Rockhound is the closest non-chain brewery to my house and I was reallyl excited for them to open. I have been there plenty of time, as it is frequently my way home from work and an open parking spot on Park Street just calls my name on some days. The staff are all friendly and you can go for a pint, flight, or just one or two 5 oz. pours if you want.
The food is alright, but I have had some great soups and their fried cheese curd are better than most.
The Thunder Lizard, a Belgian Strong ale that is oak aged, is there best in my opinion and has a lot going on. They have a full bar and there is always a cider on tap, so there will be something for the non-beer drinkers.