Breweries that have NOT lost their way.

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by johnInLA, May 20, 2019.

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  1. johnInLA

    johnInLA Pooh-Bah (2,350) Jun 12, 2005 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I've been meaning to get around to posting this thread, as a counter balance to a thread that was running about a month or so ago.

    What brewery stands out to you as one that has not lost their way?

    Let me put one constraint on the discussion. It should be a brewery that has been around for at least a decade.

    I will call out is Alesmith.

    I remember drinking their beer in the late 1990's and being very impressed. When they first came out with Speedway, it was in a class by itself. I've been drinking their beer ever since. I think they are as relevant today as they were back than.

    Here are a few reasons why:
    • They never walked away from the their core lineup. They know they are good beers and they know they have customers that love those beers.
    • They always stayed focused on their local markets. Never putting local enthusiasts on the back burner while they build giant breweries all over the country or the world.
    • They know how to stay relevant, by innovating. Having a great core lineup is one thing, but using it as an excuse not to blasé new trails is another. Anyone in the Order of the Anvil, knows Alesmith is still experimenting and still turning out beers competitive on the world stage.
    • While many focus on beers dominated by heavy post fermentation flavorings, Alesmith still manages to pull off balance, maybe something of a lost art in recent times.
    So how about you?

    Call out your decade or more old brewery that has not lost its way.
     
    #1 johnInLA, May 20, 2019
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  2. BeastOfTheNortheast

    BeastOfTheNortheast Pooh-Bah (2,153) Dec 26, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Tröegs
     
    #2 BeastOfTheNortheast, May 20, 2019
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  3. Giantspace

    Giantspace Grand Pooh-Bah (3,043) Dec 22, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Might be my favorite IPA and Speedway might be my favorite stout. If not, both are top three for me. I don t see either much anymore. I heard speedway is canned now too.

    Enjoy
     
    #3 Giantspace, May 20, 2019
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  4. laketang

    laketang Grand Pooh-Bah (3,017) Mar 22, 2015 Arizona
    Pooh-Bah

    Revolution in my opinion has not lost their way. They have thrir mainstays and keep the new stuff coming.
     
    #4 laketang, May 20, 2019
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  5. oldbean

    oldbean Initiate (0) Jun 30, 2005 Massachusetts

    Allagash.
     
    #5 oldbean, May 20, 2019
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  6. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Bell's.
     
    #6 PapaGoose03, May 20, 2019
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  7. eldoctorador

    eldoctorador Pooh-Bah (2,096) Dec 12, 2014 Chile
    Pooh-Bah

    Founders
     
    #7 eldoctorador, May 20, 2019
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  8. meefmoff

    meefmoff Pooh-Bah (1,922) Jul 6, 2014 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Grinderfindles.
     
    #8 meefmoff, May 20, 2019
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  9. jzlyo

    jzlyo Pooh-Bah (2,743) Mar 4, 2012 Iowa
    Pooh-Bah

    New Glarus.
     
    #9 jzlyo, May 20, 2019
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  10. Tilley4

    Tilley4 Pooh-Bah (2,811) Nov 13, 2007 Tennessee
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Unibroue... consistently world class stuff...
     
    #10 Tilley4, May 20, 2019
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  11. russpowell

    russpowell Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,292) May 24, 2005 Arkansas
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Odell
     
    #11 russpowell, May 20, 2019
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  12. Doma

    Doma Initiate (0) May 19, 2019 California

    Pizza Port
     
    #12 Doma, May 20, 2019
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  13. Reidrover

    Reidrover Grand Pooh-Bah (4,886) Jan 14, 2003 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Deschutes
     
    #13 Reidrover, May 20, 2019
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  14. JamFuel

    JamFuel Grand High Pooh-Bah (9,284) Mar 26, 2009 Sweden
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah

    I second Alesmith. They are one a very select few breweries that I will buy every time, regardless of style. They also seem like genuinely good people, which is a bonus.
     
    #14 JamFuel, May 20, 2019
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  15. ScaryEd

    ScaryEd Grand Pooh-Bah (3,793) Feb 19, 2012 New Hampshire
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Sierra Nevada
     
    #15 ScaryEd, May 20, 2019
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  16. Shanex

    Shanex Grand Pooh-Bah (4,960) Dec 10, 2015 France
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Alesmith, SN, Chouffe.
     
    #16 Shanex, May 20, 2019
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  17. JerzDevl2000

    JerzDevl2000 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,220) Oct 7, 2005 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    Sierra Nevada, Anchor, and Brooklyn.

    Still classics in my book!
     
    #17 JerzDevl2000, May 20, 2019
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  18. ryno0384

    ryno0384 Initiate (0) Apr 11, 2015 Illinois

    Alesmith, Bells, The Bruery, New Glarus, Half Acre, Revolution, Maine Beer Company, all come to mind immediately. They have been consistently solid for me over the past few years as the market becomes saturated.
     
    #18 ryno0384, May 20, 2019
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  19. dennis3951

    dennis3951 Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2008 New Jersey

    Sierra Nevada Brooklyn and Great Lakes
     
    #19 dennis3951, May 20, 2019
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  20. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Well, maybe not - but they have, apparently, lost the ability to brew Nugget Nectar of circa 2008-10, with any consistency. Also making Sunshine Pils a year-round release only made it disappear from the shelves around here.

    (The latter not a problem with NN - still a stack of half dozen cases at two different local stores:astonished:).
     
    #20 jesskidden, May 20, 2019
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