Best American Wild Ale Brewery

I've loved everything I've ever had from Jester King, for what it's worth. I don't have enough experience with the rest you listed to compare.

 

You can add Jolly Pumpkin to your list. They are on top of their game because it is their only game.

 

Side project

 

It has to be de Garde for me. I have had multiple beers from 9 of the breweries mentioned here, and while they have stand-outs for sure, nothing competes with de Garde across the board.

 

I don't follow enough to know the answer, but I do know that Almanac should be on the list.

 

Allagash has had some good wild ales in their portfolio. While they aren't sour level, I think they certainly deserve consideration either as gateway ales to sours or as good beers in and of themselves.

 

Allagash as far as my fairly limited sour experiences.

 

I'll second De Garde. I've tried a couple dozen beers from De Garde and all but two were in the wow category. Others can make a wow wild from time to time, but de Garde is almost perfect every time.

 

As far as the beers that I've had from American breweries, Allagash and Russian River are the top 2 for me. I haven't had many wild ales from Hill Farmstead and I'm looking forward to trying some de Garde. I've also heard great things about Jester King, Rare Barrel, and Ale Apothecary.

I've also loved the few beers that I've tried from OEC and Wicked Weed. Beers from them are fantastic. Hopefully I can have more in the future.

 

EVERY Russian River is still great after all these years. New Glarus has had a couple of the best and the single best. Al's has released some good ones as has Bullfrog.

 

Hill Farmstead doesn't really do "wild" ales, they do a couple but for the most part they're known for their saisons, which is a little different.

I'm biased, but I'd say Jester King. From their portfolio of wild ales, every one has been a hit and not one has been a miss.

 

Having had plenty of Side Project; Jester King; Sante Adairius; Rare Barrel; Crooked Stave; Hill Farmstead; Casey Brewing & Blending; Ale Apothecary; Allagash; Russian River; Cascade; Lost Abbey; and de Garde it would have to be Casey, HF, and Lost Abbey in that order for me.

 

Don't forget almanac

 

I love Casey, but I had a Montmorency Cut about a month ago that was a disaster. I had it back in July and it was delicious, but something went horribly, horribly wrong in the few months in between. Smelled like used diapers, tasted even worse.

Otherwise very impressed with them.

 

Best quote from an Old School Beer Geek I've ever heard.... "There's Cantillon & there's Russian River." /Thread

 

Having worked for Cascade, there's nothing "wild" about their process...

 

I have to agree about Russian River and Jester King. Regarding the latter their bottle art is pretty awesome too.

 

Oh, absolutely. Most people would consider de Garde as one of the best, as has already been mentioned a couple of times. I've been fortunate to have had a ton of de Garde but they just don't do it for me.

Side Project I haven't had as much as I've had of de Garde but they're definitely up there, too.

Of the original breweries I quoted Cascade is the only one I would exclude from my favorites. And I'm pretty sure Cascade Kriek is what got me started with sours, then the Russian River ones. I still drink Russian River wild ales but haven't bothered with Cascade in a very long time.