Need recommendations for a good microbrew to give as a gift

[Connonym]

Anybody have suggestions?

[Aristus]

1. Mud-Shark Porter. A Seattle micro-masterpiece.

And I think it's in season right now...

[pokerfan]

2. Bridgeport

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BridgePort_Brewing_Company

The brewery's BridgePort India Pale Ale has won a number of awards in the United States and abroad, including a Gold Medal at the 2005 Brewing Industry International Awards, in Munich, Germany; a Gold Medal and Category Champion Trophy at the 2000 Brewing Industry International Awards in London, England; and a Gold Medal for Classic English Style Pale Ale at the Great American Beer Festival, in Denver, CO in 1997.

[Initech]

3. What region do you live in? I have several suggestions:

West Coast: Bison Brewing Co. IPA, Deschutes Mirror Pond, or Stone Brewing Co. Double Bastard

Central: Odell's Pale Ale or Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale

Midwest: New Holland Mad Hatter IPA or Bell's Oberon

East Coast: A case of Yuengling

[evlbstrd]

4. Any of the Boulevard Smokestack series.

http://www.blvdbeer.com/smokestack/

[harmonicon]

5. depends on where you are...

My favourite US breweries are Bell's, New Glarus, and Dogfish Head - at least of those that are semi-widely available. As for specific beers.... do you know what the person likes in general?

[Connonym]

6. I'm in Wisconsin so New Glarus is plentiful around here

I know he likes dark beer but other than that??

[harmonicon]

8. hmm.... has he had an opportunity to have New Glarus?

If it would not be an exotic thing, maybe give it a pass and choose something else, but everything I've had from that brewery is fantastic. I haven't had this one before, but it seems nice: http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/beers.cfm?BeerID=2

If you can get Bell's, they have some great dark beers. Some people have mentioned Oberon, but it's a lighter beer, and might not be available now, since it's quasi seasonal. They make a winter beer called Bell's Best Brown that's really good, and they also make some fantastic stouts (a dark kind of beer). The Double Cream Stout is really good, and the Expedition Stout is out of this world - very extreme though - not the kind of thing that you would have several of in an evening.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. How about Dogfish Head?

Their pumpkin ale is a nice rich seasonal brew...

[Connonym]

9. that sounds like it would be perfect

AND there's a liquor store about 10 miles away that sells it. I think we have a winner! Thanks :) And thanks to all who made suggestions.