What Constitutes a Classic?

What I would like to see as a beer geek is a well produced video covering the history of century(ies) old breweries, what and where they are brewing, where one can find their products and perhaps a brief 30-60 second take of their top 1-3 widely distributed offerings. Bonus if you film at an actual brewery, a tour, in their taproom, perhaps interviews with brewers, PR folks and/or management.

I believe you'd get the most hits starting with the well known classic American breweries still brewing today (Anheuser-Busch, Coors, Frankenmuth, Leinenkugel, Miller, Schell, Stevens Point, Yuengling), but the classics around the globe would also generate a good deal of interest.

Could be a multi-year/decade(s) passion project, with trips to spend at breweries to film, interview, tour, drink, discuss with fellow customers, enjoy the brewery and area.

 

I have to admit that I'm both perplexed and scandalized that Celebration isn't considered as having made a lasting contribution, considering it's the precursor to the whole of the American IPA family.

 

Harpoon IPA is a classic. Its been around long enough and is sold in enough states.
Long Trail Ale could be a classic because its been around long enoug but its a style many people dont care about and I dont think its sold in enough states. So to me that one is iffy.

 

I'd vote Goose Island Bourbon Barrel stout is a classic. Same with Bell's Two Hearted.

 

How about Leffeweiser and Hoegaardenweiser? They'd probably meet the criteria for at least some segment of the population, and they are Belgian.

 

I am constantly amazed at the BA community's ability to completely ignore an OP and just run with posting random shit instead

 

My thoughts are this:
1. An overwhelmingly good reputation
2. A (general) ease of access (I know this is relative, but ultimately all I'm saying here is if very few people have had it, it is not a classic no matter how good it may be)
3. A fairly long history of production (to my mind there is no such thing as an instant classic)
4. A defining contribution to the style under which the beer falls
5. The beer must still be in production

As far as Belgians, I'd put Chimay, Chouffee, St bernadus, as my notion of a "classic" to start, but I'm a novice. Be an interesting idea to put what novices believe as classics to the test to see if that's where they should start. I'd love to get further into the Belgian style

my buddy and I tried this idea, with mixed results on our channel Grow in the Glass, but we don't get into the history

..and i also shoulda read the original post better

 

Why break with tradition? You were fitting in right away!

Also, welcome aboard. Hope you enjoy the wonderful information and robust opinion on offer on the site. And I agree with your two proposed classics. Two Hearted is definitely a cornerstone beer in my personal journey.