Best/Worst Distro areas.

Guess I can cross Utah off as a possible vacation destination!

 

As others have posted, Southeastern PA (Philly area) has an excellent distribution of craft beer (despite the stupid state beer laws).

I have seen where folks have posted that one reason that so many craft breweries distribute in PA (Philly area) is the 'policy' that the breweries get paid COD (Cash on Delivery). Maybe @jesskidden can comment on the COD aspect?

Cheers!

 

I'd characterize Atlanta as strong, in spite of the fact that we lost a lot of good imports (Nogne O, Struisse, Mikkeller, etc.) after Shelton Bros pulled their distribution from Georgia. I'm hopeful that situation won't last forever.

Obviously, we don't get many West Coast beers, namely Alesmith, Firestone Walker, and Deschutes. But that's offset a bit by Westbrook's love for our city and some Cigar City beer.

We're not the best serviced city (there's a strong case for Chicago), but we're definitely in the top half (if not third) among markets.

 

i will say that michigan is an amazing beer state but thats due to all the great beer brewed here. as far as distro goes from out of state its been pretty bad but is starting to get better. that being said, i could drink michigan beer for the rest of my life and be a pretty happy man.

 

My home state of Arkansas is majorly lacking in distriburion...and quality craft breweries.

 

Living in Minnesota (the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area at least, definitely not the rest of the state) is good, but not exceptional. A lot of western breweries and a ton of local stuff is represented pretty well, but there are a lot of glaring omissions. One big advantage, however, is that in less than half an hour I can be in Wisconsin buying 3 Floyd's, Alesmith, Toppling Goliath, New Glarus, and all kinds of stuff we can't get here.

 

Hawaii was pretty bad...but it's waaaay out there. That said, there were some tasty choices

 

worst: myrtle beach, sc

 

If they would only make their google doc open editing instead of locked down, the problem would get fixed within a fortnight by the online beer community.

 

Not because I live here but I have to say NC needs to be considered pretty good with great East Coast/West Coast/No Coast PLUS top notch local/regional offerings.

 

Southern Maryland is pretty bad too. At least in Western MD you can still get something like the FW anniversary ales at McHenry's - the more limited-release beers like that stand zero chance of making it down here.

 

The Chicago area . We have breweries,bars ,Binny's ,bottle shops,grocery stores. . All we need is a "beer train". Many animal rescues and dog specific rescue groups have volunteers to transport dogs from state to state. I think the beer community could do the same.

 

I live in an area with truly excellent distribution (Sacramento area) but is close to both one of the best distro areas in the US (Bay Area) and worst distro areas (central/southern San Joaquin Valley)

 

Yea down in the Deep Creek area is more like eastern, MD. I usually stay up off Keiser's Ridge.....busch light is pretty much your only choice hahaha

 

OP, definitely agree. I feel slightly spoiled being in the Northwest Chicago suburbs, 20 minutes from the city and only a 40 min car ride over the border of WI to stock up New Glarus. The easy access to Three Floyd's is pretty darn swell too.

As for the worst distro, I can't really say as I don't travel often, but Eastern Michigan seems pretty lacking to me, not sure if it's popularity of craft beer or just mainly local, but Western MI is littered with small time breweries and also seemed lacking in anything other than local stuff, but a few stores around Grand Rapids had a pretty decent selection, so I guess it's just where you are I guess.

 

My town borders Queens. Long Island and NYC have excellent distribution, but a lot of the rare stuff that makes it to NYC is gone in a day, if not a few hours. There's so many great limited releases that make it here and there's excellent beer year-round.

 

Seems that Massachusetts is pretty insanely good. Everything from New England, a good chunk of CA (Ballast point, Alesmith, Green Flash), only a few big misses and new additions constantly. New Holland just arrived, and Shiner. Boulevard came to MA first outside the Midwest. We have it pretty good.

 

If I had a brewery in Utah, I would try to become a sessionable beer mecca (not that many people get super-excited over that stuff). I mean you could make some really great Low Alcohol beer (like Drink'in in the Snow by Mikkeller at .3% or his Drinkin'in in the Sun at like 2%), Berliner Weisses, Fruit/Vegetable Beers (i.e. New Glarus' standard fruit beers are at 4%), possibly sours, and just 4% versions of most styles that have 4% as the low-end on here. Make the best of a bad situation.

 

disagree

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/17559/

 

I thought Seattle was good until I went to San Diego.