Land of Beer & Metal: Cryptopsy’s Matt McGachy Lists Must Visit Breweries in America

(Editor’s note: From time to time, we manage to get lucky and some of our favorite metal artists take the time to share their passions in and out of metal. This time around, we got Cryptopsy vocalist Matt McGachy to share some of his favorite breweries and the Vox&Hops episodes attached to them when applicable. So grab a cold one, crack it open, and enjoy. Cheers!)

As some of you may know, I’m not only passionate about extreme vocals — another huge passion of mine is craft beer. So much so that, back in 2018, I launched a craft beer and metal podcast called Vox&Hops. The premise is simple: two metal musicians sit down to talk about life, metal, and share some craft beers.

This past June, I released the 500th episode of Vox&Hops and have decided to put the podcast on hiatus. The main reason for the break is that my attention needs to be fully on Cryptopsy right now. Fortunately, I still get to explore and enjoy craft beer from around the world while on tour.

On that note, I’d like to share some thoughts and experiences about a few breweries I plan to visit during our upcoming tour with Nile, The Last Ten Seconds of Life, and Cognitive, which kicks off on September 12 and runs through October 11.

Adroit Theory Brewing – Leesburg, VA

Address: 404 Browning Ct C, Purcellville, VA 20132, United States
Website: https://www.adroit-theory.com/taplist

I’ve never been to Adroit Theory’s brewery before, but I’ve definitely sampled some of their maniacal brews and even had the pleasure of chatting with Mark Osborne back in November 2020 on Vox&Hops.

They landed on my radar because of their incredibly metal branding. The artwork and beer names are brutal and visually captivating. But beyond the aesthetics, they brew BIG beers — high-ABV monsters like “Now I Am Death, Destroyer of Worlds,” a 10% hazy triple IPA. They’ve also collaborated with metal bands like Pig Destroyer.

I’m beyond stoked to finally hang out at the brewery for the first time on September 14.

KCBC Brewing (Kings County Brewers Collective) – Brooklyn, NY

Address: 381 Troutman St, Brooklyn, NY 11237, United States
Website: http://kcbcbeer.com/

I’m looking forward to returning to KCBC, which I first visited in September 2023 during the Carnival of Death Tour. I originally discovered them when Tony Bellis reached out via Instagram in January 2020 to say he was a fan of the show. I became even more intrigued after seeing them featured on The Six Most Metal Breweries.

The vibe at KCBC is laid-back and clean. The brewery concept is a blend of the founders’ passions — metal music and comic books — and their beers are well-balanced with a wide variety of styles. I’m really looking forward to returning on September 15 and hopefully sharing another beer with Tony.

Surly Brewing Co. – Minneapolis, MN

Address: 520 Malcolm Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414, United States
Website (menu): https://surlybrewing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2024-FOOD-MENU-5.8.24.pdf

Surly is one of the bigger breweries on this list, and I’m constantly impressed by the scale of their operation. I first visited in June 2024, thanks to Josh Lemke, who gave us an incredible behind-the-scenes tour. The place is massive — when we pulled up, I thought we were in the wrong spot.

They even have a centrifuge machine that spins at such high velocity, it needs its own enclosed room. The taproom is huge, metal as hell, and features a killer outdoor patio. Not to mention the amazing pizza parlor onsite — the vegan option is a great touch.

Their beerds are consistently top-notch and crushable. Some of my favorites include Furious IPA and Hell Lager. Surly also puts on Darkness Day, a fall metal and beer festival. I’d love to play it someday.I’ll be returning to Surly on September 27th, and can’t wait to have another beer with Josh.

Holy Mountain Brewing Company – Seattle, WA

Address: 1421 Elliott Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119, United States

For years, people told me I had to try Holy Mountain. I finally got the chance during the Carnival of Death Tour in September 2023. The moment I walked into the taproom, I knew I was in the right place — extreme music playing, chill atmosphere, and top-tier beer.

I met Jose Perez there, who recognized me as the singer of Cryptopsy and graciously gave me a tour. Their beers are unique, perfectly balanced, and consistently excellent. I especially love their wet hop beers, brewed with hops harvested and used the same day — a benefit of being so close to the Yakima Valley.They also produce fantastic, nuanced sour beers that aren’t overpowering. I’m really looking forward to heading back on October 3rd.

TRVE Brewing – Denver, CO

Address: 227 Broadway #101, Denver, CO 80203, United States
Website: http://trvebrewing.com/

TRVE Brewing was always a special stop for me. Their taproom had a moody, metal vibe and the music was always on point. Their beers, particularly their IPAs, were subtle, balanced, and crushable. Their sours, though, were the real standouts.

They also partnered with Music City Hot Chicken, which made every visit even better.

Sadly, they are now closing their taproom. It’s unclear what the future holds for TRVE, but I sincerely hope they continue brewing.

Chicago, IL – 3 Floyds Brewing & Miskatonic Brewing – Munster, IN

Address: 9750 Indiana Pkwy, Munster, IN 46321, United States
Website: http://www.3floyds.com/

3 Floyds is the most iconic and influential metal brewery in the world. I finally visited in June 2024, got a full tour of their awe-inspiring facility, and felt the metal energy in every corner.

They’ve collaborated with legendary bands like Cannibal Corpse and Obituary — though I’ll admit I’m a bit jealous Cryptopsy hasn’t had the chance yet. Classics like Zombie Dust and Gumballhead are still favorites of mine. Every metal brewery owes a nod of respect to 3 Floyds.

Miskatonic Brewing

Address: 1000 N Frontage Rd c, Darien, IL 60561, United States
Website: http://www.miskatonicbrewing.com/

Miskatonic may not be metal-branded, but my good friend Mik Dempsey, who works there, is a huge metalhead. I visited in September 2023 and loved the experience. The taproom is cozy, the beers are well-crafted, and they’ve done several Vox&Hops collabs over the years — always a plus in my book.

To wrap things up, I’m sure I’ve missed some great breweries—so if you have any suggestions, hit me up on social media. I’m beyond stoked to kick off this tour, share Cryptopsy’s new album An Insatiable Violence with all of you, and try some killer brews along the way!

The Underworld Awaits Tour USA 2025
featuring Nile, Cryptopsy, The Last Ten Seconds of Life & Cognitive

September 12 – Raleigh, NC @ Chapel of Bones [TICKETS]
September 13 – Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts [TICKETS]
September 14 – Leesburg, VA @ Tally Ho [TICKETS]
September 16 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Monarch [TICKETS]
September 17 – Hampton, NH @ Wally’s [TICKETS]
September 18 – Hartford, CT @ Webster Hall [TICKETS]
September 19 – Lititz, PA @ Mickey’s Black Box [TICKETS]
September 20 – Clifton, NJ @ Dingbatz [TICKETS]
September 21 – Rochester, NY @ Montage Music Hall [TICKETS]
September 22 – Cleveland, OH @ Mercury [TICKETS]
September 24 – Detroit, MI @ Sanctuary [TICKETS]
September 25 – Hobart, IN @ Hobart Art Theatre [TICKETS]
September 26 – Madison, WI @ The Annex [TICKETS]
September 27 – Minneapolis, MN @ Studio B Skyway [TICKETS]
September 28 – Belvidere, IL @ Apollo Theater [TICKETS]
September 29 – Sioux Falls, SD @ Bigs Bar [TICKETS]
October 1 – Billings, MT @ Pub Station [TICKETS]
October 3 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon [TICKETS]
October 4 – Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory [TICKETS]
October 5 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory [TICKETS]
October 6 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge [TICKETS]
October 7 – Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater [TICKETS]
October 9 – Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s* [TICKETS]
October 10 – Chicago, IL @ Reggie’s* [TICKETS]
October 11 – Indianapolis, IN @ Hi-Fi Annex* [TICKETS]
*Nile, Cryptopsy and Cognitive only

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