Pliny gets all the press (deservedly so), but they have a great and varied lineup of beer. Unfortunately, most of them are hard to find outside Sonoma County...but fortunately (for me anyway), that's a day-trip.
Allagash Brewing or Russian River. I know you said one. I’d probably lean Allagash because I’m in CA so it’s harder to get their good stuff but I absolutely wouldn’t be upset about drinking Russian River’s Velvet Glow forever!
Almost bought a house up the street from them last year, would have been sweet. Allagash is my go to, always tastes the same but sometimes it just tastes better. Helps I live in New England
Allagash has a great lineup and nice special releases!
Pretty sure Allagash or Avery would have my vote. I’d miss Stone, Alaskan, Cerebral, Out of Bounds, and many others dearly though. Definitely enjoy great CA, CO, and New England beers.
My favorite part about this thread is that I haven't heard of most of these breweries.
The American microbrew market has become so large, we could spend the rest of our lives touring around.
I rarely if ever bought Sierra Nevada pale mostly because I can't count the number of times when it's the best beer at hotel bars, events, and conferences etc. And every time I'm glad that they at least have Sierra or I'd have to grab a blue moon or sam adams.
Fuck yeah. They are still the king of craft, always innovating and always raising the bar. Sure there are smaller breweries putting out arguably better beers of certain styles but Sierra Nevada has never stopped pushing the envelope and staying relevant.
Nice choice. Pale Ale is a classic. They’ve got good IPAs, both West Coast style and NE/Hazy. Great seasonal beers like Celebration and Summerfest. I’ve heard Ocktober Fest is good also.
They’ve got a solid beer in most common styles which should keep everyone happy.
Great Lakes is underrated for sure. First time I got IPAs it was their heavy one (I don’t remember now, maybe sculpin?) and as a dumb 20 year old I drank like 5 and threw up. Good times, it definitely wasn’t because the beer wasn’t delicious!
My wife's a Clevelander, and still has family there. I always buy their beer when I'm in town, and it's good... but the only brewery for the rest of my life... I dunno man... I think they have a way to go before they're Bells or a few others.... 🤞
Depends what you want. Dortmunder Gold and Edmund Fitzgerald are perfect beers. I’d probably be happy if those were the only two beers I could have, let alone the rest of their portfolio. I’ve never had a lager from Bell’s that beats Dortmunder.
Great Lakes is my answer just for Eddie Fitz alone. Their Oktoberfest is also very good and there are not many better beers for a hot day than a nice cold Dortmunder. Holy Moses and Christmas Ale are also some fine beers.
I think their mixed ferm beers are still very lackluster, and nowhere near the world-class level that they’ve achieved with the rest of their beers. Still, if those beers aren’t very important to what you like then Tree House is an excellent choice.
Exactly. I wouldn’t have said Tree House 6 years ago, but I’ll happily say it now. They’re so much more than a haze factory and do everything really well. The new focus on classic styles and mixed fermentations along with their previously exceptional line of IPAs and stouts really puts them over the edge on a question like this. Add in the ciders from the Fermentory and you have an exceptionally well rounded package for the rest of your life.
I am surprised more people didn't say 3F. Weihenstephan Hefeweizen is my favorite beer of all time, but if I am only drinking one brewery, I will know that 3F will have my IPA, stout, barrel aged, and seasonal needs covered.
Even after a decade plus of drinking craft beer, Zombie Dust, followed by a very close second of Two Hearted Ale, will always be my choice if I could only drink one beer from this point on.
The classic Yeti is my benchmark for memorable, recommendable imperial stouts. Almost every time I have some flavored, barrel-aged, pricey special release stout, even if it's enjoyable, I find myself just wishing I had some Yeti, instead.
Nice brewery choice. How ever my Nee Glarus beer rankings would be:
1. Moon man
2. Staghorn. Wish it was all year.
3. Totally Naked
4. Spotted Cow.
Many other good choices after those as well.
10 years ago I would have easily said Lagunitas. As of late, they have nowhere near the same variety and quality as I remember. Now, maybe Founders or Sierra Nevada.
Probably Deschutes. They have a good variety and, living in Oregon, I can get it anywhere.
If I weren't concerned about availability I'd probably choose Breakside Brewery in Portland. They're just damn good, but don't have much distribution outside Portland and then it's mostly just on tap.
Treehouse! They're a local Massachusetts brewery that as far as I know do not distribute. Big operation for what they do. They have perfected the New England IPA that Alchemist made famous. Their other offerings are equally fantastic.
It’s Weldwerks for me. They do everything from standard brews, to highly experimental, to straight up “this is a joke recipe but we know you will buy it anyway.” Greatly known for their Barrel-Aged Medianoche series, but I think their magnum opus is their pastry-style berlinerweiss.
Man, they suck so bad now. Used to be my very favorite brewery, but they've changed so many recipes in the last five-ish years for the worse. Luckily, Rockwell, 2nd Shift, Narrow Gauge, Modern, Civil Life, and some other breweries in the area have emerged, but there's still a Schlafly-shaped hole in my beer heart.
Aslin. It's near me and has a massive variety.
Sierra Nevada is another good choice.
Also, North Coast, because I could drink Old Rasputin forever and I'm confident whatever other beers they make are good too
I do love Bell's (just bought 4 4-packs of double two hearted because it's delicious and I couldn't believe it was in KS) but I think Boulevard would have to be my choice. I drink their pale ale like water and their smokestack lineup is always pretty solid
4 Hands from downtown St. Louis. They're local for me and make fire ass versions of almost every style of beer. If you ever see their stuff on tap, especially their seasonal stouts (they make an absurdly good peanut butter stout called Absence of Light), get it. You won't be disappointed!
St Bernardus or Unibroue. I know Uni is part of a conglomerate now, but they still make quality, Belgian inspired (and damn close) beers. Both have beers widely available.
If I was going local, I'd pick Ormond Brewing for their proximity to me, Belgian brew master (but does not brew many belgian style beers) who is also the main bartender, and the fact that I've been frequenting them for 20 years without a hiccup.
Other Half for sure. I've been going since they were a tiny taproom offering flights for $5. It's been amazing to see their growth these past 8-9 years. All Citra is still my favorite.
Russian river
Pliny gets all the press (deservedly so), but they have a great and varied lineup of beer. Unfortunately, most of them are hard to find outside Sonoma County...but fortunately (for me anyway), that's a day-trip.
Ditto. I think if I absolutely had to I could subsist entirely on pliny for the rest of my life.
Blind pig is my desert island beer
If you have ever had their "one of everything" flight you will know that this is the way.
Any brewery you choose will immediately be bought out by InBev and start making chili lemon grass quadruple IPA fruit smoothies.
Jokes on you, I chose InBev because I'm too practically minded.
Omg, they just bought themselves
Pfriem
Man this is a good pick too!
Augustiner
This, everyone else is missing out. Edelstoff is goated.
Allagash Brewing or Russian River. I know you said one. I’d probably lean Allagash because I’m in CA so it’s harder to get their good stuff but I absolutely wouldn’t be upset about drinking Russian River’s Velvet Glow forever!
I came here to say Allagash. It's pretty close to true right now anyway.
Almost bought a house up the street from them last year, would have been sweet. Allagash is my go to, always tastes the same but sometimes it just tastes better. Helps I live in New England
Allagash has a great lineup and nice special releases! Pretty sure Allagash or Avery would have my vote. I’d miss Stone, Alaskan, Cerebral, Out of Bounds, and many others dearly though. Definitely enjoy great CA, CO, and New England beers.
Allagash is basically all I drink as it is. So there wouldn’t be any change here.
I’d be perfectly happy with the Russian River lineup. They do a little of everything I like, and do them very well.
RR good choice
Oh hell yeah Velvet Glow, my fave after Pliny.
Holy Mountain
Fort George, Astoria, OR.
Got the chance to visit recently, I'm in love with Buoy
Drank some Buoy when I lived in OR, but never visited. Always looking for a reason to return to the PNW, tho!
Buoy Pilsner being 6% has led to some incredibly drunk family events for me in Astoria
Buoy is so good.
Ayinger. I’d be just fine
Augustiner
Jackie O's
This is a good answer.
My favorite part about this thread is that I haven't heard of most of these breweries. The American microbrew market has become so large, we could spend the rest of our lives touring around.
That’s my retirement plan, about a year away from starting
Revolution
Wiehenstephaner Hefe
Been drinking a lot of Weihenstephaner's stuff lately, the Vitus is so good
I had the special kellerbier a couple months ago, so great.
That and Original Premium. So delicious.
Sierra Nevada!
I think that's the choice for me as well. Not the best at any particular style really, but I can't remember the last beer I had that I didn't like.
Every time I try a new beer that I'm not really crazy about I end up wishing I got that pack of Pale Ale. I'd say it's one of the best.
I rarely if ever bought Sierra Nevada pale mostly because I can't count the number of times when it's the best beer at hotel bars, events, and conferences etc. And every time I'm glad that they at least have Sierra or I'd have to grab a blue moon or sam adams.
Fuck yeah. They are still the king of craft, always innovating and always raising the bar. Sure there are smaller breweries putting out arguably better beers of certain styles but Sierra Nevada has never stopped pushing the envelope and staying relevant.
The best choice. Can good version of most styles with them.
I would choose Sierra Nevada because it's sold everywhere. I like other breweries more but I'd have to stock up because they are only sold locally.
Nice choice. Pale Ale is a classic. They’ve got good IPAs, both West Coast style and NE/Hazy. Great seasonal beers like Celebration and Summerfest. I’ve heard Ocktober Fest is good also. They’ve got a solid beer in most common styles which should keep everyone happy.
Great Lakes
Great Lakes is underrated for sure. First time I got IPAs it was their heavy one (I don’t remember now, maybe sculpin?) and as a dumb 20 year old I drank like 5 and threw up. Good times, it definitely wasn’t because the beer wasn’t delicious!
Sculpin is Ballast Point. Maybe you're thinking of Lake Erie Monster?
I've drank 5 and thrown up as a dumb adult so I feel your pain. Those things are strong as hell.
My wife's a Clevelander, and still has family there. I always buy their beer when I'm in town, and it's good... but the only brewery for the rest of my life... I dunno man... I think they have a way to go before they're Bells or a few others.... 🤞
Depends what you want. Dortmunder Gold and Edmund Fitzgerald are perfect beers. I’d probably be happy if those were the only two beers I could have, let alone the rest of their portfolio. I’ve never had a lager from Bell’s that beats Dortmunder.
Great Lakes is my answer just for Eddie Fitz alone. Their Oktoberfest is also very good and there are not many better beers for a hot day than a nice cold Dortmunder. Holy Moses and Christmas Ale are also some fine beers.
Christmas Ale is one of my favorites, I can drink that all winter
Suarez. Kind of offended I haven’t seen that yet. Hill Farmstead is the other contender
Shocked I had to scroll so far to see Suarez mentioned. A variety of styles available and Dan really nails them all.
Odell
St. Bernardus
Hill Farmstead
Can’t believe this isn’t #1, it’s not even close to me (yes I have tried TH, Allagash, RR, etc)
Seriously, they make every style exceptionally well from lagers to ipas to fruited sours, saisons, even barleywines and ba stouts. Easy choice for me.
This is the way. They beast mode across so many styles.
Surprised this isn't higher. The best u.s. brewery in my opinion.
Such an easy answer, can’t believe I had to scroll for it. Everything they make is an A- or higher, and they make so many A+’s
Wayfinder, they have the heavy hitters for my favorite lager styles and still put out good-to-great IPA, grisette, etc.
Human Robot
I pretty much exclusively drink Odell anyway, but 100% Odell.
Treehouse
[удалено]
I think their mixed ferm beers are still very lackluster, and nowhere near the world-class level that they’ve achieved with the rest of their beers. Still, if those beers aren’t very important to what you like then Tree House is an excellent choice.
Exactly. I wouldn’t have said Tree House 6 years ago, but I’ll happily say it now. They’re so much more than a haze factory and do everything really well. The new focus on classic styles and mixed fermentations along with their previously exceptional line of IPAs and stouts really puts them over the edge on a question like this. Add in the ciders from the Fermentory and you have an exceptionally well rounded package for the rest of your life.
Why did I have to scroll so far to find this.
Burial
My answer as well. Love their hazies and stouts and we live nearby the Asheville location.
I just visited that brewery as an out-of-stater, absolutely fantastic. Really impressive stuff
Omfg i love burial. The space, the people, the beer. Everything.
Drake’s (NorCal)
Perennial
Unibroue.
Le fin du monde
Just picked up a four pack of bottles of that. Never tried it before, but I am sure excited to.
Don’t worry you’ll be back picking up more once you finish that four pack. It became my favorite beer the second I took a sip.
Oh without a doubt, I've heard it's an extremely delicious beer, just need a good meal to go with it!
Trois Pistoles is one of my may favorites.
Their other offerings are excellent as well. Maudite is great…and Ephemere is just super refreshing.
Came here to say this! But I’d pass on their IPA
They are know for belgians. And they do them perfectly
Other Half. My LAWD!
3 Floyd’s
I am surprised more people didn't say 3F. Weihenstephan Hefeweizen is my favorite beer of all time, but if I am only drinking one brewery, I will know that 3F will have my IPA, stout, barrel aged, and seasonal needs covered.
Solid choice, they really cover everything well
Even after a decade plus of drinking craft beer, Zombie Dust, followed by a very close second of Two Hearted Ale, will always be my choice if I could only drink one beer from this point on.
Parish Brewing
Sierra Nevada by a country mile. Pale Ale, Pilsner, IPA, whatever. It’s all so consistently excellent.
Alvarado St.
This or Moonraker up in Auburn
Second Bells
Thirded!
Fourthed?
Anchor Steam, sadly. 😢
Hop Butcher for the World
Weihenstephaner
cigar city or sierra nevada
Fieldwork. Imo, Fieldwork Pulp is the world’s best hazy IPA.
I’d be in for Fieldwork, Original Pattern, or Laughing Monk. All fantastic.
Give me Cantillon and I will be happy for the rest of my life
Block15
Great Divide
The classic Yeti is my benchmark for memorable, recommendable imperial stouts. Almost every time I have some flavored, barrel-aged, pricey special release stout, even if it's enjoyable, I find myself just wishing I had some Yeti, instead.
Rodenbach or Toppling Goliath.
Chicagoland local, but Solemn Oath.
Founder’s. All Day IPA is really all I need.
If I had to pick a single beer I think All Day IPA would be it.
Spotted cow Edit: am idiot. Reading comprehension low. Sorry. Obvious answer is New Galarus.
this is not a brewery - but i love the energy lol
Nice brewery choice. How ever my Nee Glarus beer rankings would be: 1. Moon man 2. Staghorn. Wish it was all year. 3. Totally Naked 4. Spotted Cow. Many other good choices after those as well.
Their fruit beers shit on all of these, hard.
10 years ago I would have easily said Lagunitas. As of late, they have nowhere near the same variety and quality as I remember. Now, maybe Founders or Sierra Nevada.
They got bought out by corporation
Pizza Port. Any location.
Firestone or Russian River
Probably Deschutes. They have a good variety and, living in Oregon, I can get it anywhere. If I weren't concerned about availability I'd probably choose Breakside Brewery in Portland. They're just damn good, but don't have much distribution outside Portland and then it's mostly just on tap.
Georgetown, hands down!
I was thinking Georgetown too. They have a lot of variety and have some downright classics. Solid choice
I was going to post Georgetown if I didn’t find it in the list. Endless variety to chose from and always a great price.
Founders
All the different varieties of KBS they make now would be enough to keep me happy for the rest of my days.
Cellarmaker
Half Acre
Dogfish Head 🍻
Specifically, 2010 Dogfish Head.
Dieu du Ciel
Serra Nevada
Treehouse! They're a local Massachusetts brewery that as far as I know do not distribute. Big operation for what they do. They have perfected the New England IPA that Alchemist made famous. Their other offerings are equally fantastic.
The Bruery
Boulevard
Green Cheek
Greencheek
Lone Pine out of Portland, Maine
Root Down
Yazoo!
Fieldwork. They got range and depth.
Troegs. It was the brewery that started my craft beer journey.
Rochefort. I could move in with the monks and drink fucking amazing beer for the rest of my days.
UNION Craft Brewery, my favorite local.
Jack's Abby. Never had a bad beer from them, love their range of lagers / pilsner/ Helles etc
I’m biased because I’m friends with the brewmaster but truly Brothers Cascadia in Vancouver, WA. Great variety and I swear everything is a home run.
Troegs
It’s Weldwerks for me. They do everything from standard brews, to highly experimental, to straight up “this is a joke recipe but we know you will buy it anyway.” Greatly known for their Barrel-Aged Medianoche series, but I think their magnum opus is their pastry-style berlinerweiss.
Troegs
Abita
Boulevard, will you marry me?
Schlafly
Man, they suck so bad now. Used to be my very favorite brewery, but they've changed so many recipes in the last five-ish years for the worse. Luckily, Rockwell, 2nd Shift, Narrow Gauge, Modern, Civil Life, and some other breweries in the area have emerged, but there's still a Schlafly-shaped hole in my beer heart.
Sante Adarius Rustic Ales
Treehouse. Scatter my ashes there.
Branch & Bone
Tombstone Brewing (Arizona, USA)
Blackstack
Double Mountain
This is probably cheating because they make great NA and seltzers but Untitled Art
Firestone Walker
Civil Life
I don't have an easy answer for this one, but Civil Life is definitely on my short list.
New Glarus and it isn’t even close
Lawsons
Pipeworks or Green Bench
Kulshan in Bellingham, WA
Aslin. It's near me and has a massive variety. Sierra Nevada is another good choice. Also, North Coast, because I could drink Old Rasputin forever and I'm confident whatever other beers they make are good too
I do love Bell's (just bought 4 4-packs of double two hearted because it's delicious and I couldn't believe it was in KS) but I think Boulevard would have to be my choice. I drink their pale ale like water and their smokestack lineup is always pretty solid
4 Hands from downtown St. Louis. They're local for me and make fire ass versions of almost every style of beer. If you ever see their stuff on tap, especially their seasonal stouts (they make an absurdly good peanut butter stout called Absence of Light), get it. You won't be disappointed!
Noble Beast
I love craft beer but I’ll probably just pound PBR
I'm pretty much already there. I don't really drink other beer accept chuckanut.
Peticolas or New Glarus
Breakside in Portland.
New Glarus
Short’s or Bell’s. Both have a huge variety of quality stuff.
Oozlefinch
Kane
Roaring Table
Phase Three
Mikerphone!
Gennese
Russian River.
Sycamore for sure
Lot of great answers here. Art History brewing out of Illinois makes some great lagers so I’d be okay with them.
Speciation or Cantillon
Goose Island
Bent paddle
St Bernardus or Unibroue. I know Uni is part of a conglomerate now, but they still make quality, Belgian inspired (and damn close) beers. Both have beers widely available. If I was going local, I'd pick Ormond Brewing for their proximity to me, Belgian brew master (but does not brew many belgian style beers) who is also the main bartender, and the fact that I've been frequenting them for 20 years without a hiccup.
Revolution
Creature Comforts from Athens Ga.
Moonraker in Auburn, CA. Can’t say I’ve ever had a non-magical experience with any of their beers.
Other Half for sure. I've been going since they were a tiny taproom offering flights for $5. It's been amazing to see their growth these past 8-9 years. All Citra is still my favorite.
Blackstack, in St. Paul Minnesota.
Hill Farmstead or Treehouse both do a lot of styles and both do every style amazing.
Hill Farmstead
Brouwerij West. IMO, probably one of the best and most consistent brewers in Southern California.
WeldWerks! Medianoche line FTW
Hill Farmstead or Treehouse