Philadelphia’s first craft brewery, Dock Street Brewing Company was founded in 1985 and remains independently owned, family-run, and woman-owned. Rosemarie Certo and Jeffrey Ware launched the company among the country’s earliest post-Prohibition craft breweries, with a mission of treating beer as a gourmet beverage. Today, Dock Street continues that pioneering spirit from its Philadelphia brewpubs, pairing nearly four decades of brewing history with an experimental streak.
Doylestown Brewing CompanyBuilt on a Pennsylvania family beer business that began in 1948, Doylestown Brewing Company makes craft beer through its brewery operations in Doylestown. Owner Joe Modestine carries forward three generations of beer and restaurant experience, while head brewer Erik Walp has helped the company grow from a small brewpub brewery into a regional operation. The company also provides contract brewing services and maintains a presence in downtown Doylestown.DOYLESTOWN, PA
Cinderlands Beer CompanyFounded in Pittsburgh in 2017 by two married couples, Cinderlands Beer Company grew from garage brewing at its original Lawrenceville site into an independent brewery with three locations. Its 17,500-square-foot Warehouse in the Strip District is the company’s main production center, while Long Story Short preserves the original space as a neighborhood bar and sandwich shop. Cinderlands’ beers have earned gold medals at the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup, including recognition for its Brett and experimental beers.PITTSBURGH, PA
Union Craft BrewingFounded in 2011, Union Craft Brewing makes beer in Baltimore’s Medfield neighborhood, where its brewing operations began with the 2012 release of Duckpin Pale Ale. Now housed in a former Sears warehouse within the Union Collective hub for small local manufacturers, the employee-owned brewery balances brewing tradition with new ideas and operates a taproom and beer garden built around its belief that beer unites people. Its Zadie’s Lager also carries a family story, honoring co-founder Henry “Zadie” Benesch, who worked at the brewery until age 101.BALTIMORE, MD
TALEA Beer CoWomen-founded by LeAnn Darland and Tara Hankinson, TALEA Beer Co. grew from their shared desire to make craft beer more inclusive and approachable. Its Williamsburg brewery, opened in 2021, anchors five New York City taprooms where the company serves fruit-forward beers and welcoming spaces designed to reach beyond traditional craft-beer audiences.BROOKLYN, NY