Dutchess County Brewery Named Best in the Nation

One of the most popular breweries in the Hudson Valley has been named a "Brewery of the Year" at the largest annual beer festival in the nation.

The craft beer boom might not be as big as it was just a few years ago, as research shows more breweries closed than opened in 2024, but there are still thousands of breweries across the nation still brewing amazing, award-winning craft beers.

Great American Beer Festival

Each year, a who's who in beer brewing gather for the Great American Beer Fest, which is held annually in Denver, Colorado, to recognize some of the best of the best in brewing.

This year's event took place earlier this month and awarded dozens of medals in various categories to breweries from across the country, including breweries based in New York State.

Poughkeepsie, NY Brewery Wins "Brewery of the Year"

Zeus Brewing Company, located at 174 Main Street in Poughkeepsie, NY, was one of the New York breweries to take home a couple of awards. Zeus, which opened back in 2020 overlooking the Hudson River, took home "Best Brewery" in the small brewery category according to Syracuse.

Jeremy Phillips, whose family started the brewery/restaurant, told the website, "It feels like a validation for everything that’s happened since we opened."

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Each year, the beer festival divides the Brewery of the Year into six categories based on the volume of beer each brewery produces. Zeus entered the small brewery category, for breweries making 250 barrels per year or less.

Zeus Brewing Company Best in the Nation

Phillips said the Zeus staff could make this year's event but live-streamed the awards ceremony at the bar,

"I was actually carrying a load of dirty dishes and saw Poughkeepsie on the screen. I thought, ‘Wow, I wonder which brewery here won?’ And it was us!"

 

Zeus also won a gold medal for its fruited sour beer called Urban Oasis Raspberry and Lemon Verbena.

For more information on the best small brewery in the nation, check out Zeus online here, or stop in and enjoy their amazing rooftop bar. Congratulations to the Zeus team!