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What breweries should every major market have represented?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by CaptainPiret, Nov 13, 2012.

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  1. CaptainPiret

    CaptainPiret Zealot (576) Oct 5, 2009 North Carolina
    Trader

    I live in Memphis, a black hole for craft beer. Sam Adams and New Belgium (God love 'em) really dominate the selection, especially at the grocery stores, where beers above 6.2 ABV can't be sold.

    Got me thinking — what am I (and my fellow citizens) missing out on? What breweries do you think every city with a population >750k should have represented on the shelves?

    My thought is that there are probably 5-10 mid-size craft breweries that are 1) Consistently good, 2) Imaginative with their brewing, and 3) Distributed relatively well enough that they are available across large portions of the country (I might be wrong). Obviously, I don't expect to find Russian River where I live, but I know there are a lot of breweries that should be here — but aren't. Would love to hear everyone's thoughts.
     
    #1 CaptainPiret, Nov 13, 2012
  2. MikeEhrmantraut

    MikeEhrmantraut Initiate (0) Aug 28, 2012 Tennessee

    Lived in Memphis for a few years, I feel your pain. I moved to Chattanooga last December. Selection is about the same here, but a decent store in Georgia is just 20 minutes away.

    On to the topic:

    1. Bell's
    2. Oskar Blues
    3. Founder's

    If I had these three breweries constantly at my reach, I'd be just fine for the rest of my life.
     
    #2 MikeEhrmantraut, Nov 13, 2012
    CaptainPiret likes this.
  3. cappy201

    cappy201 Zealot (516) Mar 25, 2012 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Stone
    Sierra Nevada
     
    #3 cappy201, Nov 13, 2012
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  4. whendeathsleeps

    whendeathsleeps Initiate (0) Nov 5, 2011 Indiana

    Founder's for sure.
    Three Floyd's
     
    #4 whendeathsleeps, Nov 13, 2012
  5. Treebs

    Treebs Initiate (0) Apr 18, 2011 Illinois

    Strictly thinking of breweries that have a wider distribution I would say:

    Stone
    Founders
    Bell's
     
    #5 Treebs, Nov 13, 2012
  6. brewbetter

    brewbetter Initiate (0) Jun 2, 2012 Nauru

    Cantillion, Hair of the Dog, Cascade, Ithaca, Ballast Point, Alpine, and Russian River.

    That's what I would like. If you're asking what craft breweries are most widely represented in major markets, then Sierra Nevada, Lagunitas, and Stone definitely come to mind. For slightly more regional brewers, you have Deschutes, Bell's, and Dofish Head. Slightly more regional than that is like Victory and Oskar Blues.
     
    #6 brewbetter, Nov 13, 2012
    marcron03 and Orca like this.
  7. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,553) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah

    In addition to the aforementioned Stone, Sierra Nevada, Deschutes, Dogfish Head, Lagunitas, Bell's and Founders, I'd add Boulevard, Firestone Walker, Great Divide, Ommegang and Unibroue. Of course this doesn't include some great Belgian and German imports that every major U.S. city should have access to.
     
    #7 Orca, Nov 13, 2012
    Brunite likes this.
  8. Brunite

    Brunite Initiate (0) Sep 21, 2009 Illinois

    Nice list.

    I'd get by with little more than Founders, Bells, Lagunitas, F-Walker, GI, Great Lakes, a few Belgian sours and abbeys, and some German Doppels & Hefe's. Oh yeah....toss in some Sam Adams.
     
    #8 Brunite, Nov 13, 2012
  9. VncentLIFE

    VncentLIFE Initiate (0) Feb 16, 2011 North Carolina

    Ommegang, Bells, and Stone should a staple everywhere.

    People forget about import German, Belgian, and British beers. Weihenstephaner should also be required.
     
    #9 VncentLIFE, Nov 13, 2012
    Orca likes this.
  10. scootsmal

    scootsmal Initiate (0) Aug 15, 2012 New York

    Stone
    Lagunitas
    Founders
    After that it's a tossup. I have wish Russian River was available here in NY, 3 Floyds, Bells etc
     
    #10 scootsmal, Nov 13, 2012
  11. HighWine

    HighWine Initiate (0) Dec 11, 2010 Illinois

    Now that I live in Chicago I realize that you can't get Deschutes here. Good thing I brought my own bottles of Abyss, Dissident, Mirror, Mirror, and Jubel 2010!
     
    #11 HighWine, Nov 13, 2012
  12. cid71

    cid71 Zealot (602) Mar 2, 2009 New Jersey
    Trader

    Fyi Brooklyn brewery does distribute to Tennessee
     
    #12 cid71, Nov 13, 2012
  13. UCLABrewN84

    UCLABrewN84 Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2010 California

    Sierra Nevada and Anchor.
     
    #13 UCLABrewN84, Nov 13, 2012
  14. AJacob81

    AJacob81 Initiate (0) Mar 15, 2010 Illinois

    That will be rectified soon, friend.
     
    #14 AJacob81, Nov 13, 2012
    HighWine likes this.
  15. hopsputin

    hopsputin Grand Pooh-Bah (4,041) Apr 1, 2012 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    Deschutes, FW, DFH, is weyerbacher too small?
     
    #15 hopsputin, Nov 13, 2012
  16. Brunite

    Brunite Initiate (0) Sep 21, 2009 Illinois

    #16 Brunite, Nov 13, 2012
  17. a74gent

    a74gent Pundit (981) Mar 16, 2010 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Local ones. BAM!

    But seriously... Firestone Walker, Founder's, Deschutes. For my money, the top notch outfits of their size. They do it right!
     
    #17 a74gent, Nov 13, 2012
  18. dynajack1

    dynajack1 Devotee (379) Jul 5, 2012 Massachusetts

    Bell's
    Russian River
    Alpine
    The Alchemist
    Lawson's
    Hill Farmstead

    Here in Mass we're very lucky with selection. But could use a few more!
     
    #18 dynajack1, Nov 13, 2012
  19. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,623) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    You may need to ponder why TN is a wedge in Bells distribution.

    Edit - Link
    http://bellsbeer.com/brands/brand-finder/
     
    #19 hopfenunmaltz, Nov 13, 2012
  20. Tilley4

    Tilley4 Pooh-Bah (2,799) Nov 13, 2007 Tennessee
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Only in Middle TN... wont find anything out west here... no clue why either...
     
    #20 Tilley4, Nov 13, 2012
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