A local experiment

Also from Mass and I could easily do this. But although I'm all for supporting local, the quality has to be there. If you don't have a good enough product I'm not buying your beer no matter close to me you are. Unfortunately the closest brewery to me fits this exact situation.

 

ARIZONA - Absolutely NOT



And I think people should "drink best", and not "drink local", unless local really is best to you. The last thing the U.S. needs is more average breweries staying in business even longer because of the drink local movement.

 

I could probably be cool with a month drinking nothing but Bell's, or Founders, or Shorts or.....

Would not be an issue.

 

Living in Virginia I would be screwed. I mean we have some breweries that make solid stuff, but eh...

 

One week, I thought we were talking about a month. I could do a week.

 

I live in Tampa, FL, and could subsist on Cigar City for a month. However, we don't really have too many local bottled/canned craft options right now besides them, so more than a month would be a problem.

 

Between Goose Island, Two Brothers and Metropolitan, and Revolution canning soon, I gotta say I've got some really solid choices here in Illinois. (One of these days I gotta try me some Half Acre. Wish their beers were distributed here in the 'burbs).

 

In WV we would die. That's as far as I'll go with that.
I have to say, if Beermageddon really happened you guys from NY are making me think that a northern migration is the most logical route to comfortable survival. Might linger in Penn for a time though...

Have to say Vncent, you should appreciate the bounty that you have.

You too Hanzo. Still think Blue Mtn's Full Nelson is one of the best normal beers made. St Geo., Port City, Wild Wolf, Starr Hill, Williamsburg (right?). You could find worthy material there for a month. A year in a pinch.

These 2 states (NC and VA) would be a very interesting test of this idea. I wish I could try it.

I don't know yemenmocha. What if you didn't have the ability to summon beer from afar? What if everything you had was within a relatively small radius from your home? Wouldn't you be grateful that those folks making beer just shy of 'best' kept trying to perfect their craft, usually putting out acceptable wares but occasionally dropping a one-of-a-kind nectar on those close enough to be part of it? I really feel like the best energy from the whole craft beer environment evolves from like-minded folks lingering around containers of good local brew and enjoying it for what it is.

In the States we have mastered the technique of the game without the heart of it.

 

I'm in California, so yeah without a doubt. I would say I could do Southern California only.

 

You realize you're talking about Arizona, right? You did use (with emphasis) the word *happily* in the OP, after all.

 

My local economy needs more dollars? what about the economy where my favorite IPA's come from? Either way, someone gets my money and someone else doesn't. I'd rather my $ support excellence than something a notch down from there.

Your phrase "quality local market" is a bit vague to me. I'd say I have some quality options locally, but I have vastly superior options imported from nearby states. I'm shortchanging myself and my personal enjoyment if I "buy local" and I'm NOT rewarding excellence for those breweries who truly brew world-class beers, like IPA's from San Diego for example.

I see my local market differently than you might see yours. We don't have great breweries like San Diego or other great beer destinations. None. We don't. To think otherwise is to show that you're smoking something, and I'll have no shortage of agreement on that. So people who are supporting locals are supporting what I think is less than a top tier brewery, and so therefore those breweries stay in business and it becomes an entry barrier of sorts for potential breweries that will never exist because others have already extended their tentacles so far into the local market. So not only does it amount to supporting inferior products locally, it also impedes other breweries from opening (that might actually be of a San Diego caliber). So it hurts me both ways if I buy local. So I don't. And I hope the mediocre & bad ones go out of business sooner than later.

 

Then please just take it as "drink best available" to you. My gripe is with supporting something local for the "buy local" ideology sort of reasons, rather than buying what you think is the best available in your market. I think that on the whole we're better off if the best breweries thrive, regardless of geographical location. let the mediocre ones die.

 

No my friend. I live in WV for now. You do not have my sympathy for your poor beer front.

You sound Machiavellian. I am surprised that you don't seem to grasp the basics. Existing entity will not keep aspiring entity from existing if aspiring entity operates under a more sound operational plan [read: better product].

And if your local brewers folded, you would have nothing local as an option. Nothing. Less than you have now. I'm thinking you would stubbornly be alright with that.

Excusivity notwithstanding, it depends on your definition of 'excellence' and why you would consider something 'world-class'. I guess I'm just saying that, aside from timely delivery of options from afar which you seem to have become accustomed to, it would be a shame if you could find absolutely no enjoyment from your local options.
I hope someday you reach San Diego.

 

Hmmm....

Alpine
The Bruery
Bootleggers
Firestone walker
Stone
Alesmith
Lost Abbey

Yeah I think im good

Cheers!

 

It's easy to do when you live on the Best Coast.

 

Hmm... Great Lakes, Thirsty Dog, Hoppin' Frog, Brew Kettle, Indigo Imp, soon to be Fatheads distributing... without even realizing it I tend to drink local.