Exploring the World of Craft Beer: Breweries to Watch
We at BreweriesNearMe.us are on an endless adventure to discover the finest beer experiences on the planet. Our recent journey took us beyond the borders of the U.S. into the vibrant craft beer scenes of Scandinavia. While European breweries offer a distinctive charm, there’s always a comforting excellence found in America’s craft beer. Join us as we savor both worlds, exploring electrifying brewing experiences that offer something special to every beer enthusiast.
Back on home turf, our social media team immersed themselves in the Firestone Walker Invitational—a celebrated festival known for bringing innovative craft beers to the forefront. Diving into the heart of this fiesta reveals some gems from breweries like Moniker, Marlowe, and Lua Brewing, showcasing the relentless creativity of American brewers. Both in spirit and taste, these festivals reflect the thriving heart of United States beer culture.
The Ultimate Beer Tastes from June 2025
Final Curtain – A Collaborative Wonder
Crafting memorable experiences through collaborations is a hallmark of the craft beer community. Root + Branch, in association with Brujos Brewing and Troon Brewing, brought forth the illustrious Final Curtain. At 11% ABV, this triple-collaboration IPA mesmerizes with high-profile hops like Citra and Motueka, yielding flavors reminiscent of tropical fruits and sherbet. Meanwhile, A Spell For The Death of Man III, another collaboration from Root + Branch with Brujos, showcases a luscious texture with notes of orange, melon, and tangerine. These beers epitomize the innovation within hazy IPA brewing.
Taproom Tales: Omnipollo Meets Sierra Nevada
During our visit to Stockholm, we sipped on Maze Whole Cone Pale Ale—a collaboration between Omnipollo and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. This beer blends the American pale ale tradition with Swedish flair, showcasing fruity notes of mango and guava. It’s a testament to the global influence and adaptability of the American brewing ethos, even thousands of miles from home.
Celebrated Brewers Across Europe
Nordic Adventures: Ölkemi Bryggeri’s ESB
Ölkemi Bryggeri in Stockholm is renowned for its experimental edge, as exemplified by their ESB, Wye North Is Down. Made with Northdown hops, this ale delights with warm spices and fruit undertones, capturing the malt-forward essence essential to the style. Distinctly Swedish, yet honoring an English classic, it embodies the cross-cultural fluidity of the craft beer movement.
Kellerbier Discovery at Bryggeri Munkbron
Our exploration continued at Bryggeri Munkbron, where we encountered a delightful kellerbier. This straw-gold brew offers a taste journey of porridge aromas and oat flavors, marking an exceptional introduction to the less-commercialized styles we hope to see more of in U.S. brewing circles. It’s light and refreshing, a perfect initiation for those new to unfiltered lagers.
Oslo’s Lager Week Highlights
Crow Bryggeri’s Lager Celebration
At Crow Bryggeri in Oslo, Lager Week was in full swing. Among the selection, Black Crow Lager stole the spotlight. This schwarzbier, brewed with Saaz and Pacific Gem hops, offers a smooth and creamy experience. With a welcoming atmosphere, the brewpub reflects the communal spirit found in many local U.S. taprooms, reminding us that good beer and good company are universal comforts.
A Haunting Experience at Schouskjelleren Mikrobryggeri
Tucked in the brick-walled cellars of Schous brewery, Schouskjelleren Mikrobryggeri serves a Nitro Stout perfect for its moody setting. Notes of roasted almonds and cocoa dance on the palate, accentuated by a velvety nitro finish. It’s a brew that captures the depth and complexity we seek in specialty stouts, akin to those crafted by top U.S. breweries.
Finnish Brewery Highlights
Tropical Skull’s Hazy Burst
Espoo’s Salama Brewing enthuses with Tropical Skull. This hazy creation celebrates vibrant citrus and tropical flavors, echoing the fresh and juicy profiles popular in the U.S. pale ale scene. After a whirlwind tour in Finland, this beer lingered long in our memories, reaffirming its place in the global hop-forward revolution.
Red Neck – A Bold Finnish-Ale Experience
Olarin Panimo and One Pint Pub collaborated on the award-winning Red Neck, an American Red Ale blending caramel malt sweetness with firm hoppiness. It’s a reminder of the adaptive nature of craft brewing—the marriage of styles and cultures resulting in something distinct and delicious, comparable to the innovative brews we enjoy stateside.
Refreshing Flavors at Bob’s Laundry
Kakola Brewing’s Japanese Rice Lager at Helsinki’s Bob’s Laundry presents a novel concept we’d love to see in America: combining leisure with productivity. Light and crisp, it pairs perfectly with downtime activities, epitomizing the casual sophistication of modern craft lagering.
Salted Licorice Raspberry Sour – Local Delicacy
At CoolHead Brew in Helsinki, we tasted the Salted Licorice Raspberry Sour—a blend uniquely Finnish, expertly balancing sweet raspberries with salted licorice. This sour represents the exciting exploration of flavors currently trending in craft scenes worldwide, including the U.S., where sour beers have gained immense popularity.
Stateside and Around the World Brewing Excellence
Side Project Brewing’s Mastery
Side Project Brewing in St. Louis continues to impress with The Cellar Tenth Anniversary Barleywine. This English Barleywine achieves magic through a blend of high-rated brews, reflecting the artful attention to detail found in many local breweries. Its caramel complexities and rich malt profiles highlight why it’s a festival favorite.
North Park Beer Company: Pastry Stout Expertise
The Macaroons Before Dying series from North Park Beer Company, particularly the 2025 Double Vanilla variant, showcases impeccable pastry stout execution. Combining barrel-aging techniques with rich ingredients like coconut and vanilla, it’s the epitome of indulgence, showcasing the innovation driving craft beers from San Diego and beyond.
Gold Dot’s Lager Legacy
At the Firestone Walker Invitational, Gold Dot Beer’s Book Club Black Beer from McMinnville, Oregon stood out for its adherence to traditional Czech brewing methods. It’s a testament to the precision and dedication Western brewers bring to preserving beloved lager styles amongst new and experienced aficionados alike.
Tipopils – The Original Italian Pilsner
The charm of Italian brewing was evident in Tipopils by Birrificio Italiano, a pioneering craft that echoes a Northern German pilsner style with unique, dry-hopped qualities. This beloved European beer blends tradition with innovation, much like what’s celebrated at American beer festivals highlighting international collaborations and influences.
FrauGruber’s Classic Helles
Bringing the quintessential German lager flavor to the Firestone Walker Invitational, FrauGruber’s Helles stands out for its subtlety and superb balance. Brewed with a mélange of hops, this beer captures the essence of traditional lagers beloved by craft enthusiasts across the globe.
#CraftBeerAdventure #LocalBrews #HazyIPAs #LagerLove #BeerTourism
