Most Prolific Craft Breweries of the Decade
Craft brewing has been on an inexorable march since it was birthed out of home brewing in the late 70s. The 80s separated the wheat from the chaff, so to speak, and the 90s saw the emergence of what would become the rock stars of the craft brewing revolution. These grew up on the backs of the fallen, and their numbers separate them from almost countless small craft breweries around the country.
But their are a handful of breweries that pushed the art of craft brewing into entirely new dimensions during the first decade of the new millennium. They do not sell their beer in every beer aisle across the country, but the names of the brewers are synonymous with experimentation and craft beer education.
There is no permanent list, and you may or may not find these same breweries listed in magazines as the best of the best, but these are the ones I have come in contact with and which represent the most prolific in the art and craft of brewing during the last decade. I’m sure you have other breweries you would add to the list, or you might disagree entirely with my list. So, please take a moment to add your thoughts or vote for your favorites in the poll at the end of this post.
Most Prolific Craft Breweries 2000 to 2009 and a few of the reasons why:
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.: Pioneering attitude, beer education and probably the most widely known of the big craft breweries.
Widmer Brewing Co.: Yes, they sold out to the macros, but the Widmer Brothers did more to establish hefeweizen as a major American craft-beer style than any other brewers.
Stone Brewing Co.: Pushed big, in-your-face beers onto the American table. Never gave up on big beer ideas and are a household name in many parts of the country.
Brooklyn Brewing Co.: Garrett Oliver is a force of nature. He has done more to support beer and food pairing than any other brewer.
Russian River Brewing Co.: Vinny Cilurzo is a brewing god. His creativity and willingness to continue to push the envelope make my job more interesting.
Lost Abbey: Tomme Arthur is another brewing god. In my mind, Tomme has done more to bring Belgian styles to the American palate than any other brewer.
Brewery Ommegang: All I know is that I’ve been enjoying Belgian-style craft beers from this brewery longer than any other.
Bridgeport Brewing Co.: A personal choice for sure, but this Northwest mainstay is top-of-mind for many when it comes to choosing a craft beer for almost any setting.
Dogfish Head Brewing Co.: I know many brewers will disagree with this, but Sam Calagione has pushed the envelope as well, and his marketing savvy has placed Dogfish Head in the annals of American craft brewing lore.
New Glarus Brewery: Prolific for it’s regional influence in a state with some heavy hitters in the macro catagory. New Glarus stands out as a brewing company that a lot of people talk about on a regular basis.
Big Sky Brewing Co.: Yes, I’m biased, but I think the fact that this little brewery has been in more than 20 states is significant, and I think the fact that they represent many of the great styles of beer from Montana is worth mentioning them in a list of most prolific breweries.
Abita Brewing Co.: As regionally significant to the south as New Glarus is to the north. This brewery is very visible on the national scene, and the beer is good.
Lagunitas Brewing Co.: One of my first discoveries of the decade, Lagunitas is close to my heart, because it is brewed near the city I was born in. And their beer labeling is among the best I’ve ever seen.
Rogue Ales: John Maier is one of my favorite head brewers. His commitment to exploration and a pirate’s eye for style makes him stand out among American craft brewers.
Alaska Brewing Co.: The largest state’s contribution to craft brewing is a standard all its own. The fact that Alaska produces such a high-quality quiver of great beers is all the more astounding for how separated the state is from the rest of the union.
New Belgium Brewing Co.: Because of this brewery’s commitment to green brewing practices and high-quality craft beer and way of life, it has to make the list for most prolific breweries of the decade. That and the fact that I love their commercials.
Add your pick for most prolific brewery of the last decade to the list at SpeakupMissoula.com.
Prost,
GG
Shouldn’t Bells Brewery be at the top of this list?
It’s a totally subjective list, which is why I provided a place for you all to submit your own picks.
Tim
Deschutes Brewery should be SOMEWHERE on the list, IMO.
Flying Dog ?
Great list, Tim. The only other one that comes to mind is Deschutes Brewing. Their regular line up continues to be great standard bearers while their Bond Street and Reserve series have some unusually good beers, particularly The Abyss.