Inked Approved: Our Favorite Beers for National Beer Day

This National Beer Day, Inked is raising a glass to the brews and brands shaping today’s beer culture. From crisp lagers and hop-forward IPAs to experimental and small-batch releases, this curated guide highlights beers with real character. It’s built for tastemakers, craft enthusiasts, and anyone who appreciates bold flavor paired with a strong point of view.

From established craft breweries to emerging names gaining momentum, this list spotlights standout beers alongside beer-inspired gear and glassware that reflect the culture surrounding them. Each selection is rooted in creativity, craftsmanship, and individuality, with a focus on brands that bring something distinct to the table.

Belching Beaver Brewery

Hailing from Oceanside, California, Belching Beaver Brewery has been coloring outside the lines since 2012, and nowhere is that spirit louder than in their legendary collaboration with alt-metal icons, Deftones. Named after the Deftones’ single and conceived with frontman Chino Moreno himself, Phantom Bride IPA is a West Coast crusher loaded with Amarillo, Citra, Simcoe, and Mosaic hops that deliver an aggressive burst of grapefruit, ripe peach, and tropical citrus, with just enough pine-laced bitterness to keep things honest. Put on your headphones. Crack one open.

Deep Ellum Brewing Co

Dallas Blonde is a shimmering golden ale with light floral hops and crisp bread malts. It’s a beautifully balanced, sessionable brew that goes down easy. Bright and smooth, it’s built for long afternoons on a patio. When in Texas, drink Dallas Blonde.

Boulevard Brewing Co

Step right up and gaze into the 8.5% wonder of the world, Tank 7 American Saison. Boulevard Brewing Company’s distinctly American twist on a classic Belgian-style unveils fruity aromatics and subtle spice, mingling with grapefruit hoppy notes and elegant effervescence. Whether it’s VIP or BYOB, five stars or dive bars, Tank 7 is an award-winning perfect paradox. World-class-worthy yet crafted for everyday, and capable of transporting its drinker with one sip. Boulevard has been brewing bold beers in Kansas City since 1989, and the legend of Tank 7 has grown far beyond the Midwest since, now available coast to coast.

Sacred Profane

Sacred Profane is a focused brewery and tankpub in Biddeford, Maine, dedicated to lager brewing with a balance of tradition and modern precision. Keeping things intentionally simple, the brewery offers just two beers, a Pale Lager and a Dark Lager, each crafted using techniques like open fermentation, triple decoction mashing, and conditioning in horizontal tanks. Poured directly from copper tanks above the bar, the beer is served at peak freshness. In a crowded craft space, Sacred Profane stands out by doing less, better, delivering clean, expressive lagers that speak for themselves.

Mash Gang

Mash Gang delivers award-winning, full-strength flavor—without the alcohol. Brewed with precision to less than 0.5% ABV, every step of the process is engineered to protect and elevate taste. While most non-alcoholic beers are brewed to 4–5% ABV and then stripped back, Mash Gang takes a fundamentally different approach—crafting each beer from the ground up to deliver uncompromising flavor from the start.

At its core, Mash Gang is about freedom—empowering everyone to raise a can and live in the moment, whether they’re drinking alcohol or not.