This Lawrence restaurant was named one of the top brewpubs in the US
A brewpub is defined as a combination of a restaurant and a brewery, where it sells at least 25% of its beer on-site and serves food that’s beyond appetizers and shareables.
One of the best in the United States just celebrated its 37th anniversary and resides in a college town 45 minutes west from downtown Kansas City, according to a new ranking.
After nominations from an expert panel and votes from their readers, USA Today revealed its list for the top 10 brewpubs in the nation. With the motto, “Because without beer, things do not seem to go as well,” it’s only fitting that Free State Brewing Company made the cut.
The Lawrence-based brewpub ranked No. 4 on 2026’s rankings, a slight drop from when it was ranked No. 3 in 2025.
“Free State Brewing Company holds the distinction of being the state’s first legal brewery since Prohibition,” USA Today said. “It was a pioneer in the craft beer movement with a diverse range of handcrafted beers and a full-service restaurant.”
Free State Brewing Company opened its doors in 1989 at 636 Massachusetts St., when founder Chuck Magerl and his crew transformed the old Union Bus Depot . It took four years for Magerl to open the brewery, according to past reporting from The Star.
With another brewery based in San Francisco as his inspiration, Magerl formulated a business plan, gathered investors and lobbied the Kansas Legislature to loosen the state’s tight liquor laws. He dropped out of the University of Kansas’ engineering school to pursue beer, his true passion.
“Since opening the doors at our Mass Street HQ, we’ve been working day in and day out to be a haven for beer lovers, where good beer and good food can inspire lively conversations and memorable experiences,” Free State says on its website.
When it opened, Free State was one of only about 100 breweries in the United States. Now, there are over 9,000, according to the Brewer’s Association.
