Omaha has a diverse scene of craft breweries sprinkled throughout the city and in nearby spots like Council Bluffs. Maximize your summer fun by enjoying brewery tours and sampling what’s on the menu. Don’t drink and drive and make sure to imbibe responsibly this summer!
Upstream Brewing Company
Where? 514 South 11th Street
Looking for a quick bite or a cold refreshing beverage on a hot summer day? Upstream Brewing has you covered. With lunch, dinner, brunch, and even a late-night menu — there’s always something that will hit the spot. The current drink lineup includes the Bubble Buddy tropical seltzer with passionfruit, the Cave Dweller German pilsner, and an Afterglow white stout. The brewery also features $10 flights of four 4-ounce pours, $18 growler refills, and even kegs available and you can always request a free taster before you commit! Check the bar for limited bottle releases sold in 750 ml bottles. Enjoy happy hour specials from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM on weekdays, with deals like $2 off pints and $3 off appetizers.
B5 Brewing Company
Where? 6115 Maple Street
B5 serves up tailored craft beers from a family-owned master brewer! Sit back, relax, and savor the extraordinary. From meticulously selected ingredients, you’ll enjoy distinct flavors that tantalize the senses. The Benson Banquet is an American lager with a delicate hop aroma and the Front Porch Daydreams features delicate floral hops on top of a crisp, clean malt base that’s perfect for a refreshing treat. The brewery additionally has a rotating series of limited-release one-and-done brews, such as the current lineup of Bush’s Blond Coffee, Coastin’ West, and the Dances Calypso hazy IPA.
Brickway Brewery & Distillery
Where? 1116 Jackson Street
Brickway Brewery first opened back in 2013 in Omaha’s historic Old Market District with just a handful of staple beers. Soon, their focus enveloped distilling their own whiskey, rum, vodka, and gin that are now served across Nebraska in various bars and restaurants. Year-round brew picks at Brickway include a pilsner, a coffee vanilla stout, and the crowd-favorite Omaha Stylee juicy IPA. Want something with a kick? Sip on the jalapeño pineapple pils! The brewery/distillery combo also serves up ready-to-drink canned cocktails, such as the Midwest Mule, the Passion Fruit Vodka Soda, and a Raspberry Vodka Lemonade that’s perfect for an exceptionally warm summer afternoon. Seasonal summer staples include the Raspberry Hef wheat beer, which is in the rotation from April through August.
Monolithic Brewing
Where? 4915 North 120th Street #102
Monolithic Brewing is a small-batch brewery passionate about delivering high-quality, well-crafted beers to its loyal customers. Beers are served only in the taproom and aren’t distributed to suppliers — meaning that the brewery can afford to push boundaries and take chances. The beverages on the menu feature the house favorite Feisty Walrus brown ale, the Fruity Kettles Series that uses real fruit to create a refreshing, slighting sour and salty profile, and the classic American Monolithic Light that’s exceptionally smooth and incredibly drinkable. Want to enjoy a bite to eat? The menu is constantly changing but always delicious so make sure to inquire about what’s new! There is plenty of indoor and outdoor patio seating, with the outdoor space overlooking a pond.
Site-1 Brewing
Where? 2566 Farnam Street
Site-1 Brewing is local to Omaha and offers an ever-changing array of craft beers. The current tap list includes Shadow Figures, a black IPA with a rich, luxurious chocolate profile, and the Fiesta De Sol lager, which is Site-1’s award-winning take on the classic Mexican lager. There is also a cocktail menu available, with boozy bourbon drinks, refreshing sangria options, and a unique twist on the margarita with a house rosemary simple syrup. The brewery offers a unique “Mug Club” option, with delicious perks like $1 off any beer all day every day and a beer for a penny on your birthday! Mug Club members also receive early access to exclusive small-batch canning runs, as well as a discount on merchandise and a crowler of their choice per month.
Vis Major Brewing Company
Where? 3501 Center Street
Striving to create one of the best drink experiences in Omaha, a visit to Vis Major Brewing Company won’t disappoint. The company is dedicated to the art form and honoring its rich heritage, while at the same time working to provide inventive takes on your favorite brews. Whether you enjoy the Sheely amber bock, the Summer Seeds watermelon gose or the Wild Phoenix cherry brettanomyces wild sour — there’s something for every drinker on the menu. The food and cocktail menu shouldn’t be skipped, either! Sip on seasonally rotated slushy cocktails, beer cocktails, or keep it classic with an old fashioned, a French 75, or a gin and tonic. Snack on truffle popcorn, street nachos, or order one of the specialty pizzas to share!
Zipline Brewing Company
Where? 721 North 14th Street
Situated across the street from the Charles Schwab Field, this Omaha taproom should be on any summer bucket list. Enjoy freshly poured pints that are sure to quench your thirst and take the edge off of a busy week. If you’re new to Zipline beers, there’s a wide selection to choose from! Start with the Alpha Modern IPA or the Can Opener Orange Splash. You can’t go wrong with the Daaang! IPA or the Dear Old Nebraska Brew, which is the official beer of Nebraska alumni! Want something different? There’s an oatmeal porter and a Pickle Time lager as well. Grab a bite at the grill or order a glass of wine or a craft cocktail such as the Pear and Pom margarita or the Rosemary Grey Hound with fresh grapefruit, gin, and charred rosemary.
Kinkaider Brewing Company
Where? 2279 South 67th Street
Farm-crafted beer made in the Midwest! Now what’s better than that? Kinkaider is known for crafting high-quality beers that are sure to please most, if not all, drinkers and maybe even some non-beer lovers as well. With taprooms in Broken Bow, Grand Island, Lincoln, and Omaha — the Kinkaider name is well known. The tap list includes the Dragon Juice juicy India pale ale, the Snozzberry sour, the Devil’s Gap jalapeño ale, the Herd Law honey wheat ale, and the Grapefruit Radler! There is a seasonal selection that is rotated throughout the year, including favorites such as the Sun of the Beast vanilla cream ale, an Oktober Fest pale lager, and a salted caramel peanut butter amber ale!
Full Fledged Brewing Company
Where? 40 Arena Way Suite 2
As the very first craft brewery in Council Bluffs, Full Fledged is proud to serve the local community. With an array of award-winning brews on the menu, it’s difficult to go wrong when you swing by for a drink or two (or three). The Councils’ Kolsch is crisp, dry, and perfect to quench your thirst while the Floyd the Barbarian session hazy IPA is fruity and easy to drink and hails as the 2023 Gold Medal winner in the U.S. Open Beer Championship. Sip on something spicy with the Chili Buzz, featuring a touch of sweetness that counters the heat, or try one of the rotating small batch options!
Backswing Brewing Company
Where? 3669 North 129th Street
Connection is the secret ingredient at Backswing. The brewery was founded by a group of former golf buddies and built upon the human relationship between these three friends who enjoyed nice weather and having a few cold ones together. Using the best ingredients and no pretense, these easy-drinking beers are delicious and approachable. From the Citra Kolsch, the Over Par IPA, the Scottish ale, and the Bugeater “Goalden” ale — there’s a bit of something for everyone on the menu. Enjoy special events throughout the week, such as Pub Quiz Night on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM and Bingo every Wednesday from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at both the Omaha and Lincoln locations.
Nebraska Brewing Company
Where? 6950 South 108th Street
Located in nearby La Vista, Nebraska Brewing Company was born from a foundation of home brewing in 1992. This hobby soon transformed into a respected area brewery, with a wide selection of beverages and a “Core Series” that includes five beers for everyday drinkers. The Reserve Series includes 20+ styles, such as the Black Betty imperial stout, the Fathead barley wine ale, and the Responsibly Belgian style ale. There’s also the sought-after Limited Series, which includes the most popular seasonal beers that took a trip to the canning line and are now available only once a year! This line includes the Gimme S’more vanilla brown ale, the Tacoveza Mexican style lager and the Farrell’s Irish red ale.
Scriptown Brewing Company
Where? 3922 Farnam Street
Known for its locally handcrafted traditional beer styles, Scriptown is a great addition to any brewery tour list. The microbrewery’s taproom is open every day of the week and always ready to serve you something cold, refreshing, and tasty. Currently on tap are the Muddy Mo amber ale, the Dos Amigos Mexican lager, the Petal Pusher hibiscus ale, and the Nice Buns cream ale. Swing by on Fridays for the growler refill special of $11 for core beers and $15 for the premium selection. Mark your calendar now for Tacoberfest 2024, which is scheduled for September 6th and 7th. Enjoy Scriptown beer, margaritas, polka, and of course — plenty of tacos to go around.
Kros Strain Brewing
Where? 10411 Portal Road #102
Kros Strain Brewing is backed by self-proclaimed “beer nerds” who enjoy tinkering with recipes and sourcing the newest ingredients to combine them with innovative techniques that provide drinkers with a high-quality, delicious, and sometimes surprising final product. The La Vista brewery features a core selection of Fairy Nectar, a New England hazy IPA, the Hot as Helles Chile beer, and the Krossteiner, which is a Czech/Bohemian pilsner. There is also a seasonal menu, as well as a barrel-aged selection that features the Imperial Stout and the Barrelywine. Sip on your favorite brew on the patio or in one of the spacious event areas!
Infusion Brewing Company
Where? 6271 South 118th Street
Infusion Brewing Company believes in beer that brings people together, so you’ll find a wide selection on the menu. The year-round offering includes a hazy IPA, a Mexican-style lager, a vanilla bean blonde ale and a Let It Fly lager. Check back seasonally for additions such as the Side Eye malted milk ball stout and the Pickle Slam pickle lager. Enjoy brews with a sweeter note? Infusion Brewing has you covered! The Orange Dreamsicle Vanilla Bean, Chocolate Cherry Vanilla Bean, S’mores Vanilla Bean, and Pumpkin Vanilla Bean are all twists on the flagship blonde ale. If you like what you’re tasting — inquire about joining the loyalty program!
Pint Nine Brewing Company
Where? 10411 Portal Road #104
Pint Nine not only serves up traditional brews, such as American ales and Belgian beers but they’re also well attuned to innovation via one-off batches and barrel aging. The beers served at this brewing company are highly fermentable and easily digestible. The current beer list includes year-round IPAs, session reds, coffee browns, and craft lagers. Special releases such as the Bright Side Honey Hibiscus Ale and the Calamansi Breeze come around on occasion, so make sure to grab them when you see them! Happy hour runs on Fridays from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM and again on Sundays from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. If you’re interested in a brewery tour, make a reservation ahead of time!
Drink Responsibly This Summer!
With an assortment of breweries in the area, you could try new brews every week for a year if you wanted to! Enjoy your tour of Omaha breweries and make sure to drink responsibly. Even if you’re a non-beer drinker, brewery hopping can be a fun time regardless! With an array of appetizers, cocktails, and even non-alcoholic options on the menu — just get out there and show some love to your local brew masters!