Brew-Ha-Ha: Cheers to These 8 Breweries

Craft beer has really taken off in the last 30 years, especially in the United States. The number of breweries was at its lowest in 1978, when there were only 89 breweries nationwide, but by the 1980s, a new generation of beer makers set up shop. While Sam Adams and Sierra Nevada have become enormous national producers, there are over 3,000 microbreweries and counting: Just yesterday, NPR reported that “On average, a new brewery opens its doors every single day in the the U.S.” This explosion has brought with it a design culture that parallels the beer culture, and breweries and brewpubs — eateries inside a brewery — are now a bona fide architectural typology.

Here are some of our favorite breweries in America and beyond.

Little Creatures Brewery by Paul Burnham, Fremantle, Australia

An exposed brewery is attached to a beerhall-like setting with long, communal tables.

Bang Brewery by Alchemy Architects, Saint Paul, Minn.

Reclaimed materials and sustainable design features echo the eco-friendly business ethos of the Midwest’s first organic brewery. Learn more about this project in our case study about Bang Brewery.

The Source by Dynia Architects, Denver

This multipurpose food hall houses two restaurants, a brewery, and an array of artisan food producers and sellers, all in a 19th-century foundry that has retained its industrial character.

Brasserie St. Bernardus by Aiji Inoue, Chiyoda, Japan

A comfortable space with warm wood textures is furnished and bedecked with Belgian antiques.

Matilda Bay Brewers’ Canteen by DiMase Architects, Port Melbourne, Australia

Another reclaimed factory space, this brewery maintains its industrial character.

Moritz Brewery by 404 Not Found – arquitectos s.l.p., Barcelona, Spain

This project was designed in collaboration with Ateliers Jean Nouvel and represents the brand of Moritz beer.

Wolf’s Ridge Brewingby Simplified Living Architecture + Design, Columbus, Ohio

This brewery and restaurant is located in an early 19th-century structure that has been updated after serving as a truck dealership and then an office space.