USA #1 in beer?

I've had 5 of those suggestions and they are all top quality, well made, and enjoyable. My problem is that I've spent a good deal of time in Germany and can instantly recall the smell and taste of a fresh Hefeweizen at the source. I am no snob, these are just powerful memories.

 

I think you've just pointed to two of the most critical factors as to why this thread's general debate topic will not be resolved--"fresh" and "at the source" along with "powerful memories."

Edit: With many of those "powerful memories" being of time and place as well as smell and taste.

 

obviously #1 - the US is a much larger country than UK, Germany and Belgium combined, so just by simple arithmetic this thread should be about 4 posts, not 7 pages.

 

Exactly! Bigger = better. Always

Duh everyone!

 

That took longer than expected.

 

I think Americans should just be happy with how far we've come in such a short time after having any kind of brewing tradition we had utterly destroyed by prohibition. It's great that many American breweries can be used in the same sentence with the great European breweries.

No need to be #1. Some of the best beers in the world are brewed here and I'm content with that.

 

You all realize this is how the First World War started, right?

Limited means in conjunction with poor choices compounded by some bad luck have kept me from traveling much, so I've never been to a British pub or a German biergarten or a Belgian whatever they have in Belgium. I suspect that if I had, my memories of the local beers in such places would be very much colored (and presumably heightened) by my experience of the visit generally, much the way I suspect my love for certain Vermont brewers is influenced by how much I've enjoyed visiting Vermont.

One of my favorite remembered beers was a hoppy amber produced by the Santa Cruz Brewing Co., long since defunct, back in the 1980s. I wonder, if I were to sample it today, if I'd still think it was awesome or if my memory of it is all tangled up in memories of being a young, cheerful surfer dude in my home town.

Regardless, we live in an era in which there's plenty to drink and a lot of it is quite good. Hail!

 

Sorry to be pedantic but in British villages, towns and cities you'll find pubs dotted about pretty much everywhere, as well as in clusters in the centre. You'll also find them standing solo in the countryside.

As for London, yeah, while it's full of little gems it really is a case of knowing where to look, more so than in other UK cities I think. Cambridge is the opposite. You can do a quality pub crawl from pretty much any point on the outskirts and work your way into the centre. I must put that on my to-do list when I'm back home again.

 

While hitchhiking through England 40+ years ago, we always ended up in pubs, embroiled in conversation, had multiple rounds bought for us, stayed and ate with many kind folks, and I'm forever grateful. I love England dearly.

 

fucking love all you guys

 

GetAffMaBamYaBass!

 

Love you back more!

Cheers!

 

Jack, I found that detail humorous because of how well it illustrates the point made in the post below (emphasis mine):

 

The way that you highlighted the futility of turning beer into an international competition by turning this thread into a competition was so meta and brilliant. You meant to do that, right?

(Just kidding Jack!)

 

Of course we are We have our weak spots like every other country, but we try as hard as we can to compensate

Obviously I'm being a homer, but homerism is what drives us to keep trying to improve. We are a proud and dedicated culture, after all.

 

I admit to possessing such memories, but I have also consistently drunk German imports since my return to the States more than 10 years ago. While most of these imports are, due to things like suffering during transport and/or cost-cutting measures in the brewing process at home, 2nd-rate versions of the styles I love and prefer, I think I can safely say that the U.S. versions I have tried have almost exclusively been 3rd-rate at best. I should also add that I am more than happy with 2nd- and 3rd-rate interpretations. Hell, in a pinch I'll take a wholly-not-to-style 4th-rate beer as long as it tastes halfway decent. What I won't accept is a blonde/brown ale made with U.S. 2-row malt, U.S. ale yeast, and U.S. hops calling itself a Koelsch/Alt/Helles/Dunkles, etc. Those are, in no uncertain terms, abominations and insults not only to tradition, but to a basic sense of craftsmanship.

 

I think it is extremely difficult (read as nearly impossible) to duplicate any beverage or food made in another country...any attempt will fall short regardless of how carefully a recipe is followed or even if all the ingredients are brought over from the original country ...an unidentifiable something will be present that changes it...the finished product will always be Country X's interpretation of that product...this of course doesn't make it good, bad, better or worse than the original just different...

 

I enjoy drinking Victory Kölsch . That beer is made using German hops and German malt. I sure hope that it is on tap at the Victory Beerhall so that I can drink some after watching the Phillies game tomorrow.

I picked up a case of Sierra Nevada Beercamp beer earlier today. I am greatly looking forward to drinking the Alt Route Altbier which was collaboratively brewed by Sierra Nevada and Victory. Victory also by themsef makes a very tasty Alt that is available on draft.

Sly Fox and Victory both make Helles beers from German malt and German hops. I think I will get a pint of Victory Lager (their Helles) at the Phillies game tomorrow; that beer is tasty!

I had the Victory Dunkles which is made from German malt and German hops at the Victory Brewpub a few weeks ago. Boy, that Dunkles was very good!

I sure appreciate what Victory, Sierra Nevada, Sly Fox and others are doing in terms of making German style beers using German ingredients. The fact that Bill Covaleski and Ron Barchet both attended brewing school in Germany is a plus!

Cheers to Victory, Sierra Nevada and Sly Fox!

 

Joe, never underestimate what talented and well trained brewers like Bill Covaleski, Ron Barchet, Brian O'Reilly, Dan Carey can make. They have the experience and know how to 'get the job' done!

Cheers!

P.S. Add the Trogner brothers to the above list (I am sure I forgot a lot of folks that should be listed).

 

Are you postulating that these brewers' beers are 1st-rate (i.e. world-class) takes on German styles? If so, what, specifically, is your basis for comparison?