I would have to go with Lagunitas as one of my favorites, plus I grew up right next to it. But coming up close is Firestone Walker Brewing Company and Russian River Brewing Company.
Always tryin new ones and getting new favorites.
I have recently had a couple of friends find out they had celiacs disease meaning they can no longer have gluten. My first thought was no beer?! But I found this blog on beer.wikia.com that shows you can buy gluten free beer out there. Give it a try or pass it along to anyone who is gluten free.
I made a mint chocolate stout and we added cocoa nibs and mint leaves wrapped in a cheese cloth and added it to the carboy during before closing for fermentation. So tasty!
1) Lagunitas Brown Shugga'
2) Firestone Walker's Velvet Merlin (Merkin)
3) Sierra Nevada's Hoptimum
4) Negro Modela, with Mexican food
5) DFH 90 minute IPA
But that is just the ones I have recently had, too hard to choose!