Best Breweries in Philadelphia: Recommended Beer Places in Philly

You can get the most out of the best breweries in Philadelphia because Philly is well-known for its amazing beer scene. From classic beers to experimental batches, Philadelphia is bursting with many breweries.

We have put together the best breweries in the city to get you started, all of which offer diverse beers and fun experiences. Let’s take a closer look!

Philadelphia Beer Breweries	Number of Active Beers	ABV (Lowest-Highest)
Love City Brewing Co	10	4 – 9 percent
Philadelphia Brewing Company	10	3.9 – 7 percent
Iron Hill Brewery & Brewpub	15	4 – 9 percent
Evil Genius Beer Company	12	5 – 9.4 percent
Human Robot Beer	12	4.2 – 11.5 percent
Tired Hands Brewing Company	11	4.3 – 11 percent
Sly Fox Brewery and Tastin’ Room	9	3.6 – 7 percent
Urban Village Brewing Co	12	6.5 – 7.5 percent
Wissahickon Brewing Company	19	4.5 – 9 percent
Yards Brewing Co	31	3.7 – 9.1 percent
Brewery ARS	7	4.4 – 7 percent
Chestnut Hill Brewing Company and Taproom	9	4.8 – 7.5 percent
Earth Bread + Brewery	5	5.1 – 8 percent
Crime & Punishment Brewing Co	25	–
Forest and Main Brewing Co	12	4.5 – 6.5 percent
Second District Brewing	12	3.8 – 6.5 percent
2SP Brewing Co	5	4 – 8 percent
2nd Story Brewing Co	8	3.8 – 9.2 percent
Attic Brewing Company	14	4.2 – 13.5 percent
Bald Birds Brewing Company	12	4.5 – 10.1 percent
Manayunk Brewing Company	16	4 – 9.5 percent
McKenzie Brew House	6	3.5 – 6.5 percent
Punch Buggy Brewing Co	10	3.8 – 6.7 percent
Roy-Pitz Barrel House	17	4 – 6.2 percent
Separatist Beer Project	20	4.2 – 13 percent
Source Urban Brewery	20	4.5 – 13 percent
Bar Hygge	10	4.7 – 8 percent
Neshaminy Creek Brewing	21	4.5 – 6.6 percent
Vault Brewing	10	4.9 – 8 percent
Victory Brewing Company	30	4.8 – 9.5 percent

The Best Breweries in Philadelphia

After reviewing the numerous breweries in Philadelphia, we finally settled on the top 30 choices. Start your beer experience with these best Philly breweries.

– Love City Brewing Co

At the top of our list is Love City, one of Philly’s biggest and most famous breweries. The brewery offers a spacious, industrial-style interior space and a fun outdoor area.

They combine their delicious beers and relaxing environment with good food, making it the best brewery in Philadelphia. Here are some Love City beers to try out.

Love City Lager
Deep Cut
Unity
Spring Spell
Dreamcycle

– Philadelphia Brewing Company

Next on our list is the Philadelphia Brewery Co, one of the oldest breweries in the Philly area. It is housed in a historic building built initially for Weisbrod & Hess in 1885.

Since its founding in 2007, Philadelphia Brewing has offered one of the best beer gardens in Philly. It also has a comfortable outdoor space and brewery tours for fans. Here are some of their top beers:

Kenzinger
Working Cat Pale Ale
Pennsylvania Pale Ale
Joe Coffee Porter
PHL Session IPA

– Iron Hill Brewery & Brewpub

The best place in Philadelphia for a balance between food and beer is Iron Hill. The brewpub and restaurant are among the most popular in Philly, with multiple locations across the city.

Their food isn’t only a significant part; you can also look out for their award-winning beers dating back to 1996. Check out these beers when you visit:

Lemon Cerveza
Saturday Morningz Peach Ringz
WXPN 30th Anniversary Pale Ale
Bedotter
Vienna Red Lager

– Evil Genius Company

Known for its quirky marketing gimmicks and delicious beer, Evil Genius is another top brewery in Philadelphia. The company offers 1990s music in its taproom, video games, and a Blockbuster VHS video box where the menu is.

Their beers are also named after pop culture moments and include top choices like:

I Said What I Said
Purple Monkey Dishwasher
#Adulting
Santa! I Know Him!
#ICantEven

– Human Robot Beer

You can find Human-Robot in the old St. Benjamin Brewing building, in the quiet area of Kensington. The brewery shares a space with Poe’s Sandwich Joint, which means you have delicious food to pair with your beer.

The brewers specialize in pilsners and lagers but also offer other experimental brews. Here are some top beers to start with.

Hallertau Pils
Niebo
Future Embrace
Dreams of Orgonon
Stone House Mornings

– Tired Hands Brewery Company

This is the most popular if you’re looking for a brewery close to the suburbs in Philadelphia. It dominates the Ardmore area and is known as a top destination for locals and visiting beer lovers.

The craft brewery, restaurant, and store offer high-hopped and funky beers, especially their milkshake IPA. Here are some beers to try out:

HopHands
Alien Church
Eviscerated Pathway of Beauty
Shambolic
Maple Only Void

– Sly Fox Brewery and Tastin’ Room

Since it opened in 1995, this brewery and tasting room has remained one of the best brewing companies in Philadelphia. The brewery has won many awards at beer festivals over the years and hosts different events during the year.

These include the Can Jam Festival and Taps, Trucks, and Tunes. You can try out the gold medal-winning Pikeland Pils or any of these top beers below.

Haze Fix
O’Reilly’s Stout
Reading Premium
Rt. 113 IPA
Vulpulin IPA

– Urban Village Brewing Co

You should also check out Urban Village, as it is credited for bringing the beer scene back to Northern Liberties. You can enjoy their unique beers in the taproom or on outdoor patio seating.

Urban Village changes the tap list often, so always expect something different. The beer also goes well with their delicious brick-oven pizzas. Here are some beers you should try out:

Audition Pilsner
Wildey Witbier
Liberty Finish
Wrong Way
Super Villain

– Wissahickon Brewing Co

If you’re looking for a family-friendly and dog-friendly brewery in Philadelphia, Wissahickon is the ideal choice. The Philly brewery offers a beer garden, a spacious interior, and a fun Beer Yoga event to participate in.

Wissahickon also offers daily food truck appearances and is well-known for its tacos and a vast selection of wit beers. Pair their delicious food with some of these top beers:

Solar Flare
Schooner
Kolsch
Gazebo
Wiss Wit

– Yards Brewing Company

Yard Brewing is one of the original craft breweries in Philly, as it has been enhancing the beer scene since 1994. In 2017, they changed their location to Northern Liberties, with a massive brewpub, brewpub, and beer garden.

You can enjoy the beers better on flights and with their pub food. Here are some of their top beers:

Philadelphia Pale Ale
Extra Special Ale
Summer Crush
Citra Saison
Jefferson’s Golden Ale

– Brewery ARS

Another top local brewery in Philadelphia is ARS, which brings a garage brewing experience to South Philly. The brewing establishment gives you a homebrew experience with indoor and outdoor seating for your pleasure.

Although the seating space does not offer ambiance like other breweries, they put their focus on delicious beers. You should try out the Their Sweet Trepidation Imperial Stout and different top beers below:

Spork & Wentz American Light Lager
Looking Grim Hazy Pale Ale
Wayne’s Pale Ale
Pierce West Coast IPA
Kaymak Coffee Stout

– Chestnut Hill Co. and Taproom

Chestnut Hill provides the best experience for those who want to pair pizza with beer. The brewery features wood-fired Neapolitan pizza with its beer in the taproom.

Since Chestnut Hill is located in the Market at the Fareway, you can purchase food from other stalls and have it with your beer in the garden. Some of their top beers include:

Bronze ESB
Puppy Love
Hopz Brown Ale
Galactic Loosey
RED Ale

– Earth Bread + Brewery

One of the underrated breweries in Philly is Earth Bread + Brewery. The brewery is located in the Mt. Airy neighborhood in the city and focuses on making beers and bread with fermentation.

Along with the beer, you can enjoy healthy food and pizzas. Earth Bread is known for its creative brews and seasonal offerings. Try out some of these top beers:

W.T.F.?!
A.B.C.
Help Wanted
Passionola
Wee Heavy Yo

– Crime & Punishment Brewery Co

Crime & Punishment is one of Philly’s leading breweries and one of the newest. Its unique beers and name concept make it the best place for Russian beer in Philadelphia.

Get started with some of their creative beers from English bitters to Russian craft beers. Some famous beers from the brewery include:

Shades of Spector
A Pilsner Supreme
Bedstraw Crane
Moon Booth
Campfire Cookies

– Forest and Main Co

Forest and Main are known for their exceptional and sophisticated beers and are located in downtown Ambler. The brewery is primarily known for its English-style beers.

They also have pleasant staff and a vibrant social media presence. They release new beers regularly and announce them on their social media. Some of their top beers include:

Lost Feeling
Picture Book
What is Air
A Thousand Faces
House Lager

– Second District Brewery

Located in the second district of Philadelphia, the brewery is the ideal craft joint for your experience. The taproom has excellent beer, a relaxing vibe, and delicious food.

Their flagship beer is the Bancroft, a drinkable and delicious beer. You can also try out the Festbier, their seasonal choice. Here are other top beers:

Bancroft Beer
Pils Mercato
Milanville Rogue
Low Kick
Five

– 2SP Brewing Company

2SP Brewing is another family-friendly taproom and brewery in the city. The brewery is owned by the former Iron Hill brewmaster, which means you can enjoy quality beer.

They focus on making basic and classy beers and collaborate with other popular breweries. Here are some recommended beers:

Back & Forth
Pony Boi
Up, Up & Away
DELCO Lager
Up & Out

– 2nd Story Brewing Co

2nd Story is another fantastic brewery in the city and is pretty famous among tourists and large tour groups. But locals also find this brewery fun, especially with its neighborhood-style space.

The brewery also features solid snack options with its many draft choices and is primarily known for its lagers. Here are other beers that make them stand out:

Declaration IPA
Red Wagon
Brighter Dayz
Bed Time Story
Fritzie’s Lager

– Attic Brewing Co

Attic Brewing is the first brewery to open in the Germantown neighborhood and is an exciting place to be when in Philadelphia. The brewery offers small-batch craft beers with fun-themed names.

The brewery is also known for its focus on social responsibility in the community. They brew some of the best Belgian beers in Philly. Other top choices include:

Absence Barrel Fermented Session Ale
Illiado Cream Ale
Universal Melody Pale Ale
Direct Register IPA
Plugstreet Belgian Blonde Ale

– Bald Birds Brewery Company

Bald Birds is known for providing a fun social space in Philadelphia for enjoying beers. The unique brewery name is based on the fact that both owners have hair loss.

The company is famous for their NEIPAs and hoppy beers, but they mix this up with stouts and lagers. Some top beers in the city include:

Slumberjack Double NEIPA
Little Bear Hazy IPA
Good Jams
Blue Feather Belgian Witbier with Blueberry
Average Joe Irish Stout

– Manayunk Brewing Co

If you’re looking for the best brewery in Philadelphia for an outdoor space, Manayunk is the ideal choice. The brewery is housed in an 1882 building, giving you a cozy and industrial taproom.

Aside from offering a fine outdoor dining experience, the brewpub also serves pizza and sushi. They brew IPAs and other top beers including:

Road to Run
Pocket Wrench
Berry Monkey
All Day IPA
Heroweizen

– McKenzie Brew House

You should also check out McKenzie in Philadelphia, which has been a favorite among locals in Chester County. They partner with local restaurants to offer delicious food along with their popular ales.

The Malvern location also offers one of Philly’s best outdoor dining spaces. Here are some of their top ales and wits.

Emergency Gold Match Amber Ale
McKenzie Light
Route 202 Pale Ale
Brandywine Wit
Saison Vautour Farmhouse Ale

– Punch Buggy Brewing Co

Punch Buggy is a nano-brewery in Olde Kensington known for offering you creative and drinkable beers. Whether you want hefeweizen that takes care of banana bread to sour blueberry, there’s something for everyone.

The brewery changes its beers and food regularly, so it’s essential to check the social media page to know more. Here are their other top beers:

Beetle Juice Hazy IPA
Love Bug Hazelnut Brown Ale
Loggin’ Out Lager
Apple Cinnamon White Winter Ale
Port O’ Hawaii Coconut Porter

– Roy Pitz Barrel House

Roy-Pitz is another top brewpub in Philly founded by the Liquid Artists. The brewery is designed to showcase craftsmanship and artistry in beer.

As a barrel house, you can expect they offer a selection of barrel-aged beers. Other top brews provided include:

Daddy Fat Snacks IPA
Sour Hound
Best Blonde
Stubborn Irish Pig Porter
Nice Dreams Pineapple

– Separatist Beer Project

Although Separatist is based in Easton, the brewery also has a branch in South Philly. The tasting room focuses on hops, lager bier, and spontaneous fermentation.

You can get started with their Cream Ale, a delicious Bohemian Pilsner that is easily drinkable. Check out these top beers when you visit.

Classic Cream
Lifestyle
Phluff
Fruity Dabs
Pineapple Smoosh

– Source Urban Brewery

You should also check out Source Urban while in Philly. The original brewery is in New Jersey, but you can visit its Philadelphia location.

With about 32 taps and a kitchen full of brewpub food, there’s a fantastic experience waiting at Philly. Here are some beers we recommend:

Venetian Pils
Kolsch Bier
Source of Happiness
Happy New Year
Braxton Ale

– Bar Hygge

For a Danish-style brewpub in Philly, Bar Hygge is the ideal choice. The bar has a cozy and warm atmosphere, with craft mixology and comfort food.

The bar spot in the Fairmount is the most popular, offering a rotating collection of craft beers and seasonals. Try out these beers when you visit.

Lemon Meringue IPA
Helles for Sinners
Mellow Cream Ale
Cinderette
Sir Samuel Oldcastle

– Neshaminy Creek Brewing

We also recommend Neshaminy Creek, known for its award-winning craft beers in Philly. The brewery is combined with a taproom and beer garden. The brewery is located just north of Philadelphia and offers delicious food to go with top beers like:

Country Line IPA
The shape of Haze to Come
Summer Dollars
Ultracush Hazy IPA
Tart Tooth Sour Wheat Ale

– Vault Brewing

Located on Main Street Yardley, Vault Brewing offers a cozy, barn-like vibe in its taproom. You have a great hangout space in Philly with great exterior seating and delicious food.

Vault also offers a long list of beers with sophisticated names, with Vanilla Drops being one of their famous beers. Here are some of their other top beers:

Teller Pilsner
Dark Czech Lager
Five Cees
Public Offering
Delinquency Notice

– Victory Brewing Company

We’re rounding up our list with Victory Brewing, one of the best and oldest breweries and brewpubs in the Philly area. It is also one of the largest breweries in the Delaware Valley.

Victory Brewing is known for its wide range of hoppy IPAs. Here are some of their popular beers:

Strawberry Margarita Sour
ELager
Winston ChurchPils
Nice Slice
Berry Monkey Sour

Conclusion

Regarding Philly breweries, you can expect a fantastic experience of top beers, regardless of what you’re looking for. Here are our top recommendations:

Love City is the best Philly brewery overall, with ample outdoor space and unique beers.
Philadelphia Brewery is the best place for a beer garden in Philly.
Iron Hill offers the best balance between food and beer in the area.

With our complete guide, you can enjoy drinking beer from the top places in Philly today!

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