I continually fall victim to the “if it’s available on tap everywhere it must be crap” syndrome. New Glarus makes Spotted Cow. It’s available everywhere. “Only In Wisconsin.” It’s really good. Like REALLY good. But it’s so ubiquitous it’s hard to remember that. Because many times there are six crap beers on tap, and Spotted Cow. It’s to the point I call it the lazy persons craft beer. Don’t know anything about craft beer, but don’t want the same old crap? Spotted Cow! Want to look like you know what you’re doing when you really don’t? Spotted Cow! But it’s actually good. And I forget that. Seriously. Is anyone else spoiled like this?
Is there a beer out there that’s so easily available around those parts that you forget it’s actually good? And on the other hand, is there a beer that was hard to get but now that’s it’s easy to find you realize it’s not that great? Yeungling is like that now that it’s contract brewed here in Milwaukee; I loved it when I had to go a few states away for it, but now that it’s everywhere around here I don’t like it so much.
Just something to think about... I have a sister who lives in Texas (formerly Pennsylvania) and she was initially happy when she heard that Yuengling Lager was soon to be available to her locally (brewed in Ft. Worth, Texas). When she first was able to buy Yuengling Lager at her local HEB supermarket she was not as happy. She was even able to run into a person wearing a Yuengling logo-ed shirt (a Wholesale Distributor employee?) and gave him an earful about how the Texas brewed Yuengling didn't taste the same. The guy gave the party line that it was brewed to the same recipe. Last year she asked me to bring some Pennsylvania brewed Yuengling when I came to visit her (a road trip visit). She had a smile on her face when she drank those beers. Cheers!
Nope. Some places have Two Hearted or Bearded Iris Homestyle, and if they're fancy they have Southern Grist Teal or now Xul Paper Crowns. Paper Crowns is meh and Homestyle hasn't been good in ages, and Teal is hard to find with the SG buyout. Yazoo is generally the best option. I don't love Gerst but it's not bad, and their pale ale is really good if it's fresh.
definitely spoiled - I have Bissell Substance available all along the Maine seacoast near me -- up and down from Kittery to Portland - always on tap at most bars/pubs/pizza spots etc. Closer to me - a rash of spots have Hill Farmstead Edward and other HF hoppy ales on tap. On top of all that - Fiddlehead IPA is on tap all over New England - it's a great go to. Did I mention Maine Beer Lunch? Also on tap all over the place in New England. Yes we are spoiled. It's the greatest time in history for variety/good beer availability. All down hill from here
A few come to mind: Allagash White and Lawson's Sip of Sunshine. As far as being spoiled, I am about a 40 minute drive from Tree House Charlton, but I don't take that for granted - I go every month or so for a draft or two and to stock up.
I’m probably spoiled since I have easy access to fresh Russian River, Deschutes and Sierra Nevada. Plus the local scene is really pretty decent too, but there is definitely some room for improvement around here.
I second all of what you said, and would also throw Wormtown’s Be Hoppy in there as a great beer that is very readily available in our area
When I'm back in PA there's so many good options. Head Hunter or Perpetual in everything, sometimes even the most dive of dives, and the reason you reminded me of it, Allagash White, everywhere.
I getcha. Here, it would be Surly Furious. Some people do the pogo dance when they see it on tap. I just walk past it and it doesn't even phase me. It's everywhere. There's loads of other beers to try.
Yes, I'm spoiled. There's just so much good beer available everywhere around here, that getting a great beer is a given. You have to put effort in to drink a bad beer, you've gotta want that shitty brew.
Two Hearted is definitely ubiquitous in Michigan. Strangely, I can't think of an equal beer from Founders that I could mention. If there is one, I definitely take it for granted. And I'm pretty spoiled too since I'm only 25 miles from Bell's Eccentric Cafe and General Store. If I see them post something on social media that I want, it's an easy trip over there on I-94.
I wouldn't use the word "equal" but have you tried the re-brew of Mosaic Promise this year? I enjoyed drinking that beer: https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/new-beer-weekend-292.682708/#post-8324324 Cheers!
