Your State's Up & Comer

No one representing VA yet?! Hardywood Park, enough said, haven't been brewing for 2 years and most BA's know the name.

Also need to give a shout out to Blue Mountain and Devils Backbone, they've been hanging around a bit longer but thanks to the BM Barrel House and the solid brews coming out of DB (Vienna and Congo my fav's) the craft beer industry here in VA is getting very exciting. Cheers

 

Straight to Ale. However, depending on who you ask, Good People might have the two best beers in the state with Snake Handler and El Gordo.

 

Madtown nut brown is always on for me!

 

Kane in NJ has already proven to be trade worthy, and they have only been around less than 2 years, and bottled only 3 beers! I've traded like 4 A Night To End All Dawns already, and if they start bottling more stuff like Head High and Overhead I think people are gonna start going crazy over their stuff! Everything I've had from them thus far has been absolutely stellar!

 

Enlightenment Ales is doing good things in MA

 

West Sixth Brewing Company in Lexington would have to be a mentionable brewery to me from Kentucky. While there is Country Boy and Against The Grain also, which make awesome beers, more experimental in there approach though. West Sixth has a nice core set of beers so far, only having canned there awesome IPA and amber. I bet a lot of people around have been hearing about the brewery through there law dispute with Magic Hat.

 

Sadly, northern California nothing is up and coming, it all already came.

 

In a state like Oregon, it takes a lot for a new brewery to get noticed. When all of the breweries from the latest boom were in the planning stages, I was worried about oversaturation, but lots of these new guys are just killing it! Most of my favourite breweries in the state right now are ones that opened within the last few years. Some of the notable up-and-comers include Block 15, Boneyard, The Commons, deGarde, Crux, and Breakside.

 

In Holland, I'm going to say Rooie Dop: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/28944

They won the 2012 Ratebeer award for best new Dutch brewery, and they've been making some real noise around here. They also throw little parties where they serve their test brews, which is a lot of fun. If I'm lucky, I'll be able to convince them to take their barleywine commercial.

Cheers,
Jeff

 

Cismontane in Orange County, CA. Its pretty hard to start turning heads in the SoCal craft beer scene, but these guys are pumping out some excellent shit.

 

i cant wait to make it down there this summer, i had the barrel aged overhead ipa a few weeks ago on tap and it was incredible

 

Colorado--> Elevation Beer Co. ! Amazing Beers!

 

I have only tried Frank, and it is a delicious pale ale. I would rank it in the top 20 New York State pale ales I have tried.

Peekskill Brewery is on track to be the most desired, up and coming, New York State brewery for trading, with Rushing Duck close behind.

 

I have no doubt that people will be talking about Lost Nation and Grateful Hands in the same conversations that they say the Alchemist and Hill Farmstead in. doesn't hurt that there all in a row either. State route 100 from Waterbury to Morrisville get on State route 15 to Cabot with a small detour on state route 16 to get to Hill, is slowly becoming a murders row of great brewers. shout out to Rock Art that's also along the way in Morrisville

 

Isn't that a Magic Hat logo?

 

I know a lot of ct people are big on two roads brewing but I find their beers to be boring and overrated. A lot of the other ct breweries have 1 or 2 good beers and then fall off.

I'll say nebco. Not really an up and comer, but the brightest star with the most potential here in ct

 

Karbach in Houston
(512) in Austin

... and other BAs here in Texas can better say which Texas breweries are our hottest. But those two seem to be the hottest from my perch. I get the feeling Jester King is taking over, too, but I'm not finding it outside of the Austin area very often ... not yet, i.e. And Live Oak might make the best rated beer ounce for ounce.

 

I'd still go with Hardywood Park. They've only hit two years now and haven't even started distribution of their beers outside of their city.

Smartmouth has a long long way to go, but their staff and facility is top notch.

 

Kane Brewing Co. Head High is an incredible IPA. I hope they start bottling/canning soon.

Carton is making a lot of interesting beers as well.

 

For Minnesota, I feel Surly has already arrived. But, with that said, when the flagship brewery opens they will hopefully be doing even more interesting stuff (sours, please).

Steel Toe is the most likely up-and-comer in my mind. Size 7 is a great IPA, but beyond that the few seasonals they have done have been big hits.

Indeed may be worth paying attention to, but I feel as if they play it safe based on huge investments to live up to.