Top 5 breweries in Cali?

1. Russian River
2. Stone
3. 21st Amendment (haven't seen anyone post this - Great black IPA)
4. Lost Coast
5. Lagunitas

 

For me a great brewery should make all-around great brews not just one style. Haven't tried Kern River but from Alpine I would only consider their IPA's world class. Their other brews are good, but not great.


No particular order:
Russian River-IPA's, sours, and Belgian styles are amazing. Have never tried a good stout or roasty brews from them. Wonder why?

The Bruery-Sours, stouts, Belgians, even lagers. The only thing missing from them are IPA's but don't mind since they have so much to offer, and their Hummulus Lager is so good.

AleSmith- Probably my all-around favorite brewery. Everything they make is pretty darn good. The only thing missing would be sours.

Stone- I am not a fan but I have to accept they are doing great stuff and producing a lot of it. Most of what they do I've enjoyed.

Firestone Walker-they also do great with everything they do. They tend to lean more toward the English style brews and that's ok since they have mastered them. Their barrel program is probably one of the best in the country.

I thing we are so lucky to have so many great breweries in Cali.

Honorable mention goes to Green Flash, Lagunitas, Bear Republic, and Ballast Point.

Lost Abbey/Port Brewing would have been my #1 choice but after what they made me feel on Thursday they are off the list completely. Haha!

 

Firestone
Russian River
Beachwood
Alpine
Sierra Nevada

 

1. Ol Republic, Grass Valley. Helles is as good as anything you'll get in Bavaria.
2. Stone, Escondido. Double Bastard Ale.
3. Green Flash, San Diego. Double Stout Black Ale.
4. Seabright, Santa Cruz.

 

I knew I missed one. Heretic should be #4. Shallow Grave, Evil Cousin & Evil Twin.

 

1. Firestone- parabola best stout for the price IMO abacus Sucuba holds its own next to any barley wine, great yearly Ann beers and solid daily drinkers. Reasonably priced for very good quality.

2.Lost abbey- cable car. CCK, DDG, izzy, CFH,
They make great beer all while having issues carb. Quality control. Shity releases even when they try to improve with online release, box set winners get red barn.. Won't include churchills release and that shit show.

3. Russian river- set the bar for west coast beers Pliny, blind pig, con, supp, beat.

4. The bruery - really good quality solid track record- flip side can't buy 2 many beers for under 20 bucks.

5. Three way tie-Ale smith, stone, lagunitas

 

Hard to name just 5 but something like this.

 

Make sure u add donkey punch on this one...

 

Not until they can the berliner

 

Picking the top 5 breweries in CA is like picking which of your children you like the best.

 

They must be. I thought their early stuff was meh but lately their new stuff has been knocking it out of the park. I had their pale ale at Incanto and thought it was pretty good and their Farmers Reserve 1 & 2 were delicious.

 

Heal the bay was a surprise, glad i got to try it this summer. I am so pissed off for not getting DDG i may never drink a LA/Port brew again...maybe never touch beers from SD. Oh wait i've never had alpine stuff, is that SD

 

You are blaming San Diego for Lost Abbey? Oh, my...

Well, that's OK. You can leave the Alesmith, Alpine, and Societe for us to drink. It will be difficult, but I'm sure we'll get by.

 

I disagree. I think a brewery can be world-class if they excel in one or two styles. Look at Cantillon.

That said, my top five (in no order) are:

1. Pizza Port
2. Russian River
3. Alesmith
4. Sante Adairius
5. The Bruery

 

Are you combining all the Pizza Ports for this ranking, and/or including the Port of Port/Lost Abbey fame?

 

i can't stay away from SD just boycottin until that thing is released

 

Alpine, Alesmith, Societe, Firestone Walker, Russian River.

 

Yes and no. Many of the Pizza Ports share beers and recipes, so I count them all as one. If I had to pick a single one, I'd go Carlsbad.

Port is nearly unrelated to Pizza Port. Aside from the origins of a few of Port's beers and the shared ownership, they are different. Pizza Port >>>>> Port.

 

Right - just wanted to clarify.

OB seems to put up a lot of Carlsbad's beers - best of both worlds.

 

Stumblefoot
Wet 'n Reckless
Belching Beaver
Rough Draft
Karl Strauss