What's your favorite brewery? Do you even have one? It's hard to say because I am so limited due to the region I live in and the fact that there are so many damn beers out there. That aside, what is a brewery you have never been disappointed by? Mine is Great Divide, by far. I have yet to have a less than exceptional beer made by them. There may be a better brewery out there, but due to my limited scope, this one, as of now, is my favorite.
Lagunitas. Almost all great beers (sorry pils). And the fact that I can get a 8.99 sixer 3000 miles away just isn't fair.
Bell's and The Livery. It has just as much to do with the people as it does the beer. Great friends and great beer at both. Easy to support that.
Count me as another Lagunitas fan. They make well balanced, reasonably priced, and easy to find beers. I like that they have a consistency in their quality. I can trust that just about any beer they have will worth drinking.
Haven't had every variety but Founder's has yet to disappoint. And Weihenstephaner and Unibroue as far as consistency goes.
Hard to pick but I'd go Lost Abbey (Close 2nd for Avery) The range of creativity and skill is too hard to dismiss or deny. I love belgian beers and they have taken a unique perspective on many of the styles.
Victory, Troegs, and Smuttynose... Unfortunatley some of the well known top breweries don't distribute where I am, so my sampling from them has been limited unless a friend from out of town comes around. Although I can't complain because the 3 I listed make some damn good brews. Honorable Mention - Great Lakes.
Deschutes. Their regular lineup is solid to great, and the limited/special release stuff is (generally) fantastic. I love the Black Butte Birthday series. Mirror Pond is the yardstick by which I judge all other APAs. Honorable Mentions to Firestone Walker, Fremont, Ommegang, and Unibroue.
I haven't had an average beer from Founder's yet. Their beers have either consistently been very good to excellent or completely mind-blowing. If I'm in a mood for a lager or just for drinking large quantities of awesome beer, it's Jack's Abby without question. I haven't had nearly enough of Lagunitas's lineup but that's only because Sucks sixers are still on the shelves. Once those are gone, that will change.
So many good breweries right now. Love GD and Odell's (the homer in me) North Coast and Firestone Walker do no wrong in my eyes.
I would have to say Alesmith out of San Diego. Great beers just a shame you cant get them anywhere else.
If I could only drink from one brewery, any one of these would bd awesome. Anchorage Brewing Company Jolly Pumpkin Three Floyds Stone New Glarus
Funny, I logged on to start a similar thread, the brewery that is accessible to me that has all bases covered is Founders
Never been disappointed by Firestone Walker or Dogfish Head If I could only drink from one brewery, then Three Floyds
goose island: I want to live in bourbon county. cherry rye is bliss... Big john is amazing. All stouts are done to perfection. Lagunitas: I don't view it as a brewery, it's more like my "dealer" because sucks is heroin.
For me I think it's between Stone and Founders. They never disappoint, and have good availability. I've only had like 4-5 Lagunitas offerings, but they all range from good to world-class (Sucks anyone?!), and their availability is excellent. Firestone Walker has been moving up my charts as I have yet to have anything even mediocre by them, but it's hard to get a lot from them by me. Hill Farmstead just blew my mind this past weekend, but getting their beers requires a 10+ hour round trip for me...
I pick Coast brewing. They were my local "gateway" brewery. Their Hopart was my first intro to IPAs. They along with the Beer Exchange organize Brewvival which is an awesome showcase of epic beers. The wife of the owner/brewer was highly involved in lobbying for changes in beer laws that have led to much more craft beer in SC. Aside from them, on a national level I love Dogfish Head. He has helped pave the way for craft beer. He is by far the most creative and innovative with his beers. He covers so many styles. He is very friendly on a personal level too. He started pouring beers at brewvival and I got a chance to meet him and get an awesome pic with him. Sam is the man!
I'm gonna have to go with Lagunitas. Sucks, Hop Stoopid, Sumpin Sumpin, Sumpin Sumpin Wild, Maximus, all far above average.
I would have to take a combination of New Glarus and Central Waters because they each have there own strengths and together they would form one super brewery! New Waters Central Glarus?????
