Stop the whining! Give a shoutout.

Shout out to Alewerks, Hardywood, Smartmouth, Strangeways, Devil's Backbone, Champion, Reaver Beach, O'Connor, Stone, Green Flash, Grape & Gourmet, The Birch, Lynnhaven Pub, The Answer, Bottlebox, Norm's and all of the other great breweries, bottle shops, and bars that make VA a great beer state.

 

Shout out to Sun King!
They had an issue where their can lids were really sharp. I told them and they said they were aware of the problem and sent me $20 in gift cards and stickers. Great team they have there!

 

I've got 3 actually, and I think the third may be surprising.
First goes out to the boys at Wolverine Market in Port Huron MI. Andy and Nate will bend over backward to make sure you leave happy, and are super knowledgeable about all things beer. Last year, I was unable to get across the border in time for the release of KBS and thought I had missed out. They were sold out, but they held two back for me, knowing I would be over eventually. I was surprised and impressed.
Second, the guys at Refined Fool here in Sarnia ON. Creative and tasty beer from a group of friends who just want to brew beer. Always willing to sit with you and discuss what's coming up next and bounce ideas for what else they can create.
Finally, Molson (gasp). I have had problems in the past that were entirely caused by the bar serving the beer. When bringing it to their attention, they have been prompt to respond and on more than one occasion have sent a swag package as sort of an apology. It wasn't their fault, but was still greatly appreciated.

 

Shout out to Sam Adams and Alaskan. Simply because...

 

Shout out to Proclamation. I don't frequent many breweries (or these guys as often as I'd like) but every time I go I get to drink awesome beer and learn something new.

 

Harpoon!
I visited the weekend before my upcoming wedding to get some growlers to enjoy at our venue after the reception. This was at the old small taproom and not the new Hall, back in 2010. We said we were getting the beer to enjoy for our wedding, and the guy there said get 2 growlers, a hat and a t-shirt on the house! I tagged them in my photo wearing the hat and tshirt from our tropical locale during the honeymoon. Everyone we've encountered there has been awesome...

 

Shoutout to the The Tomlinson Tap Room in Indianapolis. As an Oregonian, had 3 days all by myself in Indianapolis for a training and this place hit it out of the park. All Indiana taps in a stellar location, with great service.

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Shout out to Founders Brewing Co to finally coming to SoCal.

I was able to pickup two of my favorite beers today off the shelf! Their Porter and Backwoods Bastard. Other than Sierra Nevada's and Deschutes' there is a shortage of good porters available, and I think Founders Porter is better than both of the two mentioned. I am stoked to have add a new beer to my core purchases.

 

Shout out to New Belgium.
They have the most consistently friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable representatives I've come across. Whether I have questions about items in their online store, shipping concerns, beer related questions, distro or release questions, I always encounter the most wonderful and informative people who offer you their very prompt attention.

 

Shout out to breweries making amazingly beautiful taprooms. In particular, Voyageur Brewing in Grand Marais, MN and Logboat in Columbia, MO.

 

How about a shout out to an entire town? Waterbury VT. I have never had a bad experience there. Friendly folks and an amazing beer culture. Always welcoming, I have never been disappointed when I have been there.

One particular trip that stands out involves an afternoon sitting at the bar at the Blackback and just chatting the time away with the locals and the bar keep while enjoying VT's and New England's best beers. Got back to my car, which it turns out was illegally parked (I didn't realize) and found a note instead of a ticket..."thanks for visiting"

Friendly folks, amazing beer, great pubs and some fine food too. What a great town.

 

Shout out to a website who made my holidays with a well packed case of mixed Belgian delights and exotica....

www.belgiuminabox.com

 

Half Acre - great people, chill modest brewpub, the best fresh hoppy beer brewed in Chicago and reliably on the shelves everywhere in Chicago. Almost always have something new pouring.

Did a blind tasting and Gone Away was about even with Heady no jokes.

 

Couple of shout outs here....

First - to Almanac Brewing in SF, emailed them recently about an infected Heirloom Pumpkin I had; they promptly sent out another beer as replacement, along with 2 mini snifter glasses and cool bottle opener!

Next, to new R. Shea Brewing in my hometown of Akron - they are making some great beer, the place is warm and friendly, and you can chat with the brewer / owner Ron Shea most of the time! He even gave me a logo pint glass for making some suggestions on their Facebook page!

General Shout Out to all the great beer being made in NE Ohio - we are blessed with some super stuff from Fatheads, Great Lakes, Brew Kettle, Thirsty Dog, Hoppin Frog, Canton Brewing, R. Shea etc !!

 

Thanks friend! Always glad to help! I heart you too!

 

Shout out to Save The World Brewing in Marble Falls, Texas. They make amazing beer. They give back to the community by donating all net profit to charity. They pay their people a living wage. Their taproom and grounds are beautiful. Their grounds are natural, instead of water-sucking lawns that drain our already-hurting aquifers. And the owners, the Rathkamps, are gracious and good friends. Can't say enough good things about them.

 

I had 903's Sasquatch Chocolate Milk Stout for the first time. That stuff is better than mediocre sex.

 

One more -- OK, two more -- shoutouts.

To Strange Land Brewery in Austin for having a great tap room, great staff, and for knowing exactly what they want to do and doing it...and for having the craziest and most delicious braggot ever. (Seriously, the stuff looks like stout.)

And to Kelly Meyer at New Braunfels Brewing Company in New Braunfels, Texas. Part mad scientist, part culinarian, part historian, and part ten year old kid with a cool toy, this is the guy making sour beers in central Texas you haven't heard of. Yet. I'm proud to call him a friend. Check out his beers. Dude is not only pushing the envelope, he has turned it into an origami duck wearing a fez.

 

A great big "THANK YOU" to all of the breweries that make this hobby possible and delicious. Brewing styles that are barrel aged, to abundantly and (sometimes) obscenely hopped, to resurrecting the obscure and everything in between. You all have brought beer back to life in everything you brew. I may not have tried your wares yet, but I appreciate you being there.
Another big "THANK YOU" goes out to @Todd and @Jason and the rest of the BA staff for giving us a big community (on line and in print) to share thoughts, beers and information. It has much more of a human feel than other social media beer sites out there.
Finally "THANK YOU" to you, my fellow BA's for ... well, just being you!

 

Shout out to Bangin Banjo Brewery, Pompano Beach, FL for new interesting brews every time I go. See ya Saturday!

Shout out to Funky Buddha Oakland Park for the same. See ya Monday Night for Clemson v Bama.

Shout out for organizers of the Jupiter Craft Brewers Festival, 10 years on and never failing. See ya January 30.