California, United States
Lagunitas Brewing Company
Petaluma brewery whose IPA became one of the highest-volume American craft beers.
Why it matters
Demonstrated that a hop-forward IPA could be a mainstream volume product rather than a specialist one, which reshaped what American breweries expected their flagship to be.
Details
| Founded | 1993 |
|---|---|
| Where | California, United States |
| Status | Operating |
| Ownership | Fully acquired by Heineken in 2017. Recorded 2026-08-16; ownership changes without announcement. |
Reference beers
BeerHQ carries only the products that anchor something. This is not the brewery’s full range.
Styles it is associated with
- American IPA — The defining modern craft beer: intense citrus, tropical and resinous hop aroma over a lean malt base, finishing firmly bitter.
Traditions
- American craft brewing — The post-1980 American movement built on intense hop character, reinterpretation of European styles, and rapid categorical change.
Other breweries in United States
Allagash Brewing Company · Anchor Brewing · Anheuser-Busch · Athletic Brewing Company · Bell's Brewery · Brooklyn Brewery · D. G. Yuengling & Son · Deschutes Brewery
Last reviewed 2026-08-16.