Serious Eats: "Ask a Cicerone: Breweries to Watch in 2014"

Peekskill is awesome, I love it there. Higher Standard can go toe to toe with all of the DIPA big boys. They don't bottle though, so their exposure is limited.

 

awesome article, thanks for posting!

 

Count me among the non-fans of Stillwater. However, I was the fortunate recipient of a growler of Peekskill Higher Standard not too long ago and would have thought I was drinking Boneyard. Seriously good stuff. Firestone Walker is doing everything right. I've heard great things about Ale Apothecary, Societe, Jack's Abby but can't speak to them personally.

What about Bale Breaker? I feel like they could have a break-out year in 2014 or 2015.

 

My feelings about Stillwater are reflective of my feelings about farmhouse ales in toto: really intriguing & sexy on the shelf, actual beer is almost always a letdown. Nonetheless, I'm fascinated with them 'on paper'.

 

Whether you agree or disagree with the content, it's nice to see an article with some specific detail about why the writer believes the brewery is one to watch and not just generalized praise.

 

I'll chime in to balance out the Stillwater comments. Cellar Door is a great beer.

 

Yeah I'm still confused why Stiillwater doesn't get more publicity..then again they make saisons, not Triple IPAs or 15% Imperial Stouts. So I guess that "hurts" them.

 

I am really enjoying the Stillwater saisons. I've got a Classique can ready to hit tonight.

 

@draheim I've heard similar things about Bale Breaker, and agree with your sentiments on FW. Ale Apothecary is without doubt producing some of the finest oak-aged beers I've had from the PNW, and everything I've tried from Jack's Abby, Alpine, and Jester King is solid. Allagash is fav but that might simply be my east-coast roots talking...

 

@beertunes sharing is caring

 

No way that will happen; Bale Breaker is already canning.

 

In the past couple months, been to Peekskill, Trillium, and Tired Hands. Excited to see these East Coast breweries grow.

 

@beertunes As far as Stillwater goes, I'll echo zid's comment and say Cellar Door is excellent BUT it's way better on-tap than in the bottle. Also, if you've never had As Follows, that's an even better one that I've had but, once again, it was on-tap so I can't say if the bottle will be just as excellent. That being said, the best beer I've had by Stillwater was the Debauched Brunello Barrel Aged which is technically a Sahti but it's delightfully funky, tart and has hints of Brett so it's not really like a Sahti besides the fact that they use juniper bushes. Wait, I was wrong about that being the best Stillwater beer - the best is Why Can't IBU? A magnificently delicious Belgian IPA that's bursting with tropical fruit flavors and aromas interwoven with a rich Belgian yeast backdrop. Gives Le Freak a run for its money, I kid you not. Oh and that one I had in a bottle so no worries about that vs. tap. So, if you haven't had those four beers, I highly recommend you try all of them before giving up on Stillwater. Other good ones are Classique, a low-ABV saison with traces of Brett, Jaded (Import Series Vol. 3), Stateside Saison, A Saison Darkly and Folklore. In fact, the only underwhelming beer I've had by Stillwater was Existent, a not-so-great take on a black saison. I hope my long and drawn-out explanation of my Stillwater experience has been helpful.

Oh and hey @draheim Ale Apothecary's Sahalie is great, you should try to score a bottle, and I really liked Bale Breaker's Topcutter so I wouldn't be surprised if you were right about them breaking out and expanding. Also, you too should give some more Stillwater beers a try.

 

Heard that. Why Can't IBU? was around $4 and Debauched was somewhere in the $5-$8 range both for single bottles but they were worth every penny IMO. If you ever see either available, I suggest you take the plunge but I admit I spend way too much money on beer.

 

I've read/heard great thing about this Sahalie...but is it $25/bottle good?

 

As someone that has access to some really great California ipas, I have to give a nod to bale breaker. top cutter is God damned delicious, and I really enjoy field 41 as well.

luckily I have a trader that lives fifteen minutes away from the brewery itself.

also, thanks for sharing this.