ISO: Exceptional breweries that opened in 2017

Green Cheek Beer Co. in Orange, CA (http://www.greencheekbeer.com/).

 

Green Cheek, yes. And in SD County, the best debut was Wild Barrel in San Marcos.

 

Another vote for Cellar West Artisan Ales in Boulder, CO. They have been open for eight months and just won silver at GABF in the Specialty Saison category.

Also, Purpose Brewing and Cellars in Fort Collins, CO. Peter Bouckaert's new brewery (formerly 1933 brewing). I think it opened in August. They are making some excellent, small batch beers there. Small tap list (four beers) that changes weekly.

 

Vasen Brewing - Richmond, VA. My favorites so far are the Smoked Farmhouse, Amarillo Gose and their Sour Stout. Richmond is a tough market saturated with solid breweries and I like the direction these guys are going.

 

I'll have to check them out, never heard of them.

 

A block from the center of Wolfeboro - Lone Wolfe worth a stop as well though I preferred Burnt Timber.

 

Reason Beer in Charlottesville, VA Low alcohol, perfectly balanced beers from the former head brewer at Maine Beer Company.

 

Seconded. I feel like they get overlooked around here because they aren't brewing anything that's particularly sexy, but everything they put out is true to style. Will be interesting to see what happens when their barrel program really gets going.

 

Vanished Valley out of Ludlow, MA is seriously putting stuff out just as good, if not better than Tree House. Pomona and Watershed are bomb.

 

Surprised nobody has mentioned More.
https://www.facebook.com/morebrewingco

 

Outer Range brewing company in Frisco, CO.
Killer IPAs and a really cool setting in the middle of the mountains. Short distance from a half dozen world-class ski areas. In particular, In the Steep, Rustic Ways, and Forestry have been killer, their cans have been really high quality from the start, which is impressive.

Their Hydrologic Session IPA is very impressive, tons of flavor in a 5% beer. I did a back to back with Super Session from Lawsons and it was no contest.

They also collaborated with Wiley Roots to make Neature Walk, and are releasing a collab with Weldwerks later this year IIRC.

 

More Brewing outside of Chicago. They won Gold at FOBAB. Stouts so thick you'll slap yo momma.

 

Green Cheek for sure

Cellador Ales (but they might've been at very end of last year, but membership started this year and tasting room still isn't open)

 

HOMES is fantastic!!

Who?


Speciation had their first bottle release in 2017 so that would have been the first time they were open to the public http://mittenbrew.com/2017/01/speciation-artisan-ales-holds-first-bottle-release/

Oh and Speciation is pretty amazing so that would be my vote

 

Another vote for Resident Culture in Charlotte, NC. Really strong IPA game right out of the gate (owing in no small part to the brewer's Russian River experience, to be sure). And a great atmosphere.

 

Good call, opening day set for January 11th, 2018. Still going to be an interesting brewery, really fascinating concept.