Made In America Consumer Reports by Kenzie Danho

Spring 2015 Edition

The Made In America Issue

EDITOR EXECUTIVE EDITOR

KRISTEN OGTROP SARAH HUMPHREYS

DEPUTY MANAGIN EDITOR

JACKLYN MONK

EDITOR, CONSUMERREPORTS.COM

LORI LEIBOVICH

DESIGN DIRECTOR

ABBEY KISTER-PROKELL

PHOTO DIRECTOR

CASEY STENGER

DEPUTY EDITORS

DANIELLE CLARO, NOELLE HOWEY

EDITOR AT LARGE

JOANNE CHEN

ART ART DIRECTOR ALYCE JONES ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR ALI MOONEY SENIOR DESIGNER KATIE FIELD

EDITORIAL PRODUCTION DIRECTOR FILOMENA GUZZARDI PRODUCTION MANAG ER ALBERT YOUNG CONTRIBUTING PRODUCTION MANAGER JOAN WEINSTEIN

DESIGNER TOVA DIAMOND ART ASSISTANT TAYLOR GIVENS

COPY COPY CHIEF NANCY NEGOVETICH

PHOTO DEPUTY PHOTO EDITOR BRIAN MADIGAN ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR MONICA SIWIEC ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR EMILY KINNI RESEARCH RESEARCH CHIEF WESTRY GREEN REPORTER/RESEARCHERS KAITLYN PIRIE, ANNE WILLIS CONTRIBUTING RESEARCHER MOLLY M. GINTY CONSUMERREPORTS.COM EXECUTIVE EDITOR LAURA SHOCKER PRODUCTION EDITOR ANASTASIA SINGO ASSOCIATE EDITOR WENDY GRANGER EDITORIAL ASSISTANT SAMANTHA ZABELL

CONSUMER REPORTS SPECIAL ISSUE

PREMEDIA PREMEDIA DIRECTOR RICHARD PRUE PREMEDIA MANAGER CLAUDIO MULLER SPECIAL ISSUE STAFF CONTENT RESEARCH SAMANTHA ZABELL CONTENT EDITOR DIDI GLUCK ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR JENNY JIN EXECUTIVES CHEIF EXECUTIVE EDITOR JOSEPH RIPP GROUP PRESIDENT EVELYN WEBSTER CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER NORMAN PEARLSTINE

Ellen Kampinsky

That’s right: our bi-annual celebration of all things made in America is here! . Or let’s call it our bi-annual celebration on account of products we want you to buy to support our troubled stock market. But this isn’t a purely economic concern. It is humanitarian. Innovative. Exploratory. The prize literally went to “literally,” as in “I literally can’t deal with Sarah Palin.” Or “I literally haven’t seen a movie in forever.” That coinage is still raging. You might ask: Why do people say it so much when they don’t, you know, mean it? I might answer: Because our lives are getting less and less literal all the time, ever more mediated, more virtual. And so

previously in these pages, people became obsessed with telling you how obsessed they are, about Alexander Wang T-shirts, or Sriracha sauce, or their personal decision to use lemon verbena as an airfreshening solution. Obsessed! Sometimes they didn’t even seem all that obsessed, more like tickled pink, or moderately besotted, but no one walks around saying they’re “tickled pink.” Besides, there was an element of consumer brinkmanship to it: They were more obsessed than you ever could be, and that was the point. So what’s up with 2013? I’ll tell you what’s up. Everywhere I go lately, people tell me not to worry. “No worries,” the barista will say when I don’t have exact change for my meticulously hand-brewed coffee that takes thirty-seven minutes to craft. Shop clerks are increasingly intent on letting you know that within these sacred boutique walls, there are no worries. “I’d like to try and this shirt on,” you’ll say. “No worries,” they’ll coo back, sounding as if they just got back from Bondi Beach. True story: A homeless person recently told me but I knew it would get weird. Here’s the thing: I’m not worried! Or at least I wasn’t until you suggested I should be. When the server asks what I want to drink two seconds after I sit down and I say can I look at the cocktail list, and she tells me no worries, I never previously entertained the thought of being worried by my perfectly normal request. “No worries”: a total head game. And now I’m really worried. Because I’ve started saying it myself. (Flight attendant: “I’m sorry, we don’t have any ‘herbal Chartreuse’ or muddled ginger or the last three ingredients you just asked me for.” Me: “No worries! Beer, please.”) That’s how these things gain a life of their own. Once you start saying it, you can’t stop, and once you start, it seems like you’ve always said it.

This isn’t a purely economic concern. It is humanitarian. Innovative. Exploratory. what we crave in our language these days are words that signify genuineness. I literally love that shit! Okay, what about the following year? No one would argue with me that 2012’s Affectation of the Year was “obsessed.” As we noted

MADE IN AMERICA SPRING 2015

STAFF PICKS

This issue’s staff pics What they like, what they use, and what they’re thinking about their favorite US produced products.

BUNN COFFEE MAKER

$8.95, Walgreens | online and in-store | Savanna, GA

“It has made good coffee from day one. I love getting it ready to brew and then going out to get the paper. It’s ready before I can get out the door.” -Miranda Baily, Staff Editor

“Best chap stick. It doesn’t melt in your pocket/stays hard for a longer time than the generic ones. I have yet to find any comparable lip balm that stays in place (the bees wax makes all the difference), and doesn’t have a lot of fragrance or a greasy, goopy texture.” -Evelyn Webster, Group President

CRAYOLA CRAYONS

BURTS BEES LIPBALM

$120, Sears | online and in-store |Providence, RI

ORECK UPRIGHT VACCUM

$6.99, Toys R Us | online and in-store |Centerview, MI

$245, Walgreens | online and in-store | Houston, TX

“I love the colors and quality of these crayons. I’ve bought other brands and they seemed to streak wax and not leave much color. These however, put down color and always look great! No wonder they’re a classic.” -Brian Madigan, Deputy Photo Editor

“Very pleased thus far with our new Oreck Touch Upright Bagless vacuum. Seems to do well on both carpet and tile. It was reccomended by a friend... a little pricier than your average vacuum. Good buy!” -Westry Green, Research Chief

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CONTENTS

Spring 2015

THE GROWTH OF NEW & OLD U.S. INDUSTRIES NEW BALANCE SOLE PRODUCER

AMERICA’S NEXT CASH CROP

With medicinal and recreational marijuana use being legalized, soon it could be the country’s next big cash crop of the agriculture industry.

The New New England shoe manufacturer and retailer has unveiled a sneaker that is the standard-issue in boot camp.

12 AMERICAN CRAFT BEER

The craft beer industry is sweeping away the industry. Take a look at our Top 10 Craft Brewery list and expand your palate from the large lagers.

MADE IN AMERICA SPRING 2015

CONTENTS

Spring 2015

7 AMERICAN CARS

Find out which cars are actually produced here in America, despite your perception.

38 NEW INNOVATIONS

A profile of a new company, The Good Flock and their trendy sustainable products.

FEEDBACK

STYLE GUIDE

CREDITS

FEEDBACK

3 24

INDEX

LOOKING BACK

PRODUCT GUIDE

Our tests and perception of the top US brands in many different categories. Peek thoroughly before shopping!

OU R M IS S ION Consumer Reports serves consumers through unbiased product testing and ratings, research, journalism, public education, and advocacy. We stand firmly behind the principle that consumer products and services must be safe, effective, reliable, and fairly priced. We insist that manufacturers, retailers, government agencies, and others be clear and honest. We advocate for truth and transparency wherever information is hidden or unclear. We push companies to quickly address and remedy issues with their products and services.

CONSUMER REPORTS SPECIAL ISSUE

STAFF PICKS

What they like, what they use, and what theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re thinking about US produced products

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

This seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hottest trends featuring the best denim. Styles for men and women

CEO SPOTLIGHT Paula Schneider

ON THE COVER

Special issue: Made in America

H OW T O S U B MIT A LET T ER T O T H E ED IT O R Letters should be exclusive to Consumer Reports Magazine or consumerreports. com. We do not publish open letters or third-party letters. Letters should preferably be 150 to 175 words, should refer to an article that has appeared within the last month. We regret that because of the volume of submissions, we cannot acknowledge letters other than by an automated e-mail reply. Writers of letters selected for publication will be notified within a week. Letters may be edited and shortened for space. To submit a letter to the editor visit consumereports.com/letterstotheeditor

CARS

POWERHOUSE

Most American Cars of 2015

New CEO In Season

The all American car may currently exist, but leaps are being made to reshore manufacturing and assembly.

A profile of Paula Schneider, American Apparel’s newest Chief Executive Officer

Call it the baseball team van, call it the minibus, call it the airport shuttle, but at least call it the automotive personification of the American spirit. Chevy has a stronger claim to the Made in the U.S.A. Label. It also has a leg up on Ford, whose Expedition SUV dropped from the top spot after dropping its share of American-made parts from 80% to 70%.

Chevrolet Express Wentzville, MO 80% Made in the USA Dodge Avenger Sterling Heights, MI 75% Made in the USA SRT Viper Detroit, MI 75% Made in the USA Ford F-150 Dearborn, MI 74% Made in the USA Chevrolet Corvette Bowling Green, KY 74% Made in the USA Honda Odessey Linclon, AL 74% Made in the USA Honda Crosstour East Liberty, OH 74% Made in the USA Toyota Tundra San Antonio, TX 73% Made in the USA Toyota Avalon and Camry Georgetown, KY 73% Made in the USA Toyota Sienna Princeton, IN 72% Made in the USA

Paula Schneider is less than two weeks into her tenure as CEO of American Apparel, but she’s already set about correcting years of missteps by the clothing chain’s infamous founder Dov Charney. In American Apparel , Schneider has inherited a business ripe for a turnaround. This is, after all, a company that derives 75% of its sales from the same approximately 600 basic products that put it on the map: U.S.-made cotton tees, simple sweatshirts and durable, colorful accessories. What she has to do now is make sure the company is offering shoppers the right mix of both these bestsellers and carefully considered new items, and ditching products that aren’t shifting — a fundamental retail concept called ‘stock keeping unit productivity’ in industry jargon, and one that fell by the wayside under Charney’s somewhat laissez faire leadership. What Schneider has also inherited, besides a strong brand with flagging sales, is North America’s largest. Whether or not the company finally eschews crotch-shot ads under Schneider’s leadership, she’s clear that the DNA of the brand — its progressive, campaigning spirit, and its pro-equal rights stance — will remain. “I think that what American Apparel really does is that there’s a call to action,” she said. It’s giving a voice to our consumers. I think there’s a lot of ways for us to do that. That part of being edgy won’t change.”

“My goal is to make American Apparel a better company, while staying true to its core values of quality and creativity as well as preserving its sweatshop-free, Made in USA manufacturing philosophy.”

MADE IN AMERICA SPRING 2015

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Nearly every piece of gear that military recruits get when they show up for training is made here in the United States — but not their running shoes.That is about to change, under a policy shift that could have big repercussions in New England. by Jon Chesto After years of resistance, Pentagon officials conceded in April that recruits’ running shoes should be made domestically. The decision set off a race to mass-produce the first all-American-made running shoe in roughly two decades. And the two competitors to emerge so far are iconic Massachusetts brands: New Balance and Saucony. This is a chase for the market share of a giant captive audience: The US military’s recruits go through as many as 250,000 pairs of running shoes a year. Executives at New Balance, of Boston, and Lexington-based Saucony hope that, eventually, they can mass produce all-American shoes for civilians, as well. The Pentagon’s decision could translate into hundreds of new jobs at New Balance, Saucony, and their suppliers. About one-fourth of New Balance running shoes sold in North America already carry “Made in the USA” labels, although some parts, such as the midsoles, are made out of the country. New Balance’s owner, Jim Davis, makes domestic manufacturing a top priority: The company employs about 1,350 people at its five New England plants, one in Brighton, one in Lawrence, and three in Maine. It eventually bought a contraption that makes midsoles — a ew Balance has pinned its hopes on the Berry Amendment, a MADE IN AMERICA SPRING 2015

1940s-era law mandating that the military buy recruits’ apparel and other gear from domestic manufacturers. The company already makes Berry-compliant shoes for the Postal Service, but the Department of Defense has argued that US manufacturers were not up to the task for running shoes. New Balance executives have long disagreed. And they got some help in their efforts to change Pentagon officials’ minds from congressional delegations in Maine and Massachusetts. Representative Niki Tsongas, a Lowell Democrat, and then-Representative Mike Michaud, a Democrat from Maine, had championed a bill that would force the Pentagon to make Americanmade running shoes available for recruits. Lloyd Johnson put midsoles into a stabilization tunnel for New Balance. Their bill never made it into law. But the legislative pressure paid off: New Balance scored a key victory in April when a top Pentagon official ordered that recruits buy Berry-compliant shoes so long as they are comparable to the foreign-made shoes currently being worn. The defense agency requires that the domestic shoes pass a “wear test” first. Eight months later, vice president Matt LeBretton said, New Balance is still waiting for a green light from the Pentagon that would signal its shoes are up to the military’s standards. He chalks up the delay to bureaucratic inertia and to possible lobbying by other shoe companies. On Dec. 18, Maine senators Susan Collins, a Republican, and Angus King, an independent — more than 800 New Balance employees work in their state — wrote to the Pentagon to say that foreign-made shoes were put in the line for wear-testing ahead of the new domestic shoes. Their complaint: Defense officials should not test more foreign-made shoes because they will soon be replaced on the shelves of base stores.The senators also sought a specific deadline for the testing of Berry-compliant shoes, to ensure they get to recruits as soon as possible. A spokesman said Pentagon is working with the senators to set up a meeting to discuss the issue. Like most other running shoe companies, Saucony had moved all of its production overseas by the early 1990s, president Richie Woodworth said. Then Wolverine Worldwide came along. That company’s 2012 acquisition of Saucony — along with the affiliated shoe brands Stride Rite, Keds, and Sperry — played 10

CONSUMER REPORTS SPECIAL ISSUE

a crucial role in reversing the trend. That’s because Wolverine already makes footwear in this country, at a massive factory in Big Rapids, Mich.The economics of making shoes in Asia are not as favorable as they once were, Woodworth said, in part because labor costs in China have grown significantly in recent years. He said that Saucony will use the lessons learned from the all-American shoes it has developed for the military to try to expand into production for broader retail sales. Within days after an American won the Boston Marathon, another patriotic milestone coincidentally was reached in the running community. And this one has the potential for a much bigger economic ripple effect. On Friday, four days after Meb Keflezighi became the first U.S. citizen to win the Marathon in three decades, the news had reached Massachusetts: The Department of Defense will start requiring recruits to buy running shoes that are made here in America. This is a huge victory for Boston-based New Balance and its numerous suppliers throughout New England. About one-quarter of the running shoes New Balance sells in North America carry “made in the USA” labels — but the midsoles to even those shoes had always been made overseas. To address this, New Balance in 2012 bought an injection-molding machine known as the IMEVA that allows the company to manufacture midsoles here. That machine, located in the company’s Brighton plant, can crank out midsoles for a model known as the 950 that meets military specs. (The uppers, meanwhile, would be made at one of New Balance’s other New England plants.) New Balance made this investment with the hopes that its lobbying efforts in Washington would pay off. Advocates in Congress such as Rep. Niki Tsongas of Lowell and Rep. Mike Michaud of Maine — New Balance has factories in both of their districts — led the charge to push legislation that would require

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IS A DEARTH OF DOMESTIC SUPPLIERS THAT CAN PROVIDE COMPONENTS FOR SHOES.

Uniforms are constantly evolving. The recent footware change is just the next step in military apparel.

1898

1902

WWI Era

WW2 Era

1950s

During the Spanish-American War, the blue coats of U.S. troops fighting in Cuba were visible targets to snipers. Troops smeared mud on their uniforms to be less conspicuous.

The U.S. Army changed its summer uniform to the brown khaki worn by British troops in India. The Army also adopted camouflage color for its winter service uniform-- a dull, greenish-brown color designed as “olive-drab.” The blue uniform is kept for “dress” occasions

With the emergence of machines guns, trench warfare and aerial photography, major armies worked on developing low-visibility uniforms. The U.S. Army formed a camouflage unit made up of camofleurs -- people who were artists and designers in their civilian lives.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers experimented with camouflage uniforms in 1940. In 1943, U.S. Marines in the Solomon Islands wear reversible beach/jungle coveralls with green-and-brown “frog” patterns.

Camouflage uniforms in a leaf-andtwig pattern introduced but were not widely worn and soon dropped. The camouflage helmet and shelters issued in the 1950’s survived, though.

This New Balance classic offers comfort that stands up to all-day wear. And it’s made in the USA, which means every pair supports American jobs. the Department of Defense to honor the Berry Amendment for running-shoe purchases. Defense officials have bypassed this 1940s-era requirement — which mandates purchases for military recruits from domestic factories whenever possible — for years when it came to running shoes. Among other things, Defense officials argued that Berry couldn’t apply to running shoes because there were no companies in the U.S. that had a way to make all the shoes’ components here. That, of course, is starting to change. Matt LeBretton, New Balance’s vice president of public affairs, tells me he expects New Balance will now be selling Berry-compliant shoes to the military as soon as early 2015. The company could be ready more quickly, he says, but New Balance needs to wait for DoD to “wear test” the shoes. It’s hard to know what this means in terms of additional revenue or jobs for New Balance, but it’s almost guaranteed that there will be some of both. LeBretton estimates that the military voucher system in place now for running shoes costs about $15 million a year. He says if all of that work went to one company like, say, New Balance, that would equal at least 200 new jobs, to make nearly 250,000 pairs a year. It’s not all necessarily going to go to New Balance’s 1,350-person manufacturing workforce, though. Wolverine Worldwide — a Michigan manufacturer that owns the Lexington-based Saucony and Stride Rite brands — would be ready to sell Berry-compliant shoes well. Tsongas’ office says at least five other companies have begun the process.

Part of the difficulty in measuring the impact comes from the fact that DoD is not mandating a big contract, one that would entail a centralized procurement of running shoes. Instead, the transition will be a little more open-ended. As Berry-compliant shoes hit the market for a particular shoe type category, like “motion control” or “stability,” only those shoes will be available for purchase using the DoD’s onetime cash allowance. (LeBretton says this allowance is currently in the $80 to $85 range.) If no Berry-compliant shoe exists for a particular shoe category, other shoes made overseas will continue to be offered to recruits. LeBretton says this won’t necessarily be a huge windfall for New Balance. There will be a profit margin on these shoes, he says, but it won’t be as high as shoes sold commercially. The real benefit is the positive impact on New Balance’s supply chain: The steady flow of extra work will help by Quabaug Corp. in North Brookfield, for example, and the laces would be made by Rhode Island Textile in Pawtucket, R.I. Bixby International in Newburyport would make reinforcement straps, and Uretek in New Haven would make a coating used to reinforce parts of the shoes. In her April 25 letter to Tsongas, Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Christine Fox writes that DoD is making this switch because the agency has become aware of several footwear companies that have the capability to manufacture Berry-compliant shoes in the near future. Defense officials, Fox writes, are interested in having their recruits buy domestically made athletic shoes to the maximum extent practical. But she does point out that the DoD is stopping short of requiring a central procurement

MADE IN AMERICA SPRING 2015

1960s

1970s

1980s

Gulf War Era

2000s

What’s Next?

There was no new official camouflage uniform for fighting in Vietnam. The camouflage Battle Dress Uniform (BDU), with a four-color pattern developed by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Laboratory (ERDL) in 1948, saw limited use in the Army, which prefered the solid olive-green “boonie suit.”

Research into camouflage patterns continued. In the late 1970s, the large four-color pattern of black, brown, green and khaki, called M81 woodland, became the new standard U.S. camouflage. Designed made soldiers less visible in a European environment. It was authorized for wear by all branches of the military.

The woodland camouflage Battle Dress Uniform (BDU). American troops wear woodland camouflage during the Grenada invasion in 1983. Meanwhile, the U.S. issues a six-color, desertshaded uniform (dubbed “chocolate chip”), which is later associated with Norma Schwarzkopf during the Gulf War.

Desert camouflage was essential in the early1990s with the outbreak of the Persian Gulf War. A nighttime desert pattern, with little black squares and checks of white and black, was used on jackets. It was designed to interfere with night-vision devices.

In 2004, the Army adopted a threecolor Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP), which was worn in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. It is a computergenerated mix of green, tan and gray that helps soldiers blend into woodland, desert and urban environments and landscapes.

The Army plans to phase out UCP and replace it with Operational Camouflage Pattern, with a color palette of muted green, light beige and dark brown. The pattern’s use will extend beyond Afghanistan to all combatant commands. The Department of Defense is mandating all military uniforms are made 100% in the USA.

“We wanted to make a shoe with the highest technical performance, but also light, and it’s going to be durable enough to withstand any conditions or terrain,” New Balance spokeswoman Caitlin Campbell said. The sneaker’s aesthetic design is derived from the company’s ultra marathon shoe, the Leadville 1210 but made entirely from U.S.-sourced materials. The original shoe was made with the 100-mile Leadville Trail Marathon in mind. Army physical fitness uniform gets golden makeover “The shoe is made from different materials, and it has a different color wave, black and silver, sort of an understated, conservative look,” Campbell said. The sneakers took center stage at the factory visit. Reps. Niki Tsongas, D-Mass., and Mike Turner, R-Ohio, toured the company’s biomechanical research lab, prototype lab and manufacturing floor, before sitting down with executives to discuss the potential of a Pentagon policy change. Recruits today in the Army, Air Force and Navy can use a one-time $80 allowance to buy foreign-made shoes as an exception to the “Berry Amendment,” a federal law that that requires the Department of Defense to buy Americanmade goods when possible. The Marine Corps only offers a general clothing allowance that does not specifically apply to shoes. The Berry Amendment has not applied to running shoes in the past because there were no entirely American-made shoes on the market. But the 950v2 can fit that bill. “It’s a great opportunity to learn not only how a Berry-compliant shoe is made, but how they are making a shoe thement and sustain such an effort. This has been a prolonged quest for New Balance, one that’s lasted at least since 2007 when the company acquired a small clothing firm that had been doing work. But succeeding in business is often its own endurance test: The times, but persistence eventually can pay off. The biggest challenge, he said, is a dearth of domestic suppliers that can provide components for shoes. Those suppliers largely disappeared when running-shoe manufacturing headed overseas.

But not all of them are gone. When and if it gets military clearance, the rubber tread on the bottom of Saucony’s shoes will be made at a factory in North Brookfield — the same place where New Balance will get its outsoles. In Lexington, Andrea A. Paulson, director of product engineering, and Pat O’Malley, senior vice president, monitored running shoe design at Saucony.Quabaug Corp. employs about 260 people at that plant, where Wolverine also gets treads for many of its boots. Concord-based Vibram USA markets and coordinates the plant’s production work and puts its brand name on most of the treads made there.Other New England companies are part of New Balance’s supply chain. There is a laminator in Newburyport, a manufacturer of shoelaces in Pawtucket, R.I., and a chemical company in New Haven. Bill Ells, vice president of component sales at Vibram, said that about 125 footwear manufacturers remain in this country. Most are small and specialized: Ells said 20 of those companies make the vast majority of US-made shoes.Ells said he hopes the Saucony-New Balance competition could spur job growth at the Quabaug plant. More importantly, though, Ells said the race for the market share of military work should dispel the misconception that athletic footwear can no longer be made domestically.Neither company can declare victory yet. They still face tough questions. Will they get buried under Washington red tape? Will other rivals step into the fray? Will mass-market manufacturing of athletic. shoes prove to be too complex and expensive? The executives at New Balance and Saucony know that the future of all-American manufacturing is uncertain. But they also know this truth, embraced by the most hardened of long-distance runners: The race goes not to the swift, but to those who keep running. a new recruit,” Tsongas said. The factory visit comes a few weeks before the Pentagon hosts an industry briefing in September with U.S. shoemakers. For manufacturers, the hope is the meeting will be to announce the Pentagon’s plans and timeline.

“WE WANTED TO MAKE A SHOE WITH THE HIGHEST TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE, BUT ALSO LIGHT, AND IT’S GOING TO BE DURABLE ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND ANY CONDITIONS OR TERRAIN.”

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“As an American soldier, I find it important that our gear is American made. As we fight for our country, now we will also be supporting the USA economy. The construction of the porduct is top notch which helps our comfort and performance while on duty. Thank you New Balance!” Tsongas said there are several companies that could compete to produce a Berry-compliant shoe, including Michiganbased Wolverine Worldwide. The 950v2 will be offered in widths of narrow to extra-wide and in different varieties for stability and motion control, Campbell said. Combat by design: Army unveils new camouflage pattern “We’re building the shoe so that it can be used by any type of runner, and any body type,” Campbell said, adding later: “It’s certainly not one size fits all or most. There is certainly a range, and we want to be able to meet the need for all different types of runners.” While the Defense department prepares for a wear-test, the services were instructed to conduct a joint study of footwear to ensure that recruits’ feet are being properly evaluated and matched with the most appropriate shoe type. Service members, and the Pentagon at one point, have expressed concern that eliminating allowances would limit choices for service members and could contribute to injuries. New Balance sees the rule as the closing of a loophole in the law, and a move that benefits U.S. manufactures. “This is an industry that has gone overseas, and we see this as a way to revitalize the industry and bring jobs back to the U.S.,” Campbell said. “We know our craftsmen and craftswomen here in the U.S. make great products. We think DoD getting behind domestic manufacturing will be a great spark.”

Quabaug Corp. employs about 260 people at that plant, where Wolverine also gets treads for many of its boots. Concord-based Vibram USA markets and coordinates the plant’s production work and puts its brand name on most of the treads made there. The senators also sought a specific deadline for the testing of Berry-compliant. To set up a meeting to discuss the issue. Like most other running shoe companies, Saucony had moved all of its production overseas by the early 1990s, president Richie Woodworth said. Then Wolverine Worldwide came along. That company’s 2012 acquisition of Saucony — along with the affiliated shoe brands Stride Rite, Keds, and Sperry — played a crucial role in reversing the trend. That’s because Wolverine already makes footwear in this country, at a massive factory. But not all of them are gone. When and if it gets military clearance, the rubber tread on the bottom of Saucony’s shoes will be made at a factory in North Brookfield — the same place where New Balance will get its outsoles. Other New England companies are part of New Balance’s supply chain. There is a laminator in Newburyport, a manufacturer of shoelaces in Pawtucket, R.I., and a chemical company in New Haven. Bill Ells, vice president of component sales at Vibram, said that about 125 footwear manufacturers remain in this country. Most are small and specialized: Ells said 20 of those companies make the vast majority MADE IN AMERICA SPRING 2015

CONSUMER REPORTS SPECIAL ISSUE

MADE IN AMERICA SPRING 2015

Where is each part of the New Balance 991 is made? Find out below. Rubber Outsole- North Brookfield, MA Tongue- Spartanburg, SC Lace- Pawtucket, RI

TPU- Newburyport, MA

Lining- Haverhill, MA

Synthetic- New Haven, CT

Insert- Wadsworth, OH

Reflectice- Brownwood, TX

Collar Foam- Jessup, MD EVA Foam- Coldwater, MI

Textile Spacer Mesh- Pine Grove, PA

Thread- Hendersonville & Marlon, NC

Thermoplastic Boxtoe- Newburyport, MA

EVA Midsole- Burlington, MA EVA Pellets- Charolotte, NC

Sole Adhesives- Nashua, NH

and stockpiling of running shoes, because of the upfront cost to implement and sustain such an effort. This has been a prolonged quest for New Balance, one that’s lasted at least since 2007 when the company acquired a small clothing firm that had been doing work. But succeeding in business is often its own endurance test: The times, but persistence eventually can pay off. The biggest challenge, he said, is a dearth of domestic suppliers that can provide components for shoes. Those suppliers largely disappeared when running-shoe manufacturing headed overseas. But not all of them are gone. When and if it gets military clearance, the rubber tread on the bottom of Saucony’s shoes will be made at a factory in North Brookfield — the same place where New Balance will get its outsoles. In Lexington, Andrea A. Paulson, director of product engineering, and Pat O’Malley, senior vice president, monitored running shoe design at Saucony.Quabaug Corp. employs about 260 people at that plant, where Wolverine also gets treads for many of its boots. Concord-based Vibram USA markets and coordinates the plant’s production work and puts its brand name on most of the treads made there.Other New England companies are part of New Balance’s supply chain. There is a laminator in Newburyport, a manufacturer of shoelaces in Pawtucket, R.I., and a chemical company in New Haven. Bill Ells, vice president of component sales at Vibram, said that about 125 footwear manufacturers remain in this country.

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Medial Post- Sullivan, MO

Thermoplastic Counter- Newburyport, MA

Most are small and specialized: Ells said 20 of those companies make the vast majority of US-made shoes.Ells said he hopes the Saucony-New Balance competition could spur job growth at the Quabaug plant. More importantly, though, Ells said the race for the market share of military work should dispel the misconception that athletic footwear can no longer be made domestically.Neither company can declare victory yet. They International in Newburyport would make reinforcement straps, and Uretek in New Haven would make a coating used to reinforce parts of the shoes. In her April 25 letter to Tsongas, Acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Christine Fox writes that DoD is making this switch because the agency has become aware of several footwear companies that have the capability to manufacture Berry-compliant shoes in the near future. Defense officials, Fox writes, are interested in having their recruits buy domestically made athletic shoes to the maximum extent practical. But she does point out that the DoD is stopping short of requiring a central procurement ried under Washington red tape? Will other rivals step into the fray? Will mass-market manufacturing of athletic. shoes prove to be too complex and expensive? The executives at New Balance and Saucony know that the future of all-American manufacturing is uncertain and expensive. But they also know this truth, embraced by the most hardened of long-distance runners: The race goes not to the swift, but to those who keep running.

PRODUCT GUIDE

American manufacturers have moved beyond the world of denim, and jumped into the wider universe of apparel. MADE IN AMERICA SPRING 2015

MADE IN AMERICA SPRING 2015

Where is each part of the New Balance 991 is made? Find out below. Rubber Outsole- North Brookfield, MA Tongue- Spartanburg, SC Lace- Pawtucket, RI

TPU- Newburyport, MA Insert- Wadsworth, OH

Synthetic- New Haven, CT

Thermoplastic Boxtoe- Newburyport, MA

Reflectice- Brownwood, TX

Collar Foam- Jessup, MD EVA Foam- Coldwater, MI

ACCE SSOR IE S

Textile Spacer Mesh- Pine Grove, PAAlexander Olch

Thread- Hendersonville & Marlon, NC

Lining- Haverhill, MA

QUALITY

New York, New York

neckties, accessories

American Optical

Southbridge, Massachusetts

eye glasses, sunglasses

Arne Mason

Ashland, Oregon

leather goods

Blackbox Case

Golden, Colorado

wood computer cases

Bollman Hats

Adamstown, Pennsylvania

hats

Black Sheep

New York, New York

accessories

The Brown Bag Company

San Antonio, Texas

leather bags

Byrd & Belle

Minneapolis, Minnesota

accessories

Cause and Effect

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

belts, accessories

Corter

Boston, Massachusetts

leather goods, accessories

David Hart & Co

New York, New York

neckties

Dodo Case

San Francisco, California

iPad / iPhone cases

Edgar Leather

Tallahassee, Florida

leather goods

Faribault Woolen Mills

Faribault, Minnesota

blankets

EVA Midsole- Burlington, MA EVA Pellets- Charolotte, NC

Sole Adhesives- Nashua, NH

Medial Post- Sullivan, MO

SERVICE

AVAILABILITY

Thermoplastic Counter- Newburyport, MA

Most are small and specialized: Ells said 20 of those companies Frank of Clegg Massachusetts bags, leather goods and stockpiling of running shoes, because theLeatherworks upfront cost to Fall River, make the vast majority of US-made shoes.Ells said he hopes the implement and sustain such an effort. This has been a prolonged Geier Glove Co. Centralia, Washington leather gloves Saucony-New Balance competition could spur job growth at the quest for New Balance, one that’s lasted at least since 2007 Quabaug when the company acquired a small clothing firmKnot that The General Co.had been Bedford, New York plant. neckties More importantly, though, Ells said the race for the market doing work. But succeeding in business is often its own endurGfeller Casemakers Meridian, Idaho leather goods share of military work should dispel the misconception that ance test: The times, but persistence eventually can pay off. athletic footwear canneckties, no longer be made domestically.Neither The biggest challenge, he said, is aThedearth of domestic Hill Side Brooklyn, New York accessories company can declare victory yet. They International in Newburysuppliers that can provide components for shoes. Those supLeather Man Limited Essex, Connecticut belts, accessories port would make reinforcement straps, and Uretek in New Haven pliers largely disappeared when running-shoe manufacturing would make a coating used to reinforce parts of the shoes. headed overseas. Lotuff Leather Norwalk, Connecticut bags, accessories In her April 25 letter to Tsongas, Acting Deputy Secretary But not all of them are gone. When and if it gets military clearNew Era Buffalo, New York hats of Defense Christine Fox writes that DoD is making this switch ance, the rubber tread on the bottom of Saucony’s shoes will be because made at a factory in North Brookfield — the same Optimo Hats place where Chicago, Illinois the agency has hats become aware of several footwear companies that have the capability to manufacture Berry-comNew Balance will get its outsoles. Randolph Engineering Randolph, Massachusetts glasses, sunglasses pliant shoes in the near future. Defense officials, Fox writes, are In Lexington, Andrea A. Paulson, director of product engineerinterested in having their recruits buy domestically made athletic ing, and Pat O’Malley, senior vice president, Shuron monitored running Greeneville, South Carolina glasses, eyeglasses shoes to the maximum extent practical. But she does point out shoe design at Saucony.Quabaug Corp. employs about 260 Solesu Belleville, Illinois leather belts that the DoD is stopping short of requiring a central procurement people at that plant, where Wolverine also gets treads for many under Washington red tape? other rivals step into the of its boots. Concord-based Vibram USA markets and coordinates Shinola Detroit,ried Michigan Watches, leatherWill goods fray? Will mass-market manufacturing of athletic. shoes prove to the plant’s production work and puts its brand name on most of Swans Island Northport, Maine blankets be too complex and expensive? the treads made there.Other New England companies are part Oregon The executives atleather New goods Balance and Saucony know that the of New Balance’s supply chain. There Tanner is a laminator in NewGoods Portland, future of all-American manufacturing is uncertain and expensive. buryport, a manufacturer of shoelaces in Pawtucket, R.I., and a Walz Caps Vista, California bicycle hats But they also know this truth, embraced by the most hardened chemical company in New Haven. of Oregon long-distance runners: The race goes not to the swift, but to Bill Ells, vice president of component salesCompany at Vibram, The Welch Inc. said Portland, suspenders those who keep running. that about 125 footwear manufacturers remain in this country. Wiley Belts

CONSUMER REPORTS SPECIAL ISSUE

Charlottesville, Virginia

belts, leather goods

B AG S

QUALITY

Accessories Unlimited

Portland, Maine

bags

Acorn Bags

California

cycling bags

Archival Clothing

Portland, Oregon

bags, clothing

Artifact Bags

Omaha, Nebraska

bags

Bailey Works

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

bicycle bags

Billykirk

Pennsylvania

bags, leather goods

Beckel Canvas

Portland, Oregon

bags, tents, etc.

Buzzline

Fort Pierce, Flordia

bags

Chester Wallace

Portland, Oregon

bags, accessories

Colonel Littleton

Lynnville, Tennessee

bags, leather goods*

Dandux

Ellicott City, Maryland

bags

Domke

Hauppauge, New York

camera bags, accessories

Duluth Pack

Duluth, Minnesota

bags

Emil Erwin

Nashville, Tennessee

bags, accessories

Ernest Alexander

New York, New York

bags

Estex Mfg. Co.

Fairburn, Georgia

bags

Equinox

Williamsport, Pennsylvania

bags, outdoor gear

Frost River

Duluth, Minnesota

bags, tents

Ghurka

New York, NY

leather goods, accessories

Goruck

Bozeman, Montana

bags, hats

Johnson Woolen Mills

Johnson, Vermont

bags, clothing, accessories

Joshu+Vela

San Francisco, California

bags

J. W. Hulme Co.

St. Paul, Minnesota

bags, accessories

Klein Tools

Lincolnshire, Illinois

bags, accessories

LL Bean

Freeport, Maine

bags

Maptote

New York, New York

bags

Mer

Brooklyn, New York

bags

Mission Workshop

San Francisco, California

bags, clothing

Port Canvas

Kennebunkport, Maine

canvas bags

Stanley & Sons

Brooklyn, New York

bags

Topo Designs

Denver, Colorado

bags

Tough Traveler

Schenectady, New York

bags

SERVICE

AVAILABILITY

American manufacturers have moved beyond the world of denim, and jumped into the wider universe of apparel. MADE IN AMERICA SPRING 2015

MADE IN AMERICA SPRING 2015

Where is each part of the New Balance 991 is made? Find out below. Rubber Outsole- North Brookfield, MA Tongue- Spartanburg, SC Lace- Pawtucket, RI

TPU- Newburyport, MA Insert- Wadsworth, OH

Synthetic- New Haven, CT

D E NIM

Collar Foam- Jessup, MD EVA Foam- Coldwater, MI

Textile Spacer Mesh- Pine Grove, PAAlexander Olch

Thread- Hendersonville & Marlon, NC

Thermoplastic Boxtoe- Newburyport, MA

Lining- Haverhill, MA Reflectice- Brownwood, TX

QUALITY

New York, New York

neckties, accessories

American Optical

Southbridge, Massachusetts

eye glasses, sunglasses

Arne Mason

Ashland, Oregon

leather goods

Blackbox Case

Golden, Colorado

wood computer cases

Bollman Hats

Adamstown, Pennsylvania

hats

Black Sheep

New York, New York

accessories

The Brown Bag Company

San Antonio, Texas

leather bags

Byrd & Belle

Minneapolis, Minnesota

accessories

Cause and Effect

Gatlinburg, Tennessee

belts, accessories

Boston, Massachusetts

leather goods, accessories

New York, New York

neckties

Dodo Case

San Francisco, California

iPad / iPhone cases

Edgar Leather

Tallahassee, Florida

leather goods

Faribault Woolen Mills

Faribault, Minnesota

blankets

Corter

EVA Midsole- Burlington, MA EVA PelletsNC DavidCharolotte, Hart & Co

Sole Adhesives- Nashua, NH

Medial Post- Sullivan, MO

SERVICE

AVAILABILITY

Thermoplastic Counter- Newburyport, MA

Frank of Clegg Massachusetts bags, leather goods Most are small and specialized: Ells said 20 of those companies and stockpiling of running shoes, because theLeatherworks upfront cost to Fall River, make the vast majority of US-made shoes.Ells said he hopes the implement and sustain such an effort.Geier ThisGlove has Co. been a prolonged Centralia, Washington leather gloves Saucony-New Balance competition could spur job growth at the quest for New Balance, one that’s lasted at least since 2007 The General Co.had been Bedford, New York plant. neckties Quabaug when the company acquired a small clothing firmKnot that More importantly, though, Ells said the race for the market doing work. But succeeding in business is often its own endurGfeller Casemakers Meridian, Idaho leather goods share of military work should dispel the misconception that ance test: The times, but persistence eventually can pay off. Hill Side Brooklyn, New York accessories athletic footwear canneckties, no longer be made domestically.Neither The biggest challenge, he said, is aThe dearth of domestic company can declare victory yet. They International in Newburysuppliers that can provide componentsLeather for shoes. Those supMan Limited Essex, Connecticut belts, accessories port would make reinforcement straps, and Uretek in New Haven pliers largely disappeared when running-shoe manufacturing Lotuff Leather Norwalk, Connecticut bags, accessories would make a coating used to reinforce parts of the shoes. headed overseas. In her April 25 letter to Tsongas, Acting Deputy Secretary But not all of them are gone. When and if it gets military clearNew Era Buffalo, New York hats of Defense Christine Fox writes that DoD is making this switch ance, the rubber tread on the bottom of Saucony’s shoes will be Optimo Hats place where Chicago, Illinois the agency has hats become aware of several footwear because made at a factory in North Brookfield — the same companies that have the capability to manufacture Berry-comNew Balance will get its outsoles. Randolph Engineering Randolph, Massachusetts glasses, sunglasses pliant shoes in the near future. Defense officials, Fox writes, are In Lexington, Andrea A. Paulson, director of product engineerShuron monitored running Greeneville, South Carolina glasses, eyeglasses interested in having their recruits buy domestically made athletic ing, and Pat O’Malley, senior vice president, shoes to the maximum extent practical. But she does point out shoe design at Saucony.Quabaug Corp. employs about 260 Solesu Belleville, Illinois leather belts that the DoD is stopping short of requiring a central procurement people at that plant, where Wolverine also gets treads for many Shinola Detroit,ried Michigan Watches, leatherWill goods under Washington red tape? other rivals step into the of its boots. Concord-based Vibram USA markets and coordinates fray? Will mass-market manufacturing of athletic. shoes prove to the plant’s production work and puts its brand name on most of Swans Island Northport, Maine blankets be too complex and expensive? the treads made there.Other New England companies are part Goods Portland, Oregon The executives atleather New goods Balance and Saucony know that the of New Balance’s supply chain. There Tanner is a laminator in Newfuture of all-American manufacturing is uncertain and expensive. buryport, a manufacturer of shoelacesWalz in Pawtucket, R.I., and a Vista, California Caps bicycle hats But they also know this truth, embraced by the most hardened chemical company in New Haven. The Welch Inc. said Portland, suspenders of Oregon long-distance runners: The race goes not to the swift, but to Bill Ells, vice president of component salesCompany at Vibram, those who keep running. that about 125 footwear manufacturers remain in this country. Wiley Belts

CONSUMER REPORTS SPECIAL ISSUE

Charlottesville, Virginia

belts, leather goods

American manufacturers have moved beyond the world of denim, and jumped into the wider universe of apparel. MADE IN AMERICA SPRING 2015

01 03 02

11 13

06 12

10 07

09 02

0 1 Cockpit, New York, NY $120 online & in store 0 2 JBrand, Los Angeles, CA $225 online & in store 0 3 Beyond, Seattle, WA $28 online only 0 4 AmeriGrant, San Francisco, CA $31 online & in store 0 5 Ebbets, Seattle, WA $12.50 in store 0 6 Grown & Sewn, New York, NY $147 online only

CONSUMER REPORTS SPECIAL ISSUE

07 Tellason, Boston, MA $80 in store only 08 JBrand, Los Angeles, CA $225 online & in store 09 Pointer Brand, Bristol, TE $72 online only 10 Blackbox Case, Golden CO $58.99 online & in store 11 JeanShop, Swanee, OK $44 in store 12 Crate, Los Angeles, CA $102 online only

13 American Giant, San Francisco, CA $46 online only 14 Camber, New Orleans, LA $482 in store only 15 CEGO, Portlans, OR $87.99 (set) online & in store 16 EngiGar, Seattle, WA $14 in online & in store 17 Schott NYC, New York, NY $52 online only

17 14

16 15

10 06

MADE IN AMERICA SPRING 2015

by Marcy A Franklin There’s that moment when you try a better beer, a beer that’s not your average Coors/ Bud/Pabst, and you’re hooked. Not everyone may remember exactly where, or when. You may not even remember what beer it was. But much like a 1-year old who tries his first bite of birthday cake and has his first real taste of sugar, you know you’re never going back to that other beer again.

CONSUMER REPORTS SPECIAL ISSUE

MADE IN AMERICA SPRING 2015

Craft beer was barely a term 30 years ago; since then, the phrase has been uttered by everyone from beer aficionados to the average Joe. Everyone’s talking about it, and everyone wants in on it. And everyone has a favorite. Take a peak at our Top 10.

CONSUMER REPORTS SPECIAL ISSUE

We couldn’t have found more variation when we began to survey our craft beer experts and readers about who they think deserves to be called the “best” craft brewery in America. We asked some of the country’s leading craft beer experts (can we have that job?) for their suggestions of which breweries they thought were among the best in the country. Their nominations included breweries of all sizes, regions, and styles. After all, narrowing down a list of 2,538plus breweries (the latest numbers from the Brewer’s Association) to a mere top three nominations is no easy feat. After we picked through the 72 nominees we received, we put the vote to you, the readers. Thanks to you and the support of these outstanding 72 nominees — who cast more than 11,500 votes — we got our list of the best craft breweries in America. Granted, as we mulled over our top picks, there was one clear theme — there’s a difference between what’s called “the best,” and those that are “beloved.” After all, there’s plenty of subjectiveness in picking a craft beer you know you should love, and one you should try. As an editor who’s often tasked to try new craft brews (rough job, I know), there are plenty of times that I end up ordering my standard brew when out at a bar — not because it’s the best beer on tap, but because I know I’ll like it, no matter where I am or what I’m doing. Not seeing your favorite brewery on the list? Tell us your favorites. “This is one of the best times to be a beer drinker,” Rotunno says. “As this contest shows, while it’s fun to discuss, it’s impossible to choose ‘the best brewery in the U.S,’ and the best part is consumers never have to make that choice. No matter where you live in the U.S. there are great local craft beers to choose from.”

Dogfish Head Milton, DE

Boulevard Brewing

Founders Brewing

There are more than enough accolades and recognition for this Californian brewery. “No brewery in San Diego — and perhaps the world — pushes more envelopes or thinks outside so many boxes,” says Peter Lowe of UT San Diego. Stone Brewing Company is the 10th largest brewery in the United States, with 55,000. If topping the 2008 list of AllTime Top Breweries on Planet Earth by Beer Advocate isn’t enough, a bit more information will convince you that Stone Brewing Company is one of the best craft breweries in America. Stone Brewing Company is the 10th largest brewery in the United States, with 55,000 square feet. The 99-rating on Beer Advocate calls this brewery “World Class.” And it’s beloved for much more than the beer. “I love Stone’s attitude as much as I love their beer,” says Jason Morgan of Craft Beer Business. “Big and bold, their craft beer always sticks with you long after the six-pack is gone.”

Boulevard Brewing Company is not only the second largest brewery in Missouri, but also one of the largest specialty brewers in the Midwest. Founded in 1989, Boulevard’s mission consists of producing fresh and flavorful beers, by using the finest traditional ingredients. The company uses old and new techniques, but is always known by their full flavors and high quality. “What really sets Boulevard apart for me is the Smokestack Series,” says Tom Rotunno, of CNBC. “I haven’t had one I haven’t liked. They constantly surprise with a great variety of styles and each is as good as the last with releases like Love Child, Saison-Brett, Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale and Coffee Ale. The consistency in which the Smokestack Series delivers amazing results is impressive.”

Founders set out to make “complex, in-your-face ales, with huge aromatics, bigger body, and tons of flavor” — and they’ve just about done it. The founders, Mike Stevens and Dave Engbers, say their beer is for the renegades and the rebels (because that’s how they describe themselves). And boy, does Founders have some pretty big fans of their brews. “I’ve probably have drank gallons of Red’s Rye PA and Centennial IPA,” says Mike Sweeney of St. Louis Hops. “And don’t even get me started on Breakfast Stout and its bigger brother KBS. While KBS may not be the best bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout in America (that goes to Goose Island’s Bourbon County Stout), it’s damned close. Oh, and Founders Porter is easily the best porter made in the world.”

Escondido, CA

In the brewery business for almost two decades, Dogfish Head is one of the most popular breweries in the country. It was Delaware’s first brewpub, and when it opened in 1995, was the smallest commercial brewery in America. But, this small brewery now packs a giant punch, as they now operate out of a 100,000-squarefoot converted cannery and sell their beer, including their original 60 Minute IPA, to more than 25 states. Under the direction of Calagione, Dogfish Head will continue to be the gamechanger — and leader — when it comes to the world of craft beer. “When I think of ‘craft beer,’ Dogfish Head is the first brewery that pops into my head,” says Jason Morgan, the founding partner of Craft Beer Business. “Their creativity and dedication to the craft beer tradition is inspiring.”

Variety: 13 Appearance: 03 Flavor: 20 Mouth Feel: 04 Overall: 09

Stone Brewing Co.

Variety: 12 Appearance: 02 Flavor: 20 Mouth Feel: 03 Overall: 09

Kansas City, MO

Variety: 13 Appearance: 01 Flavor: 19 Mouth Feel: 03 Overall: 09

Milton, DE

Variety: 11 Appearance: 02 Flavor: 19 Mouth Feel: 04 Overall: 09

MADE IN AMERICA SPRING 2015

Cigar City Brewing Tampa, FL

This brewery started with two things in mind, according to its website: to “make world’s best beer” and “to share with people near and far the fascinating culture and heritage of the Cigar City of Tampa.” The selfproclaimed “world’s best beer” is made in a 6,600-square-foot warehouse, which includes a tasting room open to the public. But Cigar City, a Florida favorite, has fans from far outside the Panhandle state for their unique lineup of beers. Gerard Walen, of Roadtrips for Beer and Beer in Florida, notes that his hometown favorite is a notch above the rest. “[Cigar City Brewing is] currently making some of the best beer out there, many of which you can’t find outside of the tasting room,” he says.

Variety: 11 Appearance: 03 Flavor: 18 Mouth Feel: 02 Overall: 09

CONSUMER REPORTS SPECIAL ISSUE

New Belgium Fort Collins, CO

Started in 1989 with the founder delivering beers on his bike, New Belgium quickly turned into a microbrewery and then surpassed the microbrewery mark to become one of the most respected and loved full breweries in the country. They now offer free tours of their facility, which produces “Fat Tires,” the very brew that was transported on bikes more than 20 years ago. While Fat Tire is the solid flagship beer of New Belgium, the brewery still takes risks with its seasonals. New Belgium takes the Colorado lifestyle and transposes it to a larger audience, and many agree that the brewery doesn’t just make great craft beer — it makes a eco-friendly and community-friendly impact. “When it comes to the melding of craft beer, the arts, lifestyle, eco-consciousness, and community, this Fort Collins, Colo., brewery has few peers,” says Tom Bobak of American Craft Beer. “I like what New Belgium ‘does’ almost as much as I enjoy what they brew.” Variety: 10 Appearance: 02 Flavor: 18 Mouth Feel: 03 Overall: 08

Lagunitas Brewing

Bell’s Brewery

Founded in 1993, Lagunitas Brewing Company has a core of supportive beer lovers who want to nurture the creation of consistently good beer. The brewery is willing to do anything, “capable of making beer out of goat’s milk, brambles, and asphalt on the surface of the moon, if need be,” according to its Facebook page. And it’s the brewery’s dedication to experimentation that has won over beer lovers across the company. “Tony Magee’s vision and ‘the glass is always half full’ attitude toward life is reflected in his beer,” says Liz Garibay of the blog Tales, Taverns, & Towns. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a Lagunitas beer I didn’t like.” The California-based company recently made an announcement that it would be opening a 250,000-barrel-a-year facility in Chicago in order to cater to the Eastern U.S. With creative brews, passionate employees, and a commitment to serve, Lagunitas is definitely one of the best.

What started with merely a thirst for better beer and a gallon soup kettle in 1985 has turned into a regionally known craft brewery. Bell’s Brewery is a dedicated company that believes in brewing flavorful, unfiltered, quality, and small-batch craft beers. Bell’s currently has more than 20 brews for distribution, as well as some select options served at their pub. “Far fewer [breweries] have a roster [of beer] as deep and consistently excellent as Bell’s,” says Chris Van Orden, co-founder of DC Beer. “No matter what style you’re in the mood for, Bell’s has a great take on it.” Bill DeBaun, the other co-founder of DC Beer, agreed that its variety is unlike any other brewery. “The intersection. The Eccentric Café, was founded in 1993 and was the first brewery in Michigan to serve beer by the glass. The brewery also has a general store with beer-to-go, and home brewing supplies to help you on your own beer endeavor.

Petaluma, CA

Variety: 09 Appearance: 01 Flavor: 18 Mouth Feel: 02 Overall: 07

Kalamazoo, MI

Variety: 09 Appearance: 02 Flavor: 17 Mouth Feel: 01 Overall: 08

How We Taste & Test Composed entirely of Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) judges who have all studied, trained, and been tested on their ability to discern characteristics in beer, our panel is independent and doesn’t include any CB&B editors or staff. The panel tastes all beer blindly—they do not know what brands and beers they are tasting until the tasting is complete. Our goal is to inform you about the strengths and weaknesses of these beers as well as their relative differences (not everyone has the same taste in beer, so accurate descriptors are more valuable than straight numerical values). The quotes you see in the reviews are compiled from the review panel’s score sheets to give you a well-rounded picture of the beer.

Russian River Santa Rosa, CA

Russian River Brewing Company focuses on “traditional aggressively hopped Californiastyle” ales, Belgians, and barrel-aged beers. Originally owned by Korbel Champagne Cellars, the brewery became its own entity in 2003. Founder and brewmaster Vinnie Cilurzo came from a winemaking family, but has established himself as a craft-brewer full of innovation and willingness to share his knowledge. Imperial that went onto set the standard that so many other breweries (like Stone) would later build their reputations on,” says Tom Brobak, of American Craft Beer. “And now he’s redefining the American Sour.” And the list of not-to-miss Russian River brews is a mile long. “The Plinys, Elder and Younger, are stunning achievements, but don’t overlook Russian River’s superb lineup of barrel-aged sour ales,” says Peter Rowe, blogger for the San Diego Union-Tribune. “One favorite: Consecration, an earthy, fruity, and dry sour red that’s aged in cabernet sauvignon barrels.” Variety: 09 Appearance: 01 Flavor: 20 Mouth Feel: 01 Overall: 08

Sierra Nevada Chico, CA

Sierra Nevada beers mimic the mountains for which they are named, “bold, wild, and unwavering as those storied granite peaks,” according to their website. Sierra Nevada brews use only the best ingredients, are created by traditional techniques, and are made by brewers who pay close attention to detail. The “Hop Torpedo,” a stainless steel device packed with whole, cone hops, is the brewery’s unique way of adding hop aroma to beer with no additional bitterness. Because of it, the Hop Tornado and Sierra Nevada get credit “for putting hoppy pale ale on the map for American craft beer drinkers,” says Lucy Saunders, the author of five craft beer cookbooks. Sierra Nevada is a “big boy that stays true to classic products,” says Peter

Variety: 12 Appearance: 02 Flavor: 17 Mouth Feel: 01 Overall: 08

As our reviewers judge, they score based on the standard BJCP components: Aroma (max 12 points), Appearance (max 3 points), Flavor (max 20 points), Mouthfeel (max 5 points), and Overall Impression (max 10 points). We’ve listed these individual component scores, and the bottom-line number is derived from adding then doubling these component scores to produce a rating on a 100-point scale. Note that we round the component scores to the nearest whole number, so the math won’t necessarily add up. Our judges use the following scale in valuing scores: 95–100 » Extraordinary World-class beers of superlative character and flawless execution 90–94 » Exceptional Distinguished beers with special character, style, and flavor 85–89 » Very good Well-crafted beers with noteworthy flavor and style 80–84 » Good Solid, quality, enjoyable beers 75–79 » Above Average Drinkable and satisfactory beers with minor flaws or style deviations 50–74 » Not recommended We’d like for you to keep one thing in mind as you read our reviews: Your perception of a beer is more important than that of our review panel or editorial staff. Reading reviews—on the Web, in a magazine, or in a book—is no substitute for trying the beer yourself.

88 MADE IN AMERICA SPRING 2015

INNOVATION

THE NEW BIRD IN TOWN:

The Good Flock

The Good Flock makes things that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hurt the earth or trees or humans, even the mean ones. Take a peak inside this innovative new domestic business. DESIGN WITH MINIMAL WASTE

By designing with the world around us in mind, The Good Flock uses only what they need. This keeps more of the earth, trees, and animals alive (and not dead, which is a good thing). Bonus: It creates less smelly garbage.

USE WHOLESOME MATERIALS

They get their resources from living trees, plants, animals, or ecosystems which have been grown or raised responsibly and have the ability to regenerate themselves. (Kind of like lizards and their tails, not that we use lizards or their tails.)

WORK WITH A CONSCIENCE

They rely on the talents of real craftspeople (artists who use their own two hands) to create better things. The Good Flock only uses responsible manufacturing as well. No putting little kids to work; they should be outside, playing soccer or planting trees or writing letters to bad oil companies with angry crayons.

Featured here are The Good Flockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s three most trendy and iconic products. Get them online at thegoodflock.com Left to right: Aurora Lamp $169, Tokyo Bag $225, Travel Wallet $149

CONSUMER REPORTS SPECIAL ISSUE