5 best american breweries

[Brewers United]

That may be true but VB is better than any other commercial Amercian beer. I will agree that many commercial brewies cant hold a candle to many craft breweries. And also beer from Australian craft breweries taste better than anything America can produce.

 

[Brewsmith]

This is hard, especially with so many that I havn't tried but here goes...

Stone
North Coast
Bridgeport
Bear Republic
Rogue

 

[Dude]

No drengal. I have tasted a lot of American beer and i stick my to myt statement that American beer is urine. I prefer grolsch, guiness, bodingtons or vb.

Also American bourbon whiskey is toilet water

Sorry, that's just being flat out blind.

American breweries have come a LONG way in recent years. The breweries you mentioned are certainly good ones but you seem pretty narrow-minded. I have faith you'll change.

Hop Rod Rye? Stone IPA? Pretty much anything by Dogfish Head? Come on......

 

[RichBrewer]

That may be true but VB is better than any other commercial Amercian beer. I will agree that many commercial brewies cant hold a candle to many craft breweries. And also beer from Australian craft breweries taste better than anything America can produce.

I'm trying to figure out how you have tried so many American beers. Your statements are based on some personal agenda and not the facts. I'm not saying we make the best beer in the world but I am saying that the craft beer industry in America has dramatically improved the over all quality of American beer.
I think you need to chill. Great beers are made all over the world including Australia and the United States. Be open minded and see what America has to offer.

 

[Brewers United]

RichBrewer. I agree. there is a lot of good beers. And there probably is a few good American beer but the beer from America I have tried such as Budweiser, Boston Beers, Red Hook Ale brewery etc havent been really all that great so I agrre that there may be a few good beers from America I just have been put of American beer by a few bad ones.

 

[Dude]

RichBrewer. I agree. there is a lot of good beers. And there probably is a few good American beer but the beer from America I have tried such as Budweiser, Boston Beers, Red Hook Ale brewery etc havent been really all that great so I agrre that there may be a few good beers from America I just have been put of American beer by a few bad ones.

Why does Boston Brewing keep winning all those international awards then?

 

[Caplan]

RichBrewer. I agree. there is a lot of good beers. And there probably is a few good American beer but the beer from America I have tried such as Budweiser, Boston Beers, Red Hook Ale brewery etc havent been really all that great so I agrre that there may be a few good beers from America I just have been put of American beer by a few bad ones.

I prefer grolsch, guiness, bodingtons

Good luck! Give me a decent well made micro beer from a US Brewery that cares about quality as opposed to those three mass produced yellow, brown, and black 'urine' products you've mentioned from Europe!....
I've drunk all the US quality beer i've found in the UK. It's all been great! (Yes, it almost hurt saying that )
I'm waiting to try a decent Australian beer, I've haven't tried Victoria Bitter, I've only had crappy mass produced lagers - but i KNOW they are out there! I haven't condemned the whole of Australasia just yet.......

 

[Rhoobarb]

... I prefer grolsch, guiness, bodingtons ...

Okay, now I think you're just trolling here. I like a Guinness, but Grolsch and Boddingtons? Talk about beers that have little taste! The only people I've ever seen ordering Boddingtons are drunk frat boys and even drunker college girls.

On a more serious note, this is a hard pick! My vote is (in no particluar order):

Flossmoor Station (brewpub)
Goose Island
Great Lakes
New Glarus
The Great Dane (brewpub)

If I were relegated to having only five brewery's beers to drink for the rest of my life, these would be my choice. Fortunately, I won't have to.

 

[jeffg]

In no particular order:

Sierra Nevada
Harpoon
New Belgian
Flying Dog
Magic Hat/Long Trail (a VT tie)

I don't love all of Long Trail's beers, but Double Bag is possibly the best winter beer i have ever had--It's billed as a double alt, but it is soooo smooth you would never know it's 7.2%.

I also don't love Magic Hat #9, but their Single Chair ale is great as is Fat Angel--two very drinkable decently hopped ales. They have a couple of good light summer beers as well.

Harpoon has just been a local staple in Boston for over ten years now and their IPA, October, Summer Kolsch and plain old ale are all just consistanly good.

Flying Dog and New Beligan are both solid CO breweries--wish we got Fat Tire back east and I wish you could still get Flying Dog's Imperial Stout.

Sierra is Sierra--they worship hops, so do I...

Honerable mention to Yuengling and Abita...

 

[budbo]

Anyone who uses the words "good American beers" and Budweiser in the same sentence is displaying ignorance... In a 24 year Navy career I have had the oppourtunity to try local beers from all over the world, and American craft beers (unavailable outside the US, and in many cases unavailable in many parts of the US) rank right up there. You obviously have either never been here or never tried regional brews here. VB is far superior to Budweiser But then again after a glass of Guiness or Flat tire, or Pete's, my piss would taste better than Bud.

Also keep in mind what you grow up on determines your tastes..If you grow up on Coors.. then any medium to full bodied beer is going to become an acquired taste.

 

[RichBrewer]

Also keep in mind what you grow up on determines your tastes..If you grow up on Coors.. then any medium to full bodied beer is going to become an acquired taste.

I am proof of that! i did grow up on Coors and now I have acquired a taste for beers with more flavor.
Oh by the way- I still enjoy an ice cold Coors on a really hot day. Great thirst quencher!

 

[Brewers United]

Well everybody in conclusion i want to say that everybodys opinion is valid and that i am sure that what i drink would taste like urine to a lot of people so i will no longer critisise American beers becuase i am sure there are good beers from America. in fact if anyone could please help correct my ignorance please help

 

[SwAMi75]

Well everybody in conclusion i want to say that everybodys opinion is valid and that i am sure that what i drink would taste like urine to a lot of people so i will no longer critisise American beers becuase i am sure there are good beers from America. in fact if anyone could please help correct my ignorance please help

Try something from breweries like Sierra Nevada, Stone, Anchor, Rogue, Bear Republic, Russian River, New Belgium, Sprecher, Lienenkugels (sp?), Bells, Goose Island, Trogues, Lancaster, Smuttynose, Ommegang, Dogfish Head, Victory, Old Dominion, St George, etc. etc........

 

[JeepGuy]

A couple of mine are local, so I'm kinda partial.

Freestate (Lawrence KS, Copperhead Pale ale)
Boulevard (Kansas City MO,or KS, not real sure Zon and Unfiltered Wheat)
Breckenridge Brewery (Breckenridge CO, Avalanche and Oatmeal Stout)
Tommy Knocker (????? Colorado, I've liked all that I've tried from here)
Petes Wicked (??????)

 

[grampska]

Here's some of my favorites ...

Victory
Weyerbacher
Dogfish Head
Brooklyn
and with post mortem honors, Rhino Chaser

Honorable mention for cheep friggin' beer that actually tastes respectable, Lionshead. $8 a case!

 

[Janx]

RichBrewer. I agree. there is a lot of good beers. And there probably is a few good American beer but the beer from America I have tried such as Budweiser, Boston Beers, Red Hook Ale brewery etc havent been really all that great so I agrre that there may be a few good beers from America I just have been put of American beer by a few bad ones.

Sorry Brewers, this is really ignorant of the current state of American beers. For some reason, people still like to say America has crappy beers but that hasn't been true for almost 20 years. We still have the crappy ones (and so does every other country on Earth...the masses must have their crappy beer) but we have more examples of good beer than crappy.

At this point, America has a greater diversity, range of styles, and sheer number of good beers produced in our country than any other country (and I would guess all other countries put together). Including Australia. Including Britain. Including Belgium.

Now, I'm not saying that there aren't beers produced out of the states that are unmatched...there definitely are. But no other country is enjoying a beer renaissance like the US where you have such diversity and creativity displayed by the current craft brewing industry. Most countries are moving away from their traditional brewing techniques. We are embracing everyone's traditional techniques and creating many of our own.

It's a GREAT time to be a beer drinker in America. You couldn't try all the good ones in a year without quitting your job. To still claim America has lesser beer than other countries...especially AUSTRALIA of all places...is a tired old claim that is no longer anywhere near the truth.

Cheers

 

[cgravier]

we dont import crap...whats worse drinking a coors in colorodo or a bud-light in germany? or drinking a sam adams in boston or a busch light in london?

im not a beer snob, ill drink coors, or busch or mgd...id prefer a pilsner urquel though or a budvar...

 

[Caplan]

At this point, America has a greater diversity, range of styles, and sheer number of good beers produced in our country than any other country (and I would guess all other countries put together)

That seems a little gingoistic Janx - and as you've already said a guess! I'm not wrong if i suggested the Percentage of Americans who haven't tasted a decent quality US Beer is far higher than the amount of Germans who haven't had a decent quality German Beer - just purely by brewery to population statistics!

The real problem seems to be most quality (smaller micro brewery) American beers just don't make it into the rest of the World (or even the whole of America). Some Sierra Nevada and Rogue Ales make it into the UK for example - They are good but don't outshine other similarly well made European brews. I just wish the smaller US Brewers could put their products out further a field.

 

[grampska]

I think it's a little unfair to judge any aspect of American culture on what's popular in the country. There is a large segment of the US which is made up of mindless sheep who drink a certain beer because of the funny commercial, listen to a certain musician because it's being played on the radio alot, or buy a certain brand of electronics because it's white and makes you look cool.

I think in the past ten years American beer and wines have begun to overcome the negative affects caused by prohibition and are slowing starting to gain respect. I've only been to Europe once and I do remember running across some brews that I had not heard of, most of which turned out to be mass produced crap like what the big US breweries make. I think part of the reason Europe tends to appear to have better beers is that the European beers that get imported into the US tend to be the higher quality ones, while the American beers that make it to Europe tend to be the larger commercial ones.

 

[Janx]

That seems a little gingoistic Janx - and as you've already said a guess! I'm not wrong if i suggested the Percentage of Americans who haven't tasted a decent quality US Beer is far higher than the amount of Germans who haven't had a decent quality German Beer - just purely by brewery to population statistics!

Well, I hope you'll agree we're both speculating. After all *someone* is drinking all the beers made by all these microbreweries in America. So there is quite a bit of interest. So, I think it's a bit of a stereotype to say that all Americans are boorish Budweiser drinkers while all Germans are educated beer drinkers.

And doe sGermany really have more breweries per capita than America now? I'd honestly be suprised if you aren't basing that supposition on the 1980's state of American beer. There are a LOT of breweries here. There are 8 or so in my county of a couple hundred thousand people. A lot of good beer per capita by anyone's estimation.

The real problem seems to be most quality (smaller micro brewery) American beers just don't make it into the rest of the World (or even the whole of America). Some Sierra Nevada and Rogue Ales make it into the UK for example - They are good but don't outshine other similarly well made European brews. I just wish the smaller US Brewers could put their products out further a field.

Why is that a problem? It seems that we are returning to the times when a regional craft brewer supplied his region (not his country, let alone the whole world) with beer. That's a tradition that much of Europe has lost because they took it for granted. Europe has seen a huge movement toward conglomerates and corporate brews and away from small craft brews while we have done just the opposite in the past 20 years. It's one of the great thing about the current American craft brewing phenomena. I wouldn't expect American craft brews to compete with UK fresh brews after travelling across the Atlantic under who knows what conditions. And I'll tell you, the vast majority of British beers we get over here don't hold a candle to what I could get at any of 20 pubs in Northern California, for probably the same reasons. Beer is a fresh product, and to drink your own quality regional brews is a good thing as far as I am concerned. If you want to taste em, come and get em

All I know is that America has New Belgium, Ommagang, Stone, Moylans, Magic Hat, etc etc all under one roof. Considering that these days it's easier to find a craft brewed Belgian beer here than in Belgium, I'd say the general American awareness of beer may be a little more attuned than you seem to suggest. I guarantee you can't get anything like a LOT of what is brewed here domestically in the UK, for example. We have a dizzying diversity of styles, and it just keeps getting better.

 

[grampska]

I wouldn't expect American craft brews to compete with UK fresh brews after travelling across the Atlantic under who knows what conditions.

This is a very important point when it comes to exporting beer. Unless you are a huge corporation with lots of money to ensure that your product is delivered how you want it, you will have very little control of transporation. Needless to say, this would be a big problem for any microbrewery.

 

[Caplan]

Well, I hope you'll agree we're both speculating.

Agreed!

After all *someone* is drinking all the beers made by all these microbreweries in America. So there is quite a bit of interest. So, I think it's a bit of a stereotype to say that all Americans are boorish Budweiser drinkers while all Germans are educated beer drinkers.
And doe sGermany really have more breweries per capita than America now? I'd honestly be suprised if you aren't basing that supposition on the 1980's state of American beer. There are a LOT of breweries here. There are 8 or so in my county of a couple hundred thousand people. A lot of good beer per capita by anyone's estimation.

There's MANY Americans drinking microbrewery Beer - I SAY GOOD! I wish more Americans could/would. Beats the Yellow/brown/black Urine thats mass produced GLOBALLY! The stereotype you mention was aimed purely at the fact most People DON'T have access to great Local Breweries across the wider world. You mention 8 in your County alone. I doubt the same level of density (or quality) can be extended out across the whole US OR Europe.

Why is that a problem?

I'D LIKE TO TASTE A FEW!

It seems that we are returning to the times when a regional craft brewer supplied his region (not his country, let alone the whole world) with beer. That's a tradition that much of Europe has lost because they took it for granted. Europe has seen a huge movement toward conglomerates and corporate brews and away from small craft brews while we have done just the opposite in the past 20 years. It's one of the great thing about the current American craft brewing phenomena. I wouldn't expect American craft brews to compete with UK fresh brews after travelling across the Atlantic under who knows what conditions. And I'll tell you, the vast majority of British beers we get over here don't hold a candle to what I could get at any of 20 pubs in Northern California, for probably the same reasons. Beer is a fresh product, and to drink your own quality regional brews is a good thing as far as I am concerned. If you want to taste em, come and get em

All I know is that America has New Belgium, Ommagang, Stone, Moylans, Magic Hat, etc etc all under one roof. Considering that these days it's easier to find a craft brewed Belgian beer here than in Belgium, I'd say the general American awareness of beer may be a little more attuned than you seem to suggest. I guarantee you can't get anything like a LOT of what is brewed here domestically in the UK, for example. We have a dizzying diversity of styles, and it just keeps getting better.

Unfortunately European Beer has been bought out by Big Corporations in pursuit of Profit. History repeats itself. American Craft Brewers beware. Share Holders take note....

 

[drengel]

This is a very important point when it comes to exporting beer. Unless you are a huge corporation with lots of money to ensure that your product is delivered how you want it, you will have very little control of transporation. Needless to say, this would be a big problem for any microbrewery.

and it has to be stripped of all its goodness and pasteurized, ughhh....

janx and others-i'm glad people have turned to their local breweries to get their beer. not only do you get a fresher product made by someone you can actually go talk to, it's a small step towards a more sustainable society thats not feinding for its next hit of oil. DRINK LOCALLY. if only people would do this with their food...cheers to terroir

(i do admit to wanting to try beers from far and away though.)

on another note, while I am particularly proud of american craft brewing, with its incredible creativity and massive range of styles (something that could only happen in the new world), and i tend to stick my nose up at beers that have to be pasteurized and shipped thousands of miles to get here, it IS hard to compete with people that have been brewing the same stuff for 400 years. you tend to know a thing or two about your recipe after the first 100 (i would imagine at least), and youre probably pretty damn good at brewing it. hence the fact that in my bock class the german bocks were all much better than american ones.

 

[drengel]

Agreed!

There's MANY Americans drinking microbrewery Beer - I SAY GOOD! I wish more Americans could/would. Beats the Yellow/brown/black Urine thats mass produced GLOBALLY! The stereotype you mention was aimed purely at the fact most People DON'T have access to great Local Breweries across the wider world. You mention 8 in your County alone. I doubt the same level of density (or quality) can be extended out across the whole US OR Europe.

unfortuantely theres still many who prefer yellow fizz to a nice full ale, but theres those all over the world, such as all those in europe who drink european produced yellow fizz. while i bet its hard to find a brewpub in the middle of a corn field in nebraska, the same goes for everywhere else in the world, as you mentioned. so those of us who do live close to breweries (4 within 3 miles of where i sit right now, 7 within 50 miles), be thankful. for those who don't, thats why we homebrew. lets just be glad that MOST of us aren't drinking yellow fizz.

 

[mik]

LOL, well i can still lower myself to drink a mass produced beer. the funny thing is 1 guy started to upset the apple cart and lots of guys are ready to argue about a matter of taste and in the same breath do they do same thing. which when you really get down to it, is a vailed insult, otherwise why get upset by it?

it's just plain self agrandizing to carry on about your developed taste buds and the poor ignorant masses who suffer the burdens of drinking beer from a can. frankly, don't sound like real beer drinkers and by that i mean real guys, sound more wine snobs.

well, not trying to rile anyone up but when you point a finger there's 3 pointing back at you.

 

[Dude]

LOL, well i can still lower myself to drink a mass produced beer. the funny thing is 1 guy started to upset the apple cart and lots of guys are ready to argue about a matter of taste and in the same breath do they do same thing. which when you really get down to it, is a vailed insult, otherwise why get upset by it?

it's just plain self agrandizing to carry on about your developed taste buds and the poor ignorant masses who suffer the burdens of drinking beer from a can. frankly, don't sound like real beer drinkers and by that i mean real guys, sound more wine snobs.

well, not trying to rile anyone up but when you point a finger there's 3 pointing back at you.

I think if you read more posts on this forum even the self-proclaimed "beer snobs" (myself included) will have no problem cracking open a High Life from a can when the situation warrants. But for you to come in and assume something completely different is out of line, IMHO.

I think even the thread starter was eventually convinced otherwise after he read some of the posts. He wasn't flamed, he wasn't baited into a fight. He got called out by a few people who are knowledgeable about American beer. It isn't a coincidence that craft beer is growing quickly. The general public can still suck down the BMC but it isn't a crime to want something more from your beer.

 

[rewster451]

Hmm...I agree with all of you, which I think has to do with the fact that you all basically agree. America has many, many quality beers, and in fact, in certain parts of the country there are much better beers to drink fresh than imports, which suffer some in the trip. It's one great thing about this country. But in some parts of the country it's hard to find these beers. When all is said and done, have a homebrew, and remember that your favorites are what inspired it.
Mine are:

Sierra Nevada, mainly because of the Bigfoot,
Rouge,
Bells,
New Belgium, they're solid and readily available here,
Odell, just because I think they deserve a shout out, but many, many of the others mentioned here are beers I enjoy. The rest I can't find.

 

[wee stu]

Well everybody in conclusion i want to say that everybodys opinion is valid and that i am sure that what i drink would taste like urine to a lot of people so i will no longer critisise American beers becuase i am sure there are good beers from America. in fact if anyone could please help correct my ignorance please help

It is really difficult to get quality American beers in Australia. The only Sam Adams that I know of making it through is the Boston Lager .

Recently an enterprising distributor in Fremantle, WA has started to bring Sierra Nevada Pale Ale in. I know of a couple of places to get it in Adelaide, so I am sure a big smoke like Melbourne would have it somewhere. Not the freshest of brews though, it comes to us as a reimport from the UK

However, if you want to get a handle on the American Pale Ale style BU, your local Dan Murphys should have both Little Creatures Pale Ale and Mountain Goat Hightail Pale Ale. Both of these are probably very restrained and moderate compared to the hop monsters some US craft brewers produce, but they are equally very different from your favoured VB. There is a world beyond Pride of Ringwood

The good ole USofA probably has the most exciting and dynamic beer scene in the world at the moment, to fob it all off as urine on the basis of the megaswill selection we get in Oz is, well it just ain't cricket mate!!

 

[beyondthepale]

Well, for my money, I've never had a better (non-homebrewed) beer than those served at McNeil's Brewpub in Brattleboro, VT. It's a little obscure, but this bar should really be up towards the top of any beer lover's "must get to" list. There are always ten or more beers on tap, usually including three or more "cask" ales. My favorite is the ESB, but the Duck's Breath Bitter is very popular also. His Alletage Alt, his brown ales, Black Lager, Bucksnort Barleywine, Firehouse Amber, and Bignose Blonde round out the list of regular beers on tap. The list is always in flux, however, changing with the seasons and with the whims of brewmaster Ray McNeil. In recent years, bottled versions of his beer have been sold in VT and MA, but there really is no substitute for going to the source and getting it fresh. I really do think this might be the best beer in the country, at least.

 

[Rhoobarb]

... and with post mortem honors, Rhino Chaser...

Oh, man! There's a name I'd completely forgotten! They were poised to be as big as Sam Adams. Whatever happened to them?!