website

One World Class Beer & Two Exceptional Beers
Total Score: 286
Highest-scoring beers: Brewery Lane Series: Barrel Aged Imperial Cherry Stout -- 97, Brewery Lane Series: Imperial White IPA -- 95, Brewery Lane Series: Oak Aged Saison -- 94

Upland Brewing Co.
Bloomington, IN
Website

One World Class Beer & Two Exceptional Beers
Total Score: 286
Highest-scoring beers: Cursed Kettles -- 96, Pawpaw -- 95, Cherry -- 95

Starr Hill Brewery
Crozet, VA
Website

One World Class Beer & Two Exceptional Beers
Total Score: 286
Highest-scoring beers: Double Bass Mocha Double Chocolate Stout -- 96, Reviver Red IPA -- 95, Grateful Pale Ale -- 95