Best breweries in the US?

[Robert]

I have really been getting into my town's local brews lately. I live in Asheville, tied recently with Portland as the #1 beer city in America, etc. There's this place called the Wedge that I swear makes the best IPA I've ever tasted. They also have a seasonal Double IPA that's really good. They do a Belgian abbey and a tripel that also are pretty damned good. I've pretty much decided that all I really want in my fridge from now on is growlers from this place.

Is there something about a local brew that makes the beer taste so good? Maybe the fact that this place uses local hops? Maybe just that the stuff in a brew pub is so fresh?

 

[syracuse1976]

Dogfish Head. Their 60-minute IPA is the best I've had. It's balanced, hoppy and delicious.

 

[Robert]

I like some Dogfish. The 60 and the 90 are great. I still like my local stuff better.

 

[samus]

Tröegs - really enjoy their Mad Elf around this time of year
Clipper City - outside of Baltimore. Drank a lot of their Gold Ale in college, and their Heavy Seas line is pretty good too.

 

[adamha21]

Bah, this thread is week sauce. You want microbrew, come to Portland and the surrounding Oregon area.

Portland has the most microbreweries in the world, second is Munich. Hell, I live in a small little town of 5,000 people and we have 3 microbreweries right in town.

The best I have had are:

Deschutes
Full Sail
Double Mountain
Big Horse
Widmer


Bell's is good (I'm originally from Michigan) but I find Oberon to be HIGHLY OVERRATED.

 

[pelicans]

In no particular order....some good ones

Russian River
Jolly Pumpkin
Fantome
Brasserie d'Achouffe
Orval
Hair Of The Dog

 

[devinm]

I live in DC so for the most part we dont get **** here.
Ill break it down by region.

NE
captain lawrence (ny)
allagash (now doing sours!)


Mid atlantic
troegs.. nothing over the top pretty solid across the board
selins grove (brewpub)

SE
cigar city.. this brewery does some crazy stuff
pisgah (green!)

mid west
3 floyds
new glarus (wi only?)
surly (best can brewer)
founders (i like their stouts every thing else in mehhhh)
jolly pumpkin

cali
russian river
alesmith (do good barrel age beers)
lost abbey//port


nw
hair of dog
hopworks
deschutes

 

[dl20]

Stoudts in adamstown, PA

 

[Listi]

Originally Posted by pelicans

In no particular order....some good ones

Russian River
Jolly Pumpkin
Fantome
Brasserie d'Achouffe
Orval
Hair Of The Dog

Half of those breweries are not located in the US.

 

[otc]

I spent a day in Milwaukee this weekend and stopped at the Lakefront Brewery

The beer wasn't bad but the tour was by far the best distillery or brewery tour I have ever been on. You get started drinking *before* the tour, and there is a refill stop midway through.

 

[adambparker]

Originally Posted by otc

I spent a day in Milwaukee this weekend and stopped at the Lakefront Brewery

The beer wasn't bad but the tour was by far the best distillery or brewery tour I have ever been on. You get started drinking *before* the tour, and there is a refill stop midway through.

Glad to hear. Planning on going next weekend.

+1 for Jolly Pumpkin. My wife and I have been up to Traverse City a few times on vacation in the last couple years, and it's totally worth stopping in if you're in the area. The pizza is quite good (for non-Neapolitan style pizza) and all their beers are terrific.

 

[atct86]

Dogfish 120 Minute

 

[whacked]

Originally Posted by fdbaker

I enjoy many of the beers mentioned. I would just point out that these brewers (and we) all owe a hat-tip to Anchor Steam. Until Fritz Maytag resurrected that company and proved there was a market for well-crafted brew, quality local breweries were all but extinct in this country.

+1. All their beers (but Anchor Small Beer, perhaps) are excellent.

I've been going through a variety pack from Boulevard Brewing Co. Not bad either.

 

[Yngling]

I haven't tried all that many, but Yuengling (cf. http://www.yuengling.com/) is my favorite. Then again, it could be the name alone

Ex animo,
- Alexander.

 

[TheIdler]

I have just learned the Deschutes is getting rid of their Cinder Cone Red???

That beer was the best part of going to Portland.