Un(der)appreciated Breweries

Rogue. They've been at the forefront of not only the craft beer movement, but the movements within the movements....man. And I named my dog after them, so not unappreciated by me. Also, I'll say Middle Ages in Syracuse. (these are two breweries that I grew up on in the late 90's also) and I agree with Victory.

 

Both Pretty Things and Jack's Abby get plenty of appreciation hereabouts, so instead I'll nominate Mayflower out of Plymouth, Mass.

I buy everything by Mayflower with the exception of the Golden Ale (which is fine, but the style is rarely my first choice). Nothing particularly flashy or wowowow about 'em, but I find their regular lineup solid and dependable (the Porter is especially good), I dig their one-offs and seasonals (especially the Spring Hop), and I can usually find it fresh. Great utility brew for all occasions.

 

Basically anything not named: Bruery, FFF, Cantillon, Toppling Goliath, Bruery, Russian River, Alesmith, Westbrook, Cigar City, Jester King, Cascade, Alpine, 3F, (Insert Belgian Brewery here), Alchemist, Crooked Stave, Deschutes, and other breweries in every trade post.

I will say though, at times I am guilty of getting on the train with the breweries. They are huge because they put out really great beers. Not saying others dont, but maybe just not that one beer everyone wants.

 

Really? Every time I see Night Shift being mentioned Idle Hands and Mystic aren't far behind. All three are pretty under appreciated as they don't do hop bombs. I think all three are appreciated less than Jack's Abby who I love but get far more press than the three who I feel get about the same level of love and recognition. We call them the Holy Trinity in our house and do the triple visit more than we visit pubs these days.

 

In all of my travels around the country, and the world,
the best beer I have had in a pub/brewery, was at McNeills in Brattleboro, Vermont.
Wow. That place is worth the pilgrimage.
They now bottle. Availability in New England only

 

I like the Great Divide reference, and certainly the Victory reference, though I am not sure they are underappricated by everyone, moreso called overrated by some.

 

Locally:
~DC Brau,
~Stoudt's
~Weyerbacher

 

I would agree on New Holland. I opened up a bottle of their Night Tripper last Friday that had been aging in my refrig for several years - wow! It had aged so well! One of the best ( if not THE best ) Imperial Stouts I have ever had!
Also - Williamsburg Alewerks - their Bitter Valentine and Pumpkin are outstanding versions - hard to get each in DC/Maryland - you people in VA are lucky drinkers!

 

To say that a brewery is unappreciated means that it has to be good in the first place, right? That disqualifies most of the breweries in the Houston area...

 

Unless I missed something, Phin and Matt is an APA from Southern Tier, not Harpoon... Also, they don't do a rye version that I'm aware of.

Ditto the Leviathan though.

 

I think you're confusing Phin & Matt (the Southern Tier pale ale) with Harpoon's Rich & Dan's Rye IPA.

I personally don't care for Harpoon at all, but I think the Rich & Dan's Rye IPA is quite nice.

 

I'd definitely agree with that statement. Route 113 is incredibly malt-forward for an IPA, and the hops get lost in it very, very easily. But I've found pretty much everything I've tried from them to be pretty damn solid. Pikeland Pils is delicious, and cheap too. Plus...they offer cans! (And isn't that reason enough to love them?)

 

Totally second the Great Divide mentions - Colette is one of my favorite saisons and Orabelle, Rumble and Nomad are excellent beers.

For my local choice, Yards does a great job with sessionable ales and their IPA is a solid English style interpretation.

 

Another one for New Holland. Good to see them getting a little love for once. How cool is it that they make Beer Barrel Bourbon using barrels from Dragons Milk? Shit is delicious!

 

Drakes in San Leandro. It seems everyone loves the high abv hopbomb releases, but I still feel that their porter and pale ale aren't getting the love they deserve.

 

Bear Republic. Everything is solid but for some reason always seems over looked.

 

Heavy Seas. Their Black IPA and Imperial Stout were good.

 

I've heard of Phin & Matt's Extraordinary Ale by Southern Tier....not a Rye IPA by Harpoon though. I think you mean Rich & Dan.

 

Racer 5...nuff said.

 

Not nuff said!

Also Big Bear Black Stout.

Now nuff said.