Beer isn't just beer anymore. Many people's palates prefer microbrews and specialty beers these days, and in Wyoming discerning beer drinkers can get the good stuff just about anywhere. As a matter of fact, there are so many breweries in the Cowboy State that it could very well be the beer capital of the U.S. To give you a taste, so to speak, we've put together a list of 17 of the most awesome breweries in Wyoming.

1. Melvin Brewing, 624 County Road 101, Alpine

Hours: Wednesday - Monday, noon to 11 p.m.

They say it's not the size of the brewery that counts, but this is a brewery! Melvin brewers specialize in IPAs, but they do have an award-winning blonde ale as well as a Mexican-style lager on tap. You can get some tasty bar food at Melvin, too, like pot stickers and the loaded fries are a meal in themselves.

2. Ten Sleep Brewing Company, 2549 US-16, Ten Sleep

Hours: Monday - Friday, 2 to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, noon to 11 p.m.

You know Wyoming is serious about its beer when even tiny towns like Alpine and Ten Sleep have their own breweries. The Ten Sleep Brewing Company has mastered all the basic beers you know and love from ambers and ales to IPAs and porters. Plus, they offer artisan pizzas to go along with their brews.

3. Freedom's Edge Brewing Company, 1509 Pioneer Avenue, Cheyenne

Hours: Monday - Thursday, 3 to 9 p.m.; Friday, 3 to 11 p.m.; Saturday 1 to 11 p.m.; Sunday 1 to 6 p.m.

You'll find this original little brewery in Cheyenne's historic business district. They offer a range of beers from pale ales to stouts and everything in between, including an Irish ale. If you stop by, try the High Noon Chili Ale, an American pale ale brewed with habanero, serrano, and jalapeno peppers to give it a bit of a tingle. Freedom's Edge is a small brewery, and they don't serve food, but they are close to establishments that do offer take-out. And, yes, that is a cool glass garage door in the front that FE opens when the weather is nice.

4. Gillette Brewing Company, 301 South Gillette Avenue, Gillette

Hours: Monday - Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Proud to be the first microbrewery in Gillette, GBC has a nicely rounded menu of beers including ambers, ales, and porters. They also do a tasty Scottish ale worth writing home about. The smooth cream ale and gluten-free ale are other unique brews that deserve a mention. The Gillette Brewing Company has growlers to go, or you can stay and enjoy your microbrew with an order of wings or a hand-tossed pizza.

5. Frontier Brewing Company and Taproom, 117 East 2nd Street, Casper

Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 3 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

This cool little microbrewery in downtown Casper does things a bit differently. Customers can pour their own from the self-pour tap system that features Frontier's own brews alongside award-winning beers from other Wyoming breweries. Get involved in a board game tournament with locals or just sit back and enjoy the live music. Frontier Brewing doesn't have an on-site kitchen, but food trucks are parked nearby to provide the nosh.

6. Headstrong Brewery, 126 North 3rd Street, Douglas

Hours: Monday - Saturday, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Open seasonally on Sundays.

The homebrews Headstrong specializes in are inventive and flavorful. From the refreshing lemon Koelsch to the bodacious English brown ale, there's something for everyone. Plus, this brewery recognizes that sometimes people want to drink something other than beer (gasp!), so their menu also includes wine, apple ale, hard lemonade, and a selection of mixed drinks. In fact, they feature a Bloody Mary bar on the Sundays that they're open. No food served here, but you're welcome to BYO snack from the food trucks outside.

7. Lander Brewing Co., 148 Main Street, Lander

Hours: Monday - Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The Lander Brewing Company actually got its start in the 1800s - it just took a 120-year hiatus after prohibition forced the doors closed. Today, LBC is back up and running, and winning awards to boot for delicious microbrews like the Half-Tanked Hefe, Silver Fox Saison, and Rock Chuck Rye, to name a few. Plus, the burgers and pizzas can't be beat.

8. MISHAP! Brewing Company, 48 South Main Street, Buffalo

Hours: Wednesday, 3 to 8 p.m.; Thursday - Saturday, 1 to 10 p.m.

One of the best breweries in the state is sitting right at the foot of the Bighorn Mountain Range in historic downtown Buffalo. Naturally, MISHAP! features a Longmire Ale, but there's also a chili brew, an oatmeal stout, and a cream ale in the lot, too. They'll tell you up front that there's no food on the menu, but MISHAP! has no problem with you bringing in your own order from one of the scrumptious nearby restaurants.

9. Pat O'Hara Brewing Company, 1019 15th Street, Cody

Hours: Wednesday - Monday, 11 a.m. to closing

This brewery started with the vision of creating a unique dining experience in addition to offering northwestern Wyoming awesome beer. O'Hara's keeps 15 craft beers on tap - not only their superb in-house brews but also a few from other select Rocky Mountain-area breweries. As for the dining experience, this pub specializes in Irish fare such as shepherd's pie, fish and chips, and Irish bangers. Ever try Irish egg rolls? You can at Pat O'Hara's!

10. Coal Creek Tap, 108 East Grand Avenue, Laramie

Hours: Monday - Sunday, noon to 11 p.m.

This award-winning brewery started out like many others - in a beer-lover's basement. Over 20 years later it's turning out some of the best brews in the state. Lagers, blondes, IPAs, and even a coffee stout (a nod to Coal Creek's sister business, the coffee shop next door), you'll find a beer to suit your pleasure at Coal Creek Tap. They'll fill your growler, and Coal Creek serves up tasty lunch and dinner foods such as sandwiches, soups, hand-tied pretzels, and pizzas, too.

11. One Eyed Buffalo Brewing Company, 528 Broadway Street, Thermopolis

Hours: Monday - Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The beer selection at OEB changes frequently, but with honey ales, Belgian witbiers, and the usual amber, IPA, and stout suspects, you can count on always getting a great beer here. What's more, the good folks at One Eyed Buffalo appreciate great food and take pride in serving real food that's made fresh, like flatbread pizzas, mac n' cheese, and barbecue slow smoked right there on-site.

12. Roadhouse Brewing Co., 2550 Moose Wilson Road, Jackson Hole

Hours: Open nightly at 5 p.m.

If you've traveled the road between Jackson and Teton Village, you've seen the big "Q" sign out in front of Roadhouse Brewing. It's been a good ole' roadhouse for years, but there's more than great atmosphere at this brewery. The Roadhouse specializes in ales of all types plus the food is a cut above most bar munchies. Sure, you can get wings, pretzels, fried pickles, burgers, and tacos here, but they're all made fresh and with a gourmet twist.

13. Snowy Mountain Brewery & Pub, 601 East Pic Pike Road, Saratoga

Hours: Monday - Sunday, 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Snowy Mountain self-bills as Wyoming's finest brewery, and it's hard to argue with them. It is the third oldest brewery in the state, and they've added their own style to tradition to turn out a wide assortment of core beers and seasonals. Even if you try everything from the High Altitude Helles to the Chocolate Meltdown Porter, it still might be hard to choose a favorite. It's one of the pubs that serve food, too, so you can enjoy snacks like tacos, pizza, and other things that go great with beer when you visit Snowy Mountain.

14. Wind River Brewing Company, 402 West Pine Street, Pinedale

Hours: Sunday - Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight

Yes, Pinedale is small, but it's home to one of the best breweries in Wyoming. Among the porters, stouts, and pale ales at WRBC, you'll find delightful surprises like an extra-special bitter, a mango-infused Weissbier, and beers with nitrogen added for an unbelievably smooth experience. They also offer a full menu of appetizers, salads, soups, sandwiches, and steaks if you're hungry as well as thirsty.

15. Suds Bros. Brewery, 1012 Main Street, Evanston

Hours: Monday - Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday, noon to 8 p.m.

The Suds Brothers craft lineup includes three award-winning brews, but you're likely to love whatever is on tap when you go in. The menu does change, but you can expect to find ambers, ales, IPAs, and porters to suit whatever mood you're in. The food leans to traditional bar fare, but the burgers, fries, and fried cheese curds are some of the best you'll ever taste.

16. Bitter Creek Brewing, 604 Broadway Street, Rock Springs

Hours: Monday - Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For over 15 years, Bitter Creek Brewing has been providing Rock Springs and the rest of the state with tasty top-notch beer. During that time they've expanded and perfected their list of brews so that it now includes porters, pale ales, lagers, and a delightful Belgian-style hefeweizen. This brewery is one that does offer food on the menu, and they take pride in presenting their version of pub favorites such as Thai chicken nachos, potato skins, jalapeno poppers, and pizza in addition to other delectable dishes.

17. Black Tooth Brewing Company, 312 Broadway, Sheridan Hours: Monday - Thursday, noon to 10 p.m.; Friday - Saturday, noon to 11 p.m.; Sunday, 2 to 7 p.m.

At Black Tooth, it's all about brewing craft beer of quality. Headed up by a 2007 Brewer of the Year, this brewery turns out some of the best ales you'll ever taste, and they add stouts, lagers, ryes, and pilsners to the lineup seasonally. Black Tooth doesn't offer a full food menu, though there are bowls of pretzels and popcorn to munch on. The Thai food truck just outside, however, comes highly recommended.

When you're thirsting for a pint, what Wyoming brewery do you head to?