USA #1 in beer?

Nothing wrong with variety. Just don't equate quantity with quality.

 

Fixed that for you. Seriously I love beers from all of these countries, and am very thankful we are in the midst of a WORLD beer revolution.

 

America's taverns

 

How many AK's does the US brew?

 

FWIW- the PNW seems to have that organically grown beer culture with a sense of place that you talk about; I think you'd really like it there.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again- if there's going to be an 'end game' here, it's going to look a lot like Portland.

 

Don't leave out Bend.

 

Totally agree. Got to get out there at some point soon. (And, no, I'm not satisfied to just have some Portland-brewed beers on the shelves/taps of my local beer store/bar. While it may be variety, that for me is not "culture.")

 

You're probably right about that from what I hear- I really must get out there again one of these days.

 

Another thing that is likely to change that will greatly affect the "American Beer Culture" will be the eventual changes to distribution that hinder and in some cases block brewers from markets and customers. Once this is corrected there will be even more change.

 

It's a funny idea to say so. Breweries in the States may be the BEST in marketing (see the two Budweisers), but definitely not the most popular ones. From my observations, American lagers are, in many cases, less competitive than European choices. (Especially German and Belgian brews)

 

:-)

If it wren't for a 3 hour drive, some mountains and a few national forests they'd be easier to pair up.

 

I'm inclined to argue that Philly isn't really all that far behind, its just bigger and less homogenious. How many places can you think of with bars/restaurants like Monk's and Brauhaus Schmitz. For that matter how many places in the US are there where the Central Train Station is home to a "Pub" that offers 10-12 beers on tap, 20-30 in bottle, with not a BMC in the batch and occasionally bottles of such things as the 5 year old Brewery Eiskeller aged Aventinus or an occasional Sunday Brunch featuring Weisswurst, Mustard, soft Pretzels, Sourkraut and your choice among two our three relatively fresh Hefewizen??

 

Here's how I measure it. Walk into any random bar or pub or bottle shope and take any random beer. Chances are much greater in the US that it won't be a good one. Do the same thing in Belgium, UK or Germany and your odds of getting a good/great beer are significantly higher than in the US. With that said, US is improving overall in the quality of their craft beer, but still more crap than quality that is easily available IMO.

 

Train? whats that? In the PNW we fly! Try PDX sometime.

 

I don't always believe the only place to get a high quality product, whether it be beer, Chinese food or potatoes is exactly where it originated. In the US you can get great versions of things that were created or originated abroad. If you could only get good Indian food in India, it would be boring.

However, I don't believe you're getting the full feel for something until you try something from one of the classic places. I don't have the money now, but it is really high on my list to try some cask bitter from the UK, or get altbier served to me in Dusseldorf, or sit amongst beautiful rolling hills in Belgium and drink Westvleteren.

Just like I don't believe you've really experienced hoppy beer until you come to America.

 

Been there, done that.

Trains are this really comfortable way to sit back, relax and do a bit of work and thinking with plenty of leg room and without people climbing all over you or breathing down your neck while you travel. We have such options available to us on the East Coast.

Seriously, though, it’s a lot easier and just as quick to train from Philly or Wilmington to DC than to drive or fly. And one heck of a lot more comfortable.

 

Well that is the entire point of the thread; What's your opinion on what country it is and why?

 

Ya. I'm just yankin your chain. If I could, I'd take a train as first (well second, next to private airplane) choice for transportation any day.

 

Not just that, but more of what I was thinking about was that if you walk into any random sandwich joint (or whatever else you like) and there is an assumption that you will have a few local draught options available, and not only for the 'serious beer enthusiasts' either. Pretty much when the local beer is in the DNA of the region, that's what I'd like to see all over.

Your region does seem to be getting close- just last week I was in Glassboro, NJ (not too far away), and could have ordered a Yards Brawler or Dirt Wolf at some random diner. Those are some well-selected beers for a place like that.