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50 States Rated for Beer

Al_4_State said:
I like Central Water, but I think they're a bit over rated. O'So is probably my favorite Wisconsin brewery after New Glarus.

I'd take the newer Des Moines places over Central Waters. Not saying Central Waters is bad (I do like their beer), but I remember being told that their Illuminator DIPA was better than Abrasive by a guy at a liquor store in Rochester. Not so much, bro. Not so much.
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Don't think I've had any O'So yet, have to look into that one.

I agree that Central Waters is overrated, but maybe I've just had so many of the DSM beers that I guess I would still prefer CW to them. Just doesn't seem to be very much drive to make different/semi-unique beers around here yet.
Comparing Illuminator to Abrasive is almost comical. Abrasive is definitely one of my five favorite beers.
 
Come on guys, Iowa's ranked plenty high. Yes, Toppling Goliath makes some outstanding beers and is highly-acclaimed, but it's not even easy to get in Iowa. And other than TGB, there's nothing at all to write home about. One good brewery that is only distributed to a handful of bars and, like, three Hy-Vee stores doesn't mean Iowa's the "24th best beer state" in the nation.

As far as underrated states on this list, I'm surprised North Carolina isn't higher. Craft breweries are all over the major cities, and Asheville in particular has nabbed a lot of West Coast breweries looking to expand their distribution in the East (Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, and they're probably going to get Stone's new facility, too).
 
As a guy that lived in North Carolina (the home of Asheville which held Beer City USA for 2010-2013), I think NC was way under-rated in this list. There's a reason most of the big craft breweries from out west (New Belgium, Sierra Nevada, Oskar Blues to name a few) are opening their East Coast breweries in NC. North Carolina should be top 10 for sure.

Iowa is probably placed about right - given that it got a late start due to having stupid alcohol regulations in the past. Give it time.

Edit: I didn't read all of roundball's post and didn't realize he already made the same points about NC. It's the truth!
 
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nfrine said:
Toppling Goliath is almost a Wisconsin beer (Decorah).
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WHAAA! I am from the Decorah area and we be no Cheese Headed Badger. I do live in WI now and I have my pick in my town of breweries: of Point Beer (GOOD!), Central Waters and O'so. But I always crave Toppling Gs.
 
I thought CW was going to create a Beer forum?

I'm excited that this year we have some alternatives to Coors, Miller, Bud, etc for tailgating. I just picked up a 15 pack of All Day IPA.
 
roundball said:
Come on guys, Iowa's ranked plenty high. Yes, Toppling Goliath makes some outstanding beers and is highly-acclaimed, but it's not even easy to get in Iowa. And other than TGB, there's nothing at all to write home about. One good brewery that is only distributed to a handful of bars and, like, three Hy-Vee stores doesn't mean Iowa's the "24th best beer state" in the nation.

As far as underrated states on this list, I'm surprised North Carolina isn't higher. Craft breweries are all over the major cities, and Asheville in particular has nabbed a lot of West Coast breweries looking to expand their distribution in the East (Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, and they're probably going to get Stone's new facility, too).
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I was thinking NC may be underrated. I haven't had a lot from there, but I know some brewers in CO kind of think as NC as competition to CO.
 
dmclone said:
I thought CW was going to create a Beer forum?

I'm excited that this year we have some alternatives to Coors, Miller, Bud, etc for tailgating. I just picked up a 15 pack of All Day IPA.
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Wish Stone would go to cans for Go To IPA. Both are amazing session IPAs, perfect for things like tailgating.
 
nfrine said:
Toppling Goliath is almost a Wisconsin beer (Decorah).
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WHAAA! I am from the Decorah area and we be no Cheese Headed Badger. I do live in WI now and I have my pick of beers produced in my county - Point Beer (GOOD!), Central Waters and O'so. But I always crave Toppling Gs.
 
North Carolina is a very good beer state.

Regarding Iowa beers, I would put a lot of beers I've had from 515 and Confluence up against the big names in their styles. They would do just fine.

I mean they have ******* Alabama ahead of Iowa. No. Just, no.
 
Al_4_State said:
North Carolina is a very good beer state.

Regarding Iowa beers, I would put a lot of beers I've had from 515 and Confluence up against the big names in their styles. They would do just fine.

I mean they have ******* Alabama ahead of Iowa. No. Just, no.
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I've had quite a few home-brews that would do just fine against the big names, too, but who cares if it just takes one hand to count the number of places you can drink them.
 
I've drank a beer that was brewed in Kitty Hawk NC once. It was fantastic. I believe I will schedule Kitty Hawk in the family vacation planner because of it. My wife and kids can go to the beach and I will be on a mission to find that beer.
 
Move to Oregon from Iowa a few months ago. Unbelievable selection of micro-brews, all of very high quality.
The downside is I won't be able to watch Cyclone games in-person anymore. But, at least I can watch them on T.V. with a great beer.

(The ones listed for Oregon are very good, but I highly recommend Breakside IPA, if you can find it.)
 
I'm shocked, despite it's high ranking, that Indiana is so low. There's a bunch of damned good breweries there. They didn't even mention Sun King, which I've missed dearly since moving from there.
 
dmclone said:
I thought CW was going to create a Beer forum?

I'm excited that this year we have some alternatives to Coors, Miller, Bud, etc for tailgating. I just picked up a 15 pack of All Day IPA.
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I bought a 15 of All Day and a 24 or Coors Light for our wedding party for after the ceremony. I figured only the guys would drink the All Day. I didn't even get a beer because the girls all loved it so much. Pretty chapped. Then my kegs of Go To IPA blew before I got a chance to get a glass. People told me that people will drink good beer when its free...sure enough, everyone flocked to the Go To and not the Coors Light or Miller Lite. Probably didn't help that the Bait Shop crew was there.
 
Cybyassociation said:
I bought a 15 of All Day and a 24 or Coors Light for our wedding party for after the ceremony. I figured only the guys would drink the All Day. I didn't even get a beer because the girls all loved it so much. Pretty chapped. Then my kegs of Go To IPA blew before I got a chance to get a glass. People told me that people will drink good beer when its free...sure enough, everyone flocked to the Go To and not the Coors Light or Miller Lite. Probably didn't help that the Bait Shop crew was there.
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If you got shafted out of the good beer at your own wedding, you need new friends.
 
00clone said:
If you got shafted out of the good beer at your own wedding, you need new friends.
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I got shafted out of beer that I bought. el Bait Shop crew brought in plenty of good beer. I had plenty of Fireball to get me through the night.
 
Cali is hands down the best state for micro/craft breweries but Oregon, Colo and Michigan are close behind. Hell in San Diego alone you have: AleSmith, Ballast Point, Green Flash, Mission, Port/Lost Abbey and Stone just off the top of my head. Northern Cali has: 21st Amendment, Anchor, Lagunitas, Russian River, Sierra Nevada, Bear Republic, Pyramid, Humboldt and honestly tons more. They should be separate and #1 and #2 in my eyes. Could be my West Coast bias though since I get to drink these all of the time.
 
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