What are the top 5 EXPERIMENTAL US craft breweries?

[rgrim001]

What are the top 5 EXPERIMENTAL US craft breweries?

IMO (not in order):

1. Dogfish Head
2. Odell
3. Allagash
4. Cigar City
5. Goose Island?

 

[passedpawn]

Cigar City. Man, they make some wacko stuff. DFH too.

 

[Dogphish]

Dogfish Head is the only american brewery that springs to mind when you say "experimental". that's why i love them. sometimes they score big. sometimes they produce a dud.

 

[heywolfie1015]

The Bruery, all the way.

 

[bottlebomber]

Dogfish Head is the only american brewery that springs to mind when you say "experimental". that's why i love them. sometimes they score big. sometimes they produce a dud.

This was one of their duds I had recently. Smoked tree tomato porter, tasted like a sicilian hobos bunghole.

But DFH definitely seems like they are #1. It seems like they have no consideration for profit margin or commercial viability with their brews, Sam just thinks of something and then they brew it. Wish I could get my hands on more of their stuff.

 

[Airborneguy]

Haha. You'll have some soon! I just picked up two each of Bitch's Brew and Faithful Ale (Pearl Jam Anniverary Ale). The Pearl Jam beer was insane!!

 

[passedpawn]

tasted like a sicilian hobos bunghole

I'll take your word on this.

 

[passedpawn]

Haha. You'll have some soon! I just picked up two each of Bitch's Brew and Faithful Ale (Pearl Jam Anniverary Ale). The Pearl Jam beer was insane!!

I've got a bomber of that Bitch's Brew (first release) in a cabinet. It was just alright. I also have a Bruery / Cigar City collaboration brew called Marron Acidifie that was excellent.

 

[Airborneguy]

I'm actually not a big Dogfish fan, but I've heard good things about Bitch's. The Pearl Jam beer is the best Dogfish beer I've ever tasted.

 

[nisk916]

I would replace Allagash with Russian River Brewery. Vinnie has done some great things with sours.

 

[Phunhog]

I think if you look at some of the nano's all they make is "crazy' beers. Everything made by Epic Ales in Seattle is pretty experimental. Having never tasted it I don't know if their beers are any good but definetly experimental. It pretty easy to be experimental when you are only brewing 1 bbl at a time.

 

[passedpawn]

I would replace Allagash with Russian River Brewery. Vinnie has done some great things with sours.

Yes, but his beers are not "experimental". I do love his sours.

 

[bigdood]

I've been digging my local spot Breakside here in Portland. Every Wednesday they release a new beer (not always crazy/experimental tho), plus have various collaborations at any given time on top of their year 'round beers.

 

[bottlebomber]

Haha. You'll have some soon! I just picked up two each of Bitch's Brew and Faithful Ale (Pearl Jam Anniverary Ale). The Pearl Jam beer was insane!!

Sweeet. Don't stress about trying to get it out over the weekend btw. I'm not even leaving the house personally unless I need propane for my banjo burner

 

[Northjerzyg]

Gotta say, ive never had a dogfish head beer I didnt like.......

 

[rexbanner]

Yes, but his beers are not "experimental". I do love his sours.

I think a sour Pinot barrel aged beer is fairly experimental.

Gotta say, ive never had a dogfish head beer I didnt like.......

Try some more...

 

[ETCS]

I just tried the Stone 11-11-11 Vertical Epic, it's made with Cinnamon sticks and Anaheim chiles, and Funk Works brewery with their Hibiscus Resistance Belgian.

 

[Grossy]

On March of this year Goose Island was bought by, Anheuser-Busch InBev.

 

[two_hearted]

Goose island? Really?

In regards to the OP... Not the old news

 

[StokedBrew]

Odin, out of Seattle. Can't say I like all their stuff, but it is very experimental and original.

 

[fullstop22]

Right brain in Traverse City Mi. Local brewery out there on some stuff but very good.

 

[Christianb17]

Rogue from portland. Voodoo doughnut maple bacon ale is pretty experimental

 

[bwomp313]

Rogue from portland. Voodoo doughnut maple bacon ale is pretty experimental

did you try it??? how is it? I'm really curious.

 

[Mongrel]

Rogue from portland. Voodoo doughnut maple bacon ale is pretty experimental

Rogue is from Newport, but they do have a Portland pub. But yeah, they do deserve a spot on the list.

 

[Christianb17]

Rogue is from Newport, but they do have a Portland pub. But yeah, they do deserve a spot on the list.

Close enough lol

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

I also disagree with Russian River as experimental. Solid production of sour beers but not really getting into the wacky stuff with it. I mean that as a compliment; it's very difficult to produce sours that have a consistent taste batch after batch over time.

 

[OldWorld]

Dogfish is hardly experimental. They are more of a marketing machine. Midas Touch is a lousy beer and a waste of Saffron. I'd rather have Saffron in a cream sauce over fish than in a beer where it is wasted.

I think Moonlight Brewing out of California does a good job. The beer called Working for Tips has a great flavor from ample amounts of redwood tips, or it may have been cedar...

Agreed. Russian river is hardly experimental. If anything they make great sours consistent with real lambic/geuze profiles.

 

[remilard]

If Russian River is not experimental then what you really mean by experimental is wacky crappy beer. I can name a few of those breweries and agree DFH belongs on the top of that list.

Russian River constantly does new stuff that is good, stands the test of time, and is imitated by other brewers.

 

[bottlebomber]

I guess everyone has their own opinions... I remember the first time a drank a Midas I didn't care for it either, and now I love the stuff. But whether you like it or hate it, it's hard to refute that it is experimental.

 

[igotsand]

Stone brewery should be on the list..
Their Green tea ipa is really good..