Top 10 MLB Ballparks for Craft Beer Lovers
Nicknamed “America’s Pastime”, baseball has a special connection with many Americans. Millions of young boys (and now girls) spend their springs and summers playing Little League baseball, one of the largest youth sports organizations in the United States. As fans, we grow up watching our hometown teams and form lifelong connections with them and the ballparks they play in.
Beer goes hand-in-hand with baseball games and ballparks. There’s nothing quite like sitting down on a Sunday afternoon with a beer and a hot dog to watch the boys play ball. Luckily for craft beer lovers, major league ballparks across the country are providing fans with more choices of beer beyond Budweiser or Coors. These are the Top 10 MLB Ballparks for Craft Beer Lovers.
1. Safeco Field, Seattle WA
Team: Seattle Mariners @Mariners
This was actually the easiest to choose as the number 1 major league ballpark in the United States for craft beer. With a fantastic selection of local Pacific Northwest beer as well as top picks from craft breweries across the country, Safeco Field is the premier place to watch a baseball game for craft beer lovers.
Notable Beers: Fremont Summer Ale, Laurelwood Workhorse IPA
2. Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati OH
Team: Cincinnati Reds @Reds
Home to the first professional baseball team in the Reds, Great American Ballpark slots in as number 2 on our list of top ballparks for craft beer lovers. With a few of the Ohio River and the state of Kentucky on the other side, you can’t go wrong with a strong pint and some fresh river air.
Notable Beers: Bell’s Two Hearted, Rhinegeist Truth
3. Petco Park, San Diego CA
Team: San Diego Padres @Padres
Right in the heart of downtown San Diego and near the water lies Petco Park. San Diego’s reputation of being home to one of the country’s best craft beer communities extends into the ballpark where highly ranked local beers are always on tap.
Notable Beers: Stone Ruination IPA, Ballast Point Sculpin IPA
4. Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore MD
Team: Baltimore Orioles @Orioles
With a throwback design and a retro feel, Oriole Park at Camden Yards feel unequivocally like a proper baseball ballpark. The beer selection isn’t bad either: like the rest of Baltimore the Orioles have embraced their local craft beer community by stocking the stadium with an abundance of delicious choices.
Notable Beers: Flying Dog Imperial IPA, Heavy Seas Loose Cannon
5. Progressive Field, Cleveland OH
Team: Cleveland Indians @Indians
Cleveland sports fans already have enough going for them with the new arrivals of Johnny Manziel and LeBron James; adding to that the great beer available at Indians game completes the sports trifecta. With an urban background, Progressive Field sits tucked away in Cleveland, ideal for those mid-week day games or after-work happy hour sessions.
Notable Beers: Great Lakes Brewing Dortmunder Gold Lager, Fat Head’s Head-Hunter IPA
6. AT&T Park, San Francisco CA
Team: San Francisco Giants @SFGiants
AT&T Park is without a doubt the most aesthetically pleasing ballpark in the United States, no matter what any Red Sox or Cubs fan might argue. Every baseball fan should experience at least one Giants game by the bay; cross your fingers someone smashes a homer into McCovey Cove while you’re at it. Oh, and they have great beer from Northern California there waiting for you as well.
Notable Beers: Anchor Steam Beer, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
7. PNC Park, Pittsburgh PA
Team: Pittsburgh Pirates @Pirates
Featuring some of the best city and river views of any ballpark, PNC Park in Pittsburgh is the pride of baseball fans in western Pennsylvania. A revitalized and more modern local economy has attracted brewers to the area, which is great news for Pirates fans and craft beer lovers everywhere.
Notable Beers: Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, Victory Hope Devil Ale
8. Nationals Park, Washington DC
Team: Washington Nationals @Nationals
The Nationals’ continued rise in success since their inception in the mid-2000s has created one of the best baseball atmospheres anywhere in the country. Their ballpark started selling craft beer right away, albeit from selections across the country. We’re glad to say that they have started serving more local selections from the DC metro area now as well.
Notable Beers: Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter, Allagash Saison Ale
9. Comerica Park, Detroit MI
Team: Detroit Tigers @tigers
The designers of this ballpark did a great job at giving it a local feel, as watching a Tigers game from Comerica Park truly feels like you’re in urban Detroit. Something about the general lack of advertisements, open outfield city views, and that Tigers logo above the scoreboard gives the stadium a great Detroit kind of vibe.
Notable Beers: Founders Red’s Rye IPA, New Holland Full Circle
10.Citizen’s Bank Park, Philadelphia PA
Team: Philadelphia Phillies @Phillies
The passionate fans of Philadelphia (almost to a fault) have themselves a beautiful ballpark in The Bank as its nicknamed. Featuring great craft beer from both the surrounding area as well as the rest of the Northeast, Phillies fans can rejoice in their beer selection (just take it easy alright!)
Notable Beers: Victory Hope Devil Ale, Sly Fox Pikeland Pils
