What US state has the best breweries?

Damn, GREAT response!

Listen, I know where you're coming from. I just moved back to the Midwest from Arizona. I was rocking High IBU, overhopped EVERYTHINGS. When I got back mid last year, I was REALLY knocking NG for their "sissy" lineup.
Then I started trying them.
"Hometown Blonde" knocked my socks off. I FINALLY got my Old Style Only Grandpa to LOVE a craft bier!
"Laughing Fox" made me reevaluate Kristalweizens.
"Totally Naked" is just...yes.

Right now, I'm having Lakefront's "Riverwest Stein Beer." WOW! The malt complexity, refinement, and awesomeness is incomparable! Truly stunning.

And, of course, "best" is normative.
I LOVE Wisconsin's German heritage, but when I want something hoppier, Wisconsin can still get me my fix. The sheer range in Wisconsin is AMAZING. No other state (maybe Pennsylvania) has the range of Wisconsin.
I've had TONS of West Coast bier. They CANNOT make lagers to save themselves. GREAT ales, though. Ditto for the East coast. Every time I knock a lager, Wisconsin slaps me in the face with some AMAZING brew.

I LOVE going around Madison/Milwaukee, touring as many breweries and brew pubs/brew bars that I can.
There is SO MUCH WIN in Wisconsin, at reasonable prices, too! And you don't even have to dodge hipsters (like in Chicago).

Drink Local, embrace the WI heritage, and get out there and EXPLORE what Wisconsin has to offer.
Ignore BA views, honestly.
90% of the people here have no idea what's good. They just get what's popular, hyped, or expensive, and pretend they have a refined palate (just like the wine snobs!).

Anyone who can't appreciate a refined lager doesn't really like bier.

All that being said, head over to Ale Asylum sometime, they will show you how hoppy gets done right; all the AROMA and flavor, none of the nasty bitterness (just bitter enough to be pleasant).
Also, not Wisconsin, but Schell's "Emerald Rye" lager is hop/rye bliss.
Come to the Dark Side of the Midwest: Lager Land.

 

Yeah, no joke.

I always smirk and laugh at BA people spending $$$$ on some "whale" of a DFH or Founder or Stone thing....
I GUARANTEE there is some small brewer right in THEIR OWN backyard that rocks soooo much better.

Black Husky is CRAZY good. I go up to Three Cellars outside of Milwaukee JUST to get Black Husky stuff.

 

1. Michigan
2. California
3. Oregon

 

I'm sorta right here in Maine and I wouldn't claim Maine could take #1. We have some great breweries - I'd say 3 or 4 top-notch places - but nowhere near the number of top-notch breweries as other, bigger states. It's just not happening given the demographics.

And I'd say a half-dozen of the ones you listed are firmly average.

 

It has to be close between michigan and California. You can mention Chicago based on the BC line but aside from that....eh

 

Santa rosa

 

US state with the best are the states that produce great beer sold at my local outlet that I do not have to travel 100s of miles for or pay UPS to obtain. MI, CO, and CA do this for me.

 

California! Shoot, you could even pick NorCal or SoCal and still come out on top in my opinion.

 

It sucks he's gonna stop bottling I've barley been able to have anything of his and being tap only won't make it any easier.

 

California, hands down.. San Diego, alone, impresses the hell outta me

 

VT - Hill Farmstead and Alchemist (even if all they have is Heady) And Rock Arts ok. O yah you can also get Ben n Jerrys factory on you're way home

 

Northern California vs. Southern California?

 

#1 Indiana

These 3 in no particular order
Michigan
Oregon
Cali

 

Ohio and Michigan put out a lot of good stuff.

 

1. California
2. Michigan
3. Vermont
4. Oregon
5. Colorado
6. Illinois
7. Minnesota

Central Waters is incredible and New Glarus' Fruit beers are outstanding, but Wisconsin is not in the top 10.

 

Vermont without a doubt. Has the number 1 ranked beer in the world, has another brewery that was just named best brewery in the world by Ratebeer. Has the best dark beer being made anywhere right now. It's Vermont.

 

Wait....
They aren't going to bottle ANYTHING, or just not the big stouts?
Either way, that does suck.
I'm always looking for an excuse to get up to Milwaukee, but no bottles = sadness

With all the CW rage going around, are they moving into the more trendy territory of exclusivity?
I kinda liked when CW was just a small Wisconsin gem....

 

You have Illinois on there, but say WI isn't in the top 10?! Even better, you are sure of this, but stop at #7, hahaha
I've tried most of the breweries in both states (even down into the depths of Southern Illinois).
Illinois doesn't come close to Wisconsin. Illinois is improving, A TON, in the last few years, but it has a LOOONG way to go.


This thread is hilarious.

 

We also have Harrison's in Orland Park, 5 Rabbits in Bedford Park, Metropolitan,Wild Onion,Finch's, and Brickstone in Bourbonnais

 

You forgot Funky Buddha and Due South!