Original image courtesy of http://www.opacity.us purveyors of cool pictures of abandoned places.
I was thinking (naturally) about beer yesterday afternoon, and came up with a question for myself – What’s the one brewery I cannot live without? After giving it some thought, I was genuinely surprised by the outcome.
At first I thought of the tent pole breweries, the ones that make a wide variety of interesting and excellent beers. These are places like Samuel Adams, Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, etc. The big dogs who delight beer geeks and noobs alike.
As it turns out, these guys can all burn to the ground (which kind of happened to New Belgium this weekend), and I’d be heartbroken to see them go, but I’d still be saving the water in my fire hose for someone else.
Then I thought about the Wild Child brewers, the ones who make the crazy beers that fuel the imagination of the entire industry. Places like Dogfish Head, the Bruery, and all the other folks who go to the farmers market and see an endless supply of possibilities for new beers. Zucchini Lager? Why not?!
While I appreciate what these mad scientists do, there are enough people thinking outside the bottle to fill the void if any one of them happens to go away. Again, I’d be sad, but life would go on if one of these innovators faltered.
Then I thought about particular beers that I can’t live without, the ones that satisfy me like no others can. Thinking about it this way made answering the question easy.
The one brewer I cannot live without is New Holland, because they make a beer that I don’t want to live without, my beloved Dragons Milk, a peppery and rich Bourbon barrel aged stout.
I apologize for bringing up this beer again, but I have yet to find a brew that can match it, and I sample lots of barrel aged stouts. From its creamy mouthfeel, to its rich notes of caramel and chocolate, to the big bite of Bourbon in the back, this beer checks all of my boxes like no other can.
And believe me, I’ve been searching for alternatives, but until Bourbon County Brand Stout comes my way or Schlafly manages to get off their asses and get some of their Reserve Imperial Stout on the shelves, Dragons Milk remains the king of the mountain.
Meanwhile, there are several IPA’s I feel are pretty much interchangeable (although few nail it like Firestone Walker Union Jack) and many Browns, and Reds, and Saisons, and Pilsners, and Lagers that are fairly fungible, too. But so far, there’s only one Dragons Milk.
The funny thing is, the rest of the New Holland beers could be pulled off the market and I wouldn’t mind. I don’t really care for The Poet, or Mad Hatter or Night Tripper, and I think Charkoota Rye is an abomination of nature. Actually, I think they should do what The Alchemist does with Heady Topper and just focus on brewing one amazing beer. More Dragons Milk for everyone!
So that’s where I wound up – how about you? Tell us below what’s the one brewery you couldn’t live without and let us know why.
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Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
Seriously?? (not necessarily a comment your choice – though it won’t be mine). I have a LOT of work to get done in the next couple of hours and really didn’t need this distraction.
I’ll be back…..
We’ll be here, Mr. Monger.
Now I’m even more annoyed. First because I still don’t have time to respond appropriately, and second, because my choice is going to surprise me too – not going to be my “go to brewery” after all.
That’s where I wound up, so I feel your pain!
OK, so it way too respond but aside from the day job and Little League practice (I’m a lot less afraid of pop-ups now that the coach switched to tennis balls), I didn’t have time. Now I do (sort of)…
I was certain that Stone would be my pick but after thinking about way too critically, I’m going with one of their smaller neighbors: Green Flash. I love all things Stone, made the pilgrimage out there last year, own easily 100 separate Stone items from a bar full of glassware to a dedicated closet shelf for shirts and nasty 1/2 pound steel gargoyle-emblazoned bottle opener that wouldn’t get past a TSA screener during a raging meth high. That said, with the exception of Ruination, there are enough other world class brewers putting out competing beers to most of the Stone lineup tp keep me limping along – sadly.
Green Flash, on the other hand, has too many outstanding beers that I’d have to have every and now and then to keep my craft beer bearings. West Coast IPA, Imperial IPA, Palate Wrecker, Le Freak, Saisan Diego, Double Stout, Hop Head Red & Extra Pale are all spectacular examples of their respective styles. Almost forgot Rayon Vert.
However, if push came to shove GF into the Pacific I’d have to admit that I’d survive that too. I’ve survived several years without Three Floyds since they went to ground and I’m still here. Thirsty as ever.
Cheers!
Glad to hear you’ve overcome your fear of pop-flies (and apparently the San Andreas Fault as well). I admire Stone as well, but Green Flash is special. I snatch up Palate Wrecker anytime I see it.
Victory at all costs, Victory in spite of all terror, Victory however long and hard the road may be; for without Victory, there is no survival.
~ Winston Churchill
My wife would concur – Storm King is her go to beer and we always have it in the house. I honestly think that would be her choice but I won’t ask her, because I don’t want to get “the look” and have her change the subject to something more useful than my beer nerditry.
I love craft beers and love living in a town with a few great craft breweries:) Have a Great One!
I love craft beers as well, and I want to move to Colorado or San Francisco or Asheville, NC because there aren’t any great breweries near me!
Does this Zucchini Lager actually exist?
I hope not!
The Bruery made a zucchini beer…it hasn’t come back since.
Well there you go!
Jim
As a tea bag(British to the uninitiated), who visits your shores quite often I would like to offer up one from either side of the pond. And whilst I would love others, if I only drank from these either side of the pond, I would be happy, as they always do the same thing though in completely differing styles, and that is a sense of balance.
USA, without a shadow of a doubt Dogfish Head, they maintain consistency on their standards and are constantly pushing , with historical brews, and then experiment with new ways.
UK, well there could be many, but if you cut me up and through my gizzards on the table, it would be Cottleigh Brewery. In the UK at the moment there are far to many breweries that strive to just copy what you our American cousins have done, This brewery takes the past and works with it using local malts and they even have their own hop yard. they may not be the most exciting brewer in the UK but damit I crave their beers. Though I do wish they would stop using clear glass on some of their ales, ale should not taste like a Becks…
phil
Cottleigh sounds cool, Phil, but clear bottles are awful. I wish more brewers would start canning their stuff – light kills beer!
That’s very difficult to answer. It’s like asking which one of my children I could do with out? Just couldn’t make a choice cause I love each of them just as much as the other. Granted, I live 10 minutes from Founders, 30 minutes from New Holland & 45 minutes from Bell’s, so I would have excellent choices if I were to lose one or two but a piece of me would die with them. Put a gun to my head and I’d have to say Founders is the one I couldn’t live with out.
I’d say the exact same thing if I lived down the road from them as well. The brewery experience is awesome, and that’s part of the package.
As far as breweries who package their beers, rather than having to go to them, or who distribute only kegs, it’s tough to pick just one. I confess I’m being a homeboy with my picks, but we’ve got some great breweries here. Number one, could not live without, shoot myself in the head if they ever bellied up: Ska Brewing. Modus Hopperandi is my absolute favorite IPA ever, and all of their other beers are either excellent examples of the styles they brew – even if not being the most exemplary. Two and three would be Avery and Odell, both breweries always have something I want, and brew them in ways that truly are exemplary.
If I’m forced to choose an out of state brewery, Bear Republic, Green Flash, and Russian River are always available and thoroughly enjoyed.
I’m sorry this query gave you so much trouble, Will. You certainly seemed to agonize over your selections there, but going with a local brewer who makes your favorite beer is a no brainer.
This is tough. Super tough!! However, Dogfish Head. Their seasonals and specials rock but their traditional lineup, 60 minute, 90 minute, Indian Brown, Raison D’Etre. Just are fantastic. Then you get into Chicory Stout and World Wide Stout and Apri Hop and Punkin. Top it off with interesting side projects. Hell Hound on My Ale, Pangea, Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew. Their collabs. The ancient ales. I am a big regional drinker, and being in VT, I really have the treasure trove. But, DFH. For sure.
My top 5 in order
1. DFH
2. The Alchemist
3. Victory
4. 3Floyds, I miss them daily since moving to the great northeast
5. Founders, which we get here.
You do realize that numbers two through five on your list can only look up helplessly at 1. DFH and know that however much you love them, you’d let them all drown if you could only save one of your darlings.
So cruel, Kenneth. So cruel. 🙂
Victory is about 15 minutes away so it leaves me with a green conscience, but what really amazes me is the range of tastes in what they make. Need a high-pucker bitter? Check. Nice smooth dark? Check. A session beer for the hot days coming? Check. Something predictable or something innovative (though not extreme)? Two checks.
Who’s going to tell Phil what “tea bagging” means in the US?
Plus Victory has a pretty awesome brew pub menu and a crazy growler filler. If I was local, they’d be my choice as well.
Also, you can handle letting Phil know what’s what. Hopefully he doesn’t fancy himself an angry pirate or like to toot his own rusty trombone. 😦
Wow turning into Craig Fergerson material.
Tea bag is the moniker gained from my American chums.
Tea bagging isn’t that when you have multiple tea bags in you tea pot for a really strong cuppa? 😉
Yes Phil, that’s EXACTLY what it means. Next time you’re at a restaurant in the States, tell your waiter that you want to get tea bagged so badly you can just taste it! 🙂
Victory’s growler system is definitely very cool but it’s almost a drawback in that I’m always wary of propriety/niche systems. Nothing wrong with filling a standard growler from a standard tap.
The menu is good and they did a nice job of renovating the restaurant so it has less (though still some) resemblence to a high school gym. Because I went to HS at neighboring Unionville, well, come to think of it, maybe dodgeball would have tolerable with a Dark Intrigue in my water bottle…
I think there’s a future in a Drunken Dodgeball league – screw Beer Pong, where are the kickballs?!
At the macro-level, I’d say DFH–nobody does what they have done with historical recipes and nobody has (w/ the possible exception of Sam Adams) done as much to popularize craft beer.
On the micro-level (Think locavore) I’d say either Flying Dog or Heavy Seas–they’re so damn close and have so many good beers to choose from.
If you had to pick *one*, Wayne, which brewery would it be?
DFH
Great Lakes. Everything I have had is very good to great and the variety is outstanding.
Sensible and solid there, Chad.
I would agree that Dragon’s Milk is an EXCELLENT choice, tried it for the first time a few weeks ago and fell in love with it! BUT, if there is one brewery that I could not live without, it would have to Surly Brewing Company in Minneapolis, MN. Every one of their beers is outstanding! If only they could produce a bourbon barrel aged stout as good as Dragon’s Milk… 🙂
I haven’t had the pleasure of their wares yet, Mark, but I’m very interested to try them out. Now I just need a reason to go to Minnesota…
Sockeye Brewing, Boise, ID. Dagger Falls IPA. done
Funny, Don lives out there and he’s never mentioned these guys. What a slacker! 😉
I’m going to have to say Sierra Nevada. Obvious, I know. But, they have a great lineup. If I get tired of their pale ale, I can move to Torpedo or Ruthless Rye. If all the other breweries disappeared, this one would keep me happy.
Okay, but that’s not exactly how this little game works, Norm. It’s not desert island brewery we’re playing, it’s must-protect-at-all-costs. The way I see it, if Oskar Blues went under, I could find stand ins for most of their line up (Old Chub would be hard), but if New Holland tanked, there’d be no replacing Dragons Milk.
Still want to stick with SN?
I’m sticking with Sierra Nevada Brewing.
I don’t have any beer that I couldn’t live without. I love Pliny, but if it goes away, I can make something close enough to it myself.
Ahh, a beer prepper. 🙂
I would choose Pig Mind’s brewery they just opened up in my town (Rockford, IL) about a year ago. They have an Irish Red Ale and Coffee Stout that I’m in love with and can’t live without. They just started distributing all over the state so if your ever in Illinois you will have to check them out.
It’s great to have craveable beer near home.
My three favorite brands are Southern Tier, Sam Adams, and Saranac… with Sierra Nevada not too far behind. With Sam and Saranac I love their variety. But my all time favorite flagship beer is the Southern Tier IPA… ST makes other great stuff but there’s something about their IPA… when I want variety I go to Sam or Saranac, when I want IPA I go to Southern Tier… so…… I guess my pick is Southern Tier… I would miss them the most… also because I live an hour from the brewery and get over there once in a while.
Good pick – I love their Blackwater Series beers!
Haha seems more like you just picked on beer really 😛 (since you don’t like a few of there other beers). Hmmm this is actually an extremely good question. My first reaction was that Stone would be my answer, but after I gave it some real thought I found that wasn’t the case. This is very difficult for me because you’re asking me to choose between Founders (KBS is my favorite BBA Imperial Stout so far in my life) and Three Floyds (Arctic Panzer Wolf is hands down my favorite Double/Imperial IPA I have ever had). When it came down to it though I would choose Three Floyds. As mentioned they make my favorite hoppy beers (Zombie Dust included) and Dark Lord is a good substitute for KBS haha. That said, I love, love, love Founders, but their hoppy beers don’t do it for me as much as the rest of their lineup.
I wish they sold their stuff in NJ… 😦
Is it cheating for my wife to save one (New Belgium), and me to save another (Sam Adams), so that we can forever share our first loves with our true love? Because that’s what we’d do!
I think it’s funny that none of us even thought of our wives when choosing which brewery would be eternally protected from the ravages of time. There’s true love, and then there’s beer.
EVERY MAN (or woman) FOR THEMSELVES!!!
Jim – I can’t believe you’d let Troegs go. Where would you get your Christmas-time “Mad Elf” fix from?
Tough question. Very tough question. After thinking about it, I would have to say that although there are very many breweries who I would be sad to see go, I think I can safely say that there isn’t one that I can’t live without. Every favorite beer I think of I can find an equivalent replacement for from another brewery.
Aw crap, Mark – I didn’t think of that.
Then again it’s Christmas every day with the year-round Dragons Milk…
This is a really tough question, but a great idea for an article. I will have to give a double answer as I claim beer allegiance to both my original home in the US and my new home in Denmark.
For the US it is Bell’s. I grew up in Michigan where Bell’s is a religion for some. They were my first craft beer experience and I don’t know what I would do if I knew I couldn’t get my Two Hearted Ale fix when I visit MI.
Denmark is an easy answer, Mikkeller. They are constantly pushing the envelope and producing cool beers with an attitude. i would be pretty bored if i couldn’t go down to the beer store and get something exciting from Mikkeller anymore.
Super solid on both fronts. I love me some Two Hearted, and if Bells were sold out here in NJ, i might change my tune.
If the question is “One Brewery” and not just “One Beer” I couldn’t live without, I am going to choose a brewery that makes more than just one great beer. I like variety. I am constantly buying and drinking new and different beers, but I always come back to my favorite, (almost) hometown brewery that none of you east-coasters know about: Deschutes. When fall rolls around there is nothing better than a Jubelale. Feel like sipping on a barrel aged stout: The Abyss. Just want a top-notch, everyday beer: Mirror Pond Pale Ale. I could go on and on…
A few of us Least Coasters are enlightened. I’m a huge fan of Black Butte Porter, Jubelale & Mirror Pond Pale. My wife is traveling to portland in a couple weeks for a conference and I’ve already told her that she’s bring an empty suitcase along (on the trip out, that is)
Cheers!
I’m jealous of Portlanders for exactly these reasons…
If I remember correctly Deschutes distributes east of the mississippi now. I’m able to buy it in my local grocery store. Maybe it will get to the east coast?
Only as far as Chicago right now.
New Belgium. I hate to continue to piss & moan about location, location, location but it is what it is. Reading through all the comments here was SLIGHTLY depressing (read as: most of the beers are unobtainium here on The High Plains o’ New Mexico).
New Belgium’s line-up is consistently available here for the most part… we even get some of their “Lips of Faith” one-offs from time to time. I couldn’t STAND to lose those guys.
Well if you can’t be with the one you love… 🙂
While I agree with the comments above that Green Flash is the best across the board, I am going the sentimental route. I now live 800 miles away, but I have so many good memories of the original Goose Island pub on Clybourn Avenue that it has to be my choice. While there are better breweries, Goose never fails to have an array of beers (usually about a dozen taps plus some bottles) that would fit my every mood – from session to experimental to Belgians to their great Imperial Stouts. On top fo that, they have the best pub chips I’ve ever tasted…just wish they would put the blackened catfish po’boy back on the menu!
Any change of heart now that AB-InBev bought the mothership, or is it all good as long as the beer remains good?
Not really a change of heart regarding the pub – they weren’t part of the deal – but I am very torn about the AB owned products. On the one hand, if the beer is still good, I’ll want to drink it. On the other hand, having many friends in the NC beer industry and seeing how hard they work to get taps, it does make me cringe a little to see Goose on tap mainly due to the power and influence of AB. All they need to do is walk into a bar with the keg and it’s going to go on tap…that bothers me.
Oskar Blues. Come visit and we’ll go to their new brewery about 45 minutes away.
Because shotgun.
And because I can get a sixer of Dale’s a block from my house for under $10 at a place that’s open until midnight every night of the week. It was my gateway good can beer, also. Not necessarily my favorite (probably Founders), but my staple that I can drink any time.
I love OB as well, and Dales is the reason. Well, that and Old Chub, which I might actually like better these days.
As others have said, this is tough, because there are so many great beers that I love. However, the one that I love the most probably has to be Unibroue, for their numerous exceptional Belgians, followed by Green Flash Brewing, my go-to for their West Coast IPA.
As others have mentioned, this is tough, because there are so many great breweries that I love. However, the one that I love the most probably has to be Unibroue, for their numerous exceptional Belgians, followed by Green Flash Brewing, my go-to for their West Coast IPA.
I’d save Lagunitas in a heartbeat.
I love Motor City Brewing. My favorite is Ghettoblaster. It’s’s a English Dark Mild style ale.
I’ve never had it, but that’s gotta be the best beer name ever!
Jim, so you have yet to taste Bourbon County Stout?
I had the Vanilla Bean version at GABF a few years ago, but never the plain old BCS.
For me, it would have to be Bell’s out of Michigan. I’m a Sam Adams fanatic, and I love big stouts and unique bourbon-aged beers, but Bell’s is my back home favorite, and they were the brewery that taught me to love beer.
Much like you, Jim, I love Bell’s for one single brew – Oberon, their summer ale. I thought I hated beer after turning 21 and trying a Coors Light. I gave up on beer – until my friend put an Oberon into my hands. It changed my life.
I grew up near the Indiana/Michigan border in South Bend, IN, and Bell’s beers were easy to get out there. I’ve lived in California for the last 3 years, though, and Bell’s doesn’t ship anywhere near me. A vacationing friend brought along a sixer of Oberon with him to give to me, and I had my first bottle today after a year without having it. It reminded me exactly why it is still my favorite beer, and it is without a doubt the one beer I could never stand to lose.
Dogfish Head, no doubt. I had a black & tan at the brew house in Rehoboth Beach made of 120 Minute IPA and Worldwide Stout. Plus, I’m a big fan of Burton Baton.
Honorable mention goes to Cigar City in Tampa. Marshall Zhukov is all you need to know.
Stone would definitely be mine. Love the lineup and the special releases are always fun. Their world bistro is amazing and always a blast. Honarable mentions would be Russian River & Firestone Walker.
DFH…Abita…DFH…Abita…
Dagnabbit! I can’t choose just one. But probably DFH because Raison D’Être I can get mostly year round, but Abita’s Strawberry Harvest is seasonal.
Lots have said it before me, but my #1 is Dogfish Head. Sam is my brewing hero. Right up there with it is Ommegang – Chocolate Indulgence and Three Philosophers. My local Big Muddy Brewery is getting better each day as is 4Hands and will eventually make it to my list.
I am fortunate to live an hour away from Cigar City Brewing. I would be heartbroken if I could never taste their annual Special Releases again. And their Marshal Zhukov’s Imperial Stout warms my cool winter evenings (dreaming of those right now). And the Humidor Series IPA is long on hops without being harsh. That’s the brewer I can’t do without!
Great choice! I would give serious consideration as well if they’d get their act together and sell their goodies in NJ. 🙂