Top 10 U.S. Brewers of Belgian Style Beer
I know this is a variation for a Belgium inspired web site, but as a lover of Belgium and Belgian style beer, I think that many people in the U.S. would like to know where they might find some beer based on the Belgian styles. Ten years ago, I rarely saw any U.S. brewer making this style and now it seems that every one tries their hand at it.
For a brewery to be listed on my Top 10 list, they must excel at the art of creating the essence of the style. I am aware that there are many brewers in the U.S. that are brewing this style, both large and small; but in order to be listed a Belgian style beer or beers must be part of their regular line up, not a seasonal or occasional release.
|
#1) The Lost Abbey/Port Brewing, San Marcos, California
Tomme Arthur is well known in the brewing industry as one who has continually pushed the envelope on the side of extreme beers and for the years I have been following his craft, he has always made extraordinary beers and for many years has always had at least a couple of Belgian style beers in his offering.
From the beginning at Pizza Port in Solana Beach, where Belgian dubbels, tripels and saisons periodically appeared on his selections to the opening of The Lost Abbey earlier this year, Tomme has been brewing great beers for many years now.
|
 |
On a recent visit to The Lost Abbey, I sampled every one of Tomme’s beers and most mirror beers I have enjoyed in Belgium over the years. The big exception is that Tomme’s beers have a bit more body. He currently has numerous beers in barrels at the brewery and I am excited to see what comes out of those barrels.
To see the line up of current beers go to www.lostabbey.com.
Unfortunately, distribution is very limited at this time, but if you join The Patron Saints club you can receive beers direct from the brewery periodically. (Restricted to certain states)
|
#2) Allagash Brewing, Portland, Maine
Owner/Brewer Rob Tod loved Belgian style beers and knew the American beer scene lacked beers brewed in this style. So Rob and his father Bob put together a small brewery on the outskirts of Portland and in 1995 came out with their first beer, Allagash White. Allagash White was brewed as a Belgian style wit beer and it caught on right away.
Now the regular line up includes the White as well as the Dubbel, Tripel and the Grand Cru as well as their fantastic oak-aged beers and periodic seasonals and anniversary beers.
www.allagash.com
|
 |
|
#3) Avery Brewing, Boulder, Colorado
Owner/Brewer Adam Avery has an affinity for Belgian style beers but also has the fever for extreme beers. The solution? Do both. And Adam and his staff do it well. While I will admit that I have never had a beer in Belgium that faintly resembles anything from Avery, it’s beside the point. Avery knows the basic Belgium style and just decided to increase the proportions of everything.
www.averybrewing.com
|
 |
|
#4) Brewery Ommegang. Cooperstown, New York
Starting in 1997, Brewery Ommegang started brewing traditional Belgian style ales on the outskirts of Cooperstown. Ommegang is not an extreme brewer, rather a brewer of great Belgian ales. All Ommegang beers are a Belgian style; they do not brew other traditional U.S. styles.
Any lover of great beers has had at least one of the beers of Ommegang, the namesake, Hennepin, Rare VOS, Three Philosophers or Witte.
|
 |
Recently Brewery Ommegang was fully acquired by Brewery Moortgat in Belgium, makers of Duvel and many other great Belgian beers.
www.ommegang.com
|
#5) Russian River Brewing, Santa Rosa, California
In 1997 Korbel Champagne Cellars in California decided to try their hand at brewing beer. They hired Vinnie Cilurzo to be the brewmaster and over the next 5 years, Vinnie won numerous awards for his brewing expertise. In 2002 Korbel decided to return to their roots and sold the brewery to Vinne and his wife Natalie. Great move for all lovers of beer; especially Belgian style ales.
|
 |
Today Russian River brews great beers, which include many Belgian style ales. Although they are extreme examples in most cases, they still have the Belgian heart in each.
www.russianriverbrewing.com
|
#6) New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, Colorado
After a bike trip across Belgium in the late 80’s, Jeff Lebesch returned to Colorado and started churning out batches of 2 homebrews based on his recipes. One was a dubbel style, which he called Abbey, and another amber style he named Fat Tire. While the previous was the one I admire more, the later made it possible for New Belgium to become a real brewery and a successful one at that. Partnering with wife Kim, they started with a small micro in Fort Collins and have grown to be one of the largest craft breweries in the U.S.
|
 |
While New Belgium was on the fast track to becoming a top U.S. brewery, the hiring of Peter Bouckaert of Rodenbach brewing fame, moved them into the fast lane.
Today, New Belgium brews the original Abbey, a Tripel, Dubbel and a black ale, 1554, based on a Belgian recipe dating to the 1600’s.
www.newbelgium.com
|
#7) New Glarus, New Glarus, Wisconsin
Owners Dan and Deb Carey started New Glarus in 1993 and garnered an immediate cult following with their renditions of a raspberry and a cherry lambic.
|
 |
While not true lambics, they created brews that allowed for people to try a style of beer that normally takes some getting used to and allowed for consumers to immediately enjoy this style.
Since that time, New Glarus has produced dozens of fantastic beers and come out periodically with a seasonal that is truly Belgian inspired.
Currently, New Glarus is only available in Wisconsin, but from the looks of their brewery expansion, this may be changing soon.
www.newglarus.com
|
#7) Jolly Pumpkin Artesian Ales, Dexter, Michigan
Owner/Brewmaster Ron Jeffries had been brewing great beers for many years before opening a brewery in 1994.
Now Jolly Pumpkin brews a series of fantastic ales based loosely on the Saison style of beer.
I would expect to see many great things coming from this brewery.
|
 |
www.jollypumpkin.com
|
#8) Alesmith Brewing Company, San Diego, California
Owner/Brewmaster Peter Zien started Alesmith in 1995 and is another brewer who loves the Belgian style. While Alesmith brews the gamut of most popular U.S. beer styles, the Lil Devil, Horny Devil, Grand Cru and Old Numbskull are some of my favorite Belgian style beers.
|
 |
Peter works with Tod Fitzsimmons, Bill Batten and Matt Akin, all awarded brewers, to create these great ales along with another 8-9 creations, all of which have won numerous awards.
www.alesmith.com
|
#9) Dragonmead Microbrewery, Warren, Michigan
Partners Bill Wrobel, Larry Channell and Earl Scherbarth opened Dragonmead in 1997. This micro churns out many different styles and until very recently was only available on tap at locations around Michigan. It is being bottled now but distribution is still very limited.
Dragonmead usually has 3-5 different Belgian style beers in their line up and are all very good.
|
 |
www.dragonmead.com
|
#10) Dick’s Brewing, Centralia, Washington
Dick’s opened in 1994 by Dick Young who had been home brewing for 10 years previous to going commercial. His first beer and still the favorite is Dick’s Danger Ale which is a cross between a pale ale and a porter, but my favorites are Silk Lady, a blonde ale with hints of light spices; the Double, Tripel and the Grand Cru. All are good renditions of the Belgian style, maybe a bit heavy on the sugars, but still very nice beers.
|
 |
Head Brewer Ezra Cox III has been with Dick’s since 1995 and spends most of his waking hours brewing.
Dick’s is well known in the Pacific Northwest and hopefully some day will become a National brand.
www.dicksbeer.com
Other Great Breweries
In order to keep updates to a minimum, all my lists are “Top 10’s”. However, the U.S. craft beer scene is exploding and is one of the most vibrant brewing countries on the planet today. Since there are other great breweries that produce great beers in the Belgian style, I feel it important to list a few more of my favorites.
At the top of the list is Dogfish Head, Milton, Delaware. Owner Sam Caligione brews some of the finest beers anywhere and some have Belgian bases. Dogfish is one of the most creative breweries anywhere and I have yet to be disappointed in any of their fine creations. www.dogfish.com
Ale Asylum, Madison, Wisconsin is a small microbrewery near the Madison airport. They make fantastic Belgian style beers but do not bottle, so to sample these fine beers, you’ll have to make the trip to Madison. www.aleasylum.com
Brugge Brasserie, Indianapolis, Indiana is another small microbrewery/restaurant with strong Belgian influence from the beers to the food. They make great Belgian style beers and will be releasing their first bottling run in September, 2007. Distribution will be limited to Indiana initially. www.bruggebrasserie.com
Iron Hill Brewing, Pennsylvania has 6 locations and is continually putting out great beers and some of the best Belgian style beers in the area. www.ironhillbrewery.com
