Best beer state?

I love being in California, but it's sooooooo regional. I'm in Napa and don't see a lot of the stuff SF/East Bay/South Bay sees. I either have to go to Santa Rosa or head south. Even then, lots of the legendary stuff from SoCal doesn't see legit distribution up north. But it's the same with SoCal, lots of the stuff that's easy for me to grab is hard to get down south. I can walk into a local market and get days-old Pliny almost any day of the week right off the shelf with no bottle limit.

 

I think the distribution laws in here in Texas make it more difficult for small breweries to get distributed/noticed nationally. I agree there are some really good breweries here making a product that could certainly compete on a national level.

 

The Argument for any state other than California or Oregon is pretty weak. just in California there is alpine, lost abbey, bruery, saint adairius, Firestone walker, alesmith, fifty fifty, taps, Russian river, rare barrel. However, in terms of proximity of fantastic breweries, Vermont has to take the cake. I'm always impressed that such a small state can have such an abundance of world class breweries.

 

Im a transplant, and yes NC is fantastic (definitely top 3), but it doesnt have the depth of other states. Ohio really makes NC look like childs play in terms of IPAs, stouts, and BA things (Jackie Os is GOD, Brew Kettle, Fat Heads, and Rivertown). VT is the king of IPAs (as is CA), CO just embarasses us in terms of sours, and FL has CCB.

I love the progress NC has made and I think we have a great thing going, but were young. Super young. Foothills has started to get some acclaim for BA things, Wicked Weed can do me some nice sours. Erik up at Mystery Brewing has Brett beers on lock down, and the werid stuff belongs to Fullsteam. Olde Hickory can do some things, but we dont have a Great Lakes. Theres no Jackie Os producing world class IPAs, Sours, AND BA Stouts/Barleywines.

The only thing that NC has that OH doesnt is Haw River. Whatever Ben has going is magical, and god bless him. Ive got nothing. Love his beer, and amen brother,.

 

Upper Hand, New Holland...

 

California.

 

I can't blame anyone from California or Oregon saying their state is the best because it's true....for beer that is.

 

I think Chicago would be the best place to visit for craft beer. Here are a few beer menus from some of my favorite places.

http://www.badapplebar.com/beer/
https://www.beermenus.com/places/1904-fountainhead#menu
https://www.beermenus.com/places/1081-hopleaf-bar
https://www.beermenus.com/places/10288-world-of-beer-evanston

and this would just be a start because there are over 100 quality bars, breweries etc. to go to.

 

...arcadia, brewery vivant, arbor brewing, black rocks, perrin...

 

Western Australia!

 

While not my state, it is rather interesting to live right in the middle of New Hampshire. To the left we have Vermont 2 hours away (Alchemist, Lawsons, Hill Farmstead, Foley Brothers, Fiddlehead, 14th Star to name the bigger names), and to the right we have Portland, ME which has more bars and breweries per capita than most states in the union with a few great mentions. Even Massachusetts has Treehouse, Wormtown, and Trillium across the state not to mention plenty of solid breweries in between those names. NH is starting to also catch up with its neighbors on all three sides so I look forward to see if anything can compare from this state sooner or later. Stoneface is already starting to make a good name here

 

Sierra Nevada
Lagunitas
Modern Times
Stone
The Bruery
Lost Abbey
SARA
Golden Road
Kern River
Tioga Sequoia
Alpine
Ale Smith
RUSSIAN RIVER
FIRESTONE WALKER

probably left a few other great ones out but you know where I'm going with this...
CALIFORNIA of course!!!

 

Gotta say California, followed by Oregon and Colorado.

 

Most states have a few All Stars and then a lot of good talent with a lot of potential. But Oregon California and Colorado are like the 92 Olympic Dream Team, they are loaded from top to bottom with HOF talent and pretty much unbeatable.

 

Califoregonichiganermontorado

 

don't forget about colorado

 

In my opinion the best beer state is liquid.

 

Ouch!

 

You've obviously never vaporized it then

 

Is that called a burp!?!

Cheers!