Our 2015 Favorite American Craft Beer List

If you've listened to or watched any interview on our site, you know how we feel about beer rating. The subjectivity of the product really makes any of these lists somewhat useless.  Nonetheless, we read them.  All of them.  We can't help it.  We know you can't either - so here's our 10 favorite beers that we had in 2015 in no particular order.  

1. Plan Bee Farm Brewery - Precious

This was just plain awesome.  So balanced, complex, and well, precious.  Evan is putting together some of the most beautiful beers in the country from his Hudson Valley farm and this one (although not released in 2015) may have been one of his best to date.  2016 will see more growth for Plan Bee which will hopefully make it easier for more people to try these wonderful creations.

2. The Rare Barrel - Forces Unseen

The Rare Barrel has quickly gained a reputation for their wonderful barrel aged sour beer program.  Forces Unseen is a seemingly straight-forward blend of golden sour beers - only, it's masterfully blended and really displays what the Rare Barrel can do.  No need to add fruit or any outside flavors, the oak, yeast, and malt backbone(s) are front and center and come together to really make this a special and versatile beer. 

3. Green Bench Brewing - Petit Provision

The definition of a table beer.  Low in alcohol, tart, and refreshing.  This wild ale aged in white wine barrels is soft and delicate but full of flavor and complexity.  It's ready for a day out at the beach or to be paired with a high-end meal at your favorite Michelin rated restaurant.  We love this beer and the fact that it's readily available at the brewery makes it even better. 

4. Trillium Brewing - Fort Point

Hop juice.  Trillium has really taken the Northeast by storm this year, releasing hit after hit and causing lines to form around the block for bottle releases.  Fort Point is the brewery's staple pale ale and really sets the tone for what you can expect in the rest of the brewery's offerings.  Huge aromatics, luscious and never-ending hop character with minimal bitterness.  Drink fresh and drink often.

5. Firestone Walker Barrelworks - Feral One

Firestone Walker is one of our favorite breweries in the entire world.  They release classic after classic.  Perfection at every level.  Feral One follows suit.  Although, really any Barrelworks offerings could have made this list, Feral One is something special.  A special blend of their best barrels, the team in Buellton has created a beautifully nuanced funky, sour, and complex ale displaying an array of fruit sitting on top of just the right amount of barrel character. 

6. Lagunitas - Born Yesterday Pale Ale

We love Lagunitas and their consistently clean IPA's and pale ales but this fresh hop pale ale just had a special something to it that really made it stand out of the crowd for us.  Big tropical fruit aroma and flavor is at the forefront of this seemingly drier than usual (for Lagunitas) base.  Every aspect of this beer is just fantastic and plays its role perfectly.  If only it was available all year.

7. M.I.A. Brewing - MegaMix

MegaMix is our favorite pale ale in South Florida.  Juicy and not overly bitter, you can really enjoy the hoppiness of the beer without killing your palate.  What started as a one time release, Mega Mix became so popular that the brewery intends to add it to their year-round offerings.  We're happy they are.

8. Fremont Brewing - Bourbon Barrel Abominable

By far the biggest beer on our list, "B-Bomb" as it's been nicknamed, is just one of those beers that exceeds all expectations.  Huge bold flavors, oak, bourbon, spice, roast, complement a wonderful aroma and mouth feel.  A phenomenal sipping beer that evolves as it warms.  Just an awesome beer to drink casually with friends or to enjoy alone and really get in to.  It's also a great beer to age so make sure to pick up a few to taste over time. 

9. Side Project Brewing - Pulling Nails

Side Project is changing the game with its beautiful wine-influenced and wine barrel aged wild and sour ales.  Pulling Nails, a blend of four different offerings, is tart and refreshing.  Green apple, white wine grape, lemon/citrus, all sit on side project's signature funk.  It's just awesome.  What did you expect?  Cory just can't miss.

10. Sierra Nevada - Hop Hunter

This one is a game changer.  A year-round release that tastes like a bottled yesterday fresh hop IPA always.  How?  Hop oil.  Leave it to Sierra Nevada, one of the best and most consistent breweries in the world to distil fresh hops on the farm and use the oils obtained from that process, in combination with whole cone hops, to bitter, give flavor to, and add a pungent hop aroma we've all come to love to this offering.  From a brewery that does everything at the highest level, this one is on its own level and is readily available for all to enjoy.  It doesn't get much better than that.

The Fight for Craft Beer

For many people it’s tough to imagine that craft beer is under attack again. Yet, it is. What craft beer represents is more than “just beer.” At its core, craft beer is what our American, and surely Floridian, economy should proudly represent. What do I mean by that? Craft breweries are largely family-owned and -operated businesses that operate responsibly within the legal framework of our State, promote the local businesses and restaurants in our cities, increase and invite a new form of tourism to Florida (which thrives on tourism, in case you didn’t know), hire local, use local ingredients, and have helped push the cultural identity of our generation. People are demanding quality local products, craft beer is providing them responsibly, so what’s the issue?

Unfortunately, large corporations (i.e., “big beer” and distribution companies) with financial muscle seek to influence the legislative process to deflate the boom of craft beer in a round-about way in the legislature. Here is where the issue grows beyond beer and into principle. Today, the Florida legislature has a choice, legislatively kill a growing artisan and largely family-run industry that is benefitting the State, or stand for the entrepreneurial spirit that our country and State were founded on and level the playing field in the beer industry. Good news is that the legislature is starting to see this for what it really is — an attack on small business and the free-market.

Earlier this month, The Miami Young Republicans hosted a Craft Beer Summit — which brought together two local brewery owners, Luis Brignoni, of Wynwood Brewing, and Eddie Leon, of M.I.A. Brewing; Gabriel Llanes, a representative of Americans for Prosperity; and Mitch Rubin, executive director of the ever-so-powerful Florida Beer Wholesalers Association (FBWA) — to debate the current legislative slugfest. We heard opening remarks from Representative Erik Fresen as well. Sparing you the minutia, the conversation, which I moderated, focused on the growler issue and the three-tier system. In a small victory for craft brewers, Rubin said that the FBWA had no intention of fighting against the 64-ounce growler bill. A growler is a vessel used by consumers to buy beer straight from a brewery for at-home consumption. Currently, 32-ounce and 128-ounce growlers are legal in Florida; 64-ounce growlers are not. It seems that everyone is on the same page, and this restriction likely won’t survive 2015. Bad news, the growler issue has been held as leverage by big beer and FBWA in an effort to gain ground on the issues surrounding the three-tier system.

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Representative Erik Fresen addressed the Miami Young Republican's Craft Beer Summit Attendees

At a very rudimentary level, the three-tier system is a system in which a brewery is required to use a distributor to get its beer to market at restaurants and stores. Why? Prohibition concerns; none of which apply today. However, breweries currently can sell their beer directly to consumers on-site at their breweries and still abide by this three-tier system. While the FBWA said it has “no issue” with growlers or breweries selling their own beer in their taprooms – the FBWA does have an issue with them doing so without selling it to a distributor and buying it back first.

Yes, you read that right. Under the FBWA’s interpretation of the three-tier system, breweries would be required to sell their product to a distributor and buy that same product back just to sell it to consumers at their brewery. Why? FBWA says because it’s a “vice” product. The irony is that wine has never been subject to the same system, even at a generally much higher alcohol content. What’s the significance of this proposed application? The policy would destroy small and new craft breweries. Taproom sales are integral to the success of these breweries. As Brignoni described, 20% of total sales are through the taproom, which in turn amounts to almost 50% of most breweries’ income. Hence, no taprooms, no craft breweries. Game over. What’s the benefit to consumers of this proposition? Absolutely none.

We’re watching a modern day David-and-Goliath battle for ground in a market that remains dominated by big beer. Still, craft beer is starting to throw some punches and is gaining ground on the valuable market share held almost exclusively by big beer. Even today, craft beer only holds about 10% of the market, depending on your source. Still, this is what scares big beer. This is what scares distributors. This is all about money. With each point of market share lost, so too go millions. So instead of evolving or meeting the demands of the consumer – they’re taking to the legislature. This is about as un-American as it gets.

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From Left: Eddie Leon (MIA Brewing); Mitch Rubin (FBWA); Luis Brignoni (Wynwood Brewing)

What’s sad is that Goliath had support in our legislature during the 2014 session. Even among Republicans who pride themselves on championing the growth of Florida’s business environment, lowering regulation to support growth of our industries, and promoting innovation and creativity in business, Goliath remarkably found supporters. This year however, the tide seems to be turning. Led by Sen. Jack Latvala and Rep. Dana Young, among others, craft beer is finding its voice in Florida politics, an idea that was once foreign to the industry; yet, as they learned in 2014, would be crucial to its survival. Representative Erik Fresen made powerful remarks at the summit in support of the craft beer industry. It was refreshing to see him truly understand the issue. As Rep. Fresen made clear, he and many others in the legislature are becoming educated on the issue and would never vote for legislation intended to monopolize an industry and stifle growth in a responsible and growing sector of our State’s economy.

While the fight is far from over, craft beer, or its message, seem to be gaining traction in Tallahassee. This is a good thing. If not for craft beer, for small business in general.

Cheers,

Craft Commander

Published in The New Tropic (February 18, 2015).  

http://thenewtropic.com/opinion-craft-beer/

Looking Forward to 2015 - Florida and Beyond

So here it is.  This year is shaping up to be a great year for craft beer, especially here in South Florida and it's just under way.  These are some of our home town breweries to look forward to and some other breweries that we're excited about across the country.  Leave us a comment with the breweries you're looking forward to.

 SOUTH FLORIDA

1. M.I.A. Brewing Co.:  After almost 2 years of construction and permitting and more construction and more permitting, M.I.A. Brewing is finally opening it's doors.   There's a lot to look forward to too. Brewmaster, Mike Demetrus, says what he looks forward to most is "brewing both classic and modern interpretations of styles from around the globe sparing no cost, cutting no corners, and reproducing with clean and consistent results."  Early releases like the M.I.A. IPA, one of our favorite IPA's around, is just that: 5 hard to find hops, lots of them, but not lacking in balance - a really nice and clean interpretation of the style.  With 52 taps in the taproom, you'll be sure to find something you'll love. Look for new releases weekly in the taproom.

2. Wild Oak Artisan Ales:  Ok, so Wild Oak technically isn't a "brewery" yet as they don't the state licensing or space required to hold the official title, but all indications point to this changing in 2015.  Led by Chris McElveen and head brewer Matt Manthe, Wild Oak is creating some of the most complex and delicately balanced beers around.  This, all while every beer is fermented with wild yeast (brettanomyces) and sees oak at some point in fermentation.  Take Farmacology for example, a brettanomyces fermented sour ale with Florida honey and Florida kumquats - an incredibly complex and balanced beer while coming in at around 12% abv.  Chris is looking forward to 2015 as a big year for the duo as they've "got another year of experience with [their] beers, a clearer picture of the market, and more drive than ever to be self-employed", says Chris.  We expect great things from these guys. 

3. J Wakefield Brewing Co.:  Mr. Florida-weisse himself is finally opening his doors in what may be the most anticipated opening to date in Florida.  What amazes us about JWB is the incredible amount excitement and anticipation surrounding the brewery and the exclusive members-only society that will likely see bottles of the rare, internet-forum destroying releases of JWB favorites like DFPF - Dragon Fruit Passion Fruit, a pink sour "Florida-weisse". The hype behind the brewery is not all a mystery, Jon has been pouring his sours and big barrel aged stouts and porters for fans at festivals and events like the famous Hunahpu's day at Cigar City to much praise.  A collaboration with Stone in 2014 doesn't hurt either.  Either way, JWB will bring a lot of attention to Miami craft beer.  We welcome it.

4. Biscayne Bay Brewing Co.:  Another newcomer to the Miami brewing scene in 2014, Biscayne Bay is shooting straight for the heart of Miami residents, drawing inspiration from local ingredients and landmarks to come up with names and flavor profiles.  Take the "La Colada" Porter for example.  A big bold porter that features "La Carreta" espresso.  For those who have never been to Miami, La Carreta is a staple Cuban restaurant chain in Miami, who's cafecito (espresso) draws locals and and tourists to their coffee windows.  Seriously, coffee windows.  Small windows where people gather to discuss politics, their annoying neighbors, and drink a coffee.  It'll be interesting to see what other inherently Miami themes find their way in to the beers Biscayne Bay is going to produce this year.

Nation-Wide

1. Plan Bee Farmhouse Brewery:  This is just one of those breweries that will stand out for being MORE than your average brewery.  Let's go through a short list of what I mean by that: every bottle of Plan Bee is sold by Evan Watson (owner/brewer) directly to the consumer (hand to hand exchange), Every yeast strain used by the brewery is a culture pulled from the property on which the brewery sits, and eventually most everything used in the beer will be grown on site.  Looking to 2015 - the brewery will move from a 1 bbl system in the Watsons' back yard to a 25 acre farm with a 3-story, 1820's barn which will house an 8 bbl system and plans for "things like farm school for children, brewers school for home brewers, concerts and music events, etc." are underway says Emily Watson, owner of the brewery.  Although the growth in production means more beer, what's amazing is that Plan Bee will continue its current method of sales - direct to consumer.  Pretty amazing.  All this talk about the brewery and nothing about the beer; which, by the way is fantastic.  Be on the lookout for Tree Beer in 2015, "a mahogany ale featuring organic Crown Maple syrup that has been aged in oak barrels" featuring the house yeast strain which gives it that signature "taste of the Hudson Valley."

2. Lord Hobo Brewing:  Our friend Vincent Tursi, formerly of Night Shift Brewing, has been tapped to lead the brewing at Lord Hobo which will focus its attention towards "delicate, juicy, hop-forward ales in cans", says Vince.  We're excited to get our hands on these beers.  Knowing what Vince is capable of - we're looking forward to what he'll do now with the ability to fine tune his hop forward ales with precision and dedication to flavor and balance.  They will likely be nothing short of spectacular.  Looking to the future, Vince says they'll do "barrel-aged stouts [and others] within year 1, then a sour program with foudres and coolship in year 2."  If the past is any indication of what the future holds, Vince will be producing some of the best and creative beers around and Lord Hobo will be on its way to setting fire to the forums. 

3. Side Project Brewing: These seems like an easy pick... Almost too easy.  It's no secret, we love Side Project.  Side Project's Blanc de Blancs took the number one spot on our top beers of 2014 and Cory King, Side Project's Captain, can seemingly do no wrong.  In 2015, Cory will make use of a larger amount of barrels to produce more beer under his private label.  What's more exciting is the continued reliance upon native yeast and local products (yes, I love this stuff) and Cory's emphasis on creating and maintaining Side Project's terroir.  Also, the opening of The Side Project Cellar will allow more people access to these incredibly rare and hard to find beers.  Balance, flavor, delicately blended beers will elevate the expectations on other breweries producing wild or barrel-aged sour beers.  

4. The Ale Apothecary:  Paul Arney, the solo force behind The Ale Apothecary is revered by many of his peers as one of the most talented and creative brewers around.  Developing barrel-aged beers made to age.  Complexity from date of bottling and flavors that only evolve over time.  I could ramble on and on about the unique techniques used to produce these beers but I just wouldn't do it justice. Visit www.thealeapothecary.com to watch a video that shows just how cool this brewery is.  Something spectacular is brewing in the mountains of Bend, Oregon.