Most Improved Beer States

the state of inebriation? that's always an improvement.

 

And going broke..

 

so basically, the state you live in is the most improved.

 

I think Chicago has been blooming for a few years now, so I wouldn't say we have improved per se. I was, however, surprised to find out how many breweries have opened in Iowa in the last few years. I'm actually looking forward to being able to go out with my cousins who live there and try the local offerings

 

Has no one said Alaska yet. Anchorage Brewing opening = most improved.

 

CT has been expanding the craft beer scene

 

My state of mind has improved the most.

 

Really some solid contributions from you tonight. Keep up the good work

 

Not me, I love our beers but IMO, Utah has made the biggest strides in a positive direction.

 

Thanks dude, the 8 beers have really helped my creativity.

 

I see it has been mentioned here a few times, but I can make a case for CT.

Breweries new to distribution here in the past 12 months:
-Founders
-Sixpoint
-Green Flash
-Goose Island
-Maine Brewing
-Clown Shoes (highly underrated imo)
-Mayflower

We also have new breweries popping up everywhere that consistently brew outstanding and original beers (I'm looking at you Relic).

Also, our pride and joy, New England Brewing Co, is putting out beer as good as anywhere in the country right now.

 

Besides Duck-Rabbit, Olde Hickory, Foothills, Highland, Old Mecklenburg, Mother Earth, Natty Greene's, and Pisgah, I really can't think of any.

 

Oklahoma is getting better, but we could only go up from where we were 5 years ago. The addition of Prairie Artisan Ales is going to put oklahoma on the beer map alone. Other operations that have been here for awhile like Choc, Marshall, and COOP are consistently getting better and putting out some pretty cool stuff. More bars and restaurants are starting to figure out craft beer in general. Homebrewing was legalized a few years ago and a bill is working its way through the legislature that will allow breweries to give out 12 oz of free samples per person per day (sad I know but we are stuck in pre-prohibition politics here).

 

Connecticut!

 

Minnesota, especially the Twin Cities

 

Alabama actually has quite a few amazing breweries!! I myself am bar manager of Below the Radar.. Huntsville, Al's first brew pub.
In Huntsville we have Straight to Ale, Blue Pants, yellowhammer, old black bear, salty nuts, and brew stooges.
Birmingham has Good People, Avondale, Cahaba, Beer Engineers, and a few more up and coming.
Gadsden has Back Forty and another one starting up soon.
Anniston has Patriot Joes.
I've also heard of about 5 or 6 more starting up here in the next few months, both here in Huntsville and down in mobile. It's very exciting to experience and work first hand along such awesome people.

We've turned into quite the little Beer capitol of the SOUTHeast.

 

Another vote for Bama. It is exploding in growth and primed to change the craft beer landscape of the entire Southeast.

 

I haven't read the reams of posts, so I don't know if the Lone Star State has been mentioned. In addition to Texas mainstays Saint Arnold (Houston) and Real Ale (Blanco, near Austin), just in the Houston area alone within the last five years, we have: Southern Star (Conroe), Karbach (Houston), Lone Pint (Magnolia), Cycler's (Montgomery) and a new one just getting started- 8th Wonder (Houston). Add to all that Jester King and 512 in Austin, Rahr and Sons in Fort Worth and Deep Elum in Dallas, it's a craft brewery explosion here.

 

Right now, I say NC but in 5 years the answer will probably be AL. Their exponential increase in quality and quantity is just getting started. (Full disclosure: I'm a native of NC and lived in AL for 12 years, though I was too young to drink for about 8 of them). As I said in another thread, AL is not an easy place to open a brewery right now but momentum is on their side and this will not be true in a couple more years.

UT has also made impressive strides - from one of the worst 3 or 4 just 10 years ago to definitely better than average today.

I'm surprised VT only got one mention. Ten years ago it was basically just Magic Hat, Long Trail and Otter Creek unless you searched hard or went to the VT Pub & Brewery. For the most part, everyone made variations on a dark amber, malty ale of about 6% ABV. Now VT is a beer destination, pretty much rules the world of DIPA and has an enviable selection in the stores.

 

I thought of you and SC as soon as I saw the title. Alabama seems similar, on first blush.