Top 5 Beer Countries

In order: Belgium, USA, England, Germany, North Dakota.

 

Currently, mine are as follows:
1. USA
2. Belgium
3. UK
4. Germany
5. Ireland / Chile

 

Damn, you beat me to the punch.

 

Northern California
Southern California
Germany
Belgium
Holland

 

I really wish someone would produce the ratings I presented above, split apart into native country and non-native country mean ratings, so we can see the top 5 most delusional beer countries. I don't think USA would top that list. I don't want to say who would though, because that really pisses people off.

 

KL's its own country now? (I'm just giving you shit.)

 

I WAS ON A ROLL!

(I should have said Malaysia though, you're correct.)

 

1. USA
2. USA
3. USA
4. USA
5. USA

Don't care much for imports.

 

1) Northern Cali
2) The Midwest
3) New England
4) The Pacific Northwest
5) The South

 

Yep, think I have to agree here.

 

Based on travels and experience drinking in these countries, I would rate as follows...

1. USA
2. Germany
3. Scotland
4. Canada
5. Ireland

Now I have never been to Belgium, but I'm sure as soon as I have, Belgium will be on the list. (I know most have interpreted the question as overall beers, most likely tasted in imported bottles, and if I were to do that, my ratings would be different.)

 

The best comment IMHO so far aside from the mention of the Evil Green Monster. ROFLMAO over all the mentions of Italy, France, Norway and Canada. Yeah, sure, there are some decent beers in those countries, especially with Norway reviving some of the traditional brews, but that does not put them anywhere near the Top 5. UK, Germany and Belgium pretty much do have to be in the forefront as they are style leaders and are very distinct from each other. The US has to be near the top just because it covers all of those three bases exceptionally well and then some (not fare to downgrade the US because of BMC). The Czechs (who originated at least half the German styles) and the Dutch (largely a mix of German and Belgian styles, but with a few decent original brews as well--Grolsch, Alfa, Jupiler, Gulpener, Joper, Lindeboom, Brouwerij de Molen) certainly should be near the top. Australians would be too if it weren't for the domination of Foster's and other BMC-like brands. One could make an argument for Denmark, although the diversity is just not there, as well as New Zealand -- for the same reason, although pound for pound they can certainly compete. Half the Belgian exports go to France, but if you exclude Alsace, the rest of the nation has very little to offer of its own. Italy does a little better, but between them and France, you can probably count top-tier products on one hand. Poland, the three small Baltic republics, Sweden, Russia, Slovakia all produce some decent beers in Europe, but they pale next to their neighbors. The rest of Europe is pretty much a wasteland when it comes to beer. Japan is interesting and technologically innovative, but their breweries tend to copy each other so much that they all end up tasting the same. And until we can get more Canadian craft product in the US (other than Unibroue), Canada will always be just a large swath of BMC.

 

Sure, I've been called a xenophobe, but the truth is, I'm not. I honestly just feel that America is the best country and the other countries aren't as good. That used to be called patriotism. - Kenny Powers

 

1. Belgium
2. USA
3. Germany
4. UK
5. Czech Republic

Denmark, Italy, Austria, Canada, and The Netherlands are all good beer countries, but all have missing elements to make the top 5. Unfortunately either I haven't tried enough of their beers, or there simply isn't enough going on to surpass all the countries with strong brewing traditions and the USA with its recent boom in craft beer.

Belgium is easily number one for me. Quads/Belgian dark ales tend to be some of my favorites, as well as Lambics, and Saisons. Tripels, Dubbels, Flanders Reds/browns, and all sorts of Belgian blondes/pale ales are great as well. There are also a handful of breweries doing exciting new things there that can compete with the US.

Germany falls behind the US because they're just too traditional and there isn't enough experimentation for the most part. Also, I love some German beer styles, but they don't excite me nearly as much as some Belgian styles.

 

Mirroring a majority of this thread, but by unique beers in my ratings:

USA: 1184 Beers
Belgium: 179 Beers
Germany: 47 Beers
Canada: 27 Beers
UK: England: 25 beers; Scotland: 15 beers

Need to work on my UK and Germany brews haha

 

What about Canada? Canada always misses out...

 

Because it would be Germany? Or maybe the UK?

 

1. California
2. Belgium
3. Vermont (why did I ever leave?)
4. Germany
5. Cascadia/British Isles/Scandinavia

 

No disrespect at all man, I love Canada beer; but in regards to availability I have pretty much dried up my Canadia brew rating accessibility. I have tried nearly everything from Unibroue and many Dieu Du Ciel!(plus Shelton pulled out of MI so Du Ciel is no longer available fresh). I will try to pull in some Howe Sound from letspour but that's basically it from the country. There are some Les Trois Mousquetaires still around, so I might pick up a few. I've had one Driftwood as well(Fat Tug is awesome), but the availability of others is super limited. Also want to get some Central City Red Racer IPA, but haven't had much trade availability there.

 

Here's a novel look at the ratings. Let's look at Wiki for beer consumption.

Top 5 for consumption, by volume (http://goo.gl/cR9ZD):
China
US
Brazil
Russia
Germany

Now Top 5 for consumption per capita:

Czech Republic
Germany
Austria
Ireland
Australia

To be fair, Austrian consumption is based on Czech and German brands that dominate the market. The other ones all drink home-grown beer, so to speak.

Actually, the Second 5 is more interesting:

Estonia
Lithuania
Poland
Venezuela
Finland

Notice any patterns?

Now change that to Top 5 Production by volume (http://goo.gl/NvlBz):

China
US
Brazil
Russia
Germany

Wait, what? Isn't that the same list we started with for consumption? Yeah, the Top 5 for production and consumption is the same, but the rest is radically different. Check out the links for yourself.