Top Three Breweries
Reuben’s Brews (Seattle, Washington) Have I ever had a bad beer from Reuben’s Brews? No. No, I haven’t. This prolific Seattle brewery seems to brew every style under the sun, without making a misstep or losing its point of view. It’s the rare brewery that can brew with such mastery across diverse styles, yet still keep me in thrall of a robust porter.
Allagash Brewing (Portland, Maine) This Maine stalwart is another brewery that heeded the Greek command to “know thyself.” A quarter century after its founding, Allagash remains not just relevant but cutting edge in terms of its coolship program, its reverent treatment of local ingredients, and its hospitality. (Plus, name a brewery with a more gorgeous Instagram account. I’ll wait.).
pFriem Family Brewers (Hood River, Oregon) We all love pFriem’s Pilsner, but have you had its Kölsch through a gravity-fed keg? Other breweries would tremble to serve such a delicate style this way—in the heat of a California summer, for acclaimed international brewers at the Firestone Walker Invitational, no less—but pFriem knew its beer was just that good. Ditto pretty much every other beer on its roster.