Top 3 Micro-Breweries

[carnevoodoo]

AB is only a minority owner.

Right. But the Brewer's Assocation won't recognize them as a craft brewery.

"The Brewers Association refuses to classify Goose Island as a craft brewery. According to their rules a “craft” brewer can’t be more than 25% owned by a non-craft brewery, and, in 2007, several Goose shareholders sold out to Widmer Brothers Brewing of Oregon; Widmer supposedly now owns roughly 40% of Goose Island and are themselves nearly 40% owned by Anheiser, hence neither brewery qualifies as craft. "

Then we have to argue craft vs. micro, etc. It is all marketing and BS after that, but whatever. They still make some fine beers.

 

[remilard]

Right. But the Brewer's Assocation won't recognize them as a craft brewery.

"The Brewers Association refuses to classify Goose Island as a craft brewery. According to their rules a “craft” brewer can’t be more than 25% owned by a non-craft brewery, and, in 2007, several Goose shareholders sold out to Widmer Brothers Brewing of Oregon; Widmer supposedly now owns roughly 40% of Goose Island and are themselves nearly 40% owned by Anheiser, hence neither brewery qualifies as craft. "

Then we have to argue craft vs. micro, etc. It is all marketing and BS after that, but whatever. They still make some fine beers.

Uhhh, someone at the Brewer's Association needs a remedial math class.

True or false:

40% * 40% >= 25%

Either way the Brewer's Association is a trade association looking to promote the interests of it's members, not it's members' consumers. Goose Island put a stout in a Bourbon Barrel about 10 years before every other "craft" brewer started following their lead. I'll assign my craft brewery street cred points on the basis of innovation and quality rather than concerning myself with inter-industry battles.

 

[carnevoodoo]

Uhhh, someone at the Brewer's Association needs a remedial math class.

True or false:

40% * 40% >= 25%

Either way the Brewer's Association is a trade association looking to promote the interests of it's members, not it's members' consumers. Goose Island put a stout in a Bourbon Barrel about 10 years before every other "craft" brewer started following their lead. I'll assign my craft brewery street cred points on the basis of innovation and quality rather than concerning myself with inter-industry battles.

I agree with you. I don't really care about labels one bit, I just like good beer. There were just people here talking about what qualifies as micro and all that, and so I thought I'd include the information. And Chicago in general takes all the credit for the barrel aged revolution, which I think is reasonable.

 

[NorJerseyHomebro]

thats tough.
1. Southern Tier
2. Nøgne Ø
3. Stone

Honorable mention
4. Heavyweight (RIP)
5. Mikkeller

 

[MultumInParvo]

For Michigan I would have to say;

Bells
Founders
and Jolly Pumpkin

I have only had two on JP's beers but I was fascinated by both. I haven't had the greatest experience with Great Lakes though...

 

[GregR]

Russian River
Ballast point (their year rounds are pretty darn good but it's their special releases where they really shine; Sculpin, tongue buckler, victory at sea. . .)
stone

 

[shunt1317]

In no particular order.

Odell
New Belgium
Lefthand