5/04/10

Beer Double Feature pt. 2 - The History of Beer

Now that you have a very brief history of how your favorite beverage came into existence, its time to break down the top ten microbrews in the USA. This is a list of my personal favorites, ones I think every beer lover should try at some point, listed in no particular order. This is not a list that was compiled from a survey or top sales or anything, so feel free to object. However, know that I am an experienced beer drinker, and my top ten does not come without firsthand expertise!
　
1. Brooklyn Brewery

Founded in 1987, Brooklyn Brewery is a staple product in the best restaurants in New York City. It has been named one of the top 40 breweries in the US, and the product stands for itself. Brooklyn Lager is one of the best selling beers in the entire city. The brewery produces 6 year round core brews which include Brown, East India Pale Ale, Lager, Pennant Ale (for the ‘55 champion Dodgers), Pilsner and Weisse. There are also 6 seasonal brews ranging from Summer Ale and Oktober Fest to my personal favorite, the Black Chocolate Stout. Also available to only the most discerning establishments is the Brewmaster’s Reserve with fun names such as Sorachi Ale and Blunderbuss Old Ale. Brooklyn Brewery is open for tours, events and Friday happy hours.

2. Dogfish Head

Founded in 1995 and located in Milton, Delaware, Dogfish Head has had tremendous success in a short amount of time. They have grown into international brew masters while maintaining small town values with a focus on their community. Dogfish has 8 year round brews, 60 minute IPA, 90 minute IPA, Indian Brown Ale, Lawnmower, Midas Touch, Palo Santo Marran, Raison D’Etre and Shelter Pale Ale. There are 4 seasonals, Aprihop, Chicory Stout, Festina Penche and the Pumpkin Ale. Also in the Dogfish lineup are 14 Occasional Rarities, 8 Collaborations where the brew masters joined forces with distilleries all over the world, and 29 Brew Pub Exclusives.

3. Big Sky Brewing Co.

Big Sky was founded in the early 1990’s in Missoula, Montana. They have maintained a relatively low profile but are gaining momentum in the micro brew world. They have 6 consistent brews which are, Moose Drool Brown Ale (one of my favorite beers of all time!), Scapegoat Pale Ale, Trout Slayer Ale, Big Sky IPA, Summer Honey Seasonal and Slow Elk Oatmeal Stout. They have two other seasonals called Powder Hound and Biere De Noel. Limited Edition brews are Olde Blue Hair Barley Wine and Ivan the Terrible Imperial Stout.

4. Flying Dog

To say that this brewery, founded in 1990 in Aspen, Colorado, has a sense of humor is an understatement. No other brewery in the world can say that they were befriended, blessed, and patroned by the late Hunter S. Thompson, and a lot of his personality comes through in the Flying Dog beer. The Six Pack includes Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale, In Heat Wheat Hefe Weizen, Old Scratch Amber Lager, Road Dog Porter, Tire Bite Golden Ale and Snake Dog IPA. There are 4 seasonal brews, one for each season, as well as 4 master brews in their Canis Major Series. And lets not forget the Flying Dog 20th anniversary brew, Raging Bitch Belgian style IPA.

5. Abita

Nestled in the piney woods of Abita Springs, about 30 miles north of New Orleans, Louisiana, Abita began brewing simple, no nonsense beers in 1986 and have been growing successfully ever since. They are a company with deep roots in the nature that surrounds the brewery and pride themselves on pure, simple ingredients. Their seven flagship brews consist of an Amber, Light, Golden, Jockamo, Restoration, Turbodog, and my favorite, Purple Haze. There are also 5 seasonals and 3 harvest brews, Strawberry, Pecan and Satsuma. Abita is also famous for their one of a kind homemade rootbeer.

6. Rogue

Rogue Brewery started in a basement in Ashland, Oregon in 1988 and has since moved to larger quarters in Newport, Oregon. They boast a collection of 38 current beers, too many to list here, but here are a few of my favorites. Dead Guy Ale is probably Rogue’s best know beer, Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout and the Chipotle Ale, which is infused with chipotle peppers. Yum. Rogue has also added a distillery to its repertoire and hand crafts several boutique liquors.

 

7. Long Trail

Hidden up in Bridgewater Corners, Vermont, Long Trail Brewery stands at the forefront of the environmental revolution. Having founded ECO Brew, and environmentally conscious company designed to set the new standard being conscientious, Long Trail Brewery is setting the new standard. And they make damn good beer while doing it. There are 4 main brews, the Long Trail Ale, Blueberry Wheat, IPA and Double Bay Ale, as well as three seasonals, the Belgian Wheat, Harvest Brown Ale and the Hibernator. Long Trial also produces a limited line of Brewmaster’s selections, the Coffee Stout, Double IPA, Imperial Porter and the Pollinator.

8. Ommegang

Located right down the street from the birthplace of baseball in Cooperstown, New York, Ommegang Brewer was founded on a former hop farm in 1997. They specialize in Belgian style brewing and are famous for their clean, no nonsense brews. There are 5 flagship brews, the Hennepin (my favorite), Ommegang, Witte (2nd favorite), Rare Vos and the Three Philosophers. Seasonal brews include the Ommegeddon, Chocolate Indulgence, Ommegang Adoration, Ale 2009 and the Biere Du Mars. Ommegang also produces two specialty brews, the Belgian Pale Ale and the Tripel Perfection.

9. Stone

Founded in 1996 in Escondido, California, Stone Brewery is probably most famous for their Arrogant Bastard Ale, which they describe as an “aggressive beer”. I’ve never tasted anything like it but can tell you that you are in for a treat if you can get your hands around one. Stone also produces 7 other year round beers, the Pale Ale, IPA, Smoked Porter, Levitation Ale, Cal-Belgique Ale, Ruination IPA, Stone Sublimely, Self-Righteous Ale and the Oaked Arrogant Bastard. Special Releases include the Old Guardian Barley Wine, the Imperial Russian Stout, Vertical Epic Ale, the Anniversary Ale and the Double Basked Ale.

10. Anchor

Last but not least on my list of favorite micro brews is Anchor. The oldest micro brewery on this list, Anchor was created in San Francisco in 1896. The company has undergone many different transformations over the years but the quality of the beer has never changed. Anchor prides itself on it’s old fashioned brewing methods, in which each brew is virtually made by hand without the help of modern technology. The first beer produced here is the Anchor Steam, introduced in 1896 and still selling strong today. Other brews include the Liberty Ale, Anchor Porter, Summer Beer, Old Foghorn, Anchor Small, Christmas Ale, Humming Ale and the Anchor Bock.

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Elizabeth Kramsky is a writer and bartender living in Las Vegas who gets to witness first hand all the mistakes men make when trying to pick up women. She enjoys making fun of men who wear Ed Hardy, her dog Dexter, and Tom Robbins novels.

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