What's your most RESPECTED brewery?

Jack's Abby

 

Firestone Walker

I firmly believe they are the best brewery in the world. They produce world class beers in all styles and they have a great distribution channel.

 

For me there is only 1... Highland Brewing, because they started it all in Asheville 20+ years ago, they did it right, it is consistent and the owner is very approachable. And yes, they do make one of my favorite beers (alas it is seasonal).

 

This is an easy choice for me. New Glarus. To me they are the benchmark brewery. Well crafted beer at an unbelievably fair price point.

 

Sixpoint is incredibly innovative and in-tune with their customer base. Sierra Nevada gets an honorable mention

 

Put me down for another vote for Tree House. Every time I go the overwhelming feeling is how much they care about their customers. They make amazing beer and are awesome people.

 

Saw the whole first page and no new Belgium? To produce that kind of beer on that level is insane. And for them to have a steady stream of seasonal and special release beer idk how you could think otherwise

 

Russian River. They created the blueprint and the blueprint still kicks ass. Always.

 

Sierra Nevada + Deschutes. Also two of my favorite breweries which I suppose would be a diffrernt question. But as far as respect, these two have definitely earned it. Ability to brew classic styles WELL, innovate and keep their fans happy year round.
That covers the US - but what about the rest of the brewing world?
Id go Mountain Goat in Aus. Theres a few honorable mentions (which strangely I wont mention), but MG have been around for a long time and continue to put out some quality beer.
And add in Weihenstaphaner for being around forever.

 

I would have to say Dogfish as well. You can tell that dude is pretty cool and not a weirdo, like many of the brewers. I would totally agree..

 

I guess Russian River for me. They do the pale ales super well, and the sours....OH, the sours. We don't see much RR Sour here in Iowa, and I'd put Vinnie's sours up against anything in a blind taster.

Not to mention they keep the brewery at the size they want, and are masters of the marketing of scarcity.

 

Dolle Brouwers from Belgium.
I love ALL their beers, they're passionate about craft brewing, and they're only 5 miles from where I live...
Second would be Struise Brouwers...

 

It was not on the list of seasonal releases posted on here a few months ago.

 

Smuttynose - solid offerings and pretty accessible.

 

Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, AleSmith, Russian River, in the U.S. at least.

That's just of the bigger craft guys, of course. There are hundreds of smaller breweries that deserve just as much respect.

 

Founders every beer has been great to amazing, always in my fridge.

 

No.

 

Fiddlehead Brewery in Shelburne, VT - by far my love for the beer quality and the artisinal attitude. Start up beers are charging $15 to $20 per growler and no track record and u go into Fiddlehead and get a growler for $10 and a 1/2 growler for $6. fantastic! Every canning, I try to make the 325 mile drive to pick up a case for two and its always well worth the drive! Every beer is great!

 

CCB. Been a fan since day one, and have always loved their stuff, but my respect for them reached a new level with how they responded to the 2014 Hunahpu's Day disaster.

 

Carton. Mostly for confidence. They keep doing new things, all the time. Not like "X beer plus Y different hop" or "this beer but this time in a barrel," but whole new creations of flavor and concept. Even when what they do doesn't click for me I know the made exactly what they wanted to. Then when they do make a normal beer like 077XX it's up there with the best there is. Wish NJ would let them make food, you know it'd be the coolest restaurant ever.