The definition of what makes a nanobrewery a nanobrewery as opposed to a microbrewery is a bit hazy, but check out the brew room and you’ll probably see just a handful of smaller barrels. Visit the tasting room and you’ll notice the hours are likely a few days a week for a few hours at a time (likely because the brewery is operated by one person who works a “day job” and moonlights as a brewer). Pull up a seat and you’ll have a small, carefully curated selection of taps to choose from. Take a sip and you’re likely to fall in love.
Some nanobreweries were started by accident when a hobbyist became so good (s)he started selling beer out of the garage (after getting the proper permits, of course!). The cost of starting up a full-scale brewery is massive, so nano is the perfect-sized operation for that type of brewer. Others started small out of necessity, and the demand for the beer—and perhaps a national award or two—created a following that allowed for growth to a larger operation. Notable breweries who started this way are Wit’s End (Denver, Colorado), Lawson’s Finest Liquids (Warren, Vermont), Toppling Goliath (Decorah, Iowa), Dogfish Head (Milton, Delaware), and Bissell Brothers (Portland, Maine).
So this year, while you’re planning your beercations, be sure to check out the nanobreweries in the area. Here are five to start with.