From mountain taprooms to coastal brew houses, these veteran-owned breweries are serving more than great beer—they’re building community.
The Best Veteran-Owned Breweries at a Glance
Looking for the best veteran-owned breweries? We rounded up 15 outstanding breweries founded by military veterans across the United States. Whether you’re planning a road trip, searching for a new craft beer, or looking to support veteran-owned businesses, these breweries combine great beer with remarkable stories of service and entrepreneurship.
| Brewery | State |
|---|---|
| Red Leg Brewing Company | Colorado |
| Young Veterans Brewing Company | Virginia |
| Veterans United Craft Brewery | Florida |
| 14th Star Brewing Company | Vermont |
| Service Brewing Company | Georgia |
| Bold Mariner Brewing Company | Virginia |
| Honor Brewing Company | Virginia |
| Bear Island Brewing Company | Idaho |
| 5×5 Brewing Company | Texas |
| All-American Brew Works | California |
| Bravery Brewing Company | California |
| Broken Strings Brewery | Florida |
| Call Sign Brewing | Missouri |
| Afterburner Brewing Company | Indiana |
| 608 Brewing Company | Wisconsin |
The Best Stories Usually Start Around a Table
Every veteran knows the feeling.
You walk into a room where you don’t know anyone. Ten minutes later, you’re swapping stories with complete strangers like you’ve known them for years.
That’s the magic of a good brewery.
Sure, there’s great beer. But the best breweries are really gathering places. They’re where promotions are celebrated, retirements are toasted, PCS moves are mourned, and old friends finally reconnect after years apart.
Maybe that’s why so many veterans have gravitated toward brewing after military service.
Building a brewery isn’t all that different from building a great unit. It takes leadership, attention to detail, trust, adaptability, and a team that’s willing to work long hours for something they believe in.
Across America, veterans are opening taprooms that have become neighborhood staples—not because they’re wrapped in camouflage or covered in military memorabilia, but because they make people feel welcome.
Some proudly wear their military roots on every label. Others let the beer do the talking.
Either way, they’re worth supporting.
So whether you’re planning a summer road trip, looking for your next weekend destination, or simply searching for a brewery with a great story behind the pint, start here.
Grab a designated driver.
Let’s hit the road.
What Makes This List Different?
You won’t find ratings or numbered rankings here.
We’re not trying to crown “America’s Best Brewery.”
Beer is personal.
Instead, we looked for breweries we’d confidently recommend to another veteran.
Places with a genuine story.
Owners who served.
Communities they’ve helped build.
Excellent beer doesn’t hurt, either.
Some are nationally recognized.
Others are hidden gems you’d never discover without taking the back roads.
Every one is worth the stop.
🍺 1. Red Leg Brewing Company
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Founded By: Army veterans, including former Special Forces soldiers
The Vibe
Colorado Springs has no shortage of military history.
Fort Carson sits just down the road. The U.S. Air Force Academy is minutes away. Peterson and Schriever Space Force Bases help shape the local community.
Red Leg Brewing fits right in.
The first thing you’ll notice isn’t the beer.
It’s the space.
There’s a huge outdoor lawn where kids toss footballs while parents relax at picnic tables. Dogs nap under benches. Food trucks line the edge of the property. On warm evenings, live music drifts across the patio while groups gather around fire pits.
Nobody’s checking IDs to see whether you served.
Military families, hikers, locals, tourists—it all blends together.
That’s exactly the point.
The founders have said they wanted to create a place where people could connect long after they hung up the uniform. Spend an hour here and you’ll understand why locals keep coming back.
🍺 Order This First
Howitzer Amber Ale
Balanced, approachable, and still one of the brewery’s signature beers.
🛣️ Road Trip Bonus
Spend the morning exploring Garden of the Gods.
Drive the Pikes Peak Highway.
That’s a Colorado vacation done right.
⭐ Why GI Jobs Loves It
It never feels like it’s trying too hard.
Red Leg simply feels authentic.
🍺 2. Young Veterans Brewing Company
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Founded By: Army veterans
The Vibe
Virginia Beach knows military life.
With Naval Air Station Oceana, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, and Naval Station Norfolk just across the water, uniforms are part of everyday life here.
Young Veterans Brewing doesn’t build its identity around that.
Instead, it builds great beer.
The taproom has the feel of your favorite neighborhood hangout—comfortable, relaxed, and completely unpretentious.
Walk in wearing flip-flops after a day at the beach and nobody thinks twice.
Walk in wearing boots after work and you’ll fit in just as well.
Their events calendar stays full, from trivia nights to charity fundraisers, making it as much a community hub as a brewery.
🍺 Order This First
Pineapple Grenade IPA
A local favorite with tropical notes that somehow works perfectly after a hot Virginia summer afternoon.
🛣️ Road Trip Bonus
Pair your visit with the Military Aviation Museum or spend the morning at First Landing State Park before heading over for a pint.
⭐ Why GI Jobs Loves It
It captures everything that’s great about Virginia Beach—relaxed, welcoming, and quietly patriotic.
🍺 3. Veterans United Craft Brewery
Jacksonville, Florida
Founded By: Navy veterans
The Vibe
Jacksonville is one of the country’s biggest military towns.
Naval Station Mayport.
NAS Jacksonville.
Thousands of veterans who decided never to leave.
Veterans United Craft Brewery has become one of their gathering places.
The taproom isn’t flashy.
It’s comfortable.
You’ll find regulars chatting with first-time visitors, local food trucks parked outside, and bartenders who genuinely enjoy explaining what’s on tap.
That friendliness seems intentional.
Military service taught the owners the value of belonging to something bigger than yourself.
They’ve recreated that feeling without making it the centerpiece.
🍺 Order This First
Raging Blonde Ale
Easy-drinking, crisp, and perfect for Florida’s heat.
🛣️ Road Trip Bonus
Spend the day exploring Jacksonville Beach or tour nearby Fort Caroline National Memorial before stopping in.
⭐ Why GI Jobs Loves It
It feels like the kind of brewery you’d accidentally discover—and then recommend to everyone you know.
🍺 4. 14th Star Brewing Company
St. Albans, Vermont
Founded By: Former Army officer Steve Gagner
The Vibe
If Vermont had an official brewery, this might be it.
Located just south of the Canadian border, 14th Star takes its name from Vermont becoming the 14th state admitted to the Union.
Military service shaped founder Steve Gagner’s leadership style, but the brewery itself reflects the state it’s proud to call home.
Inside you’ll find exposed brick, local artwork, and an atmosphere that encourages lingering.
Outside?
You’re surrounded by some of New England’s most beautiful scenery.
🍺 Order This First
Maple Breakfast Stout
Because if you’re in Vermont…you order something with maple.
🛣️ Road Trip Bonus
Lake Champlain, Burlington, and the Green Mountains all make easy additions to your itinerary.
⭐ Why GI Jobs Loves It
The military connection feels genuine—not manufactured—and the beer is every bit as memorable as the scenery.
🍺 5. Service Brewing Company
Savannah, Georgia
Founded By: Army veteran Kevin Ryan
The Vibe
Savannah already knows how to slow people down.
Cobblestone streets.
Historic squares.
Spanish moss hanging from giant oak trees.
Service Brewing somehow fits that pace perfectly.
The brewery proudly honors military service, but not just American service. Many of its beers recognize military history from around the world, giving every visit a little extra conversation starter.
It’s also deeply involved in veteran nonprofits and regularly supports organizations serving the military community.
That commitment shows.
This isn’t branding.
It’s part of the business.
🍺 Order This First
Compass Rose IPA
Bold enough for IPA fans without overwhelming newcomers.
🛣️ Road Trip Bonus
Spend the afternoon exploring Savannah’s historic district before settling into the taproom.
You’ll understand why so many visitors extend their stay.
⭐ Why GI Jobs Loves It
It proves you can honor military service while still creating a brewery that’s welcoming to absolutely everyone.
One thing became obvious while putting this list together.
Veterans don’t just build breweries. They build gathering places.
Some lean into military history. Others hardly mention it.
But every owner on this list has carried lessons from military service into civilian life—leadership, resilience, teamwork, and a commitment to serving their communities in a different way.
And honestly?
That might be the best thing on tap.
🍺 6. Bold Mariner Brewing Company
Norfolk, Virginia
Founded By: Navy veteran Bryan “Bud” Kwiatkowski
The Vibe
If Norfolk had an official neighborhood brewery, this would be it.
Just minutes from the world’s largest naval base, Bold Mariner has become a favorite gathering place for active-duty sailors, retirees, military families, and locals who simply appreciate great beer.
Walk through the doors and you’ll find exactly what you’d hope for in a coastal brewery: a relaxed taproom, a welcoming staff, fresh coffee in the morning, craft beer in the afternoon, and a menu built for lingering with friends.
The brewery embraces its naval heritage without making it the entire story. Instead, it focuses on what every great brewery should—good beer, good food, and good company.
It’s the kind of place where a quick stop after work easily turns into an evening catching up with old friends.
🍺 Order This First
Frogman Lager
Clean, crisp, and incredibly drinkable. It’s the perfect introduction to Bold Mariner and a fitting nod to the military community that helped inspire the brewery.
🛣️ Road Trip Bonus
Make a weekend of it. Tour the Battleship Wisconsin, visit the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, spend an afternoon at Virginia Beach, then wind down with a pint overlooking the Elizabeth River.
⭐ Why GI Jobs Loves It
Some breweries celebrate military service through décor.
Bold Mariner celebrates it by creating the kind of welcoming community every sailor hopes to find after coming ashore.
🍺 7. Honor Brewing Company
Northern Virginia
Founded By: Marine Corps veteran Tim Fink
The Vibe
Northern Virginia has no shortage of breweries.
Honor Brewing somehow still manages to stand out.
Its mission goes well beyond brewing beer. The company actively supports veterans, first responders, and military families while creating spaces where everyone feels welcome.
Inside, you’ll find families eating lunch, cyclists stopping after weekend rides, retirees catching up over lagers, and veterans who discovered the brewery through word of mouth.
The atmosphere feels more like a community center than a taproom.
Just one with much better beer.
🍺 Order This First
Honor Golden Ale
Clean, crisp, and approachable—it’s the beer that introduces a lot of people to the brewery.
🛣️ Road Trip Bonus
You’re minutes from Arlington National Cemetery, Mount Vernon, and countless Revolutionary and Civil War sites.
History buffs could easily spend an entire weekend here.
⭐ Why GI Jobs Loves It
It proves you can build a business around service without making everything about service.
🍺 8. Bear Island Brewing Company
Boise, Idaho
Founded By: Army veteran Sean “Sully” Sullivan
The Vibe
Boise might be America’s most underrated beer city.
Bear Island fits that reputation perfectly.
There’s no gimmick.
No over-the-top branding.
Just excellent beer served in a taproom where locals immediately make newcomers feel like regulars.
The brewery takes its name from Bear Island—the original name for part of downtown Boise—and has become a favorite stop for cyclists, hikers, and road trippers exploring Idaho.
🍺 Order This First
Idahome IPA
Locally inspired and packed with Northwest hop character.
🛣️ Road Trip Bonus
Pair your visit with a float down the Boise River or a hike through the Boise Foothills.
⭐ Why GI Jobs Loves It
Sometimes the best brewery in town is the one tourists almost miss.
Don’t make that mistake.
🍺 9. 5×5 Brewing Company
Mission, Texas
Founded By: Army veteran Oscar Garza
The Vibe
The name comes from military radio communications.
“Loud and clear.”
It’s fitting.
Everything about 5×5 Brewing feels straightforward.
No pretentious beer descriptions.
No complicated atmosphere.
Just good people making good beer.
The brewery has become a gathering place in South Texas, hosting live music, community events, and fundraisers throughout the year.
Military service shaped its foundation.
South Texas hospitality shapes everything else.
🍺 Order This First
Loud & Clear Blonde Ale
Easy-drinking and perfect after a hot Texas afternoon.
🛣️ Road Trip Bonus
Already heading toward South Padre Island?
This makes the perfect stop along the way.
⭐ Why GI Jobs Loves It
It’s impossible to spend an afternoon here without feeling like part of the community.
🍺 10. All-American Brew Works
Anaheim, California
Founded By: Army veteran Brandon Richards
The Vibe
This brewery doesn’t hide what it’s about.
Patriotism.
Community.
Craft beer.
Located just minutes from Disneyland, All-American Brew Works attracts an interesting mix of military families, tourists, locals, and beer enthusiasts.
One table might be celebrating a retirement.
The next is planning tomorrow’s trip to the theme parks.
It somehow works.
The atmosphere stays light, friendly, and refreshingly unpretentious.
🍺 Order This First
All-American Blonde
Crisp, refreshing, and exactly what Southern California weather calls for.
🛣️ Road Trip Bonus
Disneyland.
Angel Stadium.
Huntington Beach.
You’ll have no shortage of reasons to stay another day.
⭐ Why GI Jobs Loves It
Military pride never feels forced here.
It’s simply part of who they are.
🍺 11. Bravery Brewing Company
Lancaster, California
Founded By: Marine Corps veteran Brian Avery, alongside Air Force veteran Dave Connett and Marine Corps veteran R. Lee Ermey
The Vibe
You can tell a lot about a brewery before you ever taste the beer.
At Bravery Brewing, it’s the giant American flag on the wall.
The military aircraft hanging overhead.
The Wall of Bravery, covered with photos honoring service members past and present.
None of it feels staged.
It feels personal.
Located in California’s Antelope Valley, Bravery has become a community gathering place where military families, pilots from nearby Edwards Air Force Base, local regulars, and road-trippers all end up sharing the same tables.
There’s a full pizza kitchen, a dog-friendly patio, frequent community events, and an atmosphere that somehow manages to be patriotic without ever feeling over the top.
🍺 Order This First
The Shroud Imperial Stout
An award-winning imperial stout that’s become Bravery’s signature beer.
🛣️ Road Trip Bonus
Spend the morning exploring the aerospace history around Edwards Air Force Base or hiking Devil’s Punchbowl before grabbing dinner and a pint.
⭐ Why GI Jobs Loves It
This is the kind of brewery where honoring service isn’t part of the marketing plan.
It’s simply part of who they are.
🍺 12. Broken Strings Brewery
Orlando, Florida
Founded By: Air Force veteran John Lynch and family
The Vibe
Most people visit Orlando for theme parks.
Locals know there’s another reason.
Broken Strings.
Housed inside a beautifully restored historic building, the brewery blends exposed brick, live music, handcrafted beer, and a welcoming atmosphere that makes you want to stay for “just one more.”
Military service shaped the founders, but hospitality defines the business.
The brewery regularly hosts community events, local musicians, and fundraisers while serving everything from easy-drinking lagers to creative seasonal releases.
🍺 Order This First
Ask what’s brewed in-house that week.
Broken Strings constantly rotates taps, and that’s part of the fun.
🛣️ Road Trip Bonus
Already visiting Disney or Universal?
Skip one chain restaurant.
Spend an evening here instead.
⭐ Why GI Jobs Loves It
It’s proof that Orlando has a thriving local beer scene beyond the tourist attractions.
🍺 13. Call Sign Brewing
North Kansas City, Missouri
Founded By: Army veteran Steve Brisendine
The Vibe
Some breweries are built around beer.
Call Sign is built around stories.
Walk through the taproom and you’ll hear conversations about military service, local sports, weekend road trips, and whatever’s happening around Kansas City that week.
Nobody has to earn their seat at the table.
That’s intentional.
The brewery was founded to create the kind of place where veterans and civilians naturally come together over a great pint.
Mission accomplished.
🍺 Order This First
Call Sign IPA
Balanced enough for first-timers, flavorful enough for longtime craft beer fans.
🛣️ Road Trip Bonus
Pair your visit with the National WWI Museum and Memorial or the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum—two of Kansas City’s can’t-miss attractions.
⭐ Why GI Jobs Loves It
It’s one of those breweries that reminds you community is still alive and well.
🍺 14. Afterburner Brewing Company
Terre Haute, Indiana
Founded By: Four local military veterans
The Vibe
The name says it all.
Afterburner was founded by four veterans who weren’t interested in slowing down after military service.
Instead, they built a brewery.
Located inside Terre Haute’s historic brewing district, the taproom focuses on fresh, locally brewed beer, Indiana-grown ingredients, and creating a space where neighbors become regulars.
It’s comfortable.
It’s approachable.
And it feels exactly like the kind of brewery you’d hope to discover on a road trip through the Midwest.
🍺 Order This First
Whatever’s pouring fresh.
The brewery prides itself on brewing small batches, so the tap list is always evolving.
🛣️ Road Trip Bonus
Driving between Indianapolis and St. Louis?
This makes an easy—and worthwhile—detour.
⭐ Why GI Jobs Loves It
It feels like a brewery built by people who genuinely enjoy sharing beer with their community.
🍺 15. 608 Brewing Company
La Crosse, Wisconsin
The Vibe
This place doesn’t take itself too seriously.
And that’s part of the charm.
Creative beer names.
Experimental flavors.
Friendly bartenders.
Regulars who immediately offer recommendations before you’ve even opened the menu.
The brewery has built a reputation for trying things most breweries wouldn’t.
Sometimes weird works.
Usually, it works really well.
🍺 Order This First
Ask what’s newest.
Seriously.
The rotating taps are part of the experience.
🛣️ Road Trip Bonus
Pair your visit with the Great River Road or a weekend exploring the Mississippi River bluffs.
⭐ Why GI Jobs Loves It
Every visit feels different.
That’s surprisingly hard to pull off.
Know another one?
Tell us.
Seriously.
We’re already planning next year’s list.
🏆 The GIJobs Brewery Awards
There wasn’t a bad stop on this list.
But after way too much research (and more than a little beer talk), a few breweries stood out for reasons that had nothing to do with medals or scores.
Here are our completely unofficial—and highly opinionated—GIJobs Brewery Awards.
🍺 Best “Take the Whole Family”
🥇 Red Leg Brewing Company
Colorado Springs, Colorado
With its sprawling outdoor lawn, frequent food trucks, live music, and plenty of room for kids and dogs to roam, Red Leg feels more like a community park that happens to serve outstanding beer. It’s the easiest brewery on this list to spend an entire afternoon.
🛣️ Best Road Trip Stop
🥇 Service Brewing Company
Savannah, Georgia
Historic Savannah is already one of America’s best weekend destinations. Add one of the country’s most respected veteran-owned breweries, and you’ve got an itinerary that practically plans itself.
🌄 Best Place to Grab a Pint After an Adventure
🥇 Bear Island Brewing Company
Boise, Idaho
Spend the morning hiking the Boise Foothills or floating the Boise River. Then cool off with a locally brewed IPA just minutes from downtown. That’s a day well spent.
🇺🇸 Most Military Heritage
🥇 Backward Flag Brewing Company
Forked River, New Jersey
Military history is woven naturally into the brewery’s identity, from its name to the memorabilia throughout the taproom. It honors service without ever feeling like a theme.
🍕 Best Food & Beer Pairing
🥇 Bravery Brewing Company
Lancaster, California
Come for the craft beer.
Stay for the pizza.
Bravery’s kitchen has become almost as well known as its tap list, making it an easy recommendation for hungry road-trippers.
🌴 Best Vacation Brewery
🥇 Broken Strings Brewery
Orlando, Florida
If you’re already in Orlando, skip one chain restaurant and spend an evening discovering the city’s local beer scene instead. You’ll leave wondering why more visitors don’t.
⭐ Best Hidden Gem
🥇 Afterburner Brewing Company
Terre Haute, Indiana
It’s not in a city most people plan vacations around.
Maybe it should be.
Afterburner is exactly the kind of brewery that turns a routine road trip into a memorable stop.
🚗 Most Worth the Detour
🥇 14th Star Brewing Company
St. Albans, Vermont
Even if Vermont wasn’t already one of America’s prettiest states, 14th Star would still justify the drive.
Fortunately, you get both.
🏅 Editor’s Pick
🥇 Red Leg Brewing Company
Colorado Springs, Colorado
If we could recommend just one brewery to a veteran planning a road trip this summer, this would probably be it.
Outstanding beer.
A welcoming atmosphere.
Strong military roots.
Beautiful Colorado scenery.
It checks every box.
🍻 The Real Winner?
The veteran community.
Every brewery on this list proves the same thing: military service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off—it often becomes the foundation for building something new.
Sometimes that’s a business.
Sometimes it’s a gathering place.
Sometimes it’s the brewery where you’ll make your next favorite memory.
Raise a glass to all of them. 🇺🇸🍺
🍻 New to Craft Beer? Start Here.
Walking into a brewery can feel a little intimidating if your beer experience begins and ends with whatever’s in the cooler at the grocery store.
Here’s a cheat sheet.
🍺 Lager
Clean, crisp, refreshing.
If you’re not sure what to order, start here.
🍺 Blonde Ale
Easy-drinking with just a little more flavor than a standard lager.
🍺 Hefeweizen
Smooth, slightly fruity, and perfect for hot summer afternoons.
🍺 Amber Ale
Balanced and approachable.
Usually a crowd favorite.
🍺 IPA
More hops.
More bitterness.
If you enjoy bold flavors, this is your lane.
🍺 Stout
Dark doesn’t always mean heavy.
Coffee and chocolate notes make these perfect in cooler weather.
More Than Beer
One thing kept coming up while researching this story.
None of these owners talked much about themselves.
Instead, they talked about their employees.
Their communities.
The charities they support.
The people who keep coming back.
Military service may have taught them leadership.
Running a brewery taught them hospitality.
Those two skills happen to pair really well.
Did We Miss Your Favorite?
Probably.
That’s the good news.
Veterans continue to launch incredible breweries across America every year.
If there’s a taproom you think deserves national attention, let us know.
Drop it in the comments.
Tag us on social media.
We’d love to raise a glass to them next year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a brewery veteran-owned?
For this guide, we focused on breweries founded or co-founded by U.S. military veterans. Many continue to support veteran organizations, military charities, or employ veterans within their businesses.
Are veteran-owned breweries family friendly?
Many are. Several on this list offer outdoor seating, lawn games, food trucks, live music, and kid-friendly spaces during daytime hours. As always, check each brewery’s policies before visiting.
Can I buy these beers outside their home state?
Some distribute regionally or nationally, while others are only available in their taprooms. Visiting in person is often the best way to experience what makes each brewery unique.
Why support veteran-owned businesses?
Supporting veteran-owned businesses helps former service members continue building strong communities after military service. Many also give back through hiring veterans, supporting nonprofits, and investing locally.
