Little guys: Steel Toe out of Minnesota Toppling Goliath out of Iowa Ale Asylum out of Wisconsin Half Acre out of Chitown Big guys: Founders Green Flash Lagunitas Goose Island Oskar Blues
Flying Fish from NJ perhaps. Talked to a brewery rep yesterday, says they quadrupled the size of their brewery and are re-releasing some of their "exit" series beers in 6 packs. I think they'll become bigger in NJ, and I hope the rest of the US. Decent beers, but the price is right for entry level beer geeks
Brand new one here in Indiana called DareDevil. Two of the guys behind it were serious award winning home-brewers and I've had their beer many times. I am really excited to see what they do.
Night Shift! Really awesome and inventive stuff, and incredible berliners. Bout time someone made great fruit berliners up northeast...
How have they changed? I moved away a few years ago and haven't kept up. Can you fill growlers somewhere other than the brewery now?
Crooked Stave (CO)....within a year or two this will be a big hyped brewery i think Four Peaks (AZ) not my favorite brewery but they have money now and big expansion plans in progress and i have seen a taste of their new experiments...I'm impressed Anchorage (AK) this guy is destined for great things i think Maui (HI) i think we've only seen the beginning for them
I hadn't heard about the Founders expansion ...and i basically don't like anything ive had from Green Flash but maybe that will change...i 'll keep my eyes open for new stuff
I been digging Pensacola Bay Brewing Company out of Northern Florida.. they are new & making some really good stuff.
Indeed in Minneapolis, Minnesota opened up mid to late 2012. Day Tripper and Midnight Ryder are supposed to be great. Had Old Friend which was fantastic.
I think St. Arnolds is a brewery to watch next year, when a brewery decides hey lets see whats going on with this barrel stuff and they have the room that they do, I am watching. Sure they have been out for a long time, but now are going more creative then they have ever been. With the DR series, and now Icon, then Bishops Barrel I think 2013 could be fun for them. Also Karbach and JK. Karbach is about to explode on the scene this Monday look out
Ritual Brewing in Redlands, CA. Awesome facility that is already pre-fitted and ready for easy expansion. Their first bottled beer is an awesome start and hopefully a good example of what they will be doing in the future.
For me it's Ithaca Beer. Can the current brewers keep Flower Power cranking? Aside from Le Bleu will any other sours or new, edgey/ creative Excelsiors appear? Hop Stash return or another ipa? They had been so highly regarded during the previous brewers tenure (as it seemed to me), will they or can they maintain that reputation? That said, Peeksill + new digs x cool ship = look out!!
Local to me in NJ is Carton Brewing, Atlantic Highlands, NJ and Kane Brewing in Ocean, NJ. Both relatively new breweries that put out some damn fine brew. Carton is draft only right now and Kane is mostly draft with exception of these limited 750s: both were excellent and I anticipate big things from these guys in the coming year.
Blue Lobster in Hampton, NH. The brewer worked with Shaun at Hill Farmstead for a year before heading to this startup.
Funky Buddha is opening their brewery finally in March and will be distributing outside of their own building. That alone is worth celebrating, but I'd love to also see what J Wakefield does this year as he gets up and running in South Florida and also 7venth Sun's second year of existence.
Intuition in Jacksonville put out their first three canned beers in 2012. Underdark will be their first bottled beer I January or February, and I'm definitely looking forward to that one.
Pipeworks from Chicago! Their CitraNinja is amazing. I typically am not crazy about barley wines but my brother and I cracked open a Santa Vs Unicorn on Xmas and it blew my mind! Gonna try their Coffee Break Abduction tonight, pretty excited! Spiteful from Chicago is another one to watch. Havent had their GFY Stout yet but their xmas ale Jingle Balls was one of the better xmas ales I have had!
Pfriem Family Brewing out of Hood river Oregon. I know the owners personally and I can honestly tell you that I have never had a better beer than one I had out of Josh Pfriem's garage that he made. He won Gold and Bronze medals while working with Chuckanut Brewery in Bellingham WA. He also one them best small Brew pub of the year in 2009 I believe. They specialize in Belgian's and are starting their barrel aging program soon.
They're not open yet but locally (Cleveland) I can't wait to see what Portside does. They took the route less traveled by getting the more difficult licensing for a distillery taken care of FIRST, then are moving on to beer this coming spring, rather than the other way around. Their rum is quite good, can't wait for the beer (then a restaurant to follow that too).
Perrin brewing in Grand Rapids. They will be canning and bottling soon and are large enough to handle the local market. I have only had a few of their offerings, but they have all been very solid beers. I can't wait to see some barrel aging, or other more experimental beers from them, also looking forward to buying their beer in the store this year!
Founders! I'm not waiting for the first backstage announcement to get on the hype train. I expect good things from those releases this year.
After the two grand slams with the GBS and BB GBS I can't wait to see what else they will do. Did you get any of the Anniversary? I was not able to get to the release
