10 Best Breweries in Nebraska with 30 Beers Worth Trying
Nebraska brewery routes connect Lincoln and Omaha with the Papillion–La Vista corridor, Broken Bow, Kearney, Axtell and Ord. These ten editorial picks offer thirty named beers, with three selections per brewery. The order helps plan comparisons; it is not a claim that every brewery in the state has been tasted and scored.
Use the brewery, beer name and style together when planning a stop. Current producer pages and venue menus guide the lineup, with technical sheets and exact beer profiles supplementing missing specifications. Portfolio listings do not guarantee daily stock. Confirm the actual venue, serving batch and current menu before traveling for one beer.
Nebraska brewery picks at a glance
| Brewery | Base | Three beers to explore |
|---|---|---|
| Empyrean Brewing Co. | Lincoln | Chaco Canyon Gold · Third Stone Brown · Luna Sea ESB |
| Kros Strain Brewing | La Vista | Fairy Nectar · Helles Creek · Bernstein Bier |
| Infusion Brewing Co. | Omaha | Vanilla Bean · Trip · Pickle Slam |
| Kinkaider Brewing Co. | Broken Bow | Dan the Wiser · Devil’s Gap · Dragon Juice |
| Scriptown Brewing Company | Omaha | Yotus IPA · Nutjob Brown Ale · Dos Amigos Mexican Lager |
| Brickway Brewery & Distillery | Omaha | Pils · Coffee Vanilla Stout · Omaha Stylee Juicy IPA |
| Pint Nine Brewing Company | Papillion | Pint Nine IPA · Neon 9’s · Farmer Tan |
| Upstream Brewing Company | Omaha | Firehouse Red Vienna Lager · Capitol Pale Ale · Dundee Scotch Ale |
| Thunderhead Brewing Company | Axtell / Kearney | Cropduster Mid-American IPA · Golden Frau Honey Wheat · Cornstalker Dark Wheat |
| Scratchtown Brewing Company | Ord | Cisco’s Wit · Wonder Twins · Gray Hairs & Nightmares |
1. Empyrean Brewing Co.
Empyrean gives a Lincoln visit a clear malt-led starting point. Its brewing story began in 1990 at Lazlo’s Brewery & Grill, and the current core lineup still includes golden ale, brown ale and extra special bitter.
Chaco Canyon Gold, Third Stone Brown and Luna Sea ESB make a compact comparison without relying on three nearly identical IPAs. The producer publishes grain, hop and pairing details, and lists each as a year-round beer.
Chaco Canyon Gold
Brewed by Empyrean Brewing Co.
Nebraska honey with pale and Pilsner malt; crisp hop finish.
BAR NOTES
Chaco Canyon Gold is a 4.8% golden ale brewed with Nebraska honey, pale two-row and Pilsner malt. Triple Perle and Cascade hops supply a crisp finish, with the brewery publishing 21 IBUs for the recipe.