Huntsville, Alabama has a strong local craft-beer scene, but choosing a brewery is easier when you know what each place actually offers. In 2026, you can visit large brewpubs, small neighborhood taprooms, pizza-focused breweries, and the brewery cluster around Campus No. 805. This guide focuses on currently verifiable Huntsville options and clearly separates nearby Madison breweries from those inside the city.
Quick Answer
Some of the best breweries in Huntsville are Straight to Ale and Yellowhammer at Campus No. 805, Back Forty for a full brewpub experience, InnerSpace for pizza and a relaxed family-friendly taproom, Mad Malts for small-batch beer and live music, and Green Bus for a compact downtown brewery stop.
Key Takeaways
- Campus No. 805 is not one brewery. It is an entertainment and brewery complex that includes Straight to Ale and Yellowhammer Brewing.
- Straight to Ale is one of the most complete brewery visits, with beer, Ale’s Kitchen, events, and a posted Saturday brewery tour.
- Yellowhammer is a strong choice for Belgian- and German-influenced ales and lagers, with Earth & Stone Pizza next to the taproom.
- Back Forty and InnerSpace are particularly useful when you want substantial food along with locally brewed beer.
- Old Black Bear is in Madison, not Huntsville, while Wild Goose Brewery should not be treated as a current Huntsville brewery.
Best Huntsville Breweries: Quick Comparison
| Place | Best For | Food | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight to Ale | Large beer selection, events, brewery tour | Ale’s Kitchen | Campus No. 805 |
| Yellowhammer Brewing | Belgian- and German-inspired beer | Earth & Stone Pizza | Campus No. 805 |
| Back Forty Huntsville | Full brewpub, food, outdoor space | Full pub menu | Leeman Ferry Road |
| InnerSpace Brewing | Small-batch beer, pizza, relaxed atmosphere | Neapolitan and deep-dish pizza | Clinton Avenue West |
| Mad Malts Brewing | Small-batch beer and live music | Varies by event/vendor | Maple Avenue NW |
| Green Bus Brewing | Downtown nano-brewery experience | Check current offerings | Downtown Huntsville |
The Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau Craft Beer Trail is also useful for finding current breweries and taprooms around the city.
Campus No. 805: Brewery Campus, Not a Single Brewery
Campus No. 805 is one of Huntsville’s easiest destinations for combining craft beer, food, and entertainment, but it should not be described as a brewery called “Campus 805 Brewery.” The former school property is now a multi-use entertainment complex at 2620 Clinton Avenue West, with multiple businesses operating on the campus.
For beer drinkers, the two major brewery anchors are Straight to Ale and Yellowhammer Brewing. This makes Campus No. 805 a practical choice if your group wants to sample more than one brewery without driving between every stop.
Pro Tip: If you have only one evening for Huntsville beer, Campus No. 805 gives you two established breweries plus food and entertainment within the same complex.
See the official Campus No. 805 website for the current tenant directory and events.
Straight to Ale
Straight to Ale is one of Huntsville’s most established brewery destinations. Founded by local homebrewers and now operating a large facility at 2610 Clinton Avenue West inside Campus No. 805, the brewery produces beer and cider and combines the taproom experience with food and events.
Its beer lineup moves across multiple styles rather than focusing on a single category. Depending on availability, you may encounter IPAs, stouts, barrel-aged releases, lighter beers, and seasonal products. Because tap lists change, checking the brewery’s current beer page is more reliable than planning around one specific seasonal release.
Food is a major advantage here. Ale’s Kitchen operates within the Straight to Ale complex, so you can order a proper meal rather than relying only on snacks.
Brewery Tours
Straight to Ale currently advertises a free brewery tour each Saturday at 3 p.m. The brewery says the tour covers the brewing process, the history of the former school campus, and Huntsville Prohibition history. Its current instructions ask guests to check in at the merchandise area before the tour.
Because schedules can change for events or holidays, use the Straight to Ale official contact and hours page before making a trip specifically for a tour.
Yellowhammer Brewing
Yellowhammer Brewing opened in Huntsville in 2010 and moved to its current Campus No. 805 facility in 2015. The brewery says its approach draws from Belgian and German brewing traditions with a Southern interpretation.
Its published beer range includes hoppy beers, lighter styles, amber beers, dark beers, sours, and seasonal releases. That range makes Yellowhammer useful for groups whose tastes run from easy-drinking lagers to IPAs and darker beers.
One of the biggest practical advantages is food. Earth & Stone Wood Fired Pizza is connected with the Yellowhammer taproom experience, making this an easy brewery stop when your group also wants lunch or dinner.
Yellowhammer is at 2600 Clinton Avenue West, Huntsville, AL 35805. Check the official Yellowhammer Brewing website for its current draft list, events, and taproom details.
Back Forty Beer Company Huntsville
Back Forty Beer Company Huntsville deserves a place in a current guide because it combines an on-site brewhouse, a large tap selection, substantial food, and outdoor space. The Huntsville brewpub is at 3254 Leeman Ferry Road SW.
Back Forty says its Huntsville operation produces American and European-style beers on site and rotates numerous recipes through its taps. The kitchen serves full meals, including burgers, pizzas, salads, and other pub food.
This is a particularly good option when some people in your group care as much about dinner and outdoor space as they do about beer.
See the official Back Forty Huntsville page for current beer, food, hours, and event information.
InnerSpace Brewing Company
InnerSpace Brewing Company is a family-owned independent small-batch brewery at 2414 Clinton Avenue West. Its space-themed taproom offers a different feel from Huntsville’s larger brewpubs.
The brewery says it focuses on farmhouse ales, saisons, and approachable ales and lagers. The beer lineup rotates, so this is a good choice if you enjoy smaller-batch releases rather than expecting the same taps on every visit.
InnerSpace also operates a pizzeria serving wood-fired Neapolitan and deep-dish pizza. The taproom is described by the brewery as family-friendly, with board games available, while dogs are welcomed in its front patio and Biergarten areas.
Check InnerSpace Brewing’s official website for its latest beer, food, events, and operating hours.
Mad Malts Brewing
Mad Malts Brewing offers a smaller, more traditional taproom experience in Huntsville. Its official site lists the brewery at 109 Maple Avenue NW and highlights regular live music along with its beer selection.
Unique Beer Offerings
Instead of planning around generic beer names that may not actually be available, look at Mad Malts’ documented portfolio. Beers published by the brewery include:
- Dirty Blond – a session-oriented blond ale with caramel, raisin, sourdough, and nutty notes.
- MM Porter – a porter built around caramel, coffee, and dark-chocolate flavors.
- MM Double Rye – a stronger rye pale ale combining malt, rye spice, and citrus hop character.
- MM Hefeweizen – a German-style wheat beer with the banana and clove character associated with the style.
- Oatmeal Stout – a dark stout designed around a smooth mouthfeel and malt character.
Seasonal and limited beers may appear or disappear, so these examples should be treated as part of the brewery’s documented range rather than a guarantee of what will be on tap during your visit.
Atmosphere and Vibe
Mad Malts is better described as a relaxed neighborhood brewery than as a polished restaurant-style brewpub. If you prefer a smaller taproom where the beer and local events are the focus, it can provide a useful contrast to larger destinations such as Straight to Ale or Back Forty.
Events and Activities
The brewery’s official site currently promotes live music on multiple nights. Event schedules can change, so check the Mad Malts official site for the current calendar rather than assuming a particular band, trivia night, food truck, or tour will be available.
Green Bus Brewing
Green Bus Brewing gives you a smaller brewery experience in downtown Huntsville. It operates as a neighborhood nano-brewery with a changing tap list, making it a useful stop when you are already exploring downtown rather than building your entire outing around a large brewery complex.
The brewery also publishes a music schedule alongside its current taps. Check Green Bus Brewing’s official website for the latest beers, music, and business hours.
Old Black Bear Brewing Company: Nearby in Madison
Old Black Bear Brewing Company is worth knowing about if you are exploring the wider Huntsville-Madison area, but it is important to place it correctly. Its main nearby taproom is at 212 Main Street in Madison, Alabama, rather than inside Huntsville.
Old Black Bear’s current beer lineup includes options such as Cave City Lager, Roaming Bear porter, Hazy Train Hazy IPA, Triple Bogey Belgian Tripel, and other rotating beers. Its Madison location also has a substantial food menu, including burgers, sandwiches, salads, wings, and other pub dishes.
If your trip includes Madison, it can be a worthwhile addition. If you specifically want breweries inside Huntsville city limits, choose one of the Huntsville locations above first.
Visit the official Old Black Bear Brewing website for current Madison information.
Wild Goose Brewery: Not a Current Huntsville Brewery
Older or inaccurate brewery lists may refer to a Wild Goose Brewery in Huntsville, but this should not be used as a current Huntsville recommendation. The name does not appear among the current Huntsville Craft Beer Trail brewery stops, and no current Huntsville taproom under this name could be verified through reliable local or official sources.
If you are building a Huntsville brewery itinerary, replace this stop with a confirmed active brewery such as Back Forty, InnerSpace, Green Bus, Straight to Ale, Yellowhammer, or Mad Malts.
Current Posted Brewery Hours
These are the regular hours published by the breweries at the time of this 2026 update. Holiday, event, and private-event hours can change.
| Brewery | Posted Regular Hours |
|---|---|
| Straight to Ale | Mon–Thu 11 AM–10 PM; Fri–Sat 11 AM–11 PM; Sun 11 AM–8 PM |
| Yellowhammer | Mon–Thu 11 AM–9 PM; Fri–Sat 11 AM–11 PM; Sun 11 AM–8 PM |
| Back Forty Huntsville | Mon & Wed 11 AM–9 PM; Tue closed; Thu 11 AM–10 PM; Fri–Sat 11 AM–11 PM; Sun 11 AM–8 PM |
| InnerSpace | Tue–Thu 4–10 PM; Fri–Sat noon–11 PM; Sun 1–7 PM |
| Mad Malts | Mon–Tue closed; Wed–Thu 4–9 PM; Fri–Sat 4–10 PM; Sun 3–8 PM |
Note: Brewery hours and tap lists can change for holidays, special events, maintenance, or private rentals. Official brewery websites are the best source for same-day changes.
Which Huntsville Brewery Should You Choose?
If you are deciding between several breweries, match the stop to the experience you want:
- For a first Huntsville brewery visit: Straight to Ale offers beer, food, events, and a verified brewery-tour option in one location.
- For two breweries in one destination: Visit Campus No. 805 for Straight to Ale and Yellowhammer.
- For a full meal and lots of space: Back Forty Huntsville is one of the easiest choices.
- For pizza and a relaxed small-brewery atmosphere: Try InnerSpace.
- For Belgian- and German-influenced styles: Yellowhammer is a strong fit.
- For live music and a smaller taproom: Consider Mad Malts.
- For a downtown nano-brewery stop: Green Bus fits naturally into a downtown outing.
- For a nearby Madison side trip: Old Black Bear adds another brewpub option outside Huntsville.
Warning: Do not drive after drinking. Use a designated driver, rideshare, taxi, or a walkable cluster of stops. The Huntsville tourism bureau also recommends walking or using rideshare when navigating its Craft Beer Trail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are any breweries pet-friendly in Huntsville?
Yes. InnerSpace specifically says four-legged family members are welcome on its front patio and in its Biergarten. Huntsville tourism has also highlighted the patios at Straight to Ale and Yellowhammer and the spacious setting at Back Forty in its dog-friendly recommendations. Pet access can be affected by events or individual patio rules, so dogs should remain under their owner’s control.
What are the brewery hours in Huntsville?
Hours vary widely. Straight to Ale, Yellowhammer, and Back Forty normally open at 11 AM on many operating days, while InnerSpace and Mad Malts generally open later. Use the current posted-hours table above for regular schedules and check official brewery pages for holiday or event changes.
Which Huntsville breweries serve food?
Several do. Straight to Ale has Ale’s Kitchen, Yellowhammer is paired with Earth & Stone Pizza, Back Forty Huntsville operates a full kitchen, and InnerSpace serves Neapolitan and deep-dish pizza. Old Black Bear also has a full food menu at its nearby Madison taproom.
Are brewery tours available in Huntsville?
Yes, but do not assume every brewery runs a public tour. Straight to Ale currently advertises a free Saturday tour at 3 PM. Back Forty says informal tours may be available at the discretion of taproom or production staff. For other breweries, treat tours as event-specific unless their official site confirms one.
Can I purchase beer to go from Huntsville breweries?
Many breweries offer some form of packaged beer, growler, crowler, or other off-premises purchase, but products and quantities depend on the brewery’s current inventory and license. Alabama ABC licensing distinguishes on-premises and off-premises beer sales, so use each brewery’s current taproom or merchandise information for available formats.
Is Campus No. 805 a brewery?
No. Campus No. 805 is a mixed-use brewery, dining, entertainment, and event destination. Straight to Ale and Yellowhammer Brewing are two of the actual breweries located on the campus.
Is Old Black Bear Brewing in Huntsville?
No. Old Black Bear’s nearby taproom is at 212 Main Street in Madison, Alabama. It can still fit a wider Huntsville-Madison brewery trip, but it should not be described as a brewery within Huntsville.
What is the easiest area for visiting more than one brewery?
Campus No. 805 is one of the simplest choices because Straight to Ale and Yellowhammer are located within the same entertainment complex. That reduces the need to drive between brewery stops and also gives you convenient food options.
Conclusion
Huntsville gives craft-beer fans several genuinely different experiences. Start with Straight to Ale or Yellowhammer if you want the convenience of Campus No. 805, choose Back Forty for a spacious full-service brewpub, try InnerSpace for pizza and a smaller family-friendly taproom, visit Mad Malts for local beer and live music, or work Green Bus into a downtown outing. If you have extra time, Old Black Bear in Madison expands the options beyond Huntsville itself.
The main thing is to plan around breweries that are currently operating rather than relying on older lists. Check current hours and events, arrange safe transportation if you are drinking, and choose the brewery that best matches the beer, food, atmosphere, and location your group wants.
Sources
- Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau Craft Beer Trail — current local brewery and taproom listings.
- Straight to Ale — Huntsville location, operating hours, and brewery-tour information.
- Yellowhammer Brewing — brewery history, beer focus, address, food connection, and taproom hours.
- Back Forty Beer Company Huntsville — Huntsville address, hours, beer, and food information.
- InnerSpace Brewing Company — brewery focus, pizza, pet policy, address, and hours.
- Old Black Bear Brewing — Madison location, current beer information, and taproom details.
