Rob Tod is a James Beard semi-finalist

Seriously, thanks for trying, man...

 

Well in a way it was as a contrast to the greatness that is Allagash and Rob Todd, or at least I'm going to try to spin it that way. Bringing it back to Allagash, is there any "flagship beer" from any other brewery that is as well made? That being Allagash White.

 

Rob Tod picked up my laundry for me the other day. I was seriously impressed.

Probably not. Allagash White is the best version of a Witbier in the US, and maybe the world.

It's sessionable and can appeal to both beer geeks and your average everyday beer drinker.

And it does it all without being hop forward.

 

Is HF Arthur a flagship? It’s my flagship, anyway.

 

Maybe Everett?

 

Does a flagship have to have significant volume versus the rest of the portfolio?

 

Here's the Brewer's Association of a "flagship beer" before they were allowing adjunct beers (Yuengling).

"Traditional: A brewer who has either an all malt flagship (the beer which represents the greatest volume among that brewers brands) or has at least 50 percent of its volume in either all malt beers or in beers which use adjuncts to enhance rather than lighten flavor."

 

I'd be fascinated to see what that is for Hill.

 

I'd venture to guess this is Edward, being it is always available at the brewery and at a lot of bars and restaurants around Vermont.

 

I tried to look it up, but couldn't find anything (not surprised).

I'd guess Edward or Everett. But I'm not super well versed in all things Hill Farmstead.

 

Me too. I feel like the farmstead® ales are fairly regularly available, but not always and there's a variety of them to cycle through as far as production. Arthur doesn't necessarily *HAVE* to be on. Edward is just always available and doesn't go away when another APA like Sumner comes on. Everett is periodic as well.

 

No inside knowledge, but I’m pretty sure it’s Edward. That’s their flagship pale, and Susan is the flagship IPA, but you see a heck of a lot more Edward around the state than Susan or any of the farmstead ales.

 

Yeah, Edward is the real answer. I guess you could say Edward is the flagship of the "clean" beers and Arthur is the flagship of the "farmstead" stuff.

 

How about that Rob Tod, though?

 

It's gotta be Edward, and since I was going to half-jokingly reply with "Sierra Nevada Pale Ale", Edward is actually a good answer, since my very first thought the first time I had Edward was "this is like a more perfect version of SNPA".

 

I'd still stick with Allagash White.

People could argue about whether Edward is the best pale ale. And some could say it's a New England Pale Ale, so it's different than Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

Even if you do consider them the same style, I think there'd be many BA's who would argue for the legendary Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

No one's going to argue there's a better Witbier in the US than Allagash White. Obviously there's less competition in that space, but the other factor that makes it great is how many different beer drinkers like it.

It's Allagash's most impressive beer in my opinion, which really says something considering their line-up. They absolutely perfected the style.

 

Rob Tod won.

 

Well deserved and long overdue. Very cool.

 

"The James Beard Awards are known as the Oscars of the food world." How dare they compare Crash or The King's Speech to Allagash.