The Stories Behind 15 Craft Brewery Names

A brewery’s name is key to its vibe, it’s an innate call to the consumer that can set the stage for a drinking experience that matters. Yet the origins of many craft brewery names remain obscure, and we can help you with that.

Dogfish Head Brewery (Milton, DE)

Named after Dogfish Head, Maine, where founder Sam Calagione spent his summers. The name evokes a sense of coastal life and adventure and captures the essence of the mid-Atlantic powerhouse that is now part of Boston Beer.

Mikkeller (Copenhagen)

A combination of the names Mikkel Borg Bjergsø and Keller, childhood friends who founded the Danish brewery. The name reflects their collaborative spirit.

Three Floyds Brewing (Munster, IN)

Founded by brothers Nick and Simon Floyd and their father Mike. The name represents the trio of family members involved in starting the brewery.

The Bruery (Placentia, CA)

A play on words combining “brewery” with founder Patrick Rue’s last name, emphasizing his personal touch and the craft aspect. Ironically Rue is no longer at the brewery. He is currently the maker and owner of Erosion, a winery and brewery in Napa Valley.

Flying Dog Brewery (Utica, NY)

Inspired by a trip to Pakistan, where founder George Stranahan saw a painting of a dog flying with wings. This surreal image inspired the unique name for the Maryland brewery that has been acquired by FX Matt and moved to Upstate New York.

Stone Brewing (Escondido, CA) –

The name evokes strength and solidity. Founders Greg Koch and Steve Wagner wanted a bold and memorable name to reflect their beers and Stone, which is now owned by Sapporo got that done.

Ninkasi Brewing Company (Eugene, OR)

Named after the Sumerian goddess of beer, Ninkasi. Founders , Nikos Ridge and Jamie Floyd  aimed to honor the ancient roots of beer brewing and its cultural significance.

Surly Brewing (Minneapolis, MN)

Named to capture the frustration of not finding good beer in their area. “Surly” reflects the disgruntled feeling the founders aimed to address with their brews.

21st Amendment Brewery (San Leandro, CA)

Named after the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which repealed Prohibition. The founders wanted to celebrate the return of legal beer production and consumption.

Oskar Blues Brewery (Longmont, CA)

Named after a fictional character, Oskar, paired with “Blues” to reflect the founder’s love for blues music, creating a quirky and ,certainly memorable, name.

Evil Twin Brewing (Ridgewood, NY)

Founded by Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø, the name plays on the fact that he is the twin brother of Mikkel Borg Bjergsø of Mikkeller. The name reflects a serious rivalry between the two and their different approaches to brewing.

Ommegang Brewery (Cooperstown, NY)

Named after a traditional Belgian festival called Ommegang, which means “to walk around.” The name is a homage to the brewery’s dedication to Belgian-style ales and their cultural heritage.

Weird Beard Brew Co. (London)

The founders, Greg Irwin and Bryan Spooner, wanted a name that stood out and reflected their quirky personalities. The name Weird Beard captures their unconventional approach to brewing and we’re assuming they both had beards.

Clown Shoes Beer (Boston, MA)

The founders wanted a name that would be memorable and evoke a sense of fun and creativity. Clown Shoes represents their whimsical and adventurous approach to brewing.

Beavertown Brewery (London)

Named after the old Cockney name for De Beauvoir Town in London, where the brewery was founded Logan Plant (the son of Led Zepplin’s Robert Plant) in 2011. The name reflects the brewery’s local heritage and adds a fun twist to North London identity.