50 States

If you go to the "Top Beers" page, on the right hand side of that page there is a listing of states. That list is a set of links to the most highly rated beers from each state.

For example, here is the list for MA:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/lists/state/ma/

 

If you do the top beer from each state there will be some tough beers to get, kbbs will take a ton to get. If you start trading let me know, I can help you out with the Midwest.

 

That's actually a really awesome bet, but basically what @Scott17Taylor said. Your wallet and/or your cellar will take a serious beating trying to drink the #1 beer from each state. IMO a beer in each of the states' top 10 would be much more attainable and still pretty cool.

 

This was going to be my suggestion as well. My initial thought was top 5. Pretty cool idea either way!

 

I'm on a parallel quest, which if you do it right can have a bit of overlap. I am working my way through all 104 styles that BA currently recognizes. I'm at 97 now, and when I have earned my steak knives there then I'll move on to what's left of the 50 states - at 28 now - to earn the matching cutlery.

 

Top 10 would definitely still be really cool, I don't know if I'd put any requirements on it. Just having anything from each state is tough enough.

 

97 is impressive, I've been working on it for a while and am quite a bit below that.

 

Sounds expensive but good spirited. I'm getting close to my 50 myself.

 

I noted in January that without trying, and in about 15 months on BA, I had about half. By April I got to 97, and the remaining seven are not available here in South Dakota at this time. One will be around Christmas - one of the Elf beers. I have been meaning to make a run out of state (90 miles) to pick some/all of them up. Failing that, I'll delve into trading.

 

I haven't been going after it that hard, but I pick up the styles I haven't had when I see them. I'm at 88, so I got quite a bit of work left. I'm also at 36 states, so not a bad start there.

 

Let me know when the time comes for Idaho-Utah-Wyoming. I'm your guy!. Double Vision(Idaho) Baptista(Utah) and 2x4(Wyoming) I can help you out with. Cheers!

 

Any Kane Brewery (NJ) beer. Especially A Night to End All Dawns.

 

Maybe just focus on the top BREWERY from each state.

In the case of Texas - Jester King all the way.

 

Is there a way to distinguish that, in cases of debate - which some states have more of than other? I guess you can maybe sort by average rating in the places section - though there is no accounting for breadth or depth of those ratings, I don't think.

 

I'm at 41. Probably will be for a while, I don't travel much

 

I've had 46 styles and beer from 23 states. I've had a Top 10 from 10 of those states. I was surprised to find that I have had the top beer from 5 of those with another 3 in the fridge. Still waiting to try the top beer in my own state of Michigan.

I've had 7 of the top ten in Michigan, all of which are either seasonal, once a year, or more infrequent. I found it interesting that you had to get all the way down to #19 to find a year-round state-wide distributed beer, Two Hearted.

 

In the quest for all 50 states, several will be tough. One of the toughest will be South Dakota. Although we have several decent breweries here, none distribute widely. One - Fernson - distributes slightly into Minnesota and possibly Iowa. Some of the smaller Northeastern states could be tough too.

 

If the goal is 50 states, why does it matter if it's "simpleton" beer or not?

 

Im not sure how you'd justify which individual brewery gets choosen from each state. Maybe that topic can further the discussion/debate among friends?

That said, Ive never been one to want to add some structured end goal to my drinking "try one beer from each style", "one beer from each state", et al.

But - I guess I'd choose based on which brewery per state has the most overall influence on the craft-scene within their market.

Texas - Jester King
Louisana - Parish
Michigan - Founders
Florida - Cigar City
Oklahoma - Prairie
Indiana - 3 Floyds

Those are the states I have a strong amount of experience with and those would be what Id lobby for. Again - this is debateable - so some willingness to flex may be required.

At the end of the day though - who gives a shit?!? Its all beer drinking and its all fun! Enjoy where the conversation takes you. CHEERS!