# Favorite Breweries? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** liquor-alcohol\ **Created:** [September 17, 2021, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-breweries/950788 "2021-09-17T02:36:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-breweries/950788/1 "2021-09-17T02:36:37Z")
So in reading this thread, I got to wondering rather than individual beers that people like, what are the breweries that they like, that are basically “go-to” breweries, and you know that anything they make will most likely be something you’ll enjoy. For me, my list of go-to favorite breweries is in no particular order (it’s a bit heavy on local German-style breweries): [Avery](https://www.averybrewing.com/) [Manhattan Project](https://manhattanproject.beer/) [Odell](https://www.odellbrewing.com/) [Ballast Point](https://ballastpoint.com/) [Live Oak](https://liveoakbrewing.com/) [Franconia](https://franconiabrewing.com/) [Altstadt](https://www.altstadtbeer.com/) So who are yours? ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-breweries/950788/2 "2021-09-17T16:54:33Z")
Dogfish Head Victory Founders Southern Tier ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-breweries/950788/3 "2021-09-17T17:08:27Z")
^Those are some of my favorite national breweries, along with [Oskar Blues](https://www.oskarblues.com/) But I need to shout out to some of my favorite small craft brewers who I visit regularly: [Leaning Cask Brewery](https://www.leaningcaskbrewing.com/):. specializing in English beers. Good place to watch Premier League matches. Usually have an English Ale on Cask. [Devout Brewing.](https://devoutbrewingco.com) Excellent beers. Great outdoor beer garden. [Conny Creek Brewing](https://www.facebook.com/ConnyCreekBrewing/) Great people. [VooDoo Brewery.](https://www.voodoobrewery.com/) Has been growing, may no longer qualify as a small brewery. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-breweries/950788/4 "2021-09-17T17:09:41Z")
Bell’s is the first one to come to mind for me. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-breweries/950788/5 "2021-09-17T17:14:34Z")
A moment of silence for all the local brewers who went out of business due to COVID19. I really loved [Spigot Brewing.](https://www.breweriesinpa.com/spigot-brewing-to-close-permanently-due-to-covid-restrictions/) I spent some quality time there prior to the pandemic. Their _feature_ was being tiny. Drinkers sat at the tiny bar, elbow to elbow. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-breweries/950788/6 "2021-09-17T17:15:55Z")
If you ever happen to be in [Bamberg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamberg#Beer), in Upper Franconia, Germany (don’t call it Bavaria!) and you are the kind of person who likes beer you will be delighted. The surroundings also have the highest concentrations of breweries I know, most of them with gardens where they also serve local food. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-breweries/950788/7 "2021-09-17T17:24:21Z")
[Crooked stave](http://www.crookedstave.com/) and [Ska](https://skabrewing.com/) are my two favorites that are at least regional scale. Then for a purely craft place [New Terrian](https://newterrainbrewing.com/) always has good beer and their patio is a blast. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-breweries/950788/8 "2021-09-17T17:32:55Z")
Lagunitas, Sierra-Nevada, Flying Dog,Revolution, and Flossmoor Station, the last is a small place near me. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-breweries/950788/9 "2021-09-17T17:41:45Z")
Victory, Deschutes, and Green Flash are the three that stand out in my mind, but there are a lot of honorable mentions. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-breweries/950788/10 "2021-09-17T17:50:33Z")
In my old stomping ground of San Francisco [Cellarmaker](https://cellarmakerbrewing.com/) is my favorite. There a lot to choose from (including big names like Lagunitas and Russian River in the North Bay), but they stand out to me. Sierra Nevada (a bit further out in Chico) used to be my favorite when i first moved to the states, but that was pretty much as they had no competition where I lived (Reno, Nevada) at the time. Though as is the case everywhere Reno has a healthy brewery scene now. Here in the DC metro also lots to choose from. My local is [Streetcar 82,](https://www.streetcar82brewing.com/), which I’m a huge fan of (they are also deaf run, and all the staff are deaf or hard of hearing) but the one I think comes close to Cellarmaker is [Cushwa](http://cushwabrewing.com/). My go-to pint if I’m somewhere that isn’t a beer bar is an IPA from either Flying Dog or DC Brau, which you usually find most places around here. There is also parallel list of breweries to visit, and here the DMV has the west coast beat. There is a massive shortage of _actual_ beer gardens on the west coast with actual grass (none of the breweries I mention has them). But here out east there are plenty: [https://www.powersfarmbrewery.com/](https://www.powersfarmbrewery.com/) > **[Home – Lost Barrel Brewing](https://lostbarrel.com/)** > > Lost Barrel Brewing modern farm brewery in Middleburg, VA. Beer, hard Seltzer, Food. Visit Us: 36138 John Mosby Highway Middleburg, VA 20117 ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-breweries/950788/11 "2021-09-17T18:09:19Z")
Lots of local ones that people haven’t really heard of, the beer scene has gotten good. For major breweries that aren’t macro, Deschutes is always a pleaser. And as I’m starting to reappropriate bottled beer for homemade concoctions, they have by far the easiest labels to deal with of the ones I’ve tried. Get new glue, Sierra Nevada. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-breweries/950788/12 "2021-09-17T18:18:00Z")
I don’t even drink beer, never developed a taste for it, but as a proud lover of Wales, a shoutout to Brains, if only for the Draig Goch logo and the zombie-invoking name. “It’s Brains you want!” is a wonderfully Romero-esque slogan. > **[S.A. Brain & Co Ltd.](https://www.sabrain.com/)** > > Established in 1882, Brains is Wales' biggest brewer and hospitality company. Its name sits proudly over 200 pubs across Wales and the South West, and can also be found in supermarkets across the UK. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-breweries/950788/13 "2021-09-17T18:22:32Z")
A shout-out to a couple of local/regional favorites. **Boulevard** and **KC Bier** in Kansas City **Free State** right here in Lawrence KS ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-breweries/950788/14 "2021-09-17T18:25:48Z")
I used to like the occasional odd beer from Bridgeport in Portland. Sad to learn that they apparently closed down. NorthCoast Brewery (Ft. Bragg, CA) rarely misses with any of the beers they make, as is the case with Anderson Valley in Boonville, CA. Sierra Nevada has grown but I still love their beers, including the original Pale Ale ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-breweries/950788/15 "2021-09-17T18:37:22Z")
Right now, 3 Floyds and DC Brau. ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-breweries/950788/16 "2021-09-17T21:03:53Z")
If you find yourself in SW Michigan you can’t go wrong with these small breweries: **[Greenbush](https://www.greenbushbrewing.com/)** **[Sliver Harbor Brewing](https://www.silverharborbrewing.com/home)** **[Watermark Brewery](https://www.watermarkbrewing.com/)** ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-breweries/950788/17 "2021-09-17T21:18:12Z")
Three Stars in DC, Heavy Seas in Baltimore. There are more small breweries putting out a good product in this area than you can shake a stick at. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2021, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-breweries/950788/18 "2021-09-17T21:34:24Z")
Ooh… forgot about Green Flash. They’re not always so easy to find around here, but they make great stuff. Same with Russian River. ---
**Author:** ![hocow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hocow/32/4112_2.png) [@hocow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hocow)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2021, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-breweries/950788/19 "2021-09-19T15:18:23Z")
[Troegs](https://troegs.com/) [Rusty Rail](https://www.rustyrailbrewing.com/) [Southern Tier](https://stbcbeer.com/) [Evil Genius](http://evilgeniusbeer.com/) ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2021, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-breweries/950788/20 "2021-09-19T16:12:33Z")
One of my sons is a VP for a distribution company. He gives me all sorts of stuff. Craft beer, soda, brewery tour certificates, extra tokens for more beer on those tours, etc… It’s a living hell for me. 😉 One of my favorite local breweries is Lakefront. Their beer is good. They give you beer before, during, and after the tour. And the tour guide drinks with you, before, during, and after the tour. I went on a late afternoon tour once and the guide was completely baked. > **[Lakefront Brewery | Made in Milwaukee, Brewed for the World](https://lakefrontbrewery.com/)** > > Since 1987, Lakefront Brewery has brewed Milwaukee's best beers, including Riverwest Stein, New Grist, and countless other innovative and imaginative craft brews. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-breweries/950788.md?page=2)