5 Best/Favorite Breweries

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by WesMantooth, Jan 13, 2014.

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  1. WesMantooth

    WesMantooth Grand Pooh-Bah (4,844) Jan 8, 2014 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Who would make your list of the 5 best ? (best being number of different styles and the quality of each of them) I know many beers are not easily available everywhere (The Bruery or Cigar City for example here), but that is kind of the point of question. It may give us all an idea of what to have faith in purchasing when visiting different parts of the country or if they become available in your area. In no particular order, based on having sampled a majority of their line up, here are the ones I think offer a wide selection of excellent beer styles:
    Boston Beer Co.
    Great Lakes Brewing Co. (Cleveland)
    Founders Brewing
    Brooklyn Brewery
    Rogue Ales
    (narrowly not making my list- Thirsty Dog brewing in Akron, OH who make arguably the best Christmas Ale and Oktoberfest in the country)
     
    #1 WesMantooth, Jan 13, 2014
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  2. ONovoMexicano

    ONovoMexicano Initiate (0) Jun 14, 2012 New Mexico

    La Cumbre Brewing
    Oskar Blues
    Lagunitas
    Sierra Nevada
    Westbrook Brewing
     
    #2 ONovoMexicano, Jan 13, 2014
  3. ja1022

    ja1022 Zealot (562) Sep 27, 2009 Indiana
    Trader

    My favorites..

    Shorts
    Founders
    Greenbush
    Three Floyds
    Bells

    Favorites don't necessarily mean best..
     
    #3 ja1022, Jan 13, 2014
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  4. rozzom

    rozzom Pooh-Bah (2,620) Jan 22, 2011 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Hill Farmstead
    Westbrook
    Founders
    Evil Twin
    De Struise
     
    #4 rozzom, Jan 13, 2014
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  5. Kramerbarthomer

    Kramerbarthomer Pooh-Bah (2,116) Mar 22, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Firestone Walker
    Lagunitas
    Founders
    Odell
    Great Divide
     
    #5 Kramerbarthomer, Jan 13, 2014
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  6. CraftFan5

    CraftFan5 Pooh-Bah (2,264) May 14, 2013 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Since you specified "best being number of different styles and the quality of each of them," here's what I got:

    Founders
    Stone
    Goose Island
    Sierra Nevada
    Bell's
     
    #6 CraftFan5, Jan 13, 2014
  7. blindtiger24

    blindtiger24 Initiate (0) Mar 16, 2010 Colorado

    I picked my top 5 based on their year-round, standard lineup offerings, as well as the experimental stuff they brew in limited quantities or seasonally.

    Firestone Walker - double jack, wookey jack, pivo pils, abacus, velvet merlin & merkin, these guys do it all well.
    Green Flash - king of the IPAs, but their belgians (Le Freak and Rayon Vert) are equally amazing.
    New Glaurus - spotted cow, moon man, their sours and fruit beers, all great.
    Port - awesome IPAs, christmas stout, and best fresh hop IPA i've ever had.
    Sixpoint - great IPAs (resin, bengali tiger) that can rival the west coast stuff, good lighter ales as well and stouts.

    Honorary Mention for their versatility: Avery, Brooklyn, Great Divide, Saranac, Sierra

    *Lagunitas may make the top 5 list once I try their cappuccino stout and hairy eye ball.
     
    #7 blindtiger24, Jan 13, 2014
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  8. Craftonly23121

    Craftonly23121 Initiate (0) Jun 28, 2011 Rhode Island

    Two Brothers
    Three Floyds
    New Glarus
    Lagunitas
    DogFish Head
     
    #8 Craftonly23121, Jan 13, 2014
  9. SeanBond

    SeanBond Pooh-Bah (2,904) Jul 30, 2013 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Goose Island
    Three Floyds
    New Glarus
    Firestone Walker
    Half Acre or Stone; for variety I'd go with Half Acre, but I do love me some Stone as well.
     
    #9 SeanBond, Jan 13, 2014
  10. y2jrock60

    y2jrock60 Pundit (841) Dec 5, 2007 Pennsylvania

    Victory
    Troegs
    Founders
    Great Lakes
    Sierra

    I haveto support my local breweries. The last three are based on the fact that they're readily available and good.
     
    #10 y2jrock60, Jan 13, 2014
  11. Iriepirate21

    Iriepirate21 Initiate (0) May 2, 2012 California

    1. Alpine (I defy anyone to find a better IPA anywhere in the world)
    2. Russian River (Pliny, and their Sours are outta sight)
    3. Societe (Russian River South)
    4. Beachwood Brewing (Insane IPAs, best brewery in LA county)
    5. Sante Adairius Rustic Ales (All around goldmine, tiny spot, best Porter I've ever had in my life.)
     
    #11 Iriepirate21, Jan 13, 2014
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  12. WesMantooth

    WesMantooth Grand Pooh-Bah (4,844) Jan 8, 2014 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Interesting list and very informative. Some new ones for me to look for
     
    #12 WesMantooth, Jan 13, 2014
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  13. Troville1990

    Troville1990 Initiate (0) Jan 17, 2012 Illinois

    Founders
    3 Floyds
    Stone
    Sierra Nevada
    Lagunitas

    Runners-up would include Bell's, Odell (they brew my favorite IPA as well as my favorite DIPA), Alesmith, and New Glarus.
     
    #13 Troville1990, Jan 13, 2014
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  14. Buzzardsuds

    Buzzardsuds Initiate (0) May 27, 2013 Ohio

    Three Floyd's
    Stone
    Lagunitas
    Founders
    Bells
     
    #14 Buzzardsuds, Jan 13, 2014
  15. blindtiger24

    blindtiger24 Initiate (0) Mar 16, 2010 Colorado

    AleSmith is very good as well. I need to try more of their stuff. Had their Grand Cru and wasn't blown away, but still enjoyed all their IPAs.
     
    #15 blindtiger24, Jan 13, 2014
  16. seakayak

    seakayak Pooh-Bah (1,823) May 20, 2007 Massachusetts
    Society Pooh-Bah

    -Jack's Abby
    -Smuttynose
    -Brasserie de Rochefort
    -AleSmith
    -Founders
     
    #16 seakayak, Jan 13, 2014
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  17. StoutSnob40

    StoutSnob40 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,611) Jan 4, 2013 California
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Russian River
    Firestone
    Stone
    Bruery
    Rip Current

    I'll be visiting Cantillon, Weihenstapher and hopefully Halen in July..
     
    #17 StoutSnob40, Jan 13, 2014
  18. glass_house

    glass_house Maven (1,325) Jan 10, 2014 Ohio

    Current favorites...

    • Unibroue
    • North Coast
    • Stone
    • Lagunitas
    • Troeg's

    I won't try to argue "best" but among these 5 I could find most of my favorties for just about every style. Honorable mention to Dogfish because I'd hate to live without Burton Baton.
     
    #18 glass_house, Jan 13, 2014
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  19. ONovoMexicano

    ONovoMexicano Initiate (0) Jun 14, 2012 New Mexico

    Has anyone ever bothered to tally up the breweries that get the most love in these "Favorite Breweries" posts? That would be interesting. Lagunitas is getting a lot of love. Founder's too. I'd love Founder's too if I could get it more often.
     
    #19 ONovoMexicano, Jan 13, 2014
  20. Frankinstiener

    Frankinstiener Initiate (0) Jul 28, 2009 Illinois

    Two Brothers, Sierra Nevada, Surly, Founders, Goose Island
     
    #20 Frankinstiener, Jan 13, 2014
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