Omaha and its surrounding areas are known for many things: the Henry Doorly Zoo, the College World Series, Fontenelle Forest, and The Old Market to name a few, but we’ve also got a pretty excellent brewery scene. From Benson to LaVista, there are over twenty breweries from which to choose, making it nearly impossible to decide on which one to visit. For the Omaha Moms Blog community, my husband and I took on the very arduous task of taking notes while we visited breweries this winter.
Snuggled in a Center Street location, Vis Major has taken over where an old grocery store left off. It’s decorated gorgeously, and the beer and snacks are delicious. There’s a large bar for those who prefer bar seating, but there’s also a dining hall and stools overlooking Center Street.
My husband and I ordered a flight from Vis Major of Amulet Ale, Tridents Trio, The Guardian, The Odd Nod Oatmeal Stout, the Lavender Blonde Ale, and Thicket and Thorns. For those who like a fruity beer, the Tridents Trio had a wonderful finish. My husband thought the Oatmeal Stout was one of the best he’s had, and since I enjoy a hoppy IPA, I really liked The Guardian. This was my first time visiting Vis Major, and I’ll definitely be back. There were board games and an affordable partial menu making it welcoming for families. Vis Major has merchandise for sale and a nice staff. It is a great place for any craft beer lover.
Atmosphere: 4/5
Beer: 5/5
Family-friendly: 4/5
One of our favorite breweries is Nebraska Brewing Co. in Papillion. The food, the atmosphere, the beer, the staff are all excellent. I prefer the Capital Pale Ale while my husband enjoys the Nebraska Brewing IPA. On Sundays, customers can bring a mug or stein and get it filled for at a discounted price. When it’s just my husband and I, we like to sit at the bar or on the patio at the Shadow Lake location, but if we stop by with the kids, they beg to go to the tap room on 108th street. They have free old school video games, pinball, life-sized Jenga, and a pool table. The brew pub has a full menu and the tap room has snacks. It’s a good time each time, and I would highly recommend visiting Nebraska Brewing Co.
Atmosphere: 5/5
Beer: 5/5
Family-friendly: 5/5
Farnam House is located in what is called Beer Corner USA on 36th and Farnam. They offer a wide variety of beer styles. When my husband and I visited, we purchased a flight that contained some hoppy selections along with an Irish red and a porter. It’s no surprise that I favored the IPA and my husband enjoyed the Irish red. Farnam House has a large seating area and friendly staff. They have a full menu and board games to enjoy. We recommend the chips and queso!
Atmosphere: 4/5
Beer: 3.5/5
Family-friendly: 3/5
I would be remiss if I did not have a brewery in Benson on this list. Benson is such a fun area to visit for food and fun. At the Benson Brewery, they have a yummy wheat, an ESB, and seasonal ciders on tap. In the summer, it’s fun to sit outside and soak up the warmth while enjoying a cold brew. The full menu is a perfect complement to the craft brews on tap. While it isn’t the best for kids, it would make a great place for a date night or get-together with friends.
Atmosphere: 5/5
Beer: 5/5
Family-friendly: 3/5
Vanilla Bean Blonde and Radial IPA are household staples of beer lovers across the metro, and visiting where magic like this is made was fantastic. Housed in Historic Benson this 1917 building was restored from Olsen’s Meat Market and developed into a perfect place for a delicious tap room. When I return, I plan to try their Pistachio Porter and Butcher Block Brown beers on tap. Infusion has another location in Papillion. Although it’s smaller, the staff is just as friendly and the beer is just as fresh. There isn’t a full food menu, so I would visit sans kids. However, I recommend Infusion to any beer lover. There is a style to please all palettes.
Atmosphere: 4/5
Beer: 5/5
Family-friendly: 2.5/5
Jaipur is a casual dining restaurant located in the middle of Rockbrook Shopping Center. While it is known for its delicious Indian food and romantic atmosphere, Jaipur brews its own beer on site. My husband and I purchased a flight of deliciousness including a raspberry wheat, jalapeno beer, a nut brown ale, and an IPA. The jalapeno beer was the freshest either of us had ever tasted, and the raspberry wheat was incredibly refreshing. We ordered an appetizer sampler, and enjoyed the service we received. While kids would be welcome, we found the environment to be more for adults. Jaipur’s beer and food did not disappoint.
Atmosphere: 4/5
Beer: 5/5
Family-friendly: 3/5
Upstream has been my family’s favorite for many years. Located downtown in a renovated fire hall, the Upstream has one of the best happy hours around. The Upstream is very family friendly, and my kids love playing with the Wiki Sticks that come with the kids meals. In the summer, it’s nice to sit out on the patio and watch the bustling Old Market while enjoying a cold brew. Selections include the O! Goldlight Lager, the Capitol Pale Ale, the Dundee 90 Scotch Ale, and the Flagship IPA to name a few. We love the appetizers, the friendly staff, and, of course, the beer.
Atmosphere: 5/5
Beer: 4/5
Family-friendly: 5/5
Lucky Bucket Brewing was one of the first production breweries in the Omaha area. The pre-prohibition lager put them on the map, but they have a wide selection of many styles of craft beer. Lucky Bucket has a gorgeous tasting room open every day except Sundays from 4-10 pm. The first Saturday of every month they hold brewery tours. My husband and I took one of those when it first opened, and got to see the way the brewery works behind the scenes. The staff is knowledgeable and open to questions on the tours. Kids would not have the best time at Lucky Bucket, making it a great place to escape with your favorite adults.
Atmosphere: 5/5
Beer: 5/5
Family-friendly: 2/5
One of the most aesthetically pleasing breweries on our tour was Kros Strain in La Vista. Kros Strain has a dimly lit tasting room with lights shaped like hop cones over the bar. The nineties music is always on, and board games line one side of the hall. Kros Strain has added a large game room with a large corn hole game, and a life-size Jenga set. The Fairy Nectar IPA is my favorite, but many of my friends enjoy These Boots are Made for Hopping which is a session IPA. Kros Strain has recently added a Nebraska Strong Red Ale to join other Nebraska breweries giving back to the 2019 flood victims. Kids are welcome in this establishment, but there are only small snacks for sale behind the bar. Kros Strain is one of my favorite places to go for a beer and a fun atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5/5
Beer: 4/5
Family-friendly: 5/5
Located in the same building as Kros Strain, Pint 9 Brewing has excellent, scientifically engineered beer. This adult-friendly brewery is quaint and fun. The beer they have on tap is excellent. My husband really enjoys their ESB. Grab a glass or take home a crowler of your favorite Pint 9 beer. There is no food menu, but they often have a food truck out front for their customers. Although the tap room is small, once you get a stool, a good time is had by all.
Atmosphere: 3.5/5
Beer: 5/5
Family-friendly: 2/5