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) ***** Modela, with Mexican food
5) DFH 90 minute IPA
But that is just the ones I have recently had, too hard to choose!