From this list, what brewery reigns supreme?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by SerialTicker, Sep 18, 2012.

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  1. SerialTicker

    SerialTicker Pooh-Bah (2,851) Jun 18, 2012 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah

    • Anchor
    • Arcadia Ales
    • Atwater Block Brewery [​IMG]
    • Avery Brewing[​IMG]
    • Bear Republic
    • Bell's Beer [​IMG]
    • Big Sky
    • Blue Moon
    • Blue Pointe
    • Boston Beer Co. (Samuel Adams)
    • Brooklyn Brewery
    • Dogfish Head Ales
    • Dark Horse [​IMG]
    • Dragonmead [​IMG]
    • Epic Brewing
    • Flying Dog Brewery
    • Frankenmuth[​IMG]
    • Goose Island
    • Innis & Gunn
    • Keweenaw[​IMG]
    • Kuhnhenn [​IMG]
    • Lagunitas
    • Leinenkugel's
    • Lindemans
    • Magic Hat
    • Michigan Brewing Co.[​IMG]
    • Motor City Brewing Works [​IMG]
    • Mount Pleasant Brewing Co.
    • North Coast
    • North Peak[​IMG]
    • Pyramid
    • Rogue
    • Samuel Smith's
    • Short's [​IMG]
    • Sierra Nevada
    • Southern Tier
    • Stone
    • Thirsty Dog
    • Tommy Knocker
    • Victory
    I ask because I'm heading to my first bottle store tomorrow to pick up some beers. There's also a pretty extensive list of imports on their site, but I like focusing on stuff brewed in the US. I plan on going there and getting a couple Shorts for sure, but do you have any other suggestions?
    I'm open to really any beer at all, but I don't want to spend more than $3 per bottle, mainly because I want to get a handful of different beers for under $20.
     
    #1 SerialTicker, Sep 18, 2012
  2. ChadQuest

    ChadQuest Initiate (0) Mar 4, 2009 Illinois

    I'd blow all my money on Kuhnhenn.

    Quality > Quantity
     
    #2 ChadQuest, Sep 18, 2012
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  3. SerialTicker

    SerialTicker Pooh-Bah (2,851) Jun 18, 2012 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah


    So... two beers? :wink:

    And I like quantity right NOW because
    a.) Student
    b.) I like trying a variety of styles
     
    #3 SerialTicker, Sep 18, 2012
  4. ChadQuest

    ChadQuest Initiate (0) Mar 4, 2009 Illinois

     
    #4 ChadQuest, Sep 18, 2012
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  5. SerialTicker

    SerialTicker Pooh-Bah (2,851) Jun 18, 2012 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah

    ^ see above.
     
    #5 SerialTicker, Sep 18, 2012
  6. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,710) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    From that list, I'd go with Sierra Nevada, Stone, and Lagunitas.
     
    #6 Orca, Sep 18, 2012
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  7. davey101

    davey101 Pooh-Bah (2,360) Apr 14, 2009 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah

    I'd go broke if I had access to bells, dark horse, shorts and Kuhnhenn. Kuhnhenn? God damn Kuhnhenn!?

    Eat ramen. Drink Kuhnhenn. <insert meme here>
     
    #7 davey101, Sep 18, 2012
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  8. Etan

    Etan Initiate (0) Jul 11, 2011 Wisconsin

    Kuhnhenn. Don't bother with the cheap shit.
     
    #8 Etan, Sep 18, 2012
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  9. kingofhop

    kingofhop Initiate (0) May 9, 2010 Oklahoma
    In Memoriam

    Man, I think Sierra Nevada is possibly the finest brewery of all time.
     
    #9 kingofhop, Sep 18, 2012
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  10. SerialTicker

    SerialTicker Pooh-Bah (2,851) Jun 18, 2012 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah

    Alright, roughly, how much is a typical bottle of Kuhnhenn? I understand there are specialty beers and all of that.

    As good as it might be, I really don't wanna be spending $10 on a 12oz bottle as of now.
     
    #10 SerialTicker, Sep 18, 2012
  11. imfrommichigan

    imfrommichigan Initiate (0) Jul 12, 2012 Utah

    Try local and stay buying Michigan for a little while until you've had plenty of the different breweries. There's A LOT of other beers outside of MI so it can be pretty overwhelming looking for that "perfect beer." Once you start pin pointing your favorite styles of beer, it makes it a lot easier finding the best brewery that makes that style in or out of the state. There's a lot of good beers in your list.
     
    #11 imfrommichigan, Sep 18, 2012
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  12. tone77

    tone77 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,359) May 20, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Beers that are available this time of year and falling within that price range is a bit challenging, but here is a good mixed six pack.
    Bell's Kalamazoo Stout
    Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout
    Arcadia Sky High Rye
    Arcadia Whitsun Ale
    Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale
    Victory Golden Monkey
     
    #12 tone77, Sep 18, 2012
  13. davey101

    davey101 Pooh-Bah (2,360) Apr 14, 2009 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah

    In all seriousness, you appear to be new to buying beer yes? (21 and "first bottle shop" visit). Sierra Nevada brews some of the most solid beers in the US at some of the best prices. Whereas Sam Adams seems to make craft beer that is approachable to the Bud/Miller/Coors crowd, Sierra tends to be a bit more out there. I'd grab a few singles from them of a few different styles. Their kellerweis may still be on the shelves, and their pale ale, torpedo, and porter are all phenomenal beers. The seasonal's are all excellent and Bigfoot is just world class. Should all be less than $3 per single and SN always has a great hop profile.

    Worry about the Kuhnhenn later, when you've established which styles and flavors you like.
     
    #13 davey101, Sep 18, 2012
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  14. SerialTicker

    SerialTicker Pooh-Bah (2,851) Jun 18, 2012 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah

    I've had SN Pale Ale and Torpedo. Thought they were both really good.

    I've definitely had more Sam's than anything. 23 different ones. Nothing usually extraordinary, but very few bad ones from my experience.
     
    #14 SerialTicker, Sep 18, 2012
  15. davey101

    davey101 Pooh-Bah (2,360) Apr 14, 2009 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah

    Well what kind of flavors did you like then? If you liked SN pale and torpedo then Stone is a great hoppy choice, albeit a bit pricey. Lagunitas is phenomenal. Their sumpin' sumpin wild is out right now and is fantastic. Their standard IPA is really solid too. Victory also makes some great well priced beers.

    If you like maltier stuff Brooklyn Brewery has their Black Chocolate stout which is super tasty and usually around $7-8 for a four pack. Its a winter beer but sticks around shelves practically year round. North Coast old stock ale is a bit pricier but damn delicious.
     
    #15 davey101, Sep 18, 2012
  16. hopsbreath

    hopsbreath Savant (1,157) Aug 28, 2009 Florida

    Your best price per ounce of quality beer is probably going to be Bell's. I'd imagine you could possibly find or put together a mix-12 for about $20. That way you can try a bunch of different stuff from a quality brewery. The stout's they make are all excellent, Third Coast is a very good barleywine/old ale, Two Hearted is a classic, and several other standard offerings from Larry and co. are beers worth trying.

    Edit: a full 12-pack might be ambitious. 8-10 bottles is probably more reasonable if prices are where I expect them to be.
     
    #16 hopsbreath, Sep 18, 2012
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  17. SerialTicker

    SerialTicker Pooh-Bah (2,851) Jun 18, 2012 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah

    I had Lagunitas IPA on tap at a place down in Detroit. Was a quality beer, if a bit too grapefruity for me.

    And as far as flavors, I seriously am up for anything. I don't like drinking stouts/porters too often, yet Breakfast Stout is the best beer I've had. Now that I look, I'm surprised Founders isn't on that list on their site. Interesting.

    I'll try to keep all of this in mind tomorrow. I certainly want a mix of whatever I choose. Some people on this site have said the guys at the place I'm going to are extremely helpful, so that'll be good.

    imfrommichigan: I was thinking that, really. Familiarize myself with what's here before venturing out. Still, I'm not opposed to trying things out of state.

    hopsbreath: I've had some Bell's (Amber, Pale, Two Hearted, Oberon) and the only one I reallyreally enjoyed was Two Hearted. Oberon was good the first time I had it, but slowly seemed less appealing the next two times I drank it. Like you basically just noted, you get what you pay for. Eh. Now that I think about it, I actually did like Amber quite a bit... even though the smell was super skunky.
     
    #17 SerialTicker, Sep 18, 2012
  18. libbey

    libbey Initiate (0) May 18, 2008 British Indian Ocean Territory

    Never hesitate to engage with the guy running the store, especially if they know beer. Tell them some beers that you have enjoyed in the past and ask if they have any suggestions.

    Cheers
     
    #18 libbey, Sep 18, 2012
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  19. gtermi

    gtermi Initiate (0) Apr 21, 2010 Texas

    Founders for sure... oh wait, you left it off the list!
     
    #19 gtermi, Sep 18, 2012
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  20. pjeagles

    pjeagles Zealot (682) May 29, 2005 New Mexico
    Trader

    Why is there a Michigan logo next to Avery?
     
    #20 pjeagles, Sep 18, 2012
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