Favorite "Next-Door" Brew State

Wow, 5 pages of posts and not a single response from any NC BAs. I guess we aren't really touching any brewery-heavy states so it makes it kind of pointless. It basically comes down to SC and Georgia which basically comes down to Westbrook VS. Terrapin and Sweetwater. Hmm...If you told me I could have access to Westbrook's beers but I'd have to give up access to Terrapin and Sweetwater I guess I'd be OK with that. I'd miss Wake-n-Bake and the Dank Tank series but that's about it. So I guess it's SC for me. Tennessee has some good breweries I know, but I haven't had enough beers by those breweries to really make a judgement. Same goes for Kentucky and Virginia pretty much doesn't register IMO.

 

Funny you mention that, I was going to say Illinois just because of the great distribution they get (in addition to their great breweries).

 

Delaware would be the best next to state for me. With Dog Fish Head Palo Santo Maron, 75 Min IPA. 16 Mile and Twin Lakes makes some nice brews.

 

In Colorado and I'd choose New Mexico without a second thought. Utah has some hidden gems, but "the Kirk" alone has 2-3 world class breweries.

 

MA has Jacks Abby, Pretty Things, Berkshire, Trillium etc.. so I pick MA over NY or RI

 

I live in NJ but I go for PA...... Vault, Forest & Main, Tired Hands, Victory, Sly Fox, Bullfrog, East End, Church Brew Works, Voodoo, Helltown...

Though NY has soon great breweries... Empire, Ithaca, Southern Tier, Sixpoint, Brooklyn, Capt Lawrence, etc.

 

North Carolina border is a whole state, South Carolina, away from me down in the Coastal Empire. The First City, Savannah. Anyway, I have heard good things about Intuition and Rapp. All within 6 hours for me.

 

"...you have to pick a state that you are touching..."

Well, first, there's nothing in your profile to indicate that you're from Southeast Georgia. And secondly, it just says "touching", as in bordering, not qualifying by how far from another state you are.

 

Obviously TG takes the cake, but Confluence is on its way up, and Millstream isn't bad. There are also a couple solid breweries in Peace Tree and Singlespeed. I'll quit being a homer and pick my state. I have to go Minnesota for Surly alone. Brau Brothers and Summit are also solid. Wisconsin was tough not to pick. I do love New Glarus though.

 

California: Ballast Point, Firestone Walker, Stone, Russian River, Green Flash

 

If there's one thing I've learned from this thread, it's that some BA's are really bad at geography.

 

Sum r even wurse at spellin (me)

 

Good point. If I lived around the ATL, then for sure NC. Visited Asheville in February and it was amazing! Went to 5 breweries on that Saturday and still didn't visit half of them. Plus there is good stuff in Charlotte. it would be nice to live in ATL to be able to have access to some "real" bottle shops and more breweries. We never even received Johnny Ha$h down here (in bottles. One bar had it on draft for one night.) ! Ridiculous!

 

Sp I guess you're in kind of a "dead zone" for good beer? Take a weekend/day trip to Charleston! Westbrook, Holy City, Frothy Beard, Coast are all making some tasty beers & all are available on tap around town and at the breweries.

 

Man this is tough...distribution for the states surrounding us sucks! Pretty much only guaranteed to see Terrapin and Sweetwater around here. But I still say SC has some fine breweries in Coast and WB with others on the rise. I'd have to put my money on SC for the time being.

 

I live in upstate NY, I will vote The Green Mountain State(VT) all day long!

 

Ohio. Great Lakes is awesome Edmund Fitz will always be a special brew to me. :') Someone get me some Fat Heads.

 

Colorado followed by Texas.

 

OR

 

Being in New Hampshire most would assume Vermont, but I may have to go with Massachusetts. While VT has some world class stuff, Mass has many great breweries and a fantastic distro. At the end of the day you really can't go wrong with either.