What "hype breweries" are actually worth their hype?

Agree they play the scarcity game, but I've had 3 stouts from them and they are definitely making stuff in the top-tier. With that said, when I travel to Florida, I know a store where I can buy Funky Bhuda Morning Wood off a store shelf, and I think that stout is on par with the top stuff Angry Chair is making.

 

Have their IPAs gotten significantly better in the last year? They were only average when I went. Their kitchen is awesome.

Hill Farmstead is the only brewery I would say meets this criteria for me.

 

“Picks up mic”

Have to second this, and not just for the “hyped” beer releases/lines as they are definitely worth it. Their hype is all about the pastry stout, but if you sample their wares across other styles they are consistently good. Always a pleasure hitting one of their events as they’re well run and a cool vibe. Their staff and ownership also all solid human beings. I live 100 miles away, but AC is worth the effort for this guy.

 

Other Half probably gets the most hype in the NYC area and they deserve it..their IPA's are top notch and have greatly improved their Stouts over the last year or so, but other breweries around here are just as good but don't have quite the frenzied following (Finback, Sand City to name a few) as I find they are pretty much producing at the same levels (quality wise) as OH

 

I'm not sure how the quality used to be, but the recent IPAs I've had (Shades, Upside, All Sides, Crumple, Hedge, Skip Pass, Tubes) have all been very good. Been drinking them alongside a Treehouse/Alchemist/Hill Farmstead stash I collected recently in New England, and they're not quite as good but they definitely hold their own in my opinion. The Sour IPAs are fantastic too, the Metaform series in particular. For what it's worth, Treehouse and Hill Farmstead definitely lived up to the hype for me, and as I've been working through my Heady/Focal stockpile I've come to really appreciate those brews too.

The kitchen is excellent.

 

Morning Wood is FB’s best, and highest rated, beer...and some of the year it sits on the shelf at $29.99 at TW, etc. I like it a lot and agree that it’s similar to and as good as the adjuncty stouts AC puts out...since this is a “hype” thread, AC is one of many poster children...add Hidden Springs to my list - similar scarcity marketing, long release day line, 1 bottle limit, sells out in an hour or two...and well made tasty beer for those who want big sweet syrup BA adjuncty stouts...

 

Owner/brewer is such a gracious cool guy, and all the folks who work at AC are super friendly too. For such a little space, the release events are well run and fun. And his BA Stouts are phenomenal, again, if you like “pastry” stouts. Cheers!

 

Goose and Rev are worth it

 

I won't chase their beers or even try to trade for them, but when I visited Tampa last fall I stopped there and got to try a few and even their pilsner was pretty damn good. I had a much better time there, and Cigar City than I did at Cycle.

 

New Trail isn't hyped up yet, but give it time.

 

Well, I have had Treehouse stuff and it is well worth the hype.

 

For me, the big 3 are:

Tree House - I'm an admitted Tree House fanboy. Their IPA's are what drives their volume but their stouts are among the best I've ever had.

Hill Farmstead - My favorite overall brewery. Every beer is great. Every style Sean touches is turned into gold. The atmosphere and beauty of the farmstead is New England incarnate. Perfection.

Other Half - While their stouts are lacking IMO, their hoppy beers are easily some of the best out there. Lactose or no lactose, these guys know how to make a NEIPA.

I will also give a shout-out to Founders. When they first came to NH, minds were blown. Their beers lived up to the hype and then some. And despite the hype train leaving the station, their beers are still fantastic.

 

Troegs. They are always brewing beers that you can only buy at their brewery. Right now my favorite brew is their Nimble Giant so I guess I am biased.

 

Nimble Giant is ridiculously good.

 

Here in Michigan, Transient. Speciation is also great but Transient has been amazing!

 

I have two breweries that I think a worth the hype....
Root and Branch and The Other half.....

 

I’ll wait in line for Hill Farmstead, Tree House, and Trillium. Pretty much everywhere else in NEw England if there is a line, it’s not worth waiting; just go to another great brewery without a line.

 

In Northern California, Fieldwork. They have like 5 or 6 locations now. Their releases roll out so fresh and flavorful. They do the big 3 hype types: hazebros, flavored stouts, and flavored kettle sours. They also barrel age, blend, and bottle age. The cool release schedule of annuals, semi-frequents, randoms, one-offs, collabs. Always something new and something familiar returning.

 

Horus, 3 Chiefs, Monkish in that order. I don't care if Horus is $40 a bottle and Monkish is $22 a 4 pack I'll buy everything all 3 brewers release no matter what the costs yes I think they are that good.

 

I live in Northern Vt. Hill Farmstead and Alchemist worth the hype. Also Foley Brothers is a great little brewery.