What state is the best for local craft breweries?

I went through that a few years ago. I'm back, though and drink ~ 90% ipas these days. Head Hunter, White Rajah and a few other brews brought me around again.

 

If I were to go on a beer vacation, Michigan, Oregon, and Vermont would be my 3 choices.

If I could only drink beer from one state the rest of my life, California wins easily.

 

In order:

California
Michigan (close 2nd)
Oregon
Colorado
Indiana (a homer vote bc I love Upland, Flat 12, New Albanian, Sun King, and of course FFF)

New York warrants a vote bc I enjoy some Sixpoint and Southern Tier

 

Cali, but we do pretty well for ourselves up here in VT.

Mn is another favorite, and Massachusetts up coming up as well.

edit: also, hard to argue with Oregon

 

Very good question, Can North Dakota really be compared to Florida? Or are we all just jerking off?

 

While I wouldn't say Chicago (Illinois) is near the top, I will say it will be a contender in the coming years. Lots of good things popping up here these days.

 

Why it is WI of course, I drink more beer from my home state then anywhere else. I love supporting state breweries without compramising quality, and I can do that easily with Ale Asylum, NG, CW, Lake Louie and Tyranena! Besides being a homer my national vote would go for Michigan because besides WI beer I drink a lot of Two Hearted, Dark Horse and of course a little bit of Founders here and there.

 

Wisconsin also makes such tragedies, popular with the homeless, as lost lake, side pocket, and milwaukee's best to average out your good bear. in colorado, coors is about as bad as it's gonna get, and i can drink it til the cows come home if it's around. i also can't say i've ever had a mediocre beer out of california or oregon either. haven't tried many of the MI, NC, VT beers, but if you want variety and flavor the west is the best

 

Based simply on the number of craft breweries, it's gotta be California. Based on breweries per capita, I don't know but there's a site somewhere that gives up this info. Using simply what is the best as a criteria is too subjective and it certainly appears there is alot of homerism at work here.

 

It's California and Michigan...and then everyone else.

Vermont gets the nod for "per capita awesomeness" though. Hill Farmstead, Lawson's and The Alchemist all in a state with a population of only 600,000. Hell, the suburban county I live in beats that by 200,000.

 

Interesting that the "Bourbon Country" label doesnt touch the state making all* the bourbon.

*plus or minus a tiny amount

 

Plus the 2nd hand was clearly mangled in some sort of industrial accident.

 

*fixed*

 

Except Cascadia is a made up 'state', kinda like Candyland. The only thing that 'state' has produced is a beer that tastes like hoppy coffee and chocolate. Barf, no wonder it never caught on. Good luck with your revolution and succession.

You mean rhymes with "Aleifornia"

I'm more and more convinced that you're completely delusional. Please refer to the last decade of GABF & WBC medals. IPA is but one catagory and for the most part, San Diego County wins more awards that most other states.

 

I would have to agree w/ california. Although I'm from NC and we have some great breweries, and are constantly growing. but definatley between Cali and Michigan

 

Princess, please continue to drink only the beer the GABF and WBC thinks you should, and I will continue to post my opinions on this discussion board, mmkay? =)

 

Kind of depends on what your after does it not? if you want West coast hops, well you know where to go. just stay away from the deep south, except for ccb most of this beer sucks.

 

When talking about best quality beer, this map, just about sums it up.



Everyone might have their own nostalgic answer because of where they live and their personal reasons as to why they think it's best (where they've visited, favorite brewery, etc), but I think when you compare what a group of judges determine as good quality beer, California & Colorado are top of the list (World Beer Cup has similar results.) Two or three good breweries does not make a "good beer state". Yes, the numbers have changed in the last 4 years, but the results are the same.

 

fixed it for me

 

Haha! Could you be more dense? In terms of objective metrics, you know, blind judging, San Diego is top class. But it's ok if you don't think so. You're helping to drive the point home your opinions are equilvant to something I'd scrape off my shoe. These competitions don't tell you what you *should* drink, simply that judged amongst their piers, it's the best.