 Nathan Berrong works at CNN's satellite desk and this is the second installment of his beer column. Drink up. The United States is filled with amazing breweries, but to me, you can’t begin to talk about beer in America without starting out West. Maybe it’s the climate that is ideal for growing hops, or the beautiful scenery that inspires the brewers, or the diverse culture that promotes creativity. Whatever it is, I say there’s no debating that the best region for beer in the United States is the Pacific or West Coast region. West Coast beers, plainly put, are massive beers. Massive beers that are bursting with flavor, typically high in alcohol, and have unusual names like “Serpent’s Stout” and “Monk’s Blood”. The staple West Coast beer is the hop heavy, India Pale Ale. Commonly referred to as the IPA, it is also a very common beer style across the country, as nearly every brewery in the US has their own version of it. But, no one brews them better than Sierra Nevada in Chico, California, which has been brewing amazing IPAs for over 30 years, long before the craft beer explosion began. I recently took a trip out West with my wife, Pooja, and our good friends, Jarrod and Lauren Cone. We headed to the Pacific Northwest for a beer and food-themed trip, visiting places that are known for excelling in both. We started the trip in Seattle, rented a car, and made our way down the coast to San Francisco, making stops in Portland and Santa Rosa along the way. This is a trip I have been looking forward to for years, as some of my favorite beers in the world originate from the beer Mecca of the United States, the West Coast. Here is a list of my favorite places we visited in each city, along with some notes about each and any special beers or food that were had. Highlights of Nathan's massive West Coast beer adventure Seattle Brouwer’s Café – A Seattle beer staple. I ended up scoring a bottle of the coveted Bruery Bottleworks here. Uber Tavern – No food, but an incredible beer list. I had the first of many Pliny the Elders here. Stumbling Monk – A great little neighborhood spot. I had a nice Dubbel from Sound Brewery. Elysian Brewing Company – A cool brewpub with good food and good people; my favorite was their Dragon’s Tooth Oatmeal Stout. Macrina Bakery – A really solid brunch spot with some of the best baked goods my mouth has ever had the pleasure of tasting. Portland Horse Brass Pub – A legendary Portland pub with a very old-world feel. It was nice to see their shrine to recently deceased owner, Don Younger, who was extremely influential in the beer world. Rest in peace, Don. Belmont Station – A very extensive bottle shop and bar. I had so many good things here including: Russian River Supplication, Bruery Cuir, and De Dochter Embrasse. Deschutes Brewery and Public House – A great brewery, which brews an excellent beer, Black Butte. Rogue Distillery and Public House – Located just around the corner from Deschutes, my favorites were their XS Imperial Stout and Morimoto Imperial Pilsner. Cascade Brewing Barrel House –This place brews incredible sour beers and also has good food. My favorite beers were the Sang Noir, Sang Royal, Sweetartz, and the Bahri Date Bain. I cannot say enough good things about this place or the people who work here. Clyde Common – This amazing eatery and cocktail bar made for a great dinner experience. We had a roasted rack of pig with spaetzle and Brussels sprouts and a prosciutto-wrapped trout topped with a fried egg. Both were as incredible as they sound. Navarre – We did the chef’s tasting menu which included 10 different plates of excellent food. The highlight for me was the rabbit stew. Stumptown Coffee – If you’re into coffee, you already know the reputation of this place. It totally lives up to it to the hype; the espresso and overall experience are completely top notch. Great people watching, too. Tasty and Sons – Here is everything you’d ever want a brunch place to be. It’s an Grilled Cheese Grill – Not only is the dream of the 90s alive in Portland, but also the dream of a food truck on every corner (or maybe that’s just my dream?). This particular food truck caters to grilled cheese fans, meaning, they cater to every single person alive. You can get a classic grilled cheese or go the adventurous route and order a grilled cheese with black bean garlic tofu and artichoke hearts or any other of their over 20 grilled cheese variations. And yes, they have tomato soup, too. Awesome gets awesomer as you sit down and enjoy your gooey cheesy sandwich in a retro double-decker bus complete with a jukebox. San Francisco Toronado – Loud - both with people and music –- and extremely crowded, even at 3p. Really solid beer list. La Trappe Café – The basement of this place reminded me of some of the beer bars I visited in Belgium a couple years ago, which is to say, it ruled. Highlight beer: Russian River Temptation. Monk’s Kettle – I had a great meal here with excellent service and had a tasty beer, Ballast Point Navigator, followed by an Underberg. Zeitgeist – This place is a total dive where anything goes. It has a large outdoor patio that is perfect for drinking and people watching. It’s awesome. I got a 16 oz pour of Russian River Consecration here for $5! City Beer Store – This great beer store/bar has an incredible selection. I had a FiftyFifty Baril Rouge Baltique and also an Alesmith Speedway Stout, but was just a few days too late and missed the limited edition, The Bruery The Wanderer, which was brewed solely for City Beer Store’s 5th anniversary. Canteen – I took the advice of Eatocracy’s Managing Editor, Kat Kinsman, and made reservations for Pooja and myself here. I am so glad I did. This place is small and cozy and feels like you’re in on a secret dinner that is being prepared just for you. It was delicious. Papalote – USA Today named it as one of the 10 best burritos in America and after having a chile verde burrito there, I have to agree. Blue Bottle Coffee – Is waiting in line 45 minutes for a latte worth it? Absolutely. Especially if the latte is the best you’ve ever had. To top it off, they had some of the most intricate latte art I have ever seen. We also made some pit stops as we were driving along the coast at: Pelican Pub and Brewery – Right on the coast with incredible views. I really enjoyed their Stormwatcher’s Winterfest beer. South Beach Fish Market – Easily the best (fried) seafood I have ever had. The place is small and not much to look at, but wow, the food is incredible. Cypress Grove – we got the chance to stop by and learn about the cheese making process at one of America’s best creameries. Their Humboldt Fog is my personal favorite. Russian River Brewery – Vinnie and his brewing team are making the best beers in America, maybe even, the world. We had some great pizza here and got the chance to get a behind the scenes tour of the brewing process. Highlight beers were: Consecration, Salvation, Defenestration, Damnation, Sanctification, and Erudition. What excited me most about this trip is that I had access to beers that are not available to me in Georgia. And these are not just any regular beers; they are the cream of the crop. Out of the top 100 beers in the world, about a third of them are from the West Coast. Most of these beers are not very easy to come by unless you live out West, so, for everyone else, here’s a list of beers you should check out from the West Coast that are widely available throughout the United States: Brewed out West - but available elsewhere in the U.S. Sierra Nevada Torpedo (pictured) Lagunitas A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale My favorite West Coast beer of all time is The Abyss by Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon. This beer tastes like a creamy, silky, serving of chocolate flavored molasses which coats the tongue, and whetting a desire for the next sip. It’s absolutely incredible. It also doesn’t hurt that it was a Christmas gift from my wife two years ago. Ah, the joys of having a wife who knows about good beer. I’d like to know what you think about my picks and topics you'd like to see addressed in future columns. Leave a comment below with your favorite West Coast beer and let me know if I missed anything. Cheers and peace be with you. |
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Im no qualified, but I believe you just crafted a extremely good point point. You definitely understand what youre talking about, and I can seriously get behind that. Thanks for staying so upfront and so truthful.
Great post however , I was wanting to know if you could write a litte more on this subject? I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Bless you!
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pour any of it over a ice in a big mug and i'm practically having ohgasm's
My personal favorite is Fat Tire by the New Belgium Brewing Company, Fort Collins, Co. Also love all Pyramid from Oregon and Red Hook from Woodinville, Wa.
HALES ALES SEATTLE...
Hahaha! Sierra Nevada is such old news – it's an oldie, but goodie. Have you tried Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA? (Delaware) Seriously, the west has good beer, but take a Vermont vacation and visit the Alchemist in Waterbury, Switchback Brewery or Long Trail. Also, the beer at Mountain Sun Brewery in Boulder, Colorado is amazing.
In the grand scheme of great tasting beverages, beer doesn't rate that high in my opinion. I generally like them all because of the nice buzz they produce. There are no doubt many many other beverages that taste much better. :-)
I think that by reading this thread I am now intrigued by some of the brews that I have not seen nor tried before. I will make sure to look for them while visiting the Midwest or east coast. I have tried many, but there are quite a few I have never heard of.
One beer I have not seen mentioned is Mac n Jacks African Amber served exclusively in kegs in the Seatle area. It's not an award winner that I know of but is consistently one of the best beers you'll find on tap in Seattle
Also, for those of you Sierra Nevada bashers, they continue to innovate and are currently working on the only Belgium Monk supported Abbey Ale produced outside of Belgium. It's a very interesting story and I can't wait to try it. Here is the link: http://beeradvocate.com/forum/read/2945435
Mr. Berrong,
The beers you have chosen are amazing. However, to discluded brewers in states such as Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, and New york is rediculous. Russian River may be making the best beer in the world, I will concede that. They are consistent and do not have a bad beer in their portfolio in my opinion. With that said, the best IPA in the world is made in Kalamazoo, MI and it is called Two Hearted Ale by Bells Brewing Company. If you enjoy Stouts, we have a brewery out of Grand Rapids, MI called Founders that makes many different Breakfast Stouts that are critically acclaimed. There is also Left Hand Brewing Company making a MIlk Stout out of Colorado. Many people have mentioned Great Lakes Brewing Company, and they make the best Porter in the U.S.A., Edmund Fitzgerald. They are from Ohio. How about a Farmhouse Saison? Brewery Ommegang from Cooperstown, NY makes Hennepin. Lastly, as far as brewers go, and the best argument I have to compare to Russian River's excellent brewing, Ron Jeffries, from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, in Dexter , MI, is a hidden gem amongst brewers. I know it sounds like he makes pumpkin ales, but he doesn't. He just makes the arguably the best beer in the country, maybe the world.
from one man's opinion to anothers, I will put any of these states breweries against California's, and you will find that we know what we are doing out here.
Respectfully,
Ted Vadella
Shakespeare's Pub
Kalamazoo, MI
Mt. Caramel Brewery in Cincinnati – good time stuff.
Sorry that should be Carmel.
This discussion is good stuff. Check out this blog for more good beer info:
kswbeer dot com
Anything Star Hill (Charlottesville, VA) makes is delicious
This sounds like descriptions of Light Ales, with their stronger flavor and high alcohol content, masquerading as beers, like they have in Canada for many years.
LOOK OUT BOYS AND GIRLS....Here comes Austin, Texas!
The author doesn't have much knowledge of beer.Has he ever been to Europe (you can get there via the East Coast)? This very badly written article perpetuates the myth that "bigger" and "hoppier" is necessarily better- complexity and balance (much harder qualities to achieve than strength and bitterness) are not really acknowledged. Just go to the "top 100 beers" list link in the article and you'll find what is essentially an extreme beer collection. One hopes the beer geeks will grow out of this someday.
"... article perpetuates the myth that "bigger" and "hoppier" is necessarily better..."
It's not a myth, it's an opinion. Eloquence takes practice. Try again.
Hi Jim,
I have been to Europe. A couple years ago I actually lived there for six months and did quite a bit of traveling. I was based out of London and visited over 75 British pubs while there, so I know a thing or two about complexity and balance (read: ESB cask beer). I also did beer trips in Belgium, Netherlands, Czech Republic, France, Ireland, and Scotland. I even went to Iceland and tried some of their beers.
I'm not sure what you were reading but where did you get the impression that I was claiming "bigger" and "hoppier" beer were better than say, lower ABV/lower IBU beers? I never made such a claim. The post was about West Coast beers and since I can only assume you know a little about beer, you're probably very familiar that the vast majority of West Coast beers are higher in alcohol and tend to have large amounts of hops in them. That's a fact, not an opinion.
My opinion that the West Coast brews the best beer is based solely on the fact that the majority of my favorite beers are from there. The ironic thing about what you posted is that my opinion is wrong...but your opinion is right!? Touche.
Also, one last thing, and I'm sure you already know this, but it has to be said. It is possible, and happens often, for a really big beer to have complexity and balance.
Thanks for reading.
The Great Lakes region brews the best American beer, period.
Most people I know drink a light 'beer' and I don't mean the color. Light beer is not beer it is water with a little flavoring. so an article like this is probably falling on deaf ears (or eyes) and is probably being addressed to the 6 people that actually drink something that could really be defined as beer.
OK, I'll tell you the best beer on the West Coast, but only because I'm far down the list and probably not many will read this. I don't want this to get out much, because if people realize how good this beer is, there won't be enough left for me. The ultimate ambrosia of beers is Hood Canal Brewery's Dosewallips Special Ale. Don't tell anyone else, please.
MMMMMMM BEER!!!
Regardless of everyone's individual opinions I can honestly say you all are my favorite commenters on CNN! Stay thirsty my friends!
The East and No Coasters do not understand. And the writer said he lives in Atlanta, which, for the geographically challenged posting messages on the board, is East of the Mississippi. Yes, Dogfish Head is good, but Racer 5 from Bear Republic (in N.Cal.) just won Best IPA at the World Beer Awards (the beer Oscars every year in Germany), meaning Racer 5 is the best IPA in the World. Not in U.S. In the World. Beercraft has been happening here forever.
Colorado has the best beer in this country. And I'm not talking about Coors-that is crap beer. Come here for the best microbreweries!!!
Well Mr. Barrong, I hope these comments have taught you a few lessons. First, never use the words "there can be no debate," unless you want a debate. Second, do not mention any beer unless you can mention them all. Third, next time you plan a beer-centric vacation and want to share it with your readers, it is not enough to visit 18-plus places in one week; no, you must visit every brewery and brewpub in the country from Bar Harbour to Key West to San Diego to Washington, and some in Canada for good measure, and mention them ALL in your EXTREMELY long blogpost. Finally, if you like a beer, and someone else–anyone else–does not like that beer, don't mention it, since that will only prove that you "know nothing" about beer and are a "moron."
At least you know you have an audience. See you at the BSP; maybe we can sample some of that Sweetwater and Terrapin that people mentioned that you should try. ;-)
This is a fine post. Well done.
Author is spot on. West is best for one reason: bridgeport hop harvest. Like a thick glass of cum
I agree with some of the earlier comments on the high quality of East Coast beers – I live in Upstate NY and maintain a blog – http://upstatebrews.blogspot.com/ – which reviews beers only from the Upstate NY region. I've always found West Coast beers to be rather too aggressive and hoppy, lacking the necessary sweet malt balance which makes a truly great beer. In Upstate we've got a ton of breweries which are all producing fantastic hand-crafted ales and lagers, in an incredible range of styles! British, American, Belgian, Irish, Scottish, German, Czech...you name it, there's a brewery somewhere in Upstate making a fantastic example of it. I highly recommend trying out more East Coast breweries, you'll be pleasantly surprised!
Here are some additional styles mentioned in the article from the GABF winners list:
Category: 15 American-Belgo-Style Ale – 47 Entries
Gold: Ryevalry, Bear Republic Factory Five, Cloverdale, CA
Silver: Simcoe Silly, Kuhnhenn Brewing Co., Warren, MI
Bronze: Pete’s Support Belgian IPA, FireHouse Grill & Brewery, Sunnyvale, CA
Category: 16 American-Style Sour Ale – 39 Entries
Gold: Brute, Ithaca Beer Co., Ithaca, NY
Silver: Eric’s Ale, New Belgium Brewing Co., Fort Collins, CO
Bronze: Red Poppy, The Lost Abbey, San Marcos, CA
Category: 17 Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer – 32 Entries
Gold: Velvet Merkin (100% Barrel Aged), Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Paso Robles, CA
Silver: Humidor India Pale Ale, Cigar City Brewing, Tampa, FL
Bronze: Bluegrass Brown, Thunder Canyon Brewery, Tucson, AZ
Category: 19 Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout – 34 Entries
Gold: Bourbon Barrel Aged Sexual Chocolate Imperial Stout, Foothills Brewing, Winston-Salem, NC
Silver: Remy, TAPS Fish House & Brewery, Brea, CA
Bronze: Bourbon County Brand Stout, Goose Island Beer Co., Chicago, IL
Category: 20 Wood- and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer – 54 Entries
Gold: Le Serpent Cerise, Snake River Brewing, Jackson, WY
Silver: Temptation, Russian River Brewing Co., Santa Rosa, CA
Bronze: The Jaspers, Bullfrog Brewery, Williamsport, PA
Category: 66 Belgian-Style Lambic or Sour Ale – 33 Entries
Gold: Oude Tart, The Bruery, Placentia, CA
Silver: Coolship Resurgam, Allagash Brewing Co., Portland, ME
Bronze: Le Serpent, Snake River Brewing, Jackson, WY
Category: 67 Belgian-Style Abbey Ale – 76 Entries
Gold: Nectar Des Dieux, Bastone Brewery, Royal Oak, MI
Silver: Golden Slumber, Sun King Brewing Co., Indianapolis, IN
Bronze: Three Philosophers, Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY
Category: 68 Belgian-Style Strong Specialty Ale – 54 Entries
Gold: Revelations, Pizza Port Carlsbad, Carlsbad, CA
Silver: Brother David’s Double, Anderson Valley Brewing Co., Boonville, CA
Bronze: Hells Keep, Utah Brewers Cooperative, Salt Lake City, UT
Category: 73 American-Style Stout – 27 Entries
Gold: Liberty Stout, Gella’s Diner and Lb. Brewing Co., Hays, KS
Silver: Disorder Stout, Barley Brown’s Brew Pub, Baker City, OR
Bronze: Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout, Rogue Ales, Newport, OR
Category: 76 Imperial Stout – 50 Entries
Gold: Russian Imperial Stout, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, Wilmington, DE
Silver: Night Rider Imperial Stout, Pizza Port Carlsbad, Carlsbad, CA
Bronze: Anastasia Russian Imperial Stout, Weasel Boy Brewing Co., Zanesville, OH
Great post brah, but how could you do a west coast beer tour and not come to the hop capital of the world and sample our rippin IPAs in San Diego brah? Our IPAs are like getting thrashed in some pumping surf and just coming back for more. So yea we'd be stoked to see you and your travelmates Lauren and Jarrod next time.
Here's the winners list from the Great American Beer Festival, which is probably the closest competition for big brewers, medium brewers, and microbrew pubs. While there are Great Beers in Every Region of the Country, pretty hard to argue that the west coast (for these styles) represents. I have picked from the 79 styles, the beer styles that most resemble, what the author was drinking on his driving trip.
Category: 45 American-Style Pale Ale – 109 Entries
Gold: Mission Street Pale, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Paso Robles, CA
Silver: Pale 31, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Paso Robles, CA
Bronze: Puddle Jumper Pale Ale, Third Street Aleworks, Santa Rosa, CA
Category: 46 American-Style Strong Pale Ale – 84 Entries
Gold: Himalayan IPA, Yak and Yeti Brewpub, Arvada, CO
Silver: IPA Nectar, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Paso Robles, CA
Bronze: 7 – Fity, Triple Rock Brewery and Alehouse, Berkeley, CA
Category: 47 American-Style India Pale Ale – 142 Entries
Gold: “Pseudo” IPA, Pizza Port San Clemente, San Clemente, CA
Silver: Head Hunter IPA, Fat Head’s Brewery & Saloon, North Olmsted, OH
Bronze: Lumberyard Extra IPA, Lumberyard Brewing Co., Flagstaff, AZ
Category: 48 Imperial India Pale Ale – 97 Entries
Gold: Doheny Double IPA, Pizza Port San Clemente, San Clemente, CA
Silver: Hop Crisis!, 21st Amendment Brewery, San Francisco, CA
Bronze: Decadence Imperial IPA, Trinity Brewhouse, Providence, RI
Category: 49 American-Style Amber/Red Ale – 83 Entries
Gold: Red Nectar, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Paso Robles, CA
Silver: Hop Back Amber Ale, Troegs Brewery, Harrisburg, PA
Bronze: Red Rock, Triple Rock Brewery and Alehouse, Berkeley, CA
Category: 50 Imperial Red Ale – 43 Entries
Gold: Lumberyard Imperial Red, Lumberyard Brewing Co., Flagstaff, AZ
Silver: Red Eye PA, The Brew Kettle Production Works, Strongsville, OH
Bronze: Deranger, Laurelwood Brewing Co., Portland, O
Category: 58 American-Style India Black Ale – 53 Entries
Gold: Turmoil, Barley Brown’s Brew Pub, Baker City, OR
Silver: Go Figure, Big Rock Chop House & Brewery, Birmingham, MI
Bronze: Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale, Stone Brewing Co., Escondido, CA
Large Brewing Company and Large Brewing Company Brewer of the Year
Blue Moon Brewing Company, Denver, CO
Dr. David Ryder
Mid-Size Brewing Company and Mid-Size Brewing Company Brewer of the Year
Utah Brewers Cooperative, Salt Lake City, UT
UBC Brewers
Small Brewing Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year
Mad River Brewing Company, Blue Lake, CA
Mad River Brewing Company
Brewpub Group and Brewpub Group Brewer of the Year
TAPS Fish House & Brewery, Brea, CA
Victor Novak
Large Brewpub and Large Brewpub Brewer of the Year
Pizza Port Carlsbad, Carlsbad, CA
Pizza Port Brew Guys
Small Brewpub and Small Brewpub Brewer of the Year
Pizza Port San Clemente, San Clemente, CA
Noah Regnery
I like how all these East Coast and mid west people state that this guy is a moron because he "missed" This one Brewery or That one from where they are from. That's the problem. If he took your suggestion it would be a two or three line article. There are only a few goor brewery's where you are from. Out west he could do a whole book on how many great breweries are here. I've seen Mac and Jacks listed, Iron Hourse, Boundary Bay has one of the best IPA's anywhere, Silver City, Port Townsend...All with in a 2 hour drive of each other. To hit that many good brewery's on the east coast you'd have to drive 12 hours or more and cross a half dozen state lines.
Please, don't waste your time coming here to Portland to sample our beers. They are all bad. Not worth the effort. In fact, we don't have any beer industry here. Its all a con. Move along. Nothing to see here, folks.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Sierra Nevada.
If anyone is heading to Seattle soon, go to any bar and get a pint of Manny's by Georgetown Brewing. It's a life changer.
To visit the Seattle area on a Beer excursion, and miss Mac and Jacks African Amber is just a crime. To visit Seattle for more than two hours on a beer excursion, and not visit Bottleworks is absolutely inexcusable. If you consider yourself a beer afficianado and skip Bottleworks, you're only hurting yourself.
I can't believer that I just wastes 20 minutes reading comments about people arguing over beer. Drink what you like and SFTU.
got your letters mixed up...
<<< Is pretty happy that the local distributer carries everything from Stone and Rogue to Rochefort and Ayinger (Celebrator is to die for) to Hill Farmstead and Harpoon. Drinking a Ruination as I write this and will follow it up with a Long Trail Pale ale...cheers all to great beer all across the globe!!!
The San Diego contingent needs to chill out. Clearly his vacation did not take him that far south. Yes, I agree with you that some of our finest craft brews are down there. Clearly he should have said something like Upper West Coast. ;-) Oh, and those in Canada, I am sure you have great beer too, but clearly the author was talking US West Coast. I'd love to hear more about your wonderful craft brews, however. :-)
Do a West Coast tour of hand-crafted beers and not one single mention of San Diego? Really? The Pacific Northwest may have been king–a decade ago! San Diego is home to the most craft breweries in the country. Took 3 out of the 10 best recently in competition. Do your research! –Insulted in San Diego
Come to New Mexico! (No, you don't need a passport...it is a state.)
Chama River
Marble
Blue Corn
Rio Grande
Il Vivino
and many, many more great, relatively unknown, breweries. Just stay away from Turtle Mountain's IPA. (More like turtle piss.)
I suspect the article had the results that he was looking for. Some passionate and sometimes over the top loony discussion about craft beer. For folks who worry about which region is best, sadly, you missed the point. Arguing over things like, who has more breweries per capita is somenod the funniest stuff I have read today! Like that makes any difference on the quality of beer at all!
For those who only post to incite others (like Patrickk), you know why they do it, so why get so worked up? We know they are full of it.
I, for one, am excited to hear about all of the wonderful beers that I am missing out on. I am sure my taste buds won't agree with all of the suggestions, but it will sure be fun to find out!
Hmm I think my point was lost, which is mostly due to my part in writing my comment poorly. It was ment more to be an observation and saying that with so many breweries it makes it even more likely that great beer will come of it. I just felt Alaska shouldnt be left out of the Great good/good/terrible beer discussion.
Stephen, it was not you I was referring to. There had been a few folks around over their region having more breweries per capita, which would make their region the best. Silly!
Add me to the Lower 48 bias. I had not even thought of Alaska (or Hawaii for that matter) when talking West Coast.
I am not fond of Kona, really most anything in a can is substandard to my taste buds. I don't know that I have had any beer from Alaska. I'll keep my eyes out. I know nothing about tending hops and such, but growing season has to be pretty short to nonexistent, doesn't it?
Wow, I see a lot of East Coast people seriously deluded in thinking that they can even hold a candle to West Coast breweries.
Moylan's Hopsickle Triple IPA is my favorite, but Stone is my favorite brewery. I've had most of the IPAs mentioned in this article, but many breweries only make 1 brew that I like. Stone is one of the few that makes several great beers. Recently, I went to a craft pub and had excellent IPAs from breweries I'd never heard of all in Los Angeles.
If you think the West Coast has good beer, it's only going to get better in the next 5 -10 years.
For your next trip, check out http://www.pubquest.com and you'll find every brewery location in the U.S. and Canada. Cheers!
Wow, I can only imagine that the reason Nathan choose to focus his post on West Coast breweries is, because, um, he went to the West Coast. I'm sure if he choose to spend his valuable vacation time staring at the corn fields of the Midwest and the abandoned rust factories lining the Great Lakes, he probably would've written about the breweries there. The blessed unintended consequence of this post has been the "Guess how many obscure beers I can name" contest that has taken place in the comments section. I could barely read the text because of all the hurt feelings flying around. Thanks for fulfilling a stereotype, hipsters.
Thirsty Bear (San Fran) has the best IPA I have ever tasted. Followed closely, in second and third, by Chama River Brewing Company and Marble (AQB, NM).
You didn't drive far enough south. There is some AMAZING beer being brewed in San Diego. Check out http://manzanitabrewing.com/ for some REALLY good beer...
You skipped Bear Republic Brewing & Six Rivers?
Mmmm racer 5 and hop rod rye.
Only the domestics are swill. Alot of the smaller craft breweries have amazing beer. Even have beat alot of European beer.
I have traveled almost everywhere in the US, and each area has its great and terrible beers. No one has mentioned anything about Alaskas' Breweries though. You cant beat a state that has almost more breweries than people (I am greatly exaggerating, but there are alot.) It has some of the most diverse and tastier beers Ive ever had. Try Mooses Tooth, Glacier Brewhouse, Midnight Sun Brewery, Kenai Brewery, the list goes on and on. Sure there is Alaska Brewery, but I find them to be generic. None the less all places have great beer, but I think the best is Alaska.
How about including the midwest? Boulevard Brewing Company in Kansas City as well as Free State Brewery in Lawrence, Kansas have some amazing brews.
Patrickk, clearly your tastebuds are broken. Have a Harpoon UFO, it will change your mind. :-)
mmmmmmmmm...raspberry UFO. /drool ...the 100 Barrel series is pretty sweet also from Harpoon.
With only 2 coasts – it is which is better
The bottom line is that the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA has the greatest beers in the WORLD!! GOD BLESS AMERICA, AND GOD BLESS OUR BEERS!!
American "beer" is swill and it always will be. Or should I say "it swill be"...
I lived in Seattle for a long time, and worked in the beer industry for much of it. My personal favorite was Mac and Jacks African Amber... Mmmmmm, that's some good beer. Also really enjoyed a Belgian Golden, Lucifer, which is quite tasty.
good call on the Mac and Jacks African amber. that has been a favorite of mine for 10 years.
Kilt Lifter from the Four Peaks Brewing Co....that's all I have to say!
How in the world did you not go to San Diego? If one were to come to the best coast all the way from Georgia, I would expect them to at least stay a night in the new beer Mecca of the Pacific. Next time call me before you come out and I will personally make sure you have access to some of the most glorious suds you will ever experience.
You east-coasters are ridiculous, you keep naming the same 5 breweries. While there is some damned good beer over there, it pales in comparison with the plethora of choices the west coast has. Some may be sub-par but there are many, many very good breweries out here. This isn't about regional pride, it's about the truth, and the truth is that the west coast is the focal point of the craft brew movement, and has defined American styles more-so than any other region.
Word. Notice how many West Coast posters here are "Why didn't he go to so and so." There are so many great craft breweries in each region, it's ridiculous.
Best Beer in Central Ohio and the entire midwest with maybe the exception of Great Lakes. Barley's has great food too. Do Not go anywhere else in central ohio unless you wanna waste your time and money.
Russian River Brewing Company has the best set of beers available anywhere. Period. Vinnie (the main brewer) pretty much invented the double IPA style, freely shared his recipes, and has been copied by many other breweries - including the much touted Dogfish Head. His latest foray into the Belgian-style ales keeps him in the same dominant position.
Seriously: if you think you know beer, you need to go to RRBC and spend a few hours there, THEN tell me anybody does it better, more consistently. Fortunately we are lucky to have so many talented brewers now with awesome beer available in all areas. But RRBC is clearly the best of the bunch. If Vinnie ever expanded like people keep begging him to, you doubters who can't get his stuff fresh would understand.
Also, for those taste testing beers, especially delicate ones like double IPAs, you need to have it on-tap from a fresh keg or from a bottle that is new and never left refrigeration. The unique notes and careful balance of all that hops degrades rather quickly. So if your friend from CA sends you a bottle of Pliny and you don't think it's that special, that's why. Have it fresh or don't have it at all.
Agreed. Russian River makes some of the best in the world. Even outside of the much (and justifiably) hyped Pliny, their Belgians, sour beers, and other IPAs are fantastic. Blind Pig is damn good.
Along the same lines as Pliny the Younger, try and get ahold of some Double Mountain – Molten Lava IPA. Only comes out once a year by Keg. Sooooooo good
Rouges Brewery was making a Double IPA years before Blind Pig. Vinnie certainly helped skyrocket the popularity, however. I agree, Pliny needs to be fresh, it degrades quickly. Funny, though, since that is the opposite of why IPAs were created in the first place (granted not double IPAs).
I haven't been to the brewery yet, it is on my bucket list. Hopefully this summer. Dogfish head is great stuff. Worthy of all of its accolades.
I know I shouldn't be but I'm astounded at the stupidity (and arrogance for that matter) of the posters here. Try reading the article before you blast the author. Man, beer snobs are annoying. I just love how everyone on here is an expert too. You've probably tasted about 4% of the beers that are made in this country yet you know what the best is. Not even counting the fact that people are just going to have different tastes in general. Idiots.
People have to try everything before they know what the best is? That's the advantage of the internet, dude. You can let other people try a small amount of the total, look at what the general consensuses are, then sample from those to make your own determination. Honestly, I really don't need to drive a Yugo to know that a Bentley is a better car; I can let other people do it for me and trust word-of-mouth. Speaking of arrogance. . . find your mirror.
Sure that's easy, but do you know if a Volga is better than a Lexus? Of course you don't because you have no idea what a Volga is all about. You've probably never seen one, probably never even heard of one, let alone driven one. Don't make proclamations about that which you don't know, is my only point. The author of the article at least as the Beer Advocate list of top 100 beers on his side (for what that's worth).
you obviously forgot to go down the Columbia Gorge to Stevenson, WA for some of the best beer in the USA at Walking Man Brewing! They have strange hours but some of the best beer and staff you'll ever come across.
Santa Rosa, CA Bear Republic Red Rocket Ale and Bear Republic Racer 5. And that's all I have to say cause I am going out to get me some RIGHT NOW!
Racer 5 is a staple at my house. Don't forget Hop Rod Rye, when you want that extra hoppy kick! It is up there with Pliny in my book.
Hop Rod is fantastic. Seems to do better in bottles over time than Pliny too. But fresh, I have to say I like Pliny better.
OK. I'll try it and Lil' Sumpin from Lagunitas rocks too! Nice to live in Northern CA, where you can go out and get all these great beers at the drop of a hat. I grew up in the City. When we were in college I would always get some Anchor Steam, Christmas Ale. Got to tip my hat to the venerable brewery. Back in the day, 40 years ago while most of us were being fed "The King of Beers" or "The Champagne of Bottled Beer" them boys kept making world class BEER. Amen!
Hale's Ales is the best brewery in Seattle in my opinion. I have no idea how you didn't mention them in this article. But good job writing on Elysian, another favorite brewery on the entire west coast.
Hales cream ale is fantastic.
Elysian jasmine IPA is also great. As is the Elysian Belgian ale
I have a semi-irrational dislike of Elysian because of one time when I went their with my wife. She left her ID at home. They wouldn't even serve ME even though I had ID, and then told us we had to leave. For that matter, if you think either of us are under 21 you ought to have your head (or at least eyes) examined. Give me ten years, I'll look like Santa Claus. We walked down the street to Six Arms and had a nice time there.
Founders isn't made on the West Coast so you must be wrong. Stick to Bud Light.
Wow. Someone starts talking about beer they like that isn't the beer you like from the place you like it, and people get up in arms. First a few article facts: the author is from Atlanta, Ga., a place that has great beer distribution from the east coast and great lakes regions, among others (trust me I know; I live in Birmingham, Al., and we're still trying to get better beer available legally here). He went on a trip down the west coast presumably from Seattle to San Francisco. He enjoys beer at home and enjoyed it and food and coffee on his trip. He tried some great beer, beer that we southerners and people from the the eastern portion of the US can't get and is highly rated. Craft brewing in the west has tremendous history and influence over craft beer culture nationwide.
Now he does make the mistake of saying that there's no arguing that the west coast is the best region for making beer. I could see his argument based on history and that many west coast beers concistently land at the top of beer lists. However, it is also true that great beer is being made all across our country – east and west coasts, great lakes regions, Midwest, and, gasp, even in the south. But the point of the blog post is to talk about the best things he experienced on the west coast. As a beer drinker from the east coast, he was able to experience beer in many ways unlike what he was used to, including many sours, a style tough to do right independent of location.
Most of the arguing in these comments miss the point. Do I love my local Good People Brewing Company more than say Sierra Nevada? Yes. Is there great beer coming out of my local region? Hell yes. But more importantly, do I understand this guy had some great beer and wanted to talk about it?Yes, and he did try some great beer. The Abyss IS amazing if you like the style, and Pliny is phenomenal. That's not to say that Bell's Hopslam isn't. I love it personally. And Founders KBS and Terrapin Rye, and DFH 90 Min and Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout. It is unnecessary to get into a pissing contest about which region brews the best when there's so much beer out there from every region to try and enjoy.
If you can, check out the beer he liked on his trip, and see if you like them too. That's it really. Next time when he talks about beer from Nebraska or Vermont or Florida or Arizona or where ever, try those too.
Either way, drink and enjoy craft brew off the regional high horse. And always always always support your local brewery, without which all these arguments would be moot.
I agree with everything you said here. With that being said, please don't ever include Vermont with Nebraska or Florida in regards to beer...
My god a normal, sane, reasonably intelligent person! Thank you Eric B. You've restored my faith in man.
the beer is great...but the food was fantastic! I've had the some of the best chicken wings in buffalo and eastern PA but these are THE BEST wings I ever had. And the burger was in my top 3 all time. Hood River and full Sail are Amazing! Agree about Deschutes Brewery and Cascade Brewing: amazing beer and great places to drink.
Portland, OR has the best beer. Most of it never sees a bottle and certainly never makes it to any phony beer contests. Why is it the best? 1. Cascade rain water. 2. The best grains from eastern Washington and Oregon. 3. The best Willammette Hops that never make out of Oregon.
There are so many micro-brews in Oregon that you would have a hard time trying them all. The variety means that there is something for everyone. I used to like McTarnahans Scottish Ale, but they changed it. Now that I live in Crozet, VA I drink the local Starr Hill beers, but guess what? Mark Thompson used to be a brewmaster in Portland. The competition in Portland is what makes it so good.
Wow, I haven't seen so many comments on a blog post, so quickly, in a long time. Forget sports teams, nothing gets folks riled up more than when they think their favorite beer has been dissed! :-)
I think this is a great article, for what it is. A light-weight piece that gets folks thinking about good beer. I am an East Coast transplant to the West Coast and my absolute favorite beers come from Harpoon and Sierra Nevada. I am not normally impressed with awards, so listing festivals and such that a beer won puts me to sleep. I have had awards winners and grand champions that I have not cared for as well as some that were stellar! Being crowned "Beer City USA" or some such nonsense is all about marketing and tourism and not about anything else.
I think that many of the beers he lists are overrated for various reasons, but still not swill. ;-)
I know there are great beers in the No Coast regions of this country, alas, I don't have the ability to try most of the great ones. Maybe one day a beer trip? :-)
I started my own favorite beet list: http://bit.ly/m26dAA
If anyone wants to contribute to my "Recommended Beers" list, shoot me an email and I'd be happy to give you access to my list. I'd love some great recommendations. I am working on a few beer articles for my blog & podcast.
Reading all of these comments has made me thirsty!
bill at whereicarusflies dot com
To all the east Coast beer guys mad at this article...
1. He never said anything bad about east coast beer. He was just mentioning how great the west is....and he is right. take a look at beer advocate (which consumers rate beer from ALL OVER THE GLOBE) and you will see over 30 west coast breweries in the top 100.
2. Great lakes, Dogfish head, etc. etc. are all fine breweries. But here is the thing; WE GET THOSE BEERS OUT HERE! I can walk to about 10 different markets or pubs in Portland and get all of that stuff, so its not like you are putting us on to beer we dont already know about. Great Lake is harder to come by, but Dogfish head is served all sorts of places
3. Those saying that Sierra Nevada isnt that good are CORRECT. To even list that brewery alongside Russian River, laguanitas, Caldera, Double Mountain, etc. is a joke. Mcmenamins is terrible too.
For my money, no brewery can touch Russian River. I've had beers from all over and their combo of IPAs and Belgians is incredible. Thankfully they ship lots of their stuff up to Portland
I must disagree with part of #3. Lagunitas could be one of the most overrated breweries ever. Their IPA is the Budweiser of IPAs. A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale is nothing special. Russian River is good stuff, but Pliny the Elder is also overrated. Don't get me wrong, it is a great beer and deserves high praise, but best beer in the world? Best IPA ever? (as some tout it) I don't think so. I am longing for a trip to the brewery to try some Pliny the Younger. :-)
I am a big Sierra Nevada lover, so I am a huge fan of one of our top craft breweries in America. Great stuff, hands down. I don't know Double Mountain. I'll have to check it out.
Sierra Nevada stuff is pretty foul, and kind of all tastes the same. Kind of like New Belgium's stuff (though I like their Ranger pale ale). But Lagunitas IPA on-tap? You really don't like it? For the money it's awesome. Racer 5 is better for slightly more money, but Lagunitas does a good job and distributes well.
Also, if your sampling of Pliny has been on-tap and fresh, you'd have a different impression of it. Seriously, the hops notes degrade really fast. If you can't get it really fresh, don't bother. Try it at the brewery.
Apologies. I should not have lumped Sierra Nevada in as a bad brewery. I have had many of their limited run beers and they can make some good brew. Their token IPA though is not worthy of being discussed on this board though
I dont like all Laguanitas, but they definitely have 4-5 beers that are fantastic off the tap. I have had Pliny in all forms (Keg, Bottle, & Growler) and I actually prefer a fresh batch out of the bottle at home. As much as it is hyped, it is a damn fine beer. No beer that is 8% should be that drinkable.
Double Mountain is in Hood River, Or. Their staple is Hop Lava, but their limited release stuff is where its at (like Molten Lava)
EEEEEEHHH.
Brandon, your comment of "You really don't like it? For the money it's awesome. " disqualifies you from further participation in the game. Thank you for playing.
Pliny is definitely the best IPA that i have had. By far. And i have had many.
Bells Brewery in Comstock, MI makes a number of beers that are better than any sierra nevada I've ever had. If you want a serious IPA try their Hopslam...Unbelievable. Two Hearted is also one of my favorite IPA's from Bells. Also check out New Glarus, WI Moon Man no coast IPA if you're looking to branch out and broaden your horizons – cheers
If you never tried it Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown PA puts out some of the best beer I ever tried!! Their IPAs are great!!
Your taste buds will thank you...
http://www.saranac.com/
Bear Republic Brewing (Sonoma County, CA) also deserves a shout-out. Their "Racer 5" IPA is one of the best, hands-down.
IPA is for weenies. No flavor, and you can get it all over the world. All of you that like an IPA try a cold Scotch Ale. You will never go back.
I agree about the Scotch Ales; Belhaven is great, especially their "Wee Heavy".
This is half the problem right there...needing the beer to be "cold" Especially a Scottish ale 80/90, or a Barley Wine should be more towards the cool if not room temp side of things. By drinking any beer ice cold you're missing out on half of the beers profile.
Just like nearly everything else about the West Coast, I found their beers highly overrated. I'll stick with my "inferior" New England beers.
The place I discovered the range of beers in LA. Is a Microbrewery Grill in Silverlake Called "GOOD". I love this place from Salads to Sandwiches to Sirloin their food is great but it was their Beer List that hooked me. Such a range of established catagories, IPA, Wheat, Belgium, Dark, Red, Stout, Lager but I do love the exotics, like Chili infused beer. It's like Salsa and Beer in One! I dig this place so much Ron is the owner, and the Manager is "Peaches" a sweet girl from Hawaii.
http://beeradvocate.com/lists/popular
west coast rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
None of these breweries compare to Natty Bo!
Really? Ventured all the way to the West Coast from North to South and neglected to enter San Diego? I guess Stone isnt the biggest craft brew player in the country. Plus, Karl Strauss isnt too bad either.
When your itinerary is shortened to a week, and there are only so many places to visit in so many days, not every great brewing city makes the list. Stone is a good brewery that thankfully distributes in the east.
There's also a LOT more drunks out here than anywhere else. I am from the East coast and moved out west 20+ years ago. I can't believe the number of people out here with addiction problems. It's ridiculous. East coast wins for fewer drunks.
I'm over the West Coast microbrews. Everyone trying to outdo the other with ridiculous amounts of hops, etc. It's so overwhelming that I'm sick of it after a half a glass. Finding a good, clean tasting lager is all but impossible out here. I miss the midwest and the German and Czech-inspired beers from that part of the country.
That's what I'm getting sick of! You're very right, the amount of hops is just overwhelming and not flavorful AT ALL!
And of course we get lumped in with Portland, even though there are over 9 breweries in Bend, OR...BY FAR...the microbrew capital. Heck we even have a beer tour!!
Over 9 breweries? What does that mean? Is there half a brewery there somewhere?
I stopped reading when I read no one brews a better IPA than Sierra Nevada. Five words to this west coast is better nonsense: Berkshire Brewing Company Lost Sailor. I guess you can't blame people for not knowing about really good beer, if it's not available in their area: )
Lost Sailor is terrible. Just sayin'
So as to IPA's, having fresh hops in your backyard is certainly an advantage for the West Coast, but as many others have brought up, there are plenty of lovely breweries w/ brilliant selections throughout the states – not just the coasts.
I echo the comments on Great Lakes and Bells. I'd add Brooklyn to the list – Garrett Oliver is a Master both w/ beer and food. And who can forget Dogfish Head – Sam consistently turns out both innovative and fabulous beers. Too many to name – but certainly many that weren't in this one-sided/coasted article.
Can't we all just get along! Can we agree that both East and West Coast Breweries produce quality craft beers, and the the Central Plains does not contribute to society!
Pelican Pub & Brewery is in Pacific City, OREGON. No where near San Francisco. I'm going to have to call that a glaring oversight.
If you read the article carefully enough, you'll see that Pelican Pub was listed under "We also made some pit stops as we were driving along the coast at:" not San Francisco.
Flying Fish from Cherry Hill, Nj.
YUM!
Hooray for Bud Light Lime!!!!
PABST. Hey, they won a "Blue Ribbon" in 1893!
PABST. Hey, the won a "Blue Ribbon" in 1893!
Wierbacher (easton, Pennsylvania) Blithering Idiot. – best dark beer on the planet.
Patrickk said, "Americans are to beer what Canadians are to professional football. Keep your swill to yourselves, and leave beer brewing to the Europeans."
Yeah? That's what they said about California wine in the 70s. Open your eyes–American microbrews have surpassed the stodgy eurobrews that haven't changed in centuries.
Case and Point: Stone out of San Diego is the first American microbrew to brew IN Europe!!
The author's right that the west is where the best brewers are, but SN pale ale is probably about the 400th best beer. And it didn't take long for that smugness to come out. "Diverse culture that promotes creativity", so that's how you're phrasing it now, huh?
You can't generalize like that. The Alaska Brewery in Juneau pumps out medal winners every year. Colorado may be the single best collection of breweries anywhere in the world followed by Oregon. The east coast beers are improving every time I go back to visit. Heck, Atlanta has an excellent brewery now and they're water quality is pretty crappy. I've had good beer everywhere. We are living in good beer times and it doesn't need to be a turf war. Drink up and smile!
Strand Brewery...new brewery out of LA....great stuff
SARANAC. The definition of deliciousness.
I mostly agree with this article, growing up on the east coast, then moving to the NW (Oregon) the beers in the NW make the beers I used to drink (like Harpoon IPA) taste like water. I'm truly spoiled that I can get a 6 pack of Hop Czar Imperial IPA for $7...hey, Harpoon and Dogfish Head are both great east coast breweries, the fact of the matter is I have at least 20 unique brew pubs within 20 min driving time...living MA I had....drum roll please....1. He's also spot on about The Abyss....my favorite, and I like it much better un-aged.
There are fantastic breweries on the West Coast, East Coast, in the Midwest, Southwest, not to mention several other countries. The author of that article is clearly a West Coast homer. There is a lot of nonsense in here. Give me Troegs, Bells, 3 Floyds, Allagash, Hennepin, and Dogfish and I'm all set.
Ommegang brews Hennepin.
...and it's not even close to being the best thing Brewery Ommegang puts out.
Fastest way to start an argument, talk about religion, politics, or BEER! I like the information on the west coast breweries, but there are plenty of nice ones throughout the country. I tend to go for LOCAL product, so if you are in the area, TRY THEM! I use the same philosophy if I am in Germany, England, Czech Republic or in the US. Beer is best when FRESH, so try what you can where you are!
The Great Lakes and beer states of the "North Coast" certainly have some of the best beers in the nation.
Being from Southern California and currently living in San Diego where I've been home brewing for a little over a year, I have to a gree that the West is one of the best (if not the top) regions as far as output and variety. Everything I've ever had from Stone has been awesome. Stone Pale was my go-to beer for quite a while and I still enjoy it. Fat Tire by New Belgium is a pretty good beer too. Mirror Pond from Deschutes. Karl Strauss Amber from SD. There are quite a few good ones from this region.
There are good brews in other regions: Bells in MI, Capital in WI, Dogfish Head, and a few more, but the volume and variety out West can't be beat.
If it is in any way American, don't bother.
Just simplifying your post from a few minutes ago? Good work.
...drool...
Which coast? The North Coast of Germany. Duh.
Hello? Mac & Jacks brewery based out of Redmond, Washington. Their African Amber Ale is the best! They may not have a big brewery, or sell a can or a bottle, but they make some of the best beer.
It's a shame to have such an extensive article and list about "West Coast" beers and not include both Driftwood and Phillips breweries out of Victoria, BC, Canada. In my experience, they compare well with anything else out of the Pacific Northwest and are far better than many in the article.
Nice article. If we count any body of water you can't see to the other side of as a sea, then the inland seas around Michigan perhaps have some coastlines worth visiting. A few folks have mentioned Bells (but Kalamazoo is a bit of stagger from the beach) – I'd add in some of the great smaller breweries from Right Brain (the best IMO), North Peak and Mackinaw up in Traverse City down to the Atwater Brewery in Detroit.
Good beer in America died with Prohibition. Reborn with the legalization of Homebrewing by California US Senator Alan Cranston in the 1978. Midwifed by Fritz Maytag at Anchor Brewing Co. in San Francisco. Born with the name of New Albion Brewing Company in Sonoma, California in 1976, the first new microbrewery in the USA. Breastfed by burgeoning homebrew clubs like San Francisco's San Andreas Malts and the nation's oldest club, the Maltose Falcons in L.A. The hippies did not originate the Beer Revolution. Neither Fritz Maytag (Anchor) nor Jack McAuliffe (New Albion) were hippies. Sierra Nevada started in 1980 in Chico, California.
All California names here because California led the nation into the beer revolution, quickly joined by Oregon and Washington and homebrewers across the nation.
Brewpubs burst upon the scene in 1982 with Grant's Brewery Pub in Washington State, then the Mendocino Brewing Co., Buffalo Bills Brewing, San Francisco Brewing and Triple Rock Brewing in California.
The West Coast started and led the Beer Revolution in the U.S. Now, we are lucky to have thousands of excellent breweries in the U.S. Some states are still lagging, mostly in the South. Anheuser Busch Inbev just nixed a Texas law that would have allowed Microbreweries to sell beer to the public! They claimed it would be unfair for a microbrewery to sell beer and not them!
This East versus West versus Midwest argument is all wet. Its all yellow in the end.
Cheers
Sierra Nevada makes a good IPA, sure, but its kind of rookie beer. Stone is much better
Dogfish Head "owns" Sierra Nevada???? Please... All this tells me is the only thing you ever had from SN is the Pale Ale (arguably the worst beer then produce).
As for West Coast Brews – Check out Bear Republic. Racer #5 and Red Rocket Ale are amazing
Is it just me or does it seem that the West Coast puts out mostly IPA's??
It's just you. West Coast IPAs are certainly prominent, but there is WAYYYY more to it than that. Just take a look at what Vinnie is doing up north and what Tomme Arthur is doing down south with American Wild Ales.
Its' not just you. IPAs are preferred on the west coast.
Like many people, I was surprised the author only made it down to S.F. and not all the way down to San Diego. We have a number of good breweries here. Perhaps some day he'll check out the pubs on 30th street or one of our many beer festivals.
Oh, and I've yet to try a beer from Dogfish Head that wasn't cr@p. They need to re-read their brewers' handbook that says beer should consist of only 4 ingredients, not a lot of bizarre adjuncts.
Actually, the West Coast IPA market is so over saturated that many brewers are experimenting with sour barrel aged beers.....no complaints about that.
To those of you living in and around Escondido, CA...see you at Stone's 15th Anniversary Celebration, August 20th, for a world class tasting event! Those of you living anywhere else, you're invited, too, especially if your airport is PDX! It's a fine opportunity to compare and contrast IPAs as well as sample a variety of other brews. Of course, you can also visit the many of the other regional breweries.
Please.. ive lived in South, and east coast. Now in PDX. PDX is by FAR the craziest beer city. Asheville you have a fraction of the breweries PDX has, and you dont have famous ones like Deschutes,Rogue,Bridgeport,Full Sail,Widmer. There are some good breweries outside of West Coast, but as a general rules the west coast is where a ALRGE percentage of the good beer is, and almost all the good IPA's.
Gross
Rhino Chasers American Ale
Rhino Chasers Winter Brew
Oh please – All you possers need to stop embarrassing yourselves.
there is absolutely nothing that even comes close to the beer and beer culture of the PNW (pacific northwest for you possers). You may think you have a good beer, but you don't. I've been all over the country and gag down what you all deem to be micro brews, 90% of the time they are corporate owned swill branded as a micro.
if you want to try what truly is beer culture, Portland has 3 micro brew festivals a year – 1 for organic, 1 for small production and 1 for winter releases. our micro distillery festival is up and coming as well.
Portland has more true micro breweries & micro distilleries per capita than any place in the country, or in the world for that matter. Distillery Row has some of the best micro distilled alcohols in the country.
Of course this completely ignores our world class Pinot's growing just south of town in the Willamette Valley. that's another rant.
please, do yourself a favor, stop embarrassing yourselves and come find out what true micro beer and micro culture is about. stay downtown, walk the Pearl District or take a brewery/winery tour, you'll go home a changed person.
A little myopic. I'll pit the varieties brewed in San Diego Co. against those from the Northwest any time.
Portland has an amazing beer scene, but to dismiss other areas in the way you have is inane. You are telling me that San Diego is full of "corporate owned swill"? Stone, The Lost Abbey/Port, Green Flash, Ballast Point, Alpine, etc. would all have something to say about that. That's just one area, there are cities with fantastic beer culture all around the US if you truly step out of your PNW bubble. Give me an example of one of your "corporate owned swill branded as micro" breweries, will ya?
When I lived on the East Coast I had the hardest time finding decent beer. Living near Eugene and Portland I just have to walk down the street and I'm able to find a bar with different beers brewed locally that I have never tried before. Rogue Breweries has a tasting room about 7 miles away from me where they grow their hops and brew fresh beer all the time. I'm spoiled to say the least. If you every had a chance though, I would say check out Ninkasi Brewery in Eugene, OR. Their total domination IPA is one of my favorites.
How do you drive through Northern California without stopping at North Coast Brewery, Lost Coast Brewery, and Mendocino?
If you are going to talk IPA, you have to visit San Diego. As has been mentioned, there are certainly some awesome East Coast/Midwest/Southern IPAs, like Two Hearted, COAST Boy King, 3 Floyd's Dreadnaught, Hill Farmstead's Abner, etc. But, for my money, Alpine Brewing in San Diego (kinda) has the most consistent and delicious line up of IPAs. Nelson, Duet, Pure Hoppiness and Exponential Hoppiness are all world class IPAs. Further north, Kern River has been putting out some amazing stuff, as well. Just Outstanding IPA, Citra Double IPA and their recently released 5th Anniversary Double IPA are phenomenal. Bootlegger's Brewing in Fullerton, Ca. also has one of the most acclaimed Double IPAs right now, Knuckle Sandwich. Man, I love hops. I didn't mention Pliny as that is a staple and needs no more acclaim.
Didn't know about Kern, but am in alignment with all accolades to San Diego County microbreweries!!
If you get a chance try Ephraim from Hill Farmstead...I was fortunate to try it from a growler 2 days after the pour...scrumptious!!!
Alpine makes my favorite IPAs. I'll be staying out SD in a few weeks and plan on making a stop by the brewery to pick up a few cases of Nelson and Pure Hoppiness. I recently decided i enjoy the Nelson more than Pliny. Such an amazingly different IPA (Golden-Rye IPA)
Git'r Done beer – Pawnee City, Nebraska! You don't have to be a starving Pygmy to love this beer!
Dont claim to like beer unless you can appreciate the awesome beers that come from both coasts.
THere's a difference between appreciating good beers from both coasts and knowing that west coast has the best hands down
Vermont has the highest number of brewery's per ca pita in the nation. It's a bit premature to declare the west coast as the home of micro-brews.
I think it's safe to make that claim for now, It's obviously just a judgement call. Hill Farmstead and Lawson's Finest are doing some amazing stuff, though.
I'll take an Altes or a Blatz any day of the week.
Americans are to beer what Canadians are to professional football. Keep your swill to yourselves, and leave beer brewing to the Europeans.
Your cute little assessment there may have held water 20 years ago. . .get with the times buddy. . . you are getting left behind
... belch...
Well, the Belgians certainly do make some of the world's best beer, but I don't think that implies that all European beer is superior to all American beer.
Great beer is being made all over the world and we have the good fortune of living at a time when we can sample much of it.
This is beyond ignorant, but not surprising in any way. Many of the most respected brewers in Europe have stated that US brewing has surpassed that of European brewing. Many of these same brewers are doing collaboration beers with the "swill makers".
I have read articles on this very topic. . .it appears that many European breweries are bound by tradition and are not as free to explore new techniques/recipes. Tons of start-up breweries are not bound by tradition and hence the blossoming US micro-brewing industry. Same goes with wine. . . sorry France
Some great ones around Minneapolis:
Flat Earth Brewing Co,
Summit (larger than a true microbrewery but darn good beer, especially their Winter Ale)
Surley
Lift Bridge
My favorite though is Arrogant Bastard
Their beers are fun, ever try Raging B1tch? Complex, not many people like it but it's good.
oooo, thought I saw Flying Dog there. Anyway it's a good beer.
The whole region versus region thing is a little ridiculous. There are great beers being made all over the place. Even Indiana has 3Floyds, so great beer can be brewed anywhere.
I was little surprised that Sierra Nevada was the author's example of the best IPA. While SN makes serviceable beer, they are by no means remarkable. Perhaps, the author needs to try a few more beers before writing any more articles on beer?
Agreed on all fronts. . . I too am not a big fan of Sierra Nevada
The purpose of the article probably wasn't to make an exhaustive list of what is best, it was probably written for people that don't have extensive knowledge of craft beer. Sierra Nevada is a pioneer brewery in the craft beer community and while they aren't the BEST, they brew very good, consistent beer.
Should have stopped at Bear Republic in Healdsburg, CA (Racer 5 IPA and Hop Rod Rye are both incredible beers) and Anderson Valley Brewing Co. in Boonville, CA.
I recently discovered Anderson Valley Imperial IPA . . .just amazingly good beer
Yum, Bear Republic Racer 5....a benchmark IPA.
A couple of my favorite EAST Coast beers are actually in upsate NY. Give Adirondack Brewery a try. It's located in Lake George and they use it's water for their beers. Another is Lake Placid Brewery located in Lake Placid (of course). Both make some great micro brews.
FOUR PEAKS!! Tempe, Arizona.
West coast beer destroys. People are brewing better beers in their bathtubs in Portland than you can get out east.
OK, that's a little harsh. I've had some good beers out east. But what makes Portland different is their lack of bad beers. No matter where you go to eat, you can always get a good porter, IPA and amber on tap, always local. You get a weird look in P-town if you order a Bud Light. It's just a beer drinking culture completely oriented toward craft beers (and PBR, I guess).
Interesting comments. Guess the "best" beer is quite subjective. What a surpirse.
SN is less than a ten minute walk from my office. Lovely smells in the morning as they brew their magic!!! Just lovely.
http://www.featherriverbrewing.com/
There is no centralized claim to fame beer authority. This really should be in the opinion collum of the news but defining the west coast and north pacific as the best beer region is like me saying texas beer is the best becasue I wrote a article on it. When the truth is there are many better beers than what he listed and in different parts of the U.S.. So just go ahead and put the money you received from the west coast and pacific beer association (if there is one) to make this artricle in the bank.
What's all this East Coast vs. West Coast stuff? They both stink! Get a 6 of Old Milwaukee talls and be treated to true quality!
If you get the chance to stop at Pacific Coast Brewery in Oakland, you should do so. Although I have not been there in years, a couple of clients are close by making week-long trips to their offices very enjoyable. My last 2-week trip resulted in half my dinners at PCB (their food is very good, too), with one beer as an appetizer, and another with dinner. With the exception of the barleywine, a beverage I've just never been that in to, every single beer of theirs I tried was a winner.
Nathan please come out to the East Coast. Start with the entirety of New England and work your way down the coast. I think you'll find out great American Craft Beer isn't all "West Coast Hop Monsters". Us here on the East Coast will show you amazing variety and flavor.
Feather River Brewery, Paradise California.
A small brewery but has beat Sierra Nevada in a few taste tests!
You MUST drink "Dark Canyon" It's a full bodied dark beer, finishes like a fine wine. It's dark creamy taste will satisfy any manly man!
I'm a girl, my great great grandfather was a brewer in Germany.... no wonder I love beer!
Michigan is the best state for breweries. We have Bell's, Jolly Pumpkin, Founders, New Holland, Kuhnhenn, Arcadia, Shorts, Michigan Brewing Co, and about 85 other establishments through out the mitten state.
We also have not coast line then California, no earthquakes, and our states 10 year recession is pretty much over.
Many of our brewers are also vintner and distillers. Our laws allow for wine and spirit producers to sell their products in their establishments.
P.S. Send more Victory Prima Pils west....a great summer brew!
How could you not mention Ninkasi out of Eugene?!
Please try to make your way south next time! You can't review West Coast breweries w/o making a pit stop in San Diego! Don't forget about the Central Coast either... Firestone Double Barrel Ale is a fine beer!
The great thing about craft beer is that it's such a welcoming community. The East and West Coast brewers don't battle each other over who's the best, and consumers shouldn't either. Brewers from opposite coasts are even collaborating with each other to create some really unique and delicious beers. Beer is subjective. It's about what you like. If you like West Coast beers, cool. If you like East Coast beers, cool too. It's your preference. All you people bashing East Coast beers in an attempt to prove the West superior, or vice versa, are just making yourselves sound stuck up and conceited. This isn't wine people. It's beer. Shut up and enjoy it.
The Pelican Brewery is not in San Fransisco. It is in Oregon in Pacific City.
Hey Keith, you and Kristin seem to have the same sight problems. Go back and read the article and you'll see Pelican Pub is listed under other places we stopped along the coast.
This writer does not know beer. At all. "But, no one brews them better than Sierra Nevada"
This statement should have resulted in the article being yanked. Write about what you know fool. And a big +1 for the Portsmouth Brewery and Kate the Great! I met a group of drinkers from Holland this weekend that crossed the Atlantic just to try it. I'll take that as a sign that NH, and the east coast in general, just might know a thing or two about brewing after all.
I'll write for you CNN. I know more on this topic than the turd that wrote this article.
Don't know about this. I would argue the midwest is better. We get stuff from the east and west coast. Plus we have our own beers.
How could you leave Firestone off the list? IMO they are the best brewery in the great state! Double Jack is just heavenly!
Anderson Valley also . . .
Agreed! Firestone Double Barrel is one of my all time favorites!!!
Ahh you also need to try their IPA's, Velvet Merkin their Oatmeal Stout, their Pale is pretty stinkin good too. . .
Even more, if you can get your hands on some Parabola (barrel aged stout) or Abacus (barrel aged barleywine) you'll be in heaven. So good.
Or any of their aged Anniversary beers.. . . ummmmmm
I love it too, but it's gets me drunk so I can't drink as often as I would like.
Too sweet & malty.
Great article. I would have loved to have seen him swing through San Diego - a great beer town.
There are a LOT of comma errors though. I expect better proofreading from CNN.
OK folks.....not everyone has the same palate, and not everyone is going to come up with the same beers on their favorite list. Some may think a certain beer or brewery is the best there is, while another set of people might despise that beer. Me? I like drinking good beer, and all that means is beer that my taste buds like. I don't like a certain beer because Beer Advocate ratings tell me it's good. I like it because it satisifies me alone.
People who really love beer drool at the opportunity to try new ones, it's sad something as fun as beer has a snobby following.
Come on, we all know that sierra nevada isn't as good as some of the east coast IPA's but the point is that the west coast is known for trying out these brews first, and when it comes down to it there are better IPA's on the west coast, I wouldn't say that overall the best beers always come from the west coast though.
FAT TIRE!! NEW BELGIUM BREWERY, COLORADO!! get some...
Love the "Mighty Arrow"
a little fun fact: put some splash of Fat Tire in your pizza dough (homemade of course). Mighty mighty tastey 'zza.
Sierra Nevada in one of a handful of West Coast breweries that help get the craft micro brew business off the ground. Thank you SN! In terms of IPAs, I like an IPA that argues with me, and for me that's Stone's Ruination IPA.
Why do I read CNN again?
First of all, being a resident of the west, there are plenty of good beers here. But Deschutes Brewery isn't in Portland; it's brewed in Bend, Oregon. Along with 7 other brewers in Bend, and a total of 11 in central Oregon.
Secondly, there are many west-coast beers that have been suspiciously left off of this list. How can you possibly write an article on west-coast beers without talking about Stone Brewery? Mad River Brewing Company?
Finally, exactly what do bakeries and coffeehouses have to do with beer? Is this a beer article, or one of those happy, sappy, "look at everything I did on my paid-for trip" bit?
There are great beers everywhere. It's all subjective. Get off your high horse and graduate from high school, and then maybe start writing again.
You might be a resident of the west, but you didn't know that there is indeed a Brew-pub in Portland that is run by Deshutes.
Couple of things...
I visited the Deschutes Brew Pub in Portland. Their main brewing facility is in Bend, but they have a brew pub in Portland, which I clearly stated.
I mentioned Stone, specifically their IPA, go back and read the article and you'll notice it. Also, to be fair, I cannot mention every brewery that is located out West.
It was a beer-themed trip but, obviously not everything can be beer 24/7. Also, keep in mind this is a food and drink blog, so whenever I get a chance to mention a food or anything else that tastes amazing, I'll probably do it. If you ever go out West you should try some of the places I mentioned, guaranteed you'll love them! Oh, and this was a vacation, financed 100% by yours truly.
I agree with Cindy...poorly researched/written article and faulty premise. There are great breweries across the US and, by the way, the brewers have great respect for each other as evidenced by their colaborations (Dog Fish Head/Stone, etc.). To take a quick walk from west to east as an example - Rougue (Oregon), Oscar Blues (Colorado), Schlafly's (Missouri), Three Floyds (Indiana), Dogfish Head (Deleware). A good set of comparables to test the theory on APAs might be Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Oscar Blues Dale's Pale Ale, Schlafly's APA, Three Floyds Alpha King and Dogfish Head Shelter Pale Ale. You might be surprised to find out that the Indiana beer comes out on top! (diclosure..I am not from nor have ever lived in Indiana).
"poorly researched/written article and faulty premise" kind of harsh don't you think? He shared HIS experience, you are free to write your own. Anyway I enjoyed the article.
In my opinion, the author missed the best beers Seattle has to offer. I see no listings for the Elliot Bay or Pike Place breweries. What a shame.
Grumpy Troll makes the best IPA.
Thought you would enjoy knowing about a Northwest cult classic brew – Fupps Beer. Fupps is actually a humorous fictional product featured at Vashon Island Washington's Church of Great Rain musical/comedy/variety show.
Here is a short skit and jingle presented for your amusement.
http://fuppsbeer.com/
Nathan, you must have gotten pre-occupied and stuck in San Francisco great article but what about San Diego. If not now soon to be the craft beer capital. Not only Stone and Ballast Point but Lost Abbey, Port Brewing, Ale Smith, Alpine it goes on and on. You could do a whole article on San Diego breweries.
no west coast beer trip is complete without north San Diego County. you have Stone Brewing, Lost Abbey, Ballast Point, Green Flash, and the reinvention of Aztec Brewing Co
Beer is a very liberal drink, so I won't touch it. Real Americans of traditional values will drink Bourbon. Period
Nathan, unfortunately, didn't visit San Diego County with its many fine breweries including Stone, Lost Abbey/Port Brewing, Alesmith, Ballast Point, Green Flash, Oceanside Aleworks or Alpine Brewing. Currently Port Brewing's Mongo is my favorite IPA only eclipsed by Pliny the Elder.
Newer microbreweries worth mentioning include Mother Earth, Iron Fist, Back Street Brewing and Breakwater Brewing.
SeveralNew Mexico and CO breweries – Chama River, Marble Brewing, Avery and Ska – also offer fine IPAs.
If you were in San Fran, I don't know how you missed Anchor. And all the best microbreweries are in San Diego. Port, Green Flash and Lost Abbey just to name a few. But seriously, Sierra Nevada?? Nowhere near the best IPA.
Please I'll take anything from weyerbacher, Yards, Troegs, Dogfish Head, Stoudts over anything from Stone or Sierra Nevada. Russian River does make the best beers in America though.
Russian River is my favorite American brewery. Dogfish Head is a good pioneer, but the beers are typically under attenuated and messy.
Agreed. Dogfish Head is good. But they are not touching Russian River or Cascade.
Okay, here's a note to 98% of the commenters here:
Until you can place the names "McMenamin," "Younger," "Falconer" and "Wolf" in brewing history, you are not qualified to comment on American craft brewing, regional distinctions or brewing pedigrees.
Leinenkugel's, Capital or New Glarus breweries from Wisconsin will go toe to toe with any brewery in the nation.
Wisconsin! 80 breweries in one state, that's 79 breweries that aren't 'the big one'. New Glarus, Rush River, Dave's Brew Farm, Central Waters just to name a few... Let's get some focus on the state that is known for beer!
First we need to address the issue of Sierra Nevada being noted as having the best IPA out there... WRONG! This is the light beer version of IPAs and who really (if you are a true beer lover) enjoys a light beer? I sure the heck don't! This only makes me question your taste and how worthy your words really are because throwing obscenities around like Sierra Nevada makes the best IPA is, like I stated before, WRONG! Something else that makes me question your validity as a beer afficionado is the fact that you went to the West coast and never even visited San Diego, which has amazing breweries in a centralized location. If you were looking for a road trip, I can see doing the Oregon/San Francisco route, but San Diego is still a better location. Why? The majority of these breweries have a great selection of beers and they all actually are worthy of drinking. Oh, and there are so many bars/restaurants in San Diego that have a wide selection of craft beers in a bottle, if they aren't on tap! To me, San Diego is a one-stop-shop for craft beer lovers!
Careful.
http://www.valleyadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=12822
Nice read! However, light beer to me tastes like water. Can I help that my palette is refined and enjoys flavor. Flavor doesn't have to equate to added hops only to mask the flavor the alcohol content provokes. Some of my favorite beers have an alcohol content of 5.5 or 6%. This doesn't mean that I don't enjoy a beer with a higher alcohol content either. I've had hoppy beers with a lower alcohol content... to say that hops are used solely to mask the flavor of a high alcohol content beer is taking the easy way out... instead of owning up to having made a crappy beer. I love water... but when I drink beer I want it to taste like beer otherwise I would just drink water!
You missed Southern Oregon all together, which means not only did you miss some of Oregon's finest wines but you missed the best little brewery on the west coast; Southern Oregon Brewery in Medford. Great tap room, great people and GREAT beer.
WI has Capitol Brewery, New Glarus, Hinterland.
If you are at Hinterland try the Nitrogen infused Pub Draught. Very nice.
MI has Bell's Oberon for summer which is very good.
Great Lakes is also very good.
Anyway, that's a bunch of beer much better than Sierra Nevada...
The fact that you were in San Francisco on a beer/food oriented trip and didn't go to the Thirsty Bear brewpub, which does everything using organic products from California, made me lose interest...
Just to sort of put out a counter argument here to all of the hop heads. It's a small-time article and brewer and not everyone will agree, but it is important to also see the other side.
I would argue that there is more beer in the West Coast, but one of the problems with American brewing (as well as American culture) is that we assume that more=better. As the author above describes all of the beers as being "big" beers, I will argue that being "big" is in fact, a bad thing.
http://www.valleyadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=12822
you people are intense. this is a great list! nathan clearly knows his stuff.
I love all beers, and hate all beer snobs.
The other night I Stopped in the bar for a real quick two beers to meet a friend real quick. I ordered a Miller Lite ( I know it is not the best beer in the world, and has a low alcohol content but that is what I wanted at the time) The dreaded pompous hippie guy next to me said " You should seriously rethink that bro" He then started to explain to me why IPA's were better than all beers. I asked him if he liked Guinness and he said that Guinness was trash and IPA's were all the Jam. Later on my trip to get my second beer, he was chatting some other guy up about his poor beer decision. I noticed that the guy had barley drank any of his precious IPA and was more interested in showing it off to people rather than drinking it. I love IPA's myself, but I never told the Wanna be hippie guy that.
This is a great example of beer drinking gone wrong. First of all, the people who think IPAs are all the jam are the worst, so don't feel too badly about yourself. And please don't lump all beer lovers in with the jerks like that guy. He is a perfect example of the type of people who knows the tip of the iceberg about beer and assume it's his job to spread the gospel. You might find this article interesting: http://www.valleyadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=12822
I would like to put out a disclaimer that I have Stone (Ruination, Vertical Epics, Russian Imperial Stout), SN 30 anniversary Grand Cru, Allagash, Ommegang, Maine Beer Works Peeper Ale, Harpoon IPA, and Various Long Trail offerings in my fridge. So as much as I am championing for East Coast beers, I would be lost without some great beers from the West. I am actually very sad that we dont get many beers form the midwest or west distributed to Vermont.
And for everyone saying all of these great accolades for Magic Hat...pish posh...they used to be great, never excellent. Vermont has sooooo many better breweries than MH. Thank you.
Check out a couple the South has to offer, namely Yazoo in Nashville and Lazy Magnolia in Kiln, MS.
Nobody is saying the east coast doesn't have great beer, but when it comes to numbers of craft brews and their quality the east coast just cannot compare to the west coast. I'm an east coaster who lived in San Francisco to five years and travelled up and down to Seattle and back and can tell you unbaisedly that the west coast wins, hands down.
Northwest beer is huge right now. I'm currently loving Widmer Hefeweizen from Oregon. Their Drifter and summer brew is also pretty good.
Gaaahh! Keep the wheat (and the damn rice, Budweiser) out of my beer.
There is nothing wrong with hefeweizen, wheat beer is good.
Beer judges hate having to judge IPAs because the first couple sips completely kill their taste buds.
It's a beer for people with no appreciation of balance or respect for their pallet. It's covering up a fine filet mignon with not only A1 steak sauce, but half a gallon of it.
If that's what you like, great.
First of all, I love beer, all beer. When I travel, regardless of the country or state I always try the local beer and wine. When I go to Yellowstone every year I drink Moose Drool. Sorry but beer snobbery is stupid.
A good beer is a good beer- no matter where it's from. I've had good beer in many places in the the US, not just the West Coast.
Anyone know where the great american beer festival is held? That's right– not on the west coast. Hint: Denver. There are fine breweries everywhere.
I would add that Idaho is up and coming on the "west coast" beers. Sockeye, Sun Valley, and Bitter Creek breweries are in my mind equal to the Deschutes Brewery in Oregon!
Why don't ya'll just shut your taps for a bit, grab your favorite brew and realize... It's not about where the beer your drinking comes from, it's that you enjoy it. Rejoice in the fact that we as American's have been lifted from the life of Bud and Coors, and enjoy the fine high quality brew you have in front of you (or wish was there). No matter where it comes from.
Beer – It's good for you!!!
Correction in the list: The Pelican Pub & Brewery is actually on the Oregon Coast about 1 1/2hr ride from Portland. I have to agree, they have many incredible beers.
You all do realize, don't you, that articles like this are purposely skewed so that they generate tons of posts/replies in order to pump up the number of web hits cnn.com generates in a day. Since advertising revenues are tied to the number of hits a website gets per day, cnn.com has a vested interest in maximizing the number of hits they get. And skewed articles are a great way to get it.
Even if the premise of the article is patently absurb, as with this one.
I have lived on both coasts. There is no doubt that the West Coast has significantly better breweries and beer culture. I agree that Sierra Nevada is mediocre at best. But all of the other beers and brew pubs that he mentions – only one who has lived their entire lives in the East Coast could downplay the sheer magnitude. Nothing on the East Coast can even remotely compare to Russian River or Cascade Brewing.
On one end of the spectrum, you have Bud Light. Very little flavor, no hops, no balance. On the other end of the spectrum, you have IPAs. A lot of flavor, a lot of hops, no balance. It's beer for people who don't really like beer, but want to convince everyone else that they do.
Also, Sierra Nevada? Come on.
Like anyone who enjoys quality beer, I have no higher distain for a beer than I hold for Bud LIght. But 'quality' is NOT synonymous with over-hopped brews like SN IPA which I find to be astringent and bitter. Most of those west coast brewers depend entirely too much on hop varieties and ever-increasing bitterness to convey the impression of 'quality' yet they wouldn't know a good malt if they fell into a vat of it.
You have a good point on the great HOP race that seems to be going on. . . however there are many great examples of complex HOP heavy brews . . .there are also many as you suggested that are simply over hopped and celebrated by many as great beer. . . which I disagree with. . .but in the end to each his own
There is great beer everywhere, but we do drink a lot of it here on the West Coast. Worth mention: HUB – Hopworks Urban Brewery in Portland and Ninkasi in Eugene do a great job with IPA (and other ales). Enjoy!
Trekked up to Eugene in March & made a point of staying next door to Hop Valley Brewing Co. They brew an excellent IPA, have great food, and a very friendly staff! Worthy!
Pliny The Elder!
Pliney The Elder is THE BEST brew (IPA) on the planet! My family's brewery made this list, but Pliney from Russian River Brewing is the best kept secret in beer!
Unfortunately, not a secret.
It's too bad you didn't make it further down the coast. Half Moon Bay has a tiny but very robust brewery. (Half Moon Bay Brewing Company) They make a nice variety of beers, light to dark, and the flavors are fabulous. I'm partial to Mavericks Amber Ale there, and actually look forward to drinking that beer when I go to meet friends. Their food is delicious, too!
Reduce your carbon footprint by limiting your quest for world-quality brews to San Diego Co. (you won't be disappointed). Too many secrets to divulge, but I will add that you can always find great local brews as well as others from Russian River, Magic Hat, Smuttynose etc. @ Stone Brewery. Got Nelson?
While I enjoy the west coast beer culture and hold it in high esteem, I must say, the true "Napa of Beer" is Northern Colorado. From the high altitude wheat and barley, rocky mountain water, and love of good drinking, Northern CO has it all. I look forward to reading up on a future excursion there, make sure you include the original micro (now macro) brewery in Golden Colorado. It's current multi-national status notwithstanding, in many ways Coors was the original highly sought after microbrew that captured the hearts of American drinkers.
Fun article and funnier comments, but the Anchor Brewery in San Francisco should not have been left off the list.
All this Sierra Nevada bashing seems a little excessive, especially when I read people gushing over Magic Hat. Sierra is one of the oldest and one of the best craft brewers. They've converted more people to craft beer than any other with their Pale Ale. It's still a fantastic seller for me in an area that's still primarily Bud Light drinkers (then again that's everywhere).
All of you self-proclaimed beer experts have missed the mark by saying the East Coast is better. Of course there are great breweries across the nation, but give the West Coast it's due. West Coast Style IPA is just that. You have a problem with Stone, Rogue, North Coast, Green Flash, etc..? I own a craft beer bar in PA, and I can tell you, all those brands are in my display case for a reason, they're that good.
Yeah, Bells, Great Lakes (Lake Erie Monster), Flying Dog, and until recently Dogfish Head (a lot of my customers are unhappy they stopped distributing in Western PA), Troegs (Nugget Nectar!!!),.they all make great beers as well, but I still agree with the author in general premise concerning IPAs.
Make sure you are judging a fresh example of whatever beer you are drinking as that will affect your opinion greatly. Lastly, finding whatever beer you are drinking on draft. It really can make a big difference. It certainly does with Stone's Arrogant Bastard, which is much better on draft. If you drink a beer at the source brewery/brewpub, odds are you are going to have a really good experience.
I'm sorry but it is obvious this man knows very little about beer.
Not even getting into the East/West thing, how can you talk about West coast beer without Firestone Walker, one of the most respected breweries in the country (if not the world), being at or near the top of the conversation?
FYI: You may think you know beer, but you will never really understand it until you get a year or so of homebrewing under your belt.
He didn't mention Firestone Walker because he didn't go south of San Francisco! The guy obviously knows plenty about beer, and yet everyone has to chime in with, "He obviously knows nothing about beer because he didn't go to [insert place that they like to pimp]." Ridiculous.
Great Beer and even better weed. God, why weren't we all born californian? Born free.......
We all know there are fantastic beers brewed all across our good old U.S. of A....all over the map. The beauty of such incredible variety is the ability to taste the differences the breweries impart into their product. I do my best, however, to eat AND drink LOCALLY. Support your local craft breweries!! Cheers, All.
I am a rookie, but here are some personal favorites (also, I don't give a crap about coast, I just like the beer):
Lagunitas- IPA, LIttle Sumpin Sumpin, and Censored
New Belgium- Mighty Arrow pale ale is outstanding, Ranger IPA is good too
Boulder Beer- really liked their Mojo IPA, but it wasn't nearly as hoppy as typical IPA's
Southern Tier- pale ale
I also like several Dogfish offerings, along with Victory, Brooklyn, Belle's and others.
Lost Coast Great White Ale is a really good North Coast Belgian White. You can find it anywhere, but definitely a great beer born on the west coast!
highly recommend Fatheads Headhunter IPA. Out of North Olmsted (suburb of Cleveland). One of the best IPAs out there and getting national recognition. Bottling in limited quantities. Also love the Surly Furious out of Minneapolis
If you love beer and are in the NY/NJ/CT area, then check out:
The brewery show
I'm sure there are some great brews on the west coast, but I can attest to Asheville's winning the BeerCity festival 3 years running...for a good reason. The craft beers in western North Carolina are superb.
Nathan,
Have you ever had Founders Breakfast Stoudt? or anything from Jolly Pumpkin two Michigan spots?
nope wrong
I agree that the west coast has great beer but the article forgot one of the best mid-size breweries in the Nation, Firestone Walker! They've won gold at the Great American Beer Fest several times over the last three years. Sierra Nevada is better know and may do a better job marketing, but Firestone's beer is superior. Taste for yourself. Try the Double Barrel Ale and Union Jack for starters.
Agreed. This guy really needs to do his research before purporting to be an authority on beer.
Dave in Asheville – are you a member of NSCHBC? Wondering if I know you. And as for this discussion. Pretty fun - but it's like discussing Bar-B-Q. What's best? Pulled Pork with slaw? Texas brisket? PC or Mac? Ford or Chevy? This topic is fraught with unaccountable matters of taste and regional pride. But I'd sure love to travel and around and eat everyone's barbecue and drink their beer. I'd probably grin during every bite and swallow.
Mike, the 60 minute is a fabulous IPA. If you stumble on the 75 minute ( firkin only) don't pass it up! The 90 is wonderful as well. As for the 120 minute, arrange for the cab before the first sip!
The west coast reputation for the best beer is more due to snobbery and inexperience with beer in other regions. Their microbrews are numerous and often delicious, but they are matched by many breweries elsewhere.
Lagunitas "The Hairy Eyeball" is worth a try. Biggest beer I've tried in a long time.
I'd be willing to say that West coast may be as good as East coast craft brews, but wouldn't go further than that.
Two Brothers in Warrenville IL. Oh, wait. Don't bother. Save it all for me.
Please come to Vermont and have a beer with me. I'll even let you borrow my computer to submit a retraction and a whole new article.
Long Trail
Magic Hat
Hill Farmstead Brewery
Rock Art
Harpoon
Switchback
Josh, as a Vermont resident for 10+ years, I can say you are right on the money. For such a small state, the Green Mountain boys pump out a ton of fantastic beers. Don't forget Trout River. Wicked good Rainbow Red. God Bless Vermont!!
Having embraced the craft beer scene with my first legal beer being a Rainbow Red, I will say that Trout River is an OK brewery...and only if you get the beer in that county (Chocolate Oatmeal Stout ftw)
And to include Switchback in the same sentence as Hill Farmstead and Long Trail is plain silly. I enjoy a Switchback every now and than, but when you only make 2 beer styles, you'd think they would be able to perfect their beer.
Nothing better than California beers...Stop complaining all you middle america rednecks...No one likes your pbr, natty light, and whatever other so-called "micro brewery's you have."...Your stuff tastes real good...to you.
You can't even pluralize microbreweries correctly.
I'm trying to figure out how you go to San Fran and not go to Anchor... Fritz is considered the revolutionary that started the modern microbrew craze in America, why would you not hit that place up?
And if the author wants to really expand his beer horizons, take a trip to Denver at the end of September. The Great American Beer Festival is almost overwhelming when it comes to craft beer! I was certainly overwhelmed my first year. But I highly recommend the trip for any beer lover. Tickets go on pre-sale at the end of the week, I believe.
Dude, you went to Portland and don't even give a casual mention of McMenamin's? You can't swing a cat with out hitting one of their restaurants, and they have some pretty awesome brews. And Widmer has some excellent things on tap. And not even a passing mention?
Being a former- and future-Portlander, I can attest that both McMenamin's and Widmer are fantastic breweries. However, Portland has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to beer, having more microbreweries in its city limits than any other city in the world. Maybe he needs to make multiple trips.
Also, Hair of the Dog and HUB make some good brews.
McMenamins is a craft-brewing tourist trap chain. Local beer lovers don't drink there and they certainly don't eat there. Mediocre beer and really bad food.
All their venues have really poor acoustics, too.
Mcmenamin's Hammerhead is a decent ale. And if you catch one of their freshly made IPAs in their pubs, it holds up quite well. Not saying it compares to Ninkasi's Total Domination or Laurelwood's Workhorse, but to dismiss it entirely reeks of snobbery. True, the food is mediocre, but what's great about all of Portland's breweries right now – even the chain-type places – is nobody gets off easy. Make a very, very good beer or people will go elsewhere.
it is obvious that the the author never went east. but for who is better , east or west? Who cares, there all better than Bud or Miller. East or west, they are all craft beers made with real passion!
This article had the potential to be a great story about our wonderful and diverse West Coast beers. However, it fell far short of that potential. The author should restrict his topics to subjects of which he is knowledgable. Rather than sponsoring a worthwhile and informative report on northwest brews, CNN wasted money on a boondoggle.
I also thought it was a stilted and poorly researched article (the research should have been the best part, taking a decade to complete!). When comparing good beer, it is difficult to give a 'best beer' label... and so just stating that the West Coast has the best beer is too simplistic. An interesting and worthwhile article would have evaluated the historic influences of the beers of the different regions of America. It would have compared and contrasted the different styles, and the regional cultures that surround them. Perhaps even tracking the historic path of the 'micro-brew' culture, as it weaved its way across the country, changing in each location to suit regional tastes. In the course of such an article, you could certainly call out various beers that you really appreciate, and why, in each region. But to simply call out a single region as the 'best' is to oversimplify and minimize the complexity of the American microbrewing culture. I live in southeastern PA, and there are a ton of East Coast brews that I really like – starting at the top with Victory (the Golden Monkey is one of my all-time favorites). Regardless of region, anytime I see a small brew label on a menu, I have to sample it!
Oh, and there's a terrific little secret right in downtown Portland that hardly anyone knows about! It's a tiny little hole in the wall, kind of tucked into an alley. Tug Boat Brewery. It only seats about 50 people. Unfiltered, and unpasteurized. The stuff has a kick! If you like stouts, their signature stout is fabulous.
The west coast does indeed have it's massive beers however that is not what every palate wants or craves. I honestly feel like the line "I say there’s no debating that the best region for beer in the United States is the Pacific or West Coast region." is just meant to insite controversy and controversy insite discussion which is exactly what I feel the writer and cnn.com wanted.
Beer is very suggestive and beer drinkers are very passionate. There is no right or wrong with beer, just opinion.
"sweet" sorry!
Where to begin?
Last thanksgiving I toured multiple great breweries in San Diego County with my brother. There are more excellent craft brews then one can mention on the west coast but you are more then a little confused or perhaps merely uninformed about whats going on elsewhere. For starters the choice of Sierra Nevada as the archetype of the west coast IPA would be questioned by many today, history aside. Then you state west Coast beers are massive and hoppy IPAs like Monks Blood? Lets see, Monk's Blood is a fruity suite Strong ale in the Belgium style with a whopping 34 IBUS which happens to be made by a very nice brewery in Colorado. ( 21st Amendment) By the way I have four cans in the beer fridge as we speak! Nathan , I invite you and your wife to come to Philadelphia so I can have the pleasure of showing you what you may be missing. We'll go to Troegs, Sly Fox, Victory, Yards, Dog Fish Head, Weyerbacher and Stoudts for starters! I think you'll find the quality and variety of styles impressive.
Hi, you misread the post. Monk's Blood was listed as a beer from out west that has an unusual name, it was not listed as an IPA. Also, 21st Amendment is not from Colorado, as you mentioned. They are located in San Francisco. Thanks.
sam adams might be lame but its been around a hell of a lot longer than anything out west so it makes your argument moot.
Sam Adams started in 1985. Sierra Nevada started in 1980 so good call on that one.
who cares how long it's beena around! If it is lame, it is lame. Period.
To do an article on west coast brewing and not take a trip to the mecca by all known experts, San Diego, tells me this author really can't know much about what he's writing about.
If you want a good variety of beer and all in a general area, you have to visit San Diego!
Here's the list of Breweries to be found within San Diego County!!
Alesmtih Brewing Company
Alpine Beer Company
Ballast Point Brewing Company
BackStreet Brewery
Breakwater Brewing Company
The Brew House at EastLake
Green Flash Brewing Company
Karl Strauss Brewery
La Jolla Brewhouse
Lightning Brewery
The Lost Abbey
Mother Earth Brew Company
Oceanside Aleworks
Oggi's Brewing Company
Pizza Port Brewing Company
Port Brewing Company
San Diego Brewing Company
San Marcos Brewery
Stone Brewing Company
Enjoy!
Agreed. Check out the interactive map at Westcoastersd.com showing all of San Diego County's pubs and eateries.
How could you go on a beer trip in Oregon & not mention Ninkasi. Best IPA, hands down.
bells brewing for thirty years you west coast hippie
New Albion Brewing Company in Sonoma Ca. was the first modern Microbrewery in the U.S., founded in 1976, 35 years ago.
good beer drinking in america began in the 80's from the hippies on the west coast. the grateful dead bunch were doing the micro brew thing way way before it became mainstream. the good beer migration was not doubt a west coast through colorado - even Nebraska has micro-brew pubs before the east coast. It moved from west to east in the early 90's, finally by 95 NYC opened a few– heartland brewery, etc. the west coast knows beer. sam adams is lame compared to some of the beers mentioned here
yeah...ummmmm, your close but not quite right as to how/when it all started.
/www.vermontbrewery.com/about/remembering-greg-noonan
by the way the writer is an idiot and never should have been given this assignment. how much did sierra nevada pay cnn for this article
Man @NastyNate, you are pretty nasty. What was wrong with this article?
Will anyone else agree with me that Mr. Wild Game is VERY annoying and need to STFU?!?!?!!!! God FORBID you disagree with his opinions!
I just feel sorry for IPA drinkers who don't have bells in their state. Two hearted is the best american IPA on the market. Why don't all of you chumps from the coasts just meet up in michigan? we have 80 commercial breweries, and many more brewpubs. Also Michigan is the second most agriculturally diverse state in the country behind California, so if you, like the writer of this article, value local, fresh ingredients in your beer, come to michigan. You can do a brewery tour along the third coast. oh, and you guys want to talk water, well, we pretty much own the largest freshwater lakes in the world, so were never going to run out of beer. The west is drying, good luck brewing beer with desert sand and saltwater. NY you dont have bells yet, so you don't know what im talking about, but it a couple years you are not going to shut up about it. How does it feels to be behind the times coastal?
Until Dogfishead opens a brewery in CA, CA should not be considered as having anything remotely resembling beer.
Hey Mike – See Doug's post – we don't need Dogfishhead (sounds weird) out here in CA. We are just fine.
I agree that this has become a pi$$ing contest between regions. I have been to Oregon and tasted some fo the microbrews there....excellent, although I agree that Sierra Nevada isn't exactly top of the list. I'm not into IPAs, i prefer a lighter beer, although Abyss form Deschutes is an excellent brew. Personally I like Mirror Pond from Deschutes. I also like some of the midwestern brews that are old school-Leinenkugel's and Point from Wisconsin, good old Schlitz....also like Fat Tire. I try not to be a "beer snob" and I will drink just about any beer. I like Landshark lager and I drink Bud Light Lime and Bud Select. I also like Kilt Lifter from Four Peaks in Scottsdale. This article is an article on left coast beers, nothing more. If it were a REAL discourse on west coast beers it would have to be book length and involve a lot more research-I volunteer to help!!!!
Lot of great names in that list, but I'm not 100% on "best". Terrapin (Rye ale that they do is so yummy) in GA puts out some really good beers, and I wish I could get my hands on them out in CO where I am! I went to the Southern Brewers Convention (I could be wrong on the name here) in Chattanooga, TN and there were some amazing brews coming out of the South! Out here in CO the Rockies are sporting some pretty good beers too. So I think the craft brewing phenom is growing all over, and it's a great thing to see because who here that understands and knows beer is not sick of "the big 3" with their flavorless, bodiless, mass produced swill? Keep trying all the flavors you run into, and keep supporting the craft brewers in America no matter where they are made! Prosit!
Although i'm biased as a Michigander, the mitten as some top notch brewerys (Bells, GLBC, Ann Arbor brew...). My personal favorites are Two Hearted Ale and Oberon(seasonal) from Bells, Rye-clops and Espresso Love from AA.
I recently relocated to FL and I am looking for some local brews. Help?
I am not familiar with the author or message boards in general so maybe someone can help fill me in on what i am missing. The author took a vacation to the west coast and visited different beer and food sites and wrote about it. Why are commenters taking offense? Is that what people typically do on message boards? I don't think the point was to proclaim the West Coast as the end-all, be-all of the beer scene. I also don't think it was an East coast versus West coast thing. The only reason i read the comments was to see if there were any other places along the west coast that people may recommened. Instead it was all about how this guy is near sighted and doesnt know what he is talking about. Bizarre reactions to say the least. To the writer: thanks for an enjoyable article. As a beer lover, my dream vacation is to explore the west coast breweries and eateries so thanks for the road map.
great response!
Doesn't matter where the brews are made as long as they are good! Shouldn't matter what coast it's from or if it's NW or SE or whatever. I like Stone Brewing just as much as I like Terrapin Brewing just as much as I like Flying Dog just as much as I like Ska Brewing. I think every brewery makes something that is a showcase for that maker. Visit them all and have a great time with some great beers!
Jeff, you are spot on. Funny how we American's take offense to everything, I think it's because we treat everything as a competition or how you would cheer on your favorite sports team (blindly and hates all others). Sports, politics, religion, cities, beer...no one can just make a general statement without someone trying to make it controversial (or moan about what the author is missing as the bellyachers ar eon this board).
I lived in Portland and miss to amazing beers there, the trump anything I've had in Texas but that is just my tatses (I like Ambers and thick, dark beers that just don't make sense in the heat here). Thought the article was good and some great tip I plan to use on my trip to PDX this fall.
What this all comes does to is we need more micro brew festivals in our towns. In fact I nominate Austin as a start cause the beer fests we have here are lacking diversity and much outsid ethe norm (seriously one beer fest here features all the Miller products as the main beers – ridiculous!)
Some come on down and bring your awesome micro beers – West, East, Central...wherever. As long as it's good bring it and I'll fix you up with some good chicken fried steak!
Jeff, I hope you caught the ones i mentioned in an earlier post and those added by another user. The only mistake the author made, was that they started in the wrong city. Get your papers in line and fly into Vancouver B.C. You have the Grandville Island Brewery there plus all the other happiness that is Sincouver. Hit the spots i mentioned as you head south then pick up their list once you get to Seattle. But dont miss Fishtail and Dicks in the Oly area on the way to Portland
How about Fat Tire from Denver? Best beer in the world! As far as east of the Mississippi, Great Lakes has a bunch of really good beers, and Goose Island from Chicago also has numerous winners.
Fat Tire is a good "gateway" beer. I like it. But I've grown to like Porters, stouts, beers with a more rounded, roasted chocolatey flavor. Summit EPA is my #1, and brewed just 5 shorts miles from my home :-D
Not so sure about Fat Tire, but I do like the seasonal brews that come out of New Belgium like 2 Below and Mighty Arrow. Been a bit disappointed with them ever since Coors sunk their claws into them :(
forget the coasts, it's all about the rocky mountain micro brews!
Actually, it's all about whatever beer I have in my hand at the time.
The Rocky Mountain micro's top my list. Big Sky brewing in Missoula Montana is the.. Well you know, the bomb. The make a brew called Moose Drool that is to die for. There are too many deliverance part deux on here bragging about the east coast beers. Go drink that trash Yengling, dog hat, flying squirell sh**, or whatever its called. Your beer is boring.
Oh my oh my. Is this heaven or what? Who has the best beer East or West? These are all incredible beers. Think back 35 years ago and what we had then. This is a great time to be a real beer drinker..... argue on.
Exactly! There are very good beers brewed all over America. Absolutely a great time to be a beer drinker.
I lived 27 years on the west coast in both So Cal and Nor Cal (plus another 3 years in Colorado). I now live on the east coast and admit there are a lot of good beers here, but I really miss the west coast beers that are not available here. I'm really not biased becuase I lived out west so long. I'm from Chicago! All us hop heads have more we agree about than disagree. I ran a marathon through St Louis a couple months ago and couldn't help cracking a joke about yellow fizzy beer when we ran around the Anhauser Busch brewery! Drank a lot of that stuff in my youth, and now can't figure out why...
It's pretty funny how everyone seems to think the best beer comes from their state even though they've never had any of the beers on the list. Dear, the south, when you can start selling beer on Sundays maybe we'll take you as a serious beer contender but until then stick to what you know best: the bible.
The author failed to recognize any of the bears on California's Lost Coast. Humboldt county alone is home to Lost Coast, Mad River, Eel River, 6 Rivers and Redwood Curtain. Gotta to a brew tasting going down the 101 from Humboldt county line south.
Heavy hop presence – what unimaginative brewers use to cover up deficiencies in ingredients, process, and imagination. The writer's IPA fetish is akin to a wine lover who only likes the beefiest of Bourdeaux... sure, they're great wines. But *somebody* seems to have a completely undeveloped palate. Rogue, cited as a headliner above, has a lot of beers that don't rely primarily on hops for their flavor. Same as Lagunitas.
100% false.
I'm going to have to agree with you. I personally cannot stand hoppy brews. It's ridiculous how much they add to the brew to mask the natural flavors. It's overwhelming to me.
You obviously know nothing about a proper IPA.
I know enough to NOT like it. Everyone has their own tastes, including you.
Langunitas uses more hops than most breweries. Hops are a preservative not just flavor. Flavors derived from the hops don't cover up imperfections in the beer. You can have all the hops in the world and have a horrible grain bill and never get the flavor right. You could use the wrong use the wrong yeast or have a yeast that has poor attenuation that will effect flavor. You should try reading or better yet try brewing before saying hops can cover-up imperfections. The more hops you put in the beer the longer the flavor for the shelf life. The average person can taste 70 IBU's. people with a larger taste palate can taste up to 100 plus IBUs. Most IPA' are labeled incorrectly if it isn't bottled and shipped to India to bottle ferment on as rocking ship for several months, it isn't an Indian Pale Ale. That comes back to why there are so many hops. The hops are preservatives and the increase in hops were there so the IPA could taste like a pale ale once it arrived to it location. What is confusing is most American IPAs are American Pale Ales or American Strong. The biggest incorrect labeling of beer is the BIPA or the BPA (Black Indian Pale Ale). How can something be a Black Pale Ale. It is a India Black Ale or a Black Ale. Hops aren't suppose to be off putting they are there to keep the shelf life of the beer longer and for those individuals who like the bitterness. If you want to try an IPA for flavor that is too bitter take the beer you want and cellar the beer. The alpha acid that create the bitterness half life over time. You can just reduce the bitter taste but letting it age. The best taste on the bottle is only for the peak of the alpha acids in the beer. The beer itself can't go bad unless it reach temperatures about 120, depending on the type and style temperature can vary.
I've definitely experimented with my beer selection over the years, and the more you sample, the quicker you find your beer core. The beers that won't ever let you down. For me, one of the more underrated beers in general, but happens to be a West Coast beer is Acme Pale Ale. It's very clean, perfect for summer, but also full bodied enough for year round consumption. Not to mention, it has a great label.
I generally stay away from IPAs. It seems like nowadays it is just a competition between breweries to see on how fast they can give you heartburn.
WHAT?!? [insert favorite brewery here] is soooo much better than any west coast brewery!!! WAHHHHHHHHHH
This article was very helpful! i hope to one day make the trip, except it's hard finding other girls that would enjoy this trip.
All of you have great arguements for your beers, however, you talk of brewing beer as an 'art' while in Wisconsin it is a way of life. I enjoy beers from all over our country and they are definitely fine. There are multiple breweries in Wisconsin that have been around since before California was a state. It is a good topic to debate for sure, but don't forget your good friends in the "land of sky blue waters" when you talk of the best beer.
You did the beer trip my husband and I have been saving up to do. Jealous. The Supplication from Russian River is one of the best beers that I have ever had. If you wanna do a great East Coast trip, stop by Asheville, NC. They are doing some awesome things there and really have some world class beer. Make sure to stop by Wedge, Green Man, and French Broad!
You go through Portland, and no Widmer?
And you missed Rock Bottom! They have a great restaurant, and great brews... and a sampler that will get you lit before you can determine a favorite!
Sorry, while Sierra Nevada's Torpedo IPA is very good it isn't even a top 10 IPA. Stone Brewery's Ruination IPA is absolutely the very best IPA on the planet. Nothing else even comes close. It is the pinnacle of achievement for IPA's.
Pliny The Elder, brewed by Russian River Brewing is also far, far, better than Torpedo,
I would even argue that the Ruination can not compare to the Pliny.
This guy should be drawn and quartered for his ignorance short sightedness and all around lack of experience with anything buy west coast beer.
SHAME ON YOU! You sad ignorant man.
Agreed. not a very good article at all.
I don't know that I would call Pliny the Elder a toned down version of an IPA.
No kidding. In my circle we call it "Roofie the Elder" as we usually over-consume.
I listed the 3 versions of IPAs: basic IPA, Double IPA, and Pale Ale. And then I gave (IMO) the best example of each. The basic IPA being the Stone, the DIPA being the Pliny, and the "toned down" or Pale Ale being the SN Pale Ale.
Nephew James...we'll be in Seattle next week to try some brews....
Wishing you could be our guide with Emily and Dan....
Great Brew I found in New Mexico!!!! Roswell Red made by illegal aliens. Can't say if from Mexico or another galaxy. But is out of this world.
Roswell is probably the worst beer in New Mexico. Try Marble or Il Vicino if you get a chance.
Beer snobs suck. Yes, IPA's are good, but anybody who starts sniffing their beer, or calling it "hoppy" needs to get punched in the face.
You just don't understand beer. Sniffing and classifying it as hoppy is NOT snobby, it's speaking the truth.
And anyone who says their spaghetti tastes like tomatoes should be kicked in the nads!
Right?
West Coast has some solid beers no doubt Lagunitas, Stone, Russian River. But seriously you are going to say they beat out the EC? Victory, Dogfish Head, Ommegang, Brooklyn, not to mention SAM ADAMS the most prolific craft brewery in America. And brew culture in the North East is incomparable, the Beer Advocates there are pretty much untouchable in their knowledge and love of quality suds. And I'm not even going to get into the midwestern and lakes breweries that blow minds.
Sam Adams, really? Please tell me you are joking.
None of the breweries you mentioned even come close to russian river. Nevermind the dozens of of other amazing breweries out west.
Great Read, many fo the beers on the list are and have been my favorites (Lagunitas and Sierra Nevada are always in the fridge) for a long time. Yes we have some great beer on the east – but this article wasn't about the east coast breweries. I would love to see an article like this for each section of the USA....
Thanks for the great insight, it makes me want to do the same tour someday soon.
This guy goes to Portland and doesn't mention McMinnimans? Is he for real, What about Black Lab? Come On Guy!!! If you are in the Midwest, Don't forget about SHORT's Brewing Company in BelAire Michigan. HumaLupa IPA is as good as anything out west!
McMenamin's is really very average, at best.
mcmenamins is crap beer for the Portland area. Mayhap they would be considered top quality on the east coast. But not around here.
Why has this become a turf war? People who live on the West Coast only get East Coast beers that are distributed, and the reverse is the same as well. I live in Seattle and have had a number of the East Coast beers mentioned and they are mostly pretty good (except I think I'm personally going to dismiss the folks who think Sam Adams is worthy of mention on a best beers list). I suspect there are many I've never tried and can't comment on.
This is one man's opinion and honestly it's obvious he doesn't live in the PNW because the beers listed are solid, although very popular. Sierra Nevada? Not for me personally...
I'm not going to claim the West as the best because I haven't had enough East Coast, Great Lakes or even Colorado microbrews to claim it one way or another, but then again neither have 95% of the people who have posted their reply. If you're mad because the article isn't about the East Coast, you might need to think about why that is for a bit.
I agree with you for the most part, I think most people are probably just mad at the reviewer. You can't say "west coast" beers and then back it up with Sierra Nevada, the most widely known and distributed of west coast beers probably. That's what soured me personally so much especially I don't even really think there is anything that special about it when compared to almost any real crafted beers.
http://www.newhollandbrew.com
Dragon's Milk. Enough said.
Last time I checked, Arizona was considered West Coast and it has some great beers... Papago Brewery and Four Peaks Brewery are both really great. Papago has the best Hefeweizen I've had anywhere. I've had some of the Seattle Beers on the list and I wasn't all that impressed by them, particularly Sierra Nevada. And for those who think good beer doesn't exist in the Midwest, they've clearly never tried craft beers from Kansas City or St Louis... Some great ones like Schlafly's, O'Fallon, Tin Mill, and Boulevard. Some really great wheat beers are made at O'Fallon and Tin Mill. From the Chicago area I really enjoy Goose Island.
And for those people who say the west has been doing it longer, HAHA how naive. There are breweries in MA and NY that have been continuously brewing beer before your state even existed!!!
(west coast states) I mean
hangar 24 brewery out in redlands is also really great love the IPA they have
I'm a big IPA fan and we don't get nearly enough selection in southern Louisiana yet. Dogfish is four hours and two states away. Stone's range is the best we can get. My wife asked where I wanted to go for my 40th this weekend. I never considered the west coast. See you hopheads in NYC. House of Brews, to be exact.
Gonna be there a week. Might have to make a pilgrimage down to Delaware.
"Gonna be there a week. Might have to make a pilgrimage down to Delaware."
Stop in Downingtown, PA on your way through... Victory stops offering public tours after July 4th.
I would have to say the Midwest. Wisconsin alone has some of the best beers in the US.
If you like Hops, go west.
If you like Brews that actually take skill to make...try the rest of the country!
Bells, Shiner, Leines, Three Floyds....etc.
East Coast West Coast – doesn't matter as long as you are NOT drinking the filtered horse waste that is Budweiser, Miller or Coors. If you do drink that stuff – check out Beer Wars via Netflix and you'll see that what you think is beer is just flavored water designed to give you diabetes.
I've had beers from all over the States and I think it is fair to say, and I'm proud to say it, the entire US, well the northern half with large amounts of fresh clean water, makes some KICK ASS beer. Whether your on the west coast like Seattle, or in Juneau, Alaska, or the east coast, Portsmouth, NH, Burlington, VT or Buffalo, NY you'll always have a chance to find some FANTASTIC
beer, you just have to look around for the good micro brews! Don't go and get a beer you can buy in Boston, San Francisco, New York AND Miami and Dallas – find something local and special!
Scientists have discovered that drinking beer will make ugly girls look good. FDA advises warning labels for all alcoholic beverages in the form of before and after pictures. After (drinking) pictures are rumored to include Holly Berry, Eva Longoria and various other popular celebrities. Before (drinking) pictures are to include Roseanne Barr, Julia Roberts and a picture of Yoda, the worlds ugliest dog.
And now back to your regularly scheduled Eatocracy...
I LOVE the Michigan micros.
The best in the country as far as I'm concerned is New Holland Brewing Co.
The makers of "Dragon's Milk".
So who's it going to be beer fans? West or East? Tell us all about it at:
http://www.BrewChief.com
I'm from Louisville and while there are some great breweries in the midwest, the sheer numbers and concentration on the west coast makes it worth the trip. In fact, just got back from a beergrimage to San Diego with a friend. Ballast Point, Stone, Alesmith, Hess, Port, Lost Abbey, Mother Earth, Iron Fist, Green Flash, etc. Didn't have time to hit all we wanted. Still, sampled over 100 beers in 4 days. Portland, Seattle, Bay Area and Denver are on the list for future alcoholidays. Check out a site called beermapping.com for city-specific maps of breweries, brewpubs, beer bars, etc.
Of course there are good breweries everywhere, including Middle America and the East Coast (Bell's, Founders, Allagash, etc.), but rather than just mentioning one good brewery you just happen to know is from your area and getting offended, take into consideration how many successful and amazing beers are produced in the West. And how long they've been doing it. They're definitely frontiers in the industry.
I don't think the naysayers even read the article. For one he says he's from GA -you know east of the Mississippi... Plus can anyone talk about American craft beer history or styles without bringing up the West Coast? So his point is perfectly valid.
If this article was about side by side tastings there could be a debate on SN vs DFH Bells vs Russian RIver (All of them but Magic Hat...a few decent beers but as a brewery on the whole? Not up to par with the rest of them) But it's not it's
a beer travel post and who wouldn't want to follow his trail of great craft beer?
A Good Read St. N!
IMO you missed the best brews in Washington by a mile. You should have started your trip in Bellingham with Boundary Bay Brewery (my vote for best in the state). Skagit River has quality beer as well, Waterfont in Port Townsend is well worth the ferry ride, and how you slipped by Fish Tail in Olympia on the way to PDX is beyond me.
Good beers. Could also add Diamond Knot and Elliott Bay Brewing.
Big fat WORD to the Fish Tale. Yeah, it's not in Seattle, big fat deal - but if you're driving south from Seattle it's worth taking the time to stop in Olympia for some of their stuff. Best way to do it, though, is to go to the Fishbowl brewpub across the street and get it on tap. (Full confession: I used to work two blocks from the Fish, and it's my favorite lunch spot ever. Still the best Hef in the US, in my not entirely humble opinion.)
Damn it, now I want a Hefeweizen.
I also agree with the guy downthread who said leaving out Mac and Jack's is damn criminal. Best amber I've ever had in my life. My brother's in the USAF and the very first thing he does when he's home on leave - regardless of what time of day it is, I saw him do this at breakfast once - is go get himself a Mac and Jack's. Damn good stuff.
Wisconsin has some pretty good brewers as well. New Glarus (so popular in Wisconsin that in order to satisfy Wisconsin demand, they don't distribute out of state), Capital, Furthermore, Lake Louie, Lakefront, Sprecher, Central Waters, Ale Asylum, Tyranena and Rush River to name a few. Not bad for a state that only has about 5.7 million people ;)
Lots of great breweries left out in Portland, Hopworks, Laurelwood and Rogue among the notables. Also, Pelican Pub is in Pacific City, Oregon, right on the beach, not in San Francisco. Looking forward to the Oregon Brewers Festival in Portland next month!
Wow, you guys mention Russian River but not their Pliny The Elder Imperial IPA? That's been voted The World's Best Beer by the American Homebrewers Association for something like three years running. Unbelievably good.
I only have one thing to add, Raging Bitch Belgium IPA from Flying Dog, Maryland!
San Diego rules the craft beer scene. From big gun Stone Brewery to micro-breweries like Hess, there is something for every taste. A hip new blog covers the scene at westcoastersd.com. Everything you could ever want to know and interactive beer mapping gets you there.
Atta girl – westcoastersd has all the information you need about the best darn beer country in the world – San Diego.
Although the West Coast has some good beers certainly, as many have already noted in the comments, the East Coast has MANY great ones as well. Maine alone has a plethora of great breweries including Shipyard, one of my favorite as noted here: http://bit.ly/itpMWY. Honestly, there are so many great beers out here – too many to all list here but if you haven't yet, you should try beers from some of my faves including Shipyard, Magic Hat, and Pretty Things (itty brewery out of Cambridge, MA).
One of the best IPA's is brewed by Sweetwater – just about 5 miles north of the CNN studio in Atlanta. Maybe Mr. Nathan Berrong should try the craft beers in his own neighborhood before he claims that "there’s no debating that the best region for beer in the United States is the Pacific or West Coast region." Dogfish Head 60 minute IPA (DE) and Clipper CIty/Heavy Seas Loose Cannon (MD) are better than any IPA I've had from the West Coast.
Don't forget about Terrapin, GA brewers crush the west coast. I can actually speak from experience. My buddies and I did a west coast micro brew & National Park tour when we graduated 5 years. Sweetwater and Terrapin blow most of the ones on your list away.
You forgot Stone Brewing just North of San Diego- Arrogant Bastard Ale, Ruination IPA, they will hurt your feelings, and you will thank them for it.
If you'd ever had an authentic craft beer from Wisconsin, you would never have even written this article. East coast...West coast... complete non-entities. Wisconsin is where good beer comes from, everthing else is a joke.
Agreed.
So very laughable and not even a little bit true.
The west coast is easily among the best for beer (other than Europe), but the author leaves out a lot of the best breweries: Red Hook, Alemeda, Widmer, and Rogue.
There are very very good breweries in Colorado and New Mexico as well: Marble, Il Vicino Brewing Co, Santa Fe Brewing Co, Left Hand, Avery, and Great Divide.
I could never find much good beer on the east coast – though Dogfish head and Great Lakes are definitely good. Just doesn't seem to be the sheer number of breweries, and most make weak pilsners and wheat beers. I like a good stout, IPA, or a Cascade.
1 trip to Vermont will change everything you know and feel about the East.
agreed
I prefer my beer to have had a short trip from the brewery to me so I tend to stick w/ East Coast beers. That said, I love a ton of West Coast brews – Rouge in particular has been a long-time favorite. At the same time, there are some beers on both coasts that don't deserve their reputations.
East Coast, West Coast or anywhere in between we're living in a golden age of great beer in America and for that I think we can all be thankful.
"we're living in a golden age of great beer in America and for that I think we can all be thankful." - AMEN TO THAT, BROTHER!!!
I think other posters have done an excellent job of naming some East Coast breweries that are doing just a good a job, or better, than their counterparts in the West. So I'll move on to another thought....
Why does seemingly every brewery in the US feel the need to produce an IPA? It seems like the prevailing trend right now is for brews to pack as much hop in each glass.... to the point of producing a pucker on par with grapefruit juice. Why? There's so many great varities out there.... some are branching out there to produce something new, but a lot are still trying to produce a Hop Monster, Hop Devil, Hop Stoopid, Hopinator, etc. You get the point.
If you can get to it, Hill Farmstead in Vermont is making some riculously awesome saisons as well as some IPA's that are epic (Ephraim).
Interesting, CraftBrewLover. I just recently heard of this (I think it was only about a week or so ago). Where can it be purchased? Any retailers in the Burlington area?
If you can get there on the right day, Beverage Warehouse in Winooski carries their beer. Also American Flatbread, Bluebird Tavern and a slew of bars in Waterbury and Montpelier(Three Pennies Taproom) have it.
Thanks, CraftBeerLover! yea, I would have guessed Bev Warehouse. They're pretty darn reliable. Can't wait to try some of the Hill offerings. Cheers!
I wonder if he has ever been to any of the microbreweries in New England or even the upper Midwest.
BobtheAccountant – you forgot Shipyard!
The great thing about our country is that there are awesome brews everywhere. I have favorites from the west and east coasts but I live in the midwest and my real favorites are from here (Schell, Surly, New Glarus, Leinenkugel's, Sprecher). Make a point to "drink local"; enjoy, support and take pride in the beer from the region where you live and don't hate on the others – cuz they're awesome too!
Agreed. When I travel, I always ask the bartender/waitstaff to recommend a local brew! Having said that, I live in Minnesota and when I travel home to Wisconsin I often bring some Schell's with me. Then, when I head back to Minnesota I bring some New Glarus and Lakefront back with me. Fortunately, Capital Brewery is starting to distribute to my town in Minnesota! Can't get Sprecher beer here, but the supermarkets do carry the Sprecher RootBeer which is delicious!
You cannot expect your west coast beer list to be taken seriously without a mention of Firestone Walker.
^^^ This person is 100% correct. Fantastic beers.
Had the 14 anniversary the other night. Amazing blend. Although I think would prefer the Black Xantus over just about anything brewed anywhere. And I live 2500 miles from the west coast.
All this article is is an opinion about what 4 people think of West Coast beer. It is meant to be subjective and controversial. You might as well argue about the best car, because every obviously has different opinions. Being from New England, I am partial to Longtrail, Dogfish, Sea Dog, Shipyard, and the dozens of other breweries out here, but I wouldn't go and bash West Coast beer at all. If it's a brewery that's been around for any time at all, it has to make beer that enough people think is good, otherwise they wouldn't be in business.
This might be the case, however people in the mid-west can out drink everyone!
Check out Humboldt County for beers! Micro brews and Great food! One of the best spots with a view is Six rivers brewery! Great food from breakfast to afternoon grub, to wonderful dinners and chiefs specials on monday nights! When it comes to great food and wonderful beer choices, it doesn't get any better than 6 Rivers Brewery, Mckinleyville California.
I love the beer here out west, and feel lucky, but right now my favorite is an east coast brew: Three Philosophers Quadrupel by Brewery Ommegang. That stuff is amazing. It blows my mind every time I have it.
Which, BTW, was created by a guy that lives in Portland, OR for Ommegang.
I suppose, like wine, beer that you like is good beer.
Nah nah nah this is not true. Smuttynose? Dogfish? Troegs? Captain Lawrence? Allagash? Victory? Bluepoint? Southern Tier? Hello?
....Dogfish Head, Southern Tier, Weyerbacher, Allagash, Duck Rabbit, Terrapin
Thank you... I was wondering how many comments I would get through until someone mentioned Southern Tier. Plus, as far as the article, citing Sierra Nevada as the king of IPAs is like citing McDonalds as the king of cheeseburgers. (Though, I will say I am excited to try their limited edition "Foam" brew at Phish this weekend...)
We have some incredible breweries in Texas too. Real Ale, St. Arnold's, and Ranger Creek just to name a few.
Sounds like an excellent vacation idea/plan. You failed to mention how long this all took. Would be worth knowing for others that might be interested that would like to hit these spots
I think this article deserves the usual CNN treatment of "One writer says this, other writer says that" pair of articles.
Also, coincidence that you're name looks like Beer Wrong? I don't think so!
I could not disagree more strongly that the West Coast produces the best craft beer. While I love many of the beers and breweries that originate from this region, I can name just as many legendary breweries from the mid west, the east coast and pretty every where you look... if you know where to look. As an Ohioan, I have to name-drop two of my all-time local favorites. Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland and Hoppin' Frog in Akron. If you're ever in the area, start with Great Lakes for some excellent all-around brews and then follow that with Hoppin' Frog from some serious heavy weights.
Hoppin' Frog is awesome! It's sad not enough people have experienced them. Their Mean Manalishi is one of my favortite IPA's ever, and the DORIS the Destroyer is the Queen of Imperial Stouts.
I from the west coast and now on the east coast I have tried them all and one place stands out most FULL SAIL BREWERY in Oregon.. Hands down the best If you have the time stop in there you won't be disappointed....
Full Sail is a horrible brewery. They don't know how to make the styles of beer they say they are making. Their Pale Ale has no hops to speak of. Their so called IPA barely even hits the IBU mark. They use screw tops. No respectable brewery uses screw tops for beers.
I agree. While Full Sail's beers are drinkable and sometimes even tasty, their styles are not accurately represented. Very light on the hops.
Not to be overlooked by any means: Colorado. From Denver to Fort Collins or Breckenridge to Boulder, these craft breweries have developed better, more adventurous brews than anything offered in N. California. Sierra Nevada? Put to shame by New Belgium, Odells, Flying Dog (originated in Denver), Oskar Blues, Left Hand, Fort Collins Brewery, Tommyknocker, Great Divide, Avery, etc.
Try Lips of Faith series from New Belgium for an otherworldly experience.
See for yourself: http://coloradobeer.org/
Flying Dog originated in Aspen.
But it is brewed in Frederick, MD
West Coast has some great beers, but it is not the greatest beer in the nation, by far (though some would argue that Stone Brewery in San Diego is a way up on that list)
I highly recommend that you take a trip to Vermont. While a lot of people are familiar with Magic Hat and Long Trail, there are far better breweries there. Try the Shed in Stowe or the Alchemist in Waterbury (which IMHO is probably one of the best breweries nationwide).
Another place to try is Boulder Colorado. Try beers from Avery, Boulder Beer, or the INCREDIBLE Mountain Sun Pub and Brewery.
This Nathan dude is strictly JV. They pay you for this basura?
Colorado has excellent breweries. Avery is doing so amazing things right now. Bell's in Michigan produces the top selling IPA on the market in their Two Hearted IPA. You went to California and didn't stop by Langunitas' brewery. They constantly push their beers to the limit. California does some nice things, if Virginia wasn't so strict on licensing for breweries you would see California get a run for their money for hops and beers.
There a re wonderful breweries all over the country. If there seem to be more good breweries on the West Coast, it is only because there are so many of them out there. I'm from San Francisco and I know most of the breweries on your list. There are a lot of mediocre breweries there as well. There is no such thing as a best region. There are brilliant breweries on the West and East Coasts as well as in the Midwest.
I definitely agree with the quantity point here. My folks live in the PacNW now, and when I go to visit it's like every restaurant with some extra space in their basement wants to brew their own.
One man's opinion.
Grew up in the Seattle area and the best beer I have ever tasted (either in the Pacific NW or even throughout Europe) is from Mac&Jacks, a small brewery in Redmond, WA. You can only find it on tap; they don't bottle or can it. A chewy and smooth Amber Ale, there is nothing like it I have found in all my travels. If you see it on tap anywhere (and there are LOTS of places that carry it in the Seattle area) you would be remise not to try a pint.
Colorado beers are the best.
Ding dong Ding dong....Bell's brewmasters have already reserved seats in the hall of fame!! EASTTTT SIIIIDEE! (yeah boyee)
Dogfish Head? Longtrail? Magic Hat? Harpoon? Ommegang? Allagash? every one of those destroys Sierra Nevada.
You are so right Bob. I've had sierra nevada IPA and it's definitly not as good as some of the east coast IPA's and I'm not just saying this cause I live on East Coast. The beers are just better here.
Sierra is too mass-produced. I'd rather have a Bell's 2 Hearted or Harpoon IPA any day.
I don't dislike Sierra Nevada IPA, but Dogfish Head definitely kills it. Oh, and then there is Dogfish Head's "Raison d'Etre", oh my oh my oh my... :-)
I'm from CT and went to a pub in Pacific City Oregon a couple of years ago. Had a sampler of their brews,nothing since has come close, you west coasters need to export more. How about some Deschutes back east?
that's the Pelican Inn, and they make an excellent IPA and cream ale. i live in portland and we've moved our day trips to the beach from cannon beach to pacific city just so we can end the day at the Pelican Inn.
If there's one thing that both Coasts do well, as well as the mid-West is brew beer. An article like this is simply written to be controversial. East Coast brewers like Victory, Dogfish Head, Ommegang, Sam Adams, Custom Brewcrafters, Great Lakes, Saranac, etc... all have beers that rival, or beat any of the West Coast beers you have listed here (which I agree with you are all great beers). To state that West Coast beers are massive beers implies that East Coast beers aren't. Stormking Stout, Three Philosphers, Palo Santo, Sisson Farmhouse, Edmund Fitzgerald all beg to differ...
I grew up in the original beer mecca of Wisconsin where I thought Miller was the high life. I moved to Seattle and discovered real beer. Yes, there are some great breweries in Seattle, however, Nathan missed a great beer stop on his West Coast trip. In fact, he passed right through it. Humboldt County, my current place of residence, has several amazing and award winning breweries from Eel River Brewery (first certified organic brewery) to Lost Coast Brewery, Mad River Brewery, Six Rivers Brewery, as well as some great pubs. If you're passing through on a beer tour, make sure to stop. It'll be worth your time.
You called it on the Humboldt brews! especially the Eel River porter.... As a side, I live in Asheville and can agree that no one can speak intelligently to the "great beer" topic without trying the intergallictically amazing beers brewed here in Avl
asheville does have the best east coast beers(exception northcountry brews, saranac) just look who won Beer City USA last three years obviously that means something
Unfortunately Asheville is a city and not a region. Maybe when the author does a "best beer city" article he'll do it on Asheville.
Try Colorado beers. There's more to it than Coors and fat Tire. O'Dells 90 Shilling is amazing.
I love Colorado brews. Great Divide's Old Ruffian Barley Wine is one of my all time favorite beers.
Spot-on! I lived in Denver for a couple years (now in WI) and it sucks that Fat Tire and Coors are what CO is known for outside of the state 'cuz (frankly) they suck. O'Dells Easy Street Wheat and New Belgium's Abbey & Trippel ales are far superior. Flying Dog's Raging Bitch IPA is also yummy.
I also highly recommend just about anything from New Glarus (an excellent brewery outside of Madison) for anyone looking for more high quality beer representing those of us who aren't on the coasts!
New Belgium Brewery makes Fat Tire, which is an incredibly over-rated beer. For Colorado, Left Hand Brewery was my favorite, but I tend to like more dark than light beer.
Love the Colorado based reply but if you are not including Avery in this argument you might as well have not responded. Avery is the best microbrewery in Colorado. PERIOD. This guy is a moron for not mentioning the Denver Metro/Rocky Mountain region in the article in the first place. More breweries per capita than anywhere in the nation.
I would agree, Avery is hands down the best brewery in Colorado if not the whole rocky mountain region. Easily in my top 5 in the whole nation as well. Sad that the author thinks the West coast has the best beer when he skipped over Colorado (the "napa valley" of beer)
Love 90 Shilling. Went to CSU in Ft Collins('97), now live in Jersey and I still miss my 90 Shillings! Cant believe the author didnt mention Colorado. Great breweries up and down the Front Range
Yes, and New York is best for bagels and pizza. We've heard it all before. When are you people on both coasts going to get over yourselves?
although the east coast does bre some good/great beers, west coast just has so many more places and styles to choose from. He really didn't even tpouch on the whole San Diego area
Genny Cream Ale
Only if you are needing a serious case of the trots....
Mix that with some PBR, and you get the white trash version of a black-and-tan called the p1ss 'n' vinegar.
FACT: Michelle Bachmann wants to replace the Constitution with the bible.
King David was a brewer, but not a West Coast brewer. Maybe the author should write an article on Biblical brewing references, or take a tour of Middle Eastern breweries. What kind of beer do you think God drinks? Is God more of an IPA fan or a much milder American Premium Lager, or quite possibly a Stout fan. There may be a case for investigating whether Guinness is made with divine intervention (which means that with every pint you're getting the Lord's blessings). Wow, did ya' ever think of that?
WWJD = What Would Jesus Drink?
This article so poorly researched if the writers goal is to just say this what I like ok. But look at
East coast micro breweries Like take Sam Calagione over at Dogfish. Its the best run business I have ever seen.
While beers have many flavors and all different kinds of fans. I have to say overall US best
beer has to go hands down "Dogfish" the true success story.
The article is ABOUT west coast breweries. Why would he spend time talking about east coast breweries, when he's talking about his experiences taking a tour of the west coast?
First paragraph: "Whatever it is, I say there’s no debating that the best region for beer in the United States is the Pacific or West Coast region".
It would be cool if it were just about a taste test of West Coast beers.
should have gone down to san diego! stone, alesmith, port, ballast point to name only a few
What an incredibly West-coast centric article. You have a couple good IPAs and are ready to claim that East Coast breweries don't know what they're doing? Maybe you've had a few too many...
I just wonder if it happens to be that the article is about west coast beers?
Of course it is "west-coast centric". The article is about beers of the west coast, and begins by describing how the author took a tour of the west coast. It'd be hard to fit in his experiences at an east coast brewery, considering there aren't any over there.
Love it in the west! Know Im beer spoiled...but thankfull for it everyday
Magic Hat, Dogfish Head, Brooklyn, Ommegeng, Flying Dog, Victory, Smuttynose, Harpoon, Troegs? All East coast.
Yep and also Grittys, Sea Dog, Shipyard, Red Hook and many others on East Coast. Way better here on East Coast.
Red Hook originally started in Seattle. I thought they were a NH beer too until recently.
gimme Pabst
*yawn*
Magic Hat does not deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence as the others you've listed. But generally, you are correct.
agree. They stopped their Odd Notion beers in favor of bringing back old beers, and sold out to the same guys that make Labatts.
True, true. Magic Hat is yesterday's news. Their quirky whimsical (and dare I say arrogant?) business model left me cold several years ago. Through it all, Long Trail stayed true to their roots. But Long Trail has been surpassed by Rock Art, up in Morrisville, VT - serious brewers, who are serious about the beer that they produce, for customers who are serious about the beer that they drink.
Nevertheless, this article is about the West Coast craft brews allegedly being deemed the best, presumably by a biased West Coast writer. Stone Brewery's offerings are awesome, but I'll stand The Shed's Mountain Ale up against any beer, anywhere, any time.
I must concurr that's the Shed's Mountain Ale, is possibly one of the best beers. Also, Ten Penny Ale – Old Burnside Brewery, E.Hartford, CT.
@ Real Beer – First off the author is from Georgia. If you had actually read the article you'd know that. Secondly his statement that it's the best region for beer in the US and possibly the world is based on the Beer Advocate list of Top 100 Beers. As he states, a third of them are from the West Coast. Feel free to disagree with that list and with the author but don't mistake your (or his for that matter) opinions as fact.
Allagash, Hill Farmstead, Portsmouth Brewery (ummm Kate the Great ppl), Long Trail...Let's not forget that without Greg Noonan's influence, the beers on the west coast wouldn't exist.
also Rock Art, Smuttynose, Switchback...
Troegs. Mad Elf – Best Xmas Beer ever...
The West Coast has the advantage of having been in the brewing game longer than many on the East Coast, and as you note, fresher hops by definition. There are AWESOME East Coast breweries (Dogfish Head, anyone?), but yeah, for sheer numbers, the West Coast is the place.
My only objection to the hop-fueled brewing styles of the West is that it set off a ridiculous IBU arms race, with brewers merely substituting bitterness for flavor, much like hout sauce makers who keep pushing the Scoville scale.
Blah! Very few beers are brewed withe fresh picked hops. Most are dried several weeks at the least making location of the brewery insignificant. just picked hops smell like grass clippings as they lose water content they get that intense hoppy smell and the flavors seem to follow suit.
Personally I like true microbreweries. These are the ones that no one will know the name of unless they live in a 40mi radios of me. They are truly crafted beers that by nature put anything with wider distribution to shame.
This right here. I can name a half dozen local breweries where I live (Skagit and Whatcom CO. in WA) that all make beers that blow everything from Sierra Nevada to Dog Fish Head out of the water. If the author of this article would have tried to find some breweries that didn't pop up on the top search results for "West Coast Micro Brews" from Google. That isn't to say that the author didn't find some quality brews, but if you want the true west coast beer experience you really need to dig deeper. Those looking to embark on the pilgrimage, here is a start: http://www.bbaybrewery.com/
A correctly hopped beer isn't all that bitter. . . People like to get their IBU numbers up by boiling all the life out of the hops instead of using the mass quantities left in for less time at the end of the boil or during fermentation. The best IPAs are extremely hoppy, but not all that bitter, because they aren't made by rookies.
Even though there are some outstanding beers on the West Coast, they suffer from sub-par water which is the key ingredient in making beer consistently good. Flying Bison Brewery in Buffalo, NY and a series of Great Lakes beer is really fertile with micro-brews that I believe are somewhat superior to West Coast brews. I DO love Sierra Nevada because of their amazing IPAs and beastly Barley Wines, but there is something to be said about small mom-pop outfits that run all along the Great Lakes and into New England that get run-off from the Adirondack and benefits of bodies of water with such great water. I know there are going to be beer nobs that are going to trash me for this, but I DO RESPECT West Coast beers, but I feel the better beers are on this side of the country. http://www.flyingbisonbrewery.com/ ... but you have to live here to get it. Distribution is still a key issue for getting beer out there. I've been lucky enough to get good beers out there thanks to many recommendations from Erie Brewing owner and Tim Herzog from FBBC.
Sub-par water? The Cascades, Sierra Nevada, and even the Rocky mountain ranges are known for pure water. You think water in Buffalo, NY is pure? HAHAHAHAHA!!!! As an environmental scientist, I can show you proof water is FAR more pure in the west than in your incredibly polluted region.
You need to get your ass out to the west coast you east coast homer.
poor water? you're joking, right? Oregon and Washington have some of the best water in the world
I agree, add in VT and NH that get there water from from the Green and White mountain streams, Lake Champlain, and the St. Lawrence, and you've got a perfect beer-making region. Like NY and lower New England, we're also huge on the mom-and-pop breweries, with several comprising the downtown district of Burlington, VT alone. PA and MD have some really good ones too. North Atlantic is definitely the way to go :D
I lived in NH for a couple of years and now in the Sierra Gold Country. I would agree the water there, filtered through granite is on par with Sierra water. Better? No. However, NorCal grows the absolute best hops.
Oops, I meant Delaware.
Have you tried Dogfish's 60 minute IPA? Its a Maryland brewery and one of the best IPA's I've ever had.
Dogfish makes some good beer.
Dogfish Head is from Delaware.
Dogfish owns Sierra Nevada.
owns as in "is so much better they're not even in the same discussion," not actually owns...
DFH makes great beer, no doubt. Not to mention all that Sam Calagione has done for the industry. I give them serious ups. But you can't really compare DFH to SN, they're two completely different type of breweries. DFH doesn't brew anything to style. This gives them a little more flexibility, but they also have a lot more 'failures'. Midas Touch was supremely disappointing, and barely drinkable. 120 Minute IIPA is so out of balance, you can't even call it an IIPA. SN makes some tamer, more "to-style" beers, but I've NEVER had a beer from them that wasn't at least GOOD.
Yeah have had Dogfish 60, 90, and 120...All excellent.
Dogfish head is actually a Delaware beer and is superior to Sierra Nevada in many ways. A good Maryland brewary is Clipper City – try their Hop3 IPA as it rivals Dogfish 60 minute. Also, I think this author of this article is a little presumptuous saying the best beers are from the west coast. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Bear Republic but if you overlook the boundless fine craft brewaries in your own back yard then you are definetely missing out.
Clipper CIty is awesome. SO are Philly Brewing Company and River Horse. Victory Brewing Company, Troegs. I can think of quite a few great breweries in the Philly area that are better than WC. To say the West coast is better than the East Coast for brew is quite a stretch! While there are some great brew out there. Also I saw people mentions some Michigan Brews that are also great! Great Lakes and Bells.
Dogfish Head IPA's are almost the worst there is. They are terrible. Not even worthy of the IPA designation.
The West coast does have some excellent beers, I love Big Sky IPA (Montana) and a couple of others, but I think it is irresponsible to say they have the "BEST" beers in the country. Dogfish 90 minute and the 120 IPA is some of the best beer I have ever had and the East coast can boast some other high qualities as well such as the Harpoon IPA, Long Trail, Terrapin Ale, Sam Adams, Brooklyn Brewery, and many others. I'm glad beer drinking is a matter of opinion, else I might be offended by this entire article. LOL
You are straight up delusional like most of the east coast and midwest commenters on here. First off, Harpoon IPA is NOT an IPA, it's a solid beer to order 5 of at any bar in Boston on any given night, but if you think it is in actual IPA, you are mistaken. DF Head is not the great brewery everyone makes it out to be, their 60 min is good, but their other beers are just gimmicky and none really find a good taste, They are always trying to be extreme like they have a chip on their shoulder.
Bells is a solid brewery, but two-hearted is a really really good Pale Ale, not IPA.
A lot of the really good west coast beers are on tap only and are not distributed past the West coast, so there is a good chance you East Coasters and midwesterners have never tried them.
Oh Yeah, and Asheville games that vote every year, that vote is meaningless.
Simply Put, the best beer in the WORLD is from San Francisco up to Bellingham, WA.
Don't think West coast beer is just Sierra Nevada...
Agreed! Their 90 and 120-minute IPA's are even better, if that can be believed. Definitely the best IPA's I've had.
I live near Milwaukee WI and there's a fantastic liquor store next door that was carrying Dogfish Head (among many other quality brands); recently Dogfish Head disappeared from the shelves and I was told it's no longer being distributed in WI. Crap!
@Doug Dogfish Head not in Milwaukee anymore? NOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I'll never forget the first time I had their 120 minute IPA, and how it turned my mouth inside out. But god, what a delicious beer. Take heart that we still have access to local brews like New Glarus, Sprecher, Lakefront, Capital, Harbor City, et al.
I am self proclaimed "Hop Head" and love IPAs. Stone and Sierra Nevda are great beers, but Dog Fish Head 60 is the best on the market hands down. DO A BLIND TASTE TEST
I agree 60 minute or Loose Cannon usually are my two favorite IPA's
So not true at all. Anyone that likes Dogfish Head IPA cannot be taken seriously, period.
Personally, I like the 90 Minute, and find the 120 to be too out of balance to be considered a respectable example of the style. The 60 is a great beer, and one of my top choices when available.
120 is better
I am heading to the west coast this summer for only the second time – San Francisco – and am looking very forward to hitting some breweries. I did Portland and the Oregon coast last summer. I've been to breweries in Belgium and Germany and Holland, but it's too expensive to travel there right now. I'm very excited about this trip. Thanks for the suggestions!
Go to the Toronado in lower haight. Its the best
The City Beer Store is great. A real hub of beer infor for the whole city!
Spend a day and drive up the 101 and head to Healdsburg's Bear Republic brewing Company. If you love big beers, you should really enjoy this place. On the way back down to SF hit up Russian River, Lagunitas, Moylan's abd/or Marin Brewing. I may suggesst doing it in two days, or getting a DD... these beers are not kidding around!
No don't drive up from the City to Healdsburg, Do not taste Bear Republic Red Rocket or Racer 5. Erase the path from you mind.
Becky speaks truth.
No, Asheville is! 3x winner of Beer City USA...
Yeah I'm from Asheville and they have excellent beer. Also not on this list: Dogfish Head, Founder's, Great Divide, and so many others that would destroy his list...
The author only focused on West Coast beer, but I would tread carefully in trying to claim the West Coast the best region for craft beer. Great Lakes region and the East Coast make amazing beers that are as good or better than beer out West. Bells, 3 Floyds, Dogfish Head are just a few of the world-class breweries east of the Mississippi, and we haven't even begun to mention the great beer in Colorado.
Sounds like this guy needs to go on an East Coast Beer adventure...
Sorry anyone who claims Dogfish Head makes good beer can have their comments dismissed. Their IPA is about as bad as they get and a total joke. At best it is a rookie IPA for the beginning IPA drinker.
Dogfish Head's IPA isn't that great, but their Brown and Pumpkin are. For IPA's Bell's Two-Heart is my favorite. There's more than just IPAs.
I agree, what a shallow and unimaginative perspective on beer and brewing in the US. I live in Asheville and have drank at breweries in Portland and Seattle and SoCal. All Great breweries. But to say they are the best based on ingredients is shallow and probably ignorant because I highly doubt that the author of this article has visited enough breweries in ASHEVILLE to make that statement.
What a weak and unintelligent article, I bet the breweries and restaurants your reviewed thanked you greatly for your lack of perspective
You realize that all the hops in the US are grown in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho? It isn't really a stretch to say that the Pacific Northwest or the West Coast in general has the best/freshest ingredients.
I would LOVE to make it out to Asheville, never been. I was told they have the most microbreweries per capita, and the beer culture is just unbeatable. I'll definitely be making a trip there sometime.
That's a survey originated in Asheville. Over half the people that voted were from Asheville.
Nice try Dave, but you fail. Go check out some real beer competitions, and see that West Coast breweries win more awards, medals, and spots in the top 100 on Beer Advocate and Rate Beer than any other region in the US.
No you fail for being a jerk...
-Greenman
-Highland
-Pisgah
-Lexington Ave...just to name a few.
I have to agree; Western NC is where it's at!
Have you ever been east of the Mississippi river? I have tasted several beers on your list and beers form other countrys and You dont know beer. Try Burning River from Great Lakes Brewing Company. There are better beers but we knwo beer on the East Coast to!
Love Great Lakes
How Can you not?! Between Lake Erie Monster and Christmas Ale... I'm sold.
Best beer in the USA.. Great Lakes-Dortmunder Gold Lager
Gold Medal, 2010 World Beer Championships
Gold Medal, 2008 World Beer Championships
Gold Medal, 2007 World Beer Championships
Gold Medal, 2006 World Beer Championships
Gold Medal, 2004 World Beer Championships
Silver Medal, 2003 World Beer Championships
Gold Medal, 2002 World Beer Championships
Gold Medal, 2001 World Beer Championships
Gold Medal, 2000 World Beer Championships
Gold Medal, 1999 World Beer Championships
Gold Medal, 1998 World Beer Championships
World Champion, Gold Medal, 1997 World Beer Championships
World Champion, Gold Medal,1996 World Beer Championships
World Champion, Gold Medal, 1995 World Beer Championships
World Champion, Gold Medal, 1994 World Beer Championships
Gold Medal, 1990 Great American Beer Festival
I agree! And I find it difficult to believe there's a better brewery than GLBC! They have such a wide variety of styles and I have yet to be disappointed by any of them. My only complaint is that they're still relatively small and their seasonal brews (which are my favorites) sell out very quickly.
Bell's Brewery in Michigan has a pretty good beer-folio, as well!
I agree. Bell's Two Hearted is my favorite IPA. There are some good East o' the Mississippi Breweries. Hoppin' Frog in Ohio. Victory. Dogfish. Magic Hat. Otter Creek. Bar Harbor, Long Trail, and Cisco.
There are many breweries better than Great Lakes, and Bell's is definitely one of them.
You hit the nail right on the head when you mentioned Bells out of Michigan. Two Hearted Ale is one of the best IPAs ever and their Oberon is a nice summer wheat ale.
Amen brother. To the "enlightend literati", nothing happens between the coasts, so he only had two choices to pick from. Frankly, I think we should go ahead and keep our great beers in the fly over states a secret so his ilk stays away.
@Mike, Good point!
Nevermind, forget everything I said. It was all just embellished exaggeration. Beers in the midwest are terrible. Don't bother coming here to try them...
Everyone else is "no coast".
Bell's Two Hearted Ale and Hopslam are midwest and they are two of the best IPA's I have ever had. Two Hearted is nearly perfect
And Canada
The writer walked right over the fact that last year and this year, Asheville,NC beat out Portland Oregon and the entire U.S. as Beer City USA! If you want to try the award winning beers that beat out every other beer in this great country then you need to come to Asheville. There's a micro brewery on every corner.
man i understand your loyalty but dude, the north shores are where its at. brewing might of started on the east coast, but my german ancestors came to this country for the sole purpose of perfecting their craft, its a passion that can only be found in generations of brewmasters, and where did they go? not boston, not portland, not even detroit, it was wisconsin and minnesota. GRAIN BELT NORDEAST
Still ... New Holland's the best ... hands down.
I agree completely, there are a massive amount of East Coast breweries that can destroy their West Coast rivals. And you're actually going to tout the superiority of Sierra Nevada? Please, I have yet to have a single product from their line that rose above "meh." Try some of our East Coast awesomeness like Dogfish Head, Highland, Terrapin, Foothills, Flying Dog, Harpoon and Brooklyn to name a few. Come tell us about your favorites at:
http://www.BrewChief.com
Don't forget Heavy Seas' Loose Cannon
Seriously?! Are you really going to refer to Flying dog as an East Coast Brewery? They now have a brewery out east, but that is a CO beer my fired, and thus from out west. I agree that breweries Dog Fish, Troegs, and Weyrebacher now brew the west coast style as good as many of their western competitors, but the east–west comparison is still not much of a competition. I have lived extensively on both coasts and have been a brewer for 20 years. At this point, there are still many more high quality beers out west. 25 breweries in Portland, OR alone. So many of the breweries you and other list actually suck- a lot. Brooklyn, Sam Adams, Harpoon, Terrapin?? Seriously? Bi&CH please.
LMAO so not rue at all. It's cute that you think that though.
I agree that Sierra Nevada is "meh". But Dogfish Head and Brooklyn are both overrated and I've had mistakenly bought some Brooklyn Brewery beers that turned out to be undrinkable slop.
While there are, no doubt, plenty of fine Mid-West and East Coast breweries, I find the beer seems to get better and better the closer you get to the Pacific Northwest – and that includes BC, Canada as well.
Don't forget about Sweetwater in Atlanta as well!
Flying Dog is an East Coast brew brah. It originated in Aspen, but is now based in Frederick, Maryland. Besides, even if it was still in CO, how can you claim that as West Coast? I didn't even mention Sam Adams, so I don't know where you pulled that from. And tout Portland all you want (definitely some fabulous brews), but Asheville stole away that Beer Capital crown years ago. And dissing on Brooklyn, Harpoon and Terrapin? Reeeeeally? Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout? C'mon now. Harpoon Leviathan series? Breathtaking. Terrapin side project specialties? Touched by the mighty beer gods themselves. Pleeeeease yourself. Tag!
http://www.BrewChief.com
I agree Zach. Sierra Nevada had a very small window of popularity (and when it seemed to be good) Mostly because it was hard to get a "micro brew" when you went out for beers and it was the first one one in Northern California that really seemed to be at the right place at the right time. However now, the tap doesn't even register on my radar when I go to my local tap room (not that they normally carry it... but you get the idea)
Flying Dog is still headquartered here in my hometown of Denver, CO. We just outsource the brewing to that Maryland state so we don't pollute our own state. =)
The writer obviously doesn't know his beer. The fact that he wrote that no one makes better IPA's that Sierra Nevada is a joke and full of ignorance! SN blows when it comes to quality beer.
agreed. he needs to visit some colorado breweries.
Beyond Bells you forgot Brooklyn brewery too!
Caldera out of Oregon makes an IPA that is out of this world! Most piney taste ever in a beer!
Bigfoot by Sierra Nevada is a Top Choice as well.
Please Sierra Nevada come to TN to be your East Coast Dis! (they are thinking of coming to Alcoa TN @ the base of the smokies to brew their beer for the east coast.
Bigfoot is great, don't get me wrong, and it DID introduce the American Craft Brew community to barleywines, but it's become less relevant in today's landscape. The style has evolved, and Bigfoot hasn't kept up. (That's not to say I don't by a sixer every year).
This was a shallow and almost trite treatment of our wonderful West Coast beers. I started reading it with positive anticipation of a great story, but was left very dissapointed and frustrated. The author should limit his topics to subject areas with which he is familiar.
SCHLAFLY ...St. Louis. MO Mmm Mmm good.
I'm just figured out that Eatocracy deliberately writes crap to get us'ns to write back. Cheap trick, but it works.
Let's be fair, just to say that the beers on the West Coast are the best, does not mean this man doesn't know beer. I would agree with the author to a certain degree. The history of the West Coast breweries can not be beat. Anchor, Sierra Nevada, Stone, Deschutes, these are all names that scream great beer.
I've had beer from all over the country, from Deschutes, to New England Brewing, Abita to Lakefront. In my humble opinion, Pliny the Elder is the best IPA I've ever had, followed closely by Bell's Two Hearted (being in Chicago, that's still my go-to beer). The thing I like about west coast beers, is the wide array of great beers you can't find elsewhere. You can't beat the balance of a Sierra Nevada Pale, and then crack open an Old Rasputing from North Coast. At Stone Brewing, there is not a single style that they brew that I wouldn't put at the top of the list in that style.
There are other great breweries in this country, but the West Coast can't be beat.
I started home brewing 4 years ago because I tried Pliny. You can't get it here in NC unless you have somebody ship a bottle. It took 3 years but I have a DIPA I like almost as much as the fresh from the tap at RR. BTW – finding reliable Simcoe on the East coast is pretty challenging, and you can't make a piney beer without it. I also waited for a year because I kept waiting for the possibility of Pliny on this coast. There is a distributor in Philly with it.
Kudos to Great Lakes and Belles from Michigan. Pretty great beers.
The beer and the people from Sierra Nevada are all great! Couldn't find a nicer bunch of folks.
The author is 100% correct. I have lived on the east coast, deep south, and the west coast. I had not tried a real beer until I moved out west. My favorite is brewed out of Montana, Moose Drool!
I.....Just.....What? Not a real beer until Moose Drool?
Moose Drool is better than most non-West Coast beer, but I would say you have yet to try the real stuff
True, the writer has apparently never been east of the Miss., I have had some of the beers from out west listed in this article, and even though there are some really good ones, I have has many from the Great Lakes area that are much better than some of these listed from out west. The Great Lakes has some awesome beers as does many other parts of the U.S.
you morons all realize the writer lives in Georgia right? Geez, you wonder why beer snobs have the reputation they have. Everyone's so freaking superior. Believe it or not different people like different things. Did any of you actually read the article or did you just scan for beer names so you could b!tch about what he listed?
I disagree with the article. There are some pretty good breweries here in Atlanta. Sweetwater is one local brewery that has some really good beers. I dont care for Sierra myself. I prefer imports, specifically German imports.
Do people in Atlanta ever name something different than Peach-something or Sweetwater? You people need to get around a bit more.... see the world.
Having some "pretty good breweries here in Atlanta" is a lot different from claiming to be the best region in the country for beer.
Still looking for a couple more 4's of Lake Erie Monster. I'll be one disappointed dude if I can't find another 2 or 3... But then again I still have my minikeg of Hopslam in the back of the fridge that will be opened post-4th of july weekend.
Yeah Nathan, you're right, the west cost IS WHERE IT'S AT for beer... you and your people just keep thinking that and I'll keep enjoying all of the midwest beers that blow the west coast out of the water (or is it... into the water... either way.)
Hey "Brewha", great name. Hopslam is probably one of both Nathan and I's favorite IPA's. Ever consider the reason your midwest beers didn't make the blog about west coast beers is because it isn't a blog post about midwest beers?
Hey bro, just what is your problem? Another great article by Berrong on Beer!
Brewha, Nathan is a feature CNN journalist and beer xxxpert. Your resume is just a string of horseshit "comments". I think I'll place my faith/eternity in Berrong.
Beer on the North Coast: Great Lakes Brewery. Lake Erie Monster, X-mas Ale, Burning River, Dortmunder, Edmund Fitgerald, Elliot Ness.....just can't go wrong with GLBC.
Bell's Two Hearted, Dopplebock and if you're really brave, Hop Slam.
Stone Ruination, Arrogant Bastard,
Dogfish Head 90 Minute, 60 Minute, 120 Minute IPA's
So many great beers that in my opinion rule the micro-brew market east of the Mississippi. Though a little micro-brew road trip out west sounds like a fantastic idea too! You just can't go wrong with so many people trying to out-do each other making quality beers!
You might want to check your locations....Stone Brewing is in Escondido, CA (my hometown) which is in SAN DIEGO county, i.e. WEST COAST. Therefore Stone Ruination and Arrogant Bastard Ale are produced on the West Coast therefore, WEST of the Mississippi. Before you start talking up your brewies, you might make sure you have the location right.
Oops, thanks for pointing that out about Stone Brewery, for some reason I thought that was a New York brewery. It sure is a great beer nonetheless, all the more reason for a nationwide beer tour!
Yes Stone is an amazing brewery. The beer is to die for, but the atmosphere at the brewery/resturant is also worth touring. Stone has become a mecca for San Diegians to visit and hang out at. But San Diegians can also appreciate good beer from around the country and even the world. We're not beer snobs here.
We've got a nice little brewery district beginning to grow here in Cleveland. Going to the breweries, enjoying the atmosphere, the food, the beer straight from the tap, that's what it's all about! One of these days I'm going to make a vacation centered around visiting my favorite breweries (at least that's what I keep telling myself)...
I think this article was written by a moron. you cn not compare breweries by the coast thy are on. there are good breweries on both coasts, you have Dogfish Head and Devils Backbone Breweries. Not to Mention Bells, or Saranac, or many of the other awesome east coast breweries. this guy is delusional.
And, this was his favorite????
My favorite West Coast beer of all time is The Abyss by Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon. This beer tastes like a creamy, silky, serving of chocolate flavored molasses which coats the tongue, and whetting a desire for the next sip. It’s absolutely incredible.
Yuck!
Ha ha ha ha ha.....Yep Dunlar. That's the problem today. THAT is not a beer. It is a bastard from an unwashed blender.
Beer and everything else will morph into the current trend of the day, like what country music was, and what it is today for example.
Dude, have you had Abyss?! Its freaking rad.
You don't like Abyss? That's fine. There are plenty of wine coolers out there that you and your partner can share while watching reruns of Glee.
The Abyss is one of the best beers I've ever tried in my life. It's fine if it's not your thing. Not everyone likes that style of ale. But to not at least acknowledge it as a serious beer or recognize the creativity that went into brewing Abyss just shows your complete ignorance of brewing in America in 2011. Any credibility you might have had commenting on this subject is gone.
If I want chocolate milk, I'll drink chocolate milk.
East Coast, Shmeast Coast. No one does brews like the Wild West. You'd have to travel to Belgium to find a better place for beer. What I'm shocked at is no mention of San Diego which has some of the best breweries in the whole country and has been championing the rise of the microbrew for quite a while now.
Last time I checked the drive from Portland to San Diego was a doozy. Or did you not actually read the article?
I agree, San Diego has excellent beers and breweries. I love Green Flash's WC IPA, Pizza Ports beer is the shiznit. I'm from SD and live in Portland right now so whenever i'm home or visiting family, i'm still in the midst of some great beer.
This article was kind of weak. The best beers on the West Coast are beers that most have never heard of because they don't have distribution or whatever. The dude went to the worst places in Oregon. Ninkasi's Total Domination probably the best IPA in the West, IMO. And Pizza Port in San Diego has a beer called Carlsbad Chronic that is an amazing malty as heck amber.
Stone really is a great brewery and makes some of the finest beers I've had. And I couldn't agree more about Ninkasi's Total Domination. That is about as good as an IPA gets. But Portland gets the attention it does because that level of quality sits on just about every other street corner – Hubworks, Laurelwood, Amnesia, Captured by Porches, Walking Man, the list goes on.
I don't think the writer went far from home on this one. Between Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan alone there are tons of great beers. Colorado is huge, and so is the east coast.
This article is about west coast breweries. Get it, West Coast. Why must you get so incessantly territorial. This was not an article about the best beers in the world.
you are nuts – the best craft beer in the U.S. is out here on the west coast, particularly san diego and southern california
Thanks for perpetuating Americas love affair with the word 'amazing'. Believe it or not, there are actually other superlatives one might use. I recommend a thesaurus.
I live in Crozet VA now, and have had most of the "east coast" beers. My friend is a brewmaster at Starr Hill, we have other locals too. The bottom line is that nobody likes exactly the same thing, and the best place for a great selection of great beer is Portland Oregon. Most of the beers never see a bottle and never make it to any phony midwestern beer contests.
Ruination IPA by Stone. What Beer Advocate said about Stone: "All-Time Top Brewery on Planet Earth. The most popular and highest-rated brewery – ever."
i had a couple "Great" Lakes in Ohio this past fall. they were just as unimpressive as the reset of the Midwest region.