Give us your Top 20 American craft brewers

[Anthony_Lombardi]

@Howard Roselinsky

@Brian G r a f s t r o m

@Howard Roselinsky

…
2) southern cal recently just got widespread distribution on Bells and Goose Island, I have tried a few, and have to say, I don’t get it, yet? Any recs on something I should try from one or the other?

Howard

Where are you seeing Bells in SoCal? I’d love to get my hands on some. Bells makes my list, and they do so on the strength of a very solid lineup across the board (imo). Their Amber ale is one of my favorite Ambers (admittedly, I don’t drink many); their Porter is fantastic, and distinctive; their Sparkling Ale is phenomenal, and the Two Hearted strikes what I consider to be the perfect balance between west coast and east coast IPA styles. Their lineup of stouts is phenomenal. I can’t speak on their lagers b/c I’m not a lager guy, and I can’t really speak on their Pale Ale or Best Brown Ale b/c it’s been a loooong time since I’ve had either. Oh yeah — almost forgot — their Oberon Hefeweizen, which is released annually in March, is my favorite American-made Hefe.

Brian,

In north county San Diego it is everywhere suddenly… Bevmo, Whole Foods, my local Leucadia liquor store. Interesting comment on the Two Hearted as a mix of styles, it certainly didn’t come off West coast; my taste buds are ruined from too many SD IPA’s though, however, I tire of the huge hopped and mostly bitter IPA. I don’t necessarily want complete balance, but better malt and less boozy is what I seek. The oberon is around in cans and bottles, I will try that.

Thanks for the comments, I will check out BCBS in November, assuming it makes its way out here.

Howard

Have you tried the Alpine, Societe &/or Council stuff? I think all of those show off hop flavors without off putting astringent bitterness.

[Glenn_L_e_v_i_n_e]

C’mon, Societe has bitterness as a fairly consistent quality.

[CFu]

@Glenn L e v i n e

C’mon, Societe has bitterness as a fairly consistent quality.

??? I don’t think so. Their IPAs are really balanced. Which ones have stood out as bitter?

[Glenn_L_e_v_i_n_e]

Pupil & Dandy are really good IPAs but you have to think bitterness is a quality many would ascribe.

[BobH]

I had my last New Glarus Serendipity from TimF yesterday, and I suppose I should add them to my list. I never think of them as having cachet- they were simply the local beer that we had when I was in town for a conference. We had their entire line-up mostly, and enjoyed most of it. It wasn’t until reading people talk about them here that I realized they had any following out side of their little area.

[G_Greenbaum]

After our trip to Portland, have to add Upright Brewery.

@G. Greenbaum

Random:

Alpine
RRBC
Port
Beachwood
Cascade
Almanac
Rare Barrel
Omegang
Anchor
Firestone
Epic
Green Flash
Goose Island
Hair of the Dog
Kern River
Drakes
Bear Republic
Clown Shoes
North Coast
The Bruery

[Peter_Petersen]

@C Fu

@Glenn L e v i n e

C’mon, Societe has bitterness as a fairly consistent quality.

??? I don’t think so. Their IPAs are really balanced. Which ones have stood out as bitter?

Pupil is fairly bitter. Not complaining, just an observation.

[Scott_Tallman]

@G. Greenbaum

After our trip to Portland, have to add Upright Brewery.

@G. Greenbaum

Random:

Alpine
RRBC
Port
Beachwood
Cascade
Almanac
Rare Barrel
Omegang
Anchor
Firestone
Epic
Green Flash
Goose Island
Hair of the Dog
Kern River
Drakes
Bear Republic
Clown Shoes
North Coast
The Bruery

Yes - Upright is great.

[TR_Barry]

Kulshan
Chuckanut
Schooner Exact
Boneyard
Heater Allen
Green Flash
Hair of the Dog
Deschutes
Lagunitas
Telluride
Upright
Odin
10 Barrel
Firestone
Epic
Stone

[ToddFrench]

I see a lot of New Holland here, and I’m currently enjoying a Sundog - fantastic amber

[M_Hudson]

I have never seen half these in local shops so I cant really compare. Locally my favorites are
Tahoe mountain brewery
under the rose.

I really want to try something from Russian river

[Scott_G_r_u_n_e_r]

My current list of breweries I would buy anything from without question.

Fremont
Breakside
Boneyard
Fort George
Russian River
Founders

Almost makes the cut- i.e. I will buy from, but more selectively
Logsdon
Schooner Exact

[Scott_Tallman]

I like Scott’s approach. I’m sure Hill Farmstead and many other breweries mentioned are wonderful, but I’ve not had the pleasure of trying.

Buy without question

Logsdon
Cascade
Upright
Holy Mountain
Commons
Heater-Allen
Crooked Stave
Maine Beer Company
Oxbow Brewing
Crux Fermentation
Boneyard
Georgetown Brewing
Ft George
Propolis
Trillium
DeGarde

Buy selectively

Fremont
pFriem
Breakside
Deschutes
Russian River
Chuckanut
10 Barrel

[CFu]

@M Hudson

I have never seen half these in local shops so I cant really compare. Locally my favorites are
Tahoe mountain brewery
under the rose.

I really want to try something from Russian river

3.5 hour drive from reno!

[p_a_u_l_b_a_t_t_a_g_l_i_a]

@M Hudson

I have never seen half these in local shops so I cant really compare. Locally my favorites are
Tahoe mountain brewery
under the rose.

I really want to try something from Russian river

i will be up at my cabin next week- i can bring up some sours for you if you make the drive to lake tahoe.

[Mike_Zimbric]

Fun question:

Almanac (freakin’ great sours)
Hill Farmstead
Night Shift
Russian River (been better in the past, but still solid)
Founders
Green Flash (they’re barrel aged stuff and sours are up and coming)
Alpine (great hoppy lineup)
Cascade
New Glarus (under appreciated, mainly b/c they don’t distribute outside WI)
Deschutes (Abyss is still a yearly buy for me)
Lost Abbey (Vertias 007, Duck Duck Gueuze, and Cable Car especially)
Societe (another good hop lineup; if super bitter isn’t your thing, try to get the Haberdasher)
Bruery (lots of good stuff over the years)
Allagash
Bells (all their stuff is solid)
Odell (" " ")
Modern Times (a local favorite)
Boulevard
Nebraska (expensive, but really good)
Firestone Walker