Best good beer made by mediocre brewery?

If you have not had a chance to try any of Boulevard's Smokestack Series beers, I would highly recommend them. Stuff like Saison Brett, Sixth Glass and Rye-on-Rye might make you change your mind about Boulevard's mediocrity. Cheers!

 

Besides the disgusting Watermelon Wheat, I think all of their beers are good. Bitter American and Allies Win the War being the highlights.

 

I agree on Bitter American, It is listed on this site as a Pale Ale but it really seems, to me, to be a bitter. I've had GI's Honkers Ale, another bitter, and this is similar. In fact, I don't know why I don't have some in the fridge right now, I'll need to fix that. I did pick up a six "Hell or High Watermelon" and really haven't liked it. But, I just finished 3 hours of yard work on a hot Carolina day and that final one tasted OK. In general though, I think watermelon and beer isn't a mix that works for me.

But, thanks for the reminder on "Bitter American". I agree, a great low ABV session beer.

 

left hand milk stout
two brothers red eye coffee porter

 

I am drinking a Hampshire Special right now. It's good. I also have a Geary's summer ale in the fridge. As far as summer Ales go, it is as good as any other. The only two beers I have tried from Geary's and I would rate them both above medocre status.

 

I will second that. While boulevard makes some forgettable mass consumption beers (their wheat is delicious though), They also have a large number of top-notch brews.

 

I've had the Dark truth Stout ... I know their smokestack series is good, I was mostly talking about their mainline beers.

 

The Big Eddy series from Leinenkugel's has been tasty so far.

 

Saranac Caramel Porter is by far the best beer from Matt brewing.

 

Spot on. Bitter American is awesome but the rest are meh. I will give them credit for easy as shit to read dating and the fact they come in badass cans.

 

The first beer that came to mind was O'Fallon's BDS. Sure enough, someone has already beat me to the punch. Excellent beer from a normally uninspiring lineup.

 

This! Though I did have their Big Finish beer this weekend and it was pretty awesome as well.

 

Haven't had much Arcadia, but that BA Shipwreck is outstanding. I still have a bottle in the beer closet waiting for consumption.

 

Not a huge fan of Widmer's, but the Falconer IPA really kinda impressed me.

 

Simtra from Knee Deep is actually one of my favorite beers period. Most of their other stuff is kind of middle of the road to me. Also Widmer Bros. Galaxy hopped barleywine is real good and I don't care for a lot of their stuff

 

I bought a case yesterday at a craft-centric place. I almost felt like I should explain myself to the guy, but whatevs...I spend a few thousand on craft beer per year, but I've always had a thing for margaritas and this stuff really hits the spot IMO. Much easier than dealing with tequila and mix or doing it the real way, plus I enjoy the mouthfeel of it being carbonated.

I'll feel like a real doofus if you were just havin' a laugh with that post.

 

I was at Arcadia back in February of this year and I tried a full flight of all of the beers they had on draft. There were 10 of them I believe. I was simply unimpressed with every single offering. There was one pale ale that was decent (at the time there were two available, I think), but the name eludes me. While I was there, I picked up a couple bottles of the 15 and XV, and I actually really enjoyed those. So I would include those in my list of good beers they produce.

Anyways, it's only my opinion, and I certainly support your enjoyment of their beers. But besides the BA Shipwreck, 15, and XV, I wouldn't choose to drink any of their other beers.

 

Long Trail Double Bag
Lancaster Milk Stout

 

CoCoNut Porter from Maui Brewing. I don't find their other offerings anything much.

 

I think DuClaw's 6packs are overpriced and mediocre. Some of their 22s however, are overpriced and awesome.
It sort of worked in reverse, but I really like Blue Point's Toasted Lager (which I don't say often about lagers), and have been really disappointed with everything else I had from them.