Top 5 American Wild Ale Producers

Of those I've had:

Russian river
Side project
Crooked stave
New Glarus
Bruery

 

Besides the countless ones already mentioned, Odell is working their way up my list. Those who have had know of which I speak.

 

Wicked Weed.

I've had over 70 different beers from them and they've all been amazing. They flat out don't know how to make a bad beer.

 

Great post.

To this list can be added Black Project Spontaneous & Wild Ales (Denver).
And while I'm not sure how many of their beers / how much their production is spontaneous, I at least know that American Solera (Chase from Prairie) is talking lambics with JK at GABF...

 

Great thread, favorite style(s)! Timely with What the Funk?! fest tomorrow...

de Garde
Hill Farmstead
Rare Barrel
Black Project
[placeholder b/c for me this year these 4 really have distinguished as top tier, "separated from pack"...probably RR, JK, SARA if pressed?]

"Old standards" I'll always appreciate (and drink): Russian River, Allagash, Bruery Terreux, Avery

too hit or miss: Casey, Almanac, Jester King, Prairie, Wicked Weed, Cascade, Trinity, Jolly Pumpkin

small/newish locals gotta plug, "to watch" (seriously in Denver I can mostly drink local/CO sours/wilds!): Our Mutual Friend Brewing, Powder Keg, Baere

haven't had more than a few/samples (need to drink more to rank): SARA, Side Project, Logsdon, pFriem, Libertine, Yazoo

eager to try this week (WTF & GABF & Denver taps): Draai Laag, Beachwood, Fonta Flora, American Solera, Toolbox, Alesong, Scratch, 2nd Shift...
Smog City? 4 Hands? Ladyface? Crane? Brugge Brasserie? Oddside?

 

When you get to try some Highland Park Brewery stuff...you'll add them to the list...

 

With no autority to do so, I'm unofficially appointing @THANAT0PSIS as our go-to guru and consultant on all things "wild ale". I have some differing opinions on a few but he seems to have quite alot of wild ale sampling experience.

 

Wicked Weed
Lost Abbey
Jolly Pumpkin
Allagash, and..

Yazoo (Nashville). Their Embrace The Funk line is phenomenal. Yes, I'm a homer...

 

Hey thanks man, but I'm nowhere near an authority (though I'm working harder all the time). I like to think I know quite a bit, possibly more than the average bird, and I combine knowledge of beers with knowledge of the industry, processes, and history as well, which I think is a little unique. That said, there are plenty of old-timers and hardcore tickers on this site that have far more wild ale and lambic experience than me. I won't tag them because I don't want to unwillingly drag them into the conversation, but I look up to guys like Stevedore, Kurmaraja, jlindros, rudzud, superspak, brentk56, cavedave, AlcaheuteJ, drtth, kojevergas, and even others that don't review that much (or at all) like JackHorzempa, jesskidden, and TongoRad, just to name a few.

Again, thanks for the sentiment!

 

I've heard more than once that deGarde is 100% spontaneous. A head brewer there told Chris Quinn from Craft Beer Temple in Chicago that the brewery has never pitched yeast.

 

Great thread... now I've got a list of breweries to seek out that I was unfamiliar with.

And I'll second Draai Laag. I guess they're just under the radar.

 

There are many great in the Midwest, unfortunately I haven't had any from New Glarus (WI distro) and have only had a few from Upland, so I'll have to go with in no particular order:

Jolly Pumpkin
The Bruery
Wicked Weed
Almanac
Russian River

 

I am 100% sure you are correct on this one. If BA knew the lengths that Beachwood has gone through to make the Blendery come to fruition, it would be #1 on every list.

 

Russian River
Cascade
Anchorage
De Garde
Jolly Pumpkin

 

Beachwood was "Find of the Fest" for me at GABF!
(their subtle, traditional blends got over shadowed at What The Funk by fruits and crazy stuff)
Into The Great Unknown (Mosaic), Chaos Is A Friend Of Mine, "Careful With That Passion Fruit Eugene" all outstanding! enjoyed several pours of each at two sessions
Any info on these, for getting ahold of some? (how small batch are/were they, packaging format, blendery taproom only etc etc)

 

"Misses": American Solera, Crane, Oddside

"Hits": Beachwood (big time), Toolbox (BA Purple Drink!), 2nd Shift, Smog City, Alesong, 4 Hands
Time to go ISO these...

Draai Laag didn't show up to What the Funk, bummer. Fonta Flora's "Carolina Custard" (paw paw fruit) most sour wild I've had in awhile! They had most consistent line, after Rare Barrel died down. Didn't get to try Razzmatazz Remix, which poured at Rare Beer Tasting. Worth tracking down Volume 1 or 2? (other recommendations?)

*sorry to discuss on slight tangent. seemed like thread had died...

 

They're probably not top 5 material, but if you find yourself in the San Diego area, check out Toolbox and Council. Both make some very taste AWAs/tart saisons.

 

My favorites are:
Yazoo - Embrace The Funk
2nd Shift
Crooked Stave
Wicked Weed

These are all ones that i can get here locally in Nashville except WW but Asheville is close and either myself or my friends always have some.

 

Those that know me from the Madison bottle share group, know to take my 'favorites' with a grain of salt (Sours/AWAs are not preferred by my pallet).

Without further adieu:
Funk Factory Geuzeria
Casey
Side Project
Russian River
Jester King

Being from WI, NG R&Ds are an honorable mention.

I'm surprised that O'So isn't noted - as most of their beers are wilds, whether intended or not!

 

Not much more name dropping can be done here; bases seem to have been covered. I can only hope to add Hudson Valley (HVB) to this list in the very near future, considering Threes collab., Stillwater collab., Bacchus resume, etc…