American Craft Beer Hall of Fame Launches “Landmark Craft Beers” Program to Celebrate Iconic Brews That Shaped U.S. Beer History

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American Craft Beer Hall of Fame Launches “Landmark Craft Beers” Program to Celebrate Iconic Brews That Shaped U.S. Beer History

CHICAGO, IL — August 12, 2025 — The American Craft Beer Hall of Fame, the nation’s foremost institution dedicated to celebrating the legacy and impact of craft brewing in the United States, is proud to announce the launch of its newest initiative: Landmark Craft Beers.

This program, created to honor individual beers that have left a lasting mark on American brewing and drinking culture, will recognize those singular brews that have helped define, advance, or transform the craft beer movement in the U.S.

“In the story of American craft beer, certain individual beers stand out not just as commercial successes, but as cultural and historical milestones,” explained Marty Nachel, Founder and President of the American Craft Beer Hall of Fame. “Landmark Craft Beers is our way of shining a spotlight on those truly pivotal creations—beers that helped start revolutions, inspired brewers, and changed how Americans think about what beer can be.”

The inaugural class of Landmark Craft Beers includes five foundational brews, as voted on by the Hall’s distinguished group of electors and advisors:

• Sierra Nevada Pale Ale – The beer that brought Cascade hops to national prominence and helped define the American Pale Ale style.
• Samuel Adams Boston Lager – An icon that helped to bring full-flavored beer to mainstream audiences in the 1980s and put American craft beer on the global map.
• Anchor Steam Beer – The resurrection of a truly American beer style, and one that helped define the image and concept of craft beer for decades to come.
• Celis White (Witbier) – A revival of a nearly extinct Belgian style that brought traditional wheat beer to American craft drinkers.
• Anchor Liberty Ale – An early pioneer in the creation of the modern concept of American IPA, and an early standard bearer for what would become the country’s most important style of beer.

Each beer in the Landmark Craft Beers program will be featured on the Hall of Fame’s website along with historical context and reflections on their cultural impact. Additional inductees will be announced annually, with nominations open to the public and evaluated by a panel of beer historians, brewers, writers, and industry veterans.

“This program isn’t about nostalgia. It is about looking to the past for inspiration for the future,” said Aaron MJ Gore, the Hall’s Vice-President. “By reflecting on the beers that helped to move the needle forward for an entire industry, today’s brewers can find the catalyst for the Landmark Beers of today.”

To learn more about the Landmark Craft Beers program, the American Craft Beer Hall of Fame, or to donate in support of its mission to recognize and celebrate those who helped to build the American craft beer industry, visit the Hall online.