Two Ambler breweries three miles from Blue Bell earned spots in Main Line Today's guide to the region's top craft beer destinations, published July 24.
Forest & Main Brewing and Well Crafted Beer Company, both on Ambler's compact borough streets bordering Whitemarsh Township, made the list alongside more than 20 breweries across the Main Line area. Neither took the magazine's top honor. That went to Victory Brewing in Downingtown, which won Best Brewery in the 2026 Best of the Main Line & Western Suburbs awards.
Forest & Main: wild yeast and a Victorian house origin story
Co-founders Daniel Endicott and Gerard Olson started Forest & Main in 2012 inside a converted Victorian house at the corner of Forest and Main streets. The house held 50 people, maybe 70 when drinkers spilled onto the front porch. In 2021, the pair moved brewing operations to a larger facility at 241 N. Main St. to expand barrel-aging and lager production, while keeping The Pub open at 33 E. Butler Ave.
Each spring, Olson forages wild yeast from cherry tree blossoms and forsythia bushes on the property to culture into the brewery's farmhouse saisons. Endicott designs every label and piece of artwork. Both live in Ambler with their families.
Main Line Today highlighted Skyline, a 4.1% ABV hazy "baby" IPA, and Night Lines, a 7.4% American stout that Main Line Today called "dangerously crushable." Forest & Main does not serve food at either location.
The Brewery hours: Thursday 5–9 p.m., Friday through Saturday noon–9 p.m., Sunday noon–6 p.m.
The Pub hours: Monday through Thursday 4–10 p.m., Friday through Saturday noon–11 p.m., Sunday noon–8 p.m.
Hours may vary; check forestandmain.com before visiting.
Well Crafted: 27 years of brewing and $6 happy hour pints
Well Crafted Beer Company has been brewing since 1999, making it one of the area's longest-running craft operations. Its name nods to the original well water used in early brewing. The Ambler taproom sits at 300 Brookside Ave., Building 19.
The guide spotlighted Philly Yo!, a 5% ABV ale, as a crowd-pleaser. Well Crafted has produced more than 300 beers over its history, according to Untappd, with top-rated offerings including Hop Monger (New England IPA) and Tiger Tail (cream ale). The taproom serves a full food menu with burgers, flatbreads, and gluten-free options.
Happy hour runs Tuesday through Friday, 4 to 6 p.m., with 16-ounce drafts at $6. Well Crafted was named Montco's Best Rated brewery by Montco Happenings in 2024.
The brewery also operates a taproom at 310 Madison St. in Lansdale and runs a seasonal pop-up at Skippack Village, though 2026 pop-up dates have not been announced. Check wellcraftedbeer.com for updates.
