20 Top Selling Craft Breweries: Business Is Booming

Really? Other than pale lagers/kolsches etc which DFH doesn't do in wide release they have as much in wide distribution in many cities as St. A does in H-town (off the top of my head, you can get 60, 90, Stout, IBA, Raison, and occasionallyh Midas at most grocers in NYC that have DFH distrubition)

And obviously the one-offs or special seasonals are almost too numerous to count, it streches the list into the 100's. Way more than anything St. Arnold does.

 

I met a couple of Australians in Portland who were on vacation in the Pacific Northwest specifically to try different microbrews.

 

I can name more DFHs that I bought in Houston than St. Arnold's, and I've had every St. Arnold's.

One who says St. Arnold's has better quality than DFH is certifiable.

 

I don't think Donny was specifically singling out DFH in that sentence.

 

Avery sells between 6-8 different kinds of sixers at any given time (all of which I find at bars) which I would imagine is similar to St Arnold's lineup. They just happen to make big brews as well, which beer nuts buy but the normal consumer would not

And Saint Arnold rarely does anything out of the box which is why they are forgetful to me. They are not innovative like the ones I listed. Brown Ale, Amber Ale, IPA, etc, you can get from any brew company. SA does a fine job with traditional stuff. Avery, Left Hand, DFH, Stone, etc reinvent beer

 

I'm not sure what you're arguing against. I never said DFH wasn't widely distributed and massively produced, or that they didn't produce a lot of different beers.

I said their best beers are typically one particular brew or one style. Which, to me (matter of personal taste) is true, their IPAs seem to really be the spearhead of their efforts. Most of their other stuff (other than Raison) has never struck me as all that good. Of course, if I lived up anywhere near where I could get access to all their limiteds, I'd probably have a different opinion.

 

Would you agree that Avery, DFH, etc. have more resources and pull with which to produce more beer types?

It's a difficult comparison to make, you're talking about a national brand versus a regional one.

Full disclosure: I'm not a fan of Avery at all. They produce a lot of beers, yes, but it doesn't impress me when I don't like hardly any of them. Compared to Saint Arnold, where I really like about half of the beers they make.

 

anyone who doesn't think st. arnold's is the best beer evor is an idiot!!!!!!!!

 

Price and availability discussions need to be clarified for those not in the Houston area.

DFH has 7 year round brews. 60 Minute IPA, 90 Minute IPA, Burton Baton, Indian Brown Ale, Midas Touch, Palo Santo Marron, Raison D'Etre

SA has 6 year round brews. Elissa, Brown Ale, Weedwacker, Amber, Santo, and Fancy Lawnmower.

If you go to the huge Spec's warehouse on Smith, you will find DFH has 60, 90, IBA and 1 possibly 2 others max available here. You can go to any small grocery store and find most of, if not all SA year round brews, but also at least two seasonal brews. Right now everyone has Bock and Stout. At larger grocery stores you will likely find 60 Min IPA, Central Market has never had more than 3, 60, 90 and IBA from DFH.

So when someone is talking about a wide range, we are talking about what we see at stores. DFH having a 60 IPA and a 90 IPA (sometimes) on the shelves doesn't count as variety.

 

that one is good - there is another new one that you can find in those 6 packs w/ 6 different beers...a rye lager called "ryes and shine" - its a darker one w/ alot of flava - a hint of chocolate even. i wish they were doing 6ers of it, but ill keep buying those shiner variety packs for it.

 

There at other breweries in the Houston area. Southern Star, No label and Karbach also make beer in and around Houston. I still think Southern Star is the best microbrewery in the area though St. Arnold is stepping up their game recently.

 

Raison is all over Houston. They sell it at Kroger on Montrose.

The single bottle specialties are commonplace as well.

 

I still need to try southern star, I've heard good things. Do they sell it at Specks? If so, I will pick some up next time im in town

 

Most definitely. The Kroger in the Heights also always has a good stock of Southern Star and a whole host of other micro brews.

 

Yeah, I think Southern Star is pretty much everywhere now. At least the places I shop.

Gotta rep No Label, my hometown brewery. Love the Ridgeback.

 

Or isn't fortunate enough to live close to these guys:
http://www.liveoakbrewing.com/

 

My favorite from them is the oktoberfest

 

I went to med center today and when waiting drove to the Kroger next to Reliant. They were out of stock of 60 IPA, had a few 4 packs of 90, and nothing else from DFH. Had 7 types of SA for 6.99 which was cheaper than Shiner, Heineken etc.

Just want to give some context to people who don't understand when we say SA is cheap and widely available.

 

i dont think st. arnolds is bad, but its nothing great. ill buy the christmas ale, which is good and the the divine reserves, but those are even overhyped for what they are. my favorite of theirs might be that winter stout...good on cold nites.

shiner is my beer of choice. i buy that more than any other and i never buy the bock, which is what they are known for. they stepped up their game the last few years and have put out alot of tasty brews.

 

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/38527325?title=0&amp;byline=0&amp;portrait=0" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/38527325">Today's New Wave of So-Called "Beer Geek."</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user10854696">John Smith</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>