Best Widely Available beers?

Rochefort 10

 

Bud Select

 

The definition of "Widely Distributed" is easy.

If it is distributed by me (NY/NJ) then it is widely distributed. If it doesn't hit my area, than the distribution is very limited.

 

I agree Bud Select. Close second Redd's Apple Ale

 

Lagunitas has really good distro and some really good beers.

 

Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron, Allagash Tripel, New Holland Dragon's Milk, New Belgium Abbey, New Belgium Trippel, Weyerbacher Insanity, Weyerbacher Merry Monks, Evil Twin Lil' B, Evil Twin Even More Jesus, Evil Twin Imperial Biscotti Break (all variants), Ommegang Abbey Ale, Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout and many more...

 

Not all of these beers are widely available, but it's a pretty good place to start. Just find the beers on this list that get nationwide distribution (or close) and you will have your list.
http://www.beeradvocate.com/lists/fame/

 

Green Flash distributes to 48 states. They've proven themselves to me with their Hop Head Red, WCIPA, Imperial IPA, Rayon Vert, Barleywine, and Palate Wrecker which I consider to be at the top in their styles. They ship 100% Refridgerated, and if they didn't have the freshness issue.. it just wouldn't be fair

Besides that, here's a few of my favorites that I think are a great value for the quality.

Sierra Nevada
Stone, but especially their new mixed 12 packs. Also love that their better bombers (Enjoy By, OG, IRS) can be found for $8.
Founders, especially Dirty Bastard
Victory
Firestone Walker

Cheers

 

Good list (although I keep waiting to be impressed by Green Flash), and I wouldn't consider Founders to be all that widely available. See this post for details. Or this map:

 

Summit Saga. Bell's anything.

Edit: Also - Summit Horizon Red

 

See my post above yours, except even more so...
http://www.summitbrewing.com/where-to-find/distributor-finder

Bell's

 

I just did a quick count, but it looks like that's over 25 states which I think is pretty wide. The OP said "Would 20ish states be enough?", not that it had to be a certain number. Cheers

 

stone is everywhere

 

St. Bernardus anything

 

I think you need to be more or less nationwide to be considered widely distributed; say 35 states or more. OP asked a question but didn't indicate any parameters. Anyway, when I think about Founders I think about a brewery whose beer will never be distributed where I live. When I think "widely distributed" I think Sam Adams, SN, Stone, Anchor etc., plus some imports. Not too many breweries can truly be considered widely distributed.

Agree to disagree. Cheers.

 

My bad, I thought Summit was almost everywhere... and I thought Bell's was almost everywhere but the coasts... my bad.

 

Seems to me that wherever people live, they often seem to assume that their area's larger breweries distribute almost everywhere in the country. Being in Seattle I have a pretty good idea who the truly widely distributed breweries are; if they're from out of state (except California or Oregon) and they get distributed here, I figure they're probably available in most of the country.

 

Why do you think that? At the rate they are growing and attempting to expand their distribution footprint, I bet they're at your required 35+ states by their 20 year mark. I figure Founders is attempting to be everywhere like Green Flash, but at a slow enough pace to take care of their home first and foremost, but also without the overproduction issue.

Also, they earn points with me because it seems like they really do try to get their beers to everyone interested. They ship some to the UK and Australia, both places I'm sure could use some more great beer They also redirect people to online liquor stores such as www.wineandcheeseplace.com where their beers are available for shipping. Agree to disagree!

 

Basically because I'm a cynic. But seriously, the PNW seems to be a pretty tough market for far-flung breweries. I can probably count on two hands the breweries east of the Mississippi that distribute here.