Best good beer made by mediocre brewery?

Harpoon: Rye IPA
Sebago: Stout
Ipswich: Harvest Ale (oatmeal stout is good too)
Brooklyn: Local #2
Boulder: Switchback Indian Brown Ale (hazed and infused is pretty decent)
Gearys: Winter Ale

I specialize in mediocre breweries lol.

 

T. Hooker Liberator Doppelbock

Green Flash Double Stout - I don't care what anyone says, their hoppy offerings (West Coast IPA, Palette Wrecker, DIPA) were all underwhelming and I just didn't like Rayon Vert, but man the Double Stout was an excellent no-frills stout.

Ten Fidy - Again, underwhelmed by the rest of their offerings (especially the onion/Summit hopped IPAs)

 

I've never really been impressed with weyerbacher, however insanity is amazing. Really interested to try the rapture I have in my cellar as well....

 

Magic Hat's Howl.

 

This is a random one but even the Bro's gave it a 100. Cottrell Old Yankee Ale from CT is a beer I push on all my beginner craft brew drinkers(manage a liq store) a $9.99 6pack it is a great session ale that could be drank all day and in any season, if you could get your hands on it you should. I could always throw it to you in a trade as well. BM me.

And any NEBCO beer is better than 90% of the beers in each of its style. For a small brewery they are the best in CT by far and some of them are historically great.

 

If you like insanity you have to try heresy, when its right out of the cooler its not as noticeable but when it warms up a little it is an awesome barrel aged stout, esp for the price(about the same as Raspy, which is the best value of all RIS)

 

Let's be fair; you bought a watermelon beer. I wouldn't fault the best brewer in the world for putting out a bum to mediocre watermelon beer.

I was thinking Hooker or Sebago. Sebago for the aforementioned reason, Hooker because nothing besides Liberator really impresses me. I don't know if that counts though since that's the beer they're known for anyway.

 

East End - Gratitude. Though lately they can't even get that right. The rest of their lineup wishes it was mediocre. Good thing they're expanding.

 

Ivan the terrible from Big Sky.

 

Harpoon Rye IPA, Cisco Indie Pale Ale, and IMO LH milk stout.....

 

Up until a couple of months ago, I lived a few blocks away from them. It probably says a lot that I only made it there 7-8 times a year.

I've never had anything they've done in cans, so I can't comment there. I think the Hop Crisis and the Back in Black are both really good fresh on tap. I loved the Allies Win the War. They also do some cool stuff in February for their strong beer month collaboration.

However, IMO they put way too much effort into appeasing the baseball (they're only a couple blocks from AT&T Park) and tourist crowds. As a result, they put way too much emphasis on straight down the middle of the plate stuff like the watermelon wheat and the Conventioneer. Way too often they'd have nothing interesting on tap.

 

Inbev's Bourbon County line.

 

i consider rogue to be mediocre at best but their hazelnut brown nectar is one brew they've nailed, imo.

 

Sam Adams Utopias.

 

O'Fallon Brewery's B.D.S(Belgian Style Dark Ale aged in port barrels)was extremely good but I've yet to have anything else,except maybe 5 Day Ipa,from them that was palatable.Hemp Hop Rye was one of the most worthless efforts ever.Tasted like they added burnt peanuts and ass pennies.

 

Boulevard Single-Wide IPA.

 

I have to respectfully disagree with this. With beers like Brute, Lebleu, Groundbreak, & Alphalpha, Ithaca may not be in the world class discussion but in a sea of mediocrity they definitely rise above it.

 

I haven't had Death By Hops but Hoppyum is very good. I've had Jade on draft but wasn't that impressed.

 

Odd. I'd have gone with Hampshire Special for Geary's.

Somebody else mentioned Cottrell's Old Yankee and I have to agree on that one. Nice and malty with a bottle design that says you'd probably find it in your grandpa's fridge. Although it's hard to gauge Cottrell given that they only brew two other beers: Mystic Bridge IPA (one sitting in my fridge. have yet to try) and a scotch ale by the name of Perry's Revenge which, IIRC, is only available on draught. I got to sample some at the ACBF and would call it "extremely not bad". Then again they do some contract brewing for 'gansett, so if you want to go that route...

And if we're talking Narragansett, this seems like the right threat to mention their summer ale. Although I'd swear it was less hoppy and more balanced last year. Not sure if they changed who was brewing it or if my memory is lying to me.

 

I'm a homer to Arcadia so I have to stick up for them, and I think "terrible" is not a correct word to use here. Maybe it's been a while since you've tried any of their beers, so give 'em a try again. I'll admit the pale ale and IPA are just average, but their other stuff in distribution (Scotch Ale, London Porter, Black DIPA, etc.) is much better than average IMO, and it is a misjustice to use "terrible" in your description. (Okay, their Jaw-Jacker pumpkin ale may come close.) You certainly can have your opinion, but many other BAs must agree with me because the brewery is rated as "exceptional" on this site.

But you are right-on about Shipwreck -- it is Excellent.