Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - OT: Microbrew, anyone?

So, I'm curious--what are everyone's favorite microbrews/regional beers?

My top 3, from Boulder, CO:

1: Avery "IPA"
2: Oskar Blues "Dale's Pale Ale"
3: Flying Dog "Doggy Style Pale Ale"

And, for good measure, in imported/mass produced beer, I enjoy a good Carlsberg.

Great Lakes - Burning River Pale Ale
Bells - Two Hearted Ale
Avery - Hog Heaven Barley Wine

i love the flying dog stuff. (we get it around here too!) the ralph steadman labels suckered me in.

Did you have the gonzo imperial porter a year or so ago that was made in memorium to Dr. thompson?

by the way: around here i enjoy:

the yards philadelphia pale ale. (sooo good.)
the flying fish summer ale.
the rouge anything. (not the name of a specific brew, just a helluva brand.)

It's definitely not a microbrew anymore, but it's local.

Boulevard Wheat. Love it.

Great Lakes - Burning River Pale Ale
Bells - Two Hearted Ale
Avery - Hog Heaven Barley Wine

+2 for the bells reference. I love the trout graphic on the two hearted ale, that stuff is delicious. That and it's straight out of Michigan, which has to mean one thing or another.

In no particular order, and are just the ones I can think of right now:

1.) Bristol Brewery's "Mass Transit Ale" (CO Spgs)
2.) Phantom Canyon's "Demolition Cream Ale" (available only at Phantom Canyon, in CO Spgs)
3.) Anchor Steam (CA)
4.) Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (though is that still considered a micro?)
5.) Summit Extra Pale Ale (MN)

And though it's definitely not a micro/regional, right now I'm enjoying the hell out of Sam Adam's "Oktoberfest" (one of my favorite Fall beers).

Yeah we get the gonzo porter around here! I get the 4 packs as often as I can. Interesting side note: I went to Denver a few weeks ago, and tried to visit the Flying Dog brewery. It was closed (forgot it was sunday...stupid dry state), but the marking on the brewery was amazing--just the wing drawing as the sign. Nothing else. No words. Just the shape.

Stoked to see the Hog heaven. Anyone get any of the rare seasonal Avery demon series? So far I've enjoyed Samael's and The Beast. (Mephistopheles coming soon... 15% and more, in a beer!!) Tastes like carbonated port wine. $7.99 for one 12-ounce bottle, and worth every penny.

once you go MacTarnahan's Amber Ale you don't go back

anchor steam and sierra are in no way micro

however here are mine
1. carp brew co. island pale ale
2. sb blondie
3. who cares about number 3

i love pale ales and i think flying dog is terrible.

green flash ipa ftw

There's a restaurant/brewery in Chattanooga that makes several beers. I usually order the sampler platter; 4 ounces of 8-9 different beers. Then, on the way home, I get a growler or two to go. I don't know why they call gallon jugs of beer growlers but they do. Non-pastuerized so the flavor is really good.

The Munich Dunkel Lager at Emmett's in West Dundee, Illinois.

It's about to return to the taps and I've got an empty growler waiting to be filled.

Maine has some really great microbrews which I strongly encourage everyone to check out at http://www.mainebrew.com/breweries.aspx.
Today I will be going to the Maine Brewer's Festival (which is the main page of mainebrew.com) and getting pretty ****ty drunk. The live music is going to suck, so right now I am making a nice 4 hour long play list of celtic rock to play in the parking lot.

foo.

Great Lakes - Burning River Pale Ale

My son goes to St Ignatius, about 500 ft away from Great Lakes. It gave me a great excuse to sit through 5 hours of 2 a days football practice this summer. Actually, I spent most of the time at the bar. :D


Tim

I'm surprised to see all the pale ales around this list with winter coming.

Lately my 3 are...

(Don't lie, the ... has totally got you stoked on finding out)

1. Great Lakes Nosferatu
2. Avery The Poet
3. Troegs Dead Reckoning Porter

Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA!

Jolly Pumpkin.

I'm not sure what Ron's distribution is like these days, but if you enjoy wild ales at all, or even hard lambic, you'd do well to sample one of his offerings. Incredibly complex and dynamic. I don't know how much you guys geek out on beer, so I won't expound on the brewing process, but it's worth checking out if you have a minute (www.jollypumpkin.com).

And before I forget, is anyone here on Beer Advocate? I used to do quite a bit of trading, but I've backed off recently. Still have a small cache of '07 Dark Lord in the cellar, come to think of it. PM me if interested.

Cheers

Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA!

YEAH

Dogfish Head
1. 60 min
2. 90 min
3. 120 min

but seriously, probably
1. 60 min (90 has more taste but the 60 min is more drinkable
2. Pliny the Elder, Russian river Valley (IPA)
3. hmm... tough, New Glarus, either their oktoberfest (staghorn), or their IPA (hearty hop) or their bock (uff-da)

Anything by new glarus in WI is to die for.

gimme a good IPA and I'll be happy.

The 120 min Dogfish Head is not really a fun drinking experience. IMO of course.

1. Trois Pistoles (Quebec)
2. Blanche de Chambly (Quebec)
3. Mill St. Organic (Ontario)

Mass Produced
1. Kilkenny
2. Rickard's Red

WORST BEERS
1. Budweiser
2. Molson Golden
3. Guinness


So, I'm curious--what are everyone's favorite microbrews/regional beers?

My top 3, from Boulder, CO:

1: Avery "IPA"
2: Oskar Blues "Dale's Pale Ale"
3: Flying Dog "Doggy Style Pale Ale"

And, for good measure, in imported/mass produced beer, I enjoy a good Carlsberg.

1. Trois Pistoles (Quebec)
2. Blanche de Chambly (Quebec)
3. Mill St. Organic (Ontario)

Mass Produced
1. Kilkenny
2. Rickard's Red

WORST BEERS
1. Budweiser
2. Molson Golden
3. Guinness

DIE IN A FIRE PLZ

0. (added late) Golden Leaf Pale Ale (City Brewery, La Cross, WI) - best use of Cascade hops I've ever had
1. Central Waters just about anything (Happy Heron Pale is excellent)
2. Great Lakes Burning River
3. Lake Louie APA
4. Tyranena Bitter Woman IPA
5. Great Dane Maibock (Madison, WI micro; they don't bottle any of their beers, though you can buy growlers at the bar, so you'll have to drink it on site. The food is good, too!)

Massachusetts and the rest of New England don't have **** for beer. If you live in the Midwest and enjoy beer, don't come out East. It's a real bummer.

+1 Carlsberg. That's a delicious and smooth-drankin' import. Asahi Super Dry is similarly wonderful on hot summer days.

My son goes to St Ignatius, about 500 ft away from Great Lakes. It gave me a great excuse to sit through 5 hours of 2 a days football practice this summer. Actually, I spent most of the time at the bar. :D


Tim

Speaking of great lakes does anyone know when the christmas ale will be available in stores? I love their christmas ale. Sometimes it realy sucks living in illinois considering we can't get bells or great lakes here or new glarus for that matter

DIE IN A FIRE PLZ

+100

Also, Dunedin red
Almost any Abita product, but specifically turbodog and amber.

5. Great Dane Maibock (Madison, WI micro; they don't bottle any of their beers, though you can buy growlers at the bar, so you'll have to drink it on site. The food is good, too!)

Here here on that one!

Sorry, I'm biased.

I'll toss in:

New Glarus Enigma
Capital Brewery Amber (possibly the most drinkable beer in all of existence, but... as I said, I'm biased)

Rogue, Unibroue, homebrew.

This thread is destined for Foo greatness.

How hasn't Founder's been mentioned yet, Best beer coming out of Michigan by far. Don't try to tell me that Bell's is better cause it isn't (it is fantastic though).

The best from Founders are

Kentucky Breakfast Stout
Dirty ******* (yes the name of a beer got edited, it should say dirty b@stard)
The harvest ale was fantastic this year
The Oatmeal Stout is second to none (only available on tap, so come to Grand Rapids)
Also the All Night Long DIPA is the best double IPA I've ever had, and I've tried quite a few (also only on tap)

Speaking of great lakes does anyone know when the christmas ale will be available in stores? I love their christmas ale. Sometimes it realy sucks living in illinois considering we can't get bells or great lakes here or new glarus for that matter

The Octoberfest is the seasonal that's out now. I can check for you later today.

Tim

Moose Drool - Big Sky Brewing
Downtown Brown - Lost Coast Brewery
Anchor Steam - Anchor Brewing

brown ale or burn + die

http://www.northcoastbrewing.com/Images/brand-Rasputin.jpg

Nothing else matters

As I'm close to the source I love many of Abita's offerings... the Fall Fest has been good, I like the amber... personaly I like their wheat although I know it's not to everyone's liking. We get a lot of their limited-offerings, most of which are great although Pecan Harvest wasn't so hot.

Like many beers, Abita seems to be best when handled well, when I've had it further from the source it's been somewhat blah in comparison to having it fresh.

hmmm

rogue dead guy ( i know it gets around but i cannot live without it)
CBP pale ale ('bout as local as possible i guess)
full sale pale or amber

also, i gotta say one of my favortie all around beers is the new belgium trippel. Tastey a ****, more than fat tire, and its got a nice 8 or so % to warm the soul

newcastle = best beer ever.

not a microbrew though.

Capital Brewery Amber (possibly the most drinkable beer in all of existence, but... as I said, I'm biased)

That's crazy.

Maine has some really great microbrews which I strongly encourage everyone to check out at http://www.mainebrew.com/breweries.aspx.
Today I will be going to the Maine Brewer's Festival (which is the main page of mainebrew.com) and getting pretty ****ty drunk. The live music is going to suck, so right now I am making a nice 4 hour long play list of celtic rock to play in the parking lot.

yes.
http://i14.tinypic.com/53ijcoy.jpg

1. alaskan amber ale
2. widmer hefeweizen
3. new castle brown ale (not micro)
4. any good wheat ale
5. assorted IPA's when i'm in teh mood.

As I'm close to the source I love many of Abita's offerings... the Fall Fest has been good, I like the amber... personaly I like their wheat although I know it's not to everyone's liking. We get a lot of their limited-offerings, most of which are great although Pecan Harvest wasn't so hot.

Like many beers, Abita seems to be best when handled well, when I've had it further from the source it's been somewhat blah in comparison to having it fresh.

+1. I was introduced to their strawberry harvest earlier this year. It's remarkably tasty for what I'd consider a novelty beer. I keep meaning to visit their brewpub, as the Tammany Trace runs practically through their parking lot.

I had a Samichlaus last night. It's stronger than I was prepared for, but has a great flavor.
Delirium Nocturnum is another tasty beer.

anybody in oc want to go to brewbaker's and brew something?

Recall Benjamin Franklin's statement of note: "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
Happiest are we when the brew is microbrew.
Summit Pale Ale brewed by Summit Brewery, St. Paul, MN is exemplary

SAM ADAMS. Any variety...'nuff said. :D

Free State Brewery, Lawrence KS

Oatmeal Stout
John Brown Ale

(Or for a seasonal treat, when they have the Crimsonberry Ale in stock, ask for a "blackberry" which is a mixture of the Crimsonberry and the Stout!!!)

veggimafia raises a good point about the weather...

Dark beers I enjoy:

1. Deschute's Black Butte Porter
2. Avery Out of Bounds Stout
3. Left Hand Milk Stout

And the classic, though not microbrewed, Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout

SAM ADAMS. Any variety...'nuff said. :D

Not a microbrew. At all.

That being said they make some good beers, but very few of them are notable.

Anything that St Arnolds in Houston makes....

:)

Guinness? What the hell is wrong with you.
Favorite locally brewed local: Harpoon
My favorite microbrew: McNeil's based in Brattleboro, VT.
I went to a place in Portsmouth, NH that was a microbrewery/bar and it was pretty good. The taste was definitely unique, but good.

Anything that St Arnolds in Houston makes....

:)

+pint to that