How many of the fifty states have you had a beer at a proper brewery in? Somewhat inspired by the beer goals thread, and a discussion this week with a close friend and fellow beer traveler. The topic came up as to what breweries we've been to in which states and we were comparing. I've tracked 26 up to this point, but we decided to put some rules around it to make it easier to define some of the grey areas as to what counts for comparison. We also shook hands on a beer bet to who gets to 50 (well, 51) first. When all was said and done I'm at 23 and he's at 25 and we had both knocked a few off our lists under the common definitions. The "rules" we came up with: The Brewery Must be native to the state it represents. A chain or offshoot originating elsewhere does not count, even if the location is exclusive to that state. Must be physically located in the state it represents. Must have active brewing equipment on-site or at a directly neighboring address (e.g., adjacent units in an industrial park). "Active" means at least one beer currently on tap was produced using that equipment. Display-only or permanently idle equipment does not count. Airport locations do not qualify. Locations near airports are fine. The Pour You must have at least one pint, defined as roughly 12-17oz or larger. If local law restricts pour size but a legal pour of any size is still possible, follow the law and it counts. If local law makes a pint-sized pour structurally impossible, do your best with what is legally available and it counts. Laws are only an exception when they make compliance genuinely impossible, not merely inconvenient. If a restriction applies only on certain days or times, visit when it does not. General No documentation required. No time limit. Breweries that have closed after a qualifying visit still count. Good faith is assumed throughout. My List To-Date (for duplicates I just pick a favorite or notable): Arizona - State 48 brewing California - Russian River Brewing Delaware - Dogfish Head Florida -Angry Chair Brewing Georgia - Orpheus Brewing Hawaii - Koholā Brewery Illinois - Off Color Brewing Indiana - Three Floyds Iowa - Toppling Goliath Louisiana - Brieux Carré Brewing Company Maryland - Silver Branch Brewing Massachusetts Trillium Brewing Minnesota - Surly Brewing Company Missouri - Side Project Brewing Nevada - Able Baker Brewing New York - Grimm Artisanal Ales Oregon - Wayfinder Brewing Pennsylvania - Second District Brewing Texas - Live Oak Brewing Utah - Uinta Brewing Virginia - The Veil Washington - Reubens Brews Washington DC - DC Brau
I like this. Mostly because I've had beers in a lot of states, but I haven't had beers at a brewery in all of those. Gonna have to give it some thought. Back with a list. Eventually.
A preliminary look has me at 28. I'll try to post a complete list tomorrow or at least before the week's out.
I generally don’t drink “pints,” I do flights. But in total, the volume consumed is at least two pints. I’d rather have 8-12 four ounce pours and like half of them than two pints and hate them both. Does that qualify?
Here goes: 1) Alaska: Snow Goose/Sleeping Lady, Anchorage 2) Arizona: Lumberyard 3) California: Russian River 4) Colorado: I lived there for 7 years. You figure it out. 5) Delaware: DFH 6) Florida: Florida Beer Company 7) Georgia: Orpheus 8) Illinios: Piece 9) Indiana: I know I've been to one here, just can't remember it right now 10) Iowa: Front Street 11) Kansas: Free State 12) Maine: Allagash 13) Maryland: Brewer's Art 14) Massachusetts: Notch, Boston Beer 15) Missouri: Schlafly 16) Nevada: Monte Carlo 17) New Mexico: Sante Fe 18) New York: Southern Tier 19) North Carolina: Green Man 20) Ohio: Fathead's, Market Garden 21) Pennsylvania: I live here now. See #4 22) Tennessee: Tennessee Brew Works 23) Utah: Squatters 24) Vermont: Von Trapp, Alchemist 25) Virginia: Mad Fox 26) West Virginia: Wheeling 27) Wyoming: Snake River 28) DC: Right Proper, Bluejacket
as much as I travel for work it is usually to the same 10ish states, while I have visited multiple breweries in each of these states I have only noted the one I enjoyed the most... NC - Olde Mecklenburg Brewing SC - RJ Rockers IN - Sun King Brewing TN - Yee Haw Brewing Co. CO - Resolute Brewing Co. OH - Rhinegeist Brewery PA - Yards Brewing Co. TX - Community Beer Co. LA - Rally Cap Brewing Co. GA - Monday Night Brewing IL - Cahoots Brewery
As far as I can tell, this is my list: 1- AL - Mad Malts 2 - AR - Fossil Cove 3 - AZ - Wren House Brewing Co 4 - CA - Monkish 5 - CO - Hogshead 6 - IL - Goose Island 7 - KS - Pathlight (RIP) 8 - LA - Great Raft Brewing 9 - MA - Trillium 10 - MO - BKS Artisan Ales / Alma Mader 11 - NE - Lumen 12 - NY - Other Half 13 - TX - Jester King 14 - UT - Rooster Brewing Co 15 - WA - Machine House 16 - WY - Snake River Looks like I need some more work trips, preferably up in the NE. This list would grow a bit with the inclusion of craft beer bars, but I enjoy the premise of a "50 state brewery crawl".
The OP posted his rules for his game, and taster trays (quit trying to make 'em classier by calling them flights), and his rules shall be followed for the purpose of this thread. The spirit of the thing seems to be having as full a serving as allowed of a given beer for it to count. There ain't no 3 point shots in hockey.
Man I haven't recorded this stuff at all but from memory I've got: California Oregon Washington (although maybe not a proper taproom?) Montana Arizona Nevada New Mexico Nebraska Colorado Wisconsin Illinois Indiana Kentucky Michigan Missouri Louisiana Massachusetts and Pennsylvania i think are possibilities but I also may have just gone to decent beer bars. Georgia is also a possibility but I can only remember bars from that trip.
True brewery wise: VA, MD, NC, SC, IL, LA, TN, FL, DE, CA, UT GA as well if you include airports... I'm lame.
This is just the terms of my bet, so I'm not gonna police anyone's definitions here if they feel differently. I think the spirit of what we agreed to was that it should be more than walking in for a second, choking down a taster and yeeting without actually engaging with the given place. I tend to like taster flights to try a lot of what a place has to offer, but I nearly always lead off with a pint. My typical way of visiting a place is 1) order a lager or flagship beer, 2) order a pint of whatever their flagship is, 3) order a flight. Not always, but I think that generally gives me the best idea of what a place is all about.
As long as the poster's deviation from the suggested rules are stated, that person's list should be fine. Questionable alternative is to start a competing thread. I've visited breweries where I drank nothing or a few sips. If I was in the midst of long day's drive, possibly with the family, I could get a growler or a few bottles or cans for later.
When I'm at a new place, and it's not too busy, I'll order a flight or two, drink every drop, and then if time allows get a pint of what I liked best. If they all sucked I skip the pint. I still count that as a brewery visited. I don't get it with the attitude on flights. Beer is supposed to be fun.
At the risk of turning this into a "Why we hate flights" thread, it was simply outside the parameters of the OPs competition. End of story. Personally, I don't care for flights, but I truthfully don't care if other people order them.
Flights are exclusively a "craft beer" thing. I've never heard of anyone getting 5 5 Oz pours of bud light, budweiser, Heineken, coors light, and yinlinz at their local sports bar.
