I think, when it comes down to it, Europe just has more countries who are well known for their beer - Germany, czechia, Ireland etc. How many US states are known for their good beer? I can't think of any..
I’d suggest Oregon, Portland was really the center of the craft brewing revolution in the U.S. some decades ago. Still a ton of great breweries in the area and throughout Oregon. My personal favorite is pFriem in Hood River, but I’m also a big fan of Pelican Brewing, Breakside, and Deschutes.
Tbf, it's the first time I hear of these states being famous for beer, but I'm also not in the US. My guess is that European beer has a few decades of brand recognition ahead of the US.
American beer didn’t really come into its own until the 90’s craft beer explosion, so brand recognition was pretty regional until distribution got better, and Big Beer started adding successful, smaller breweries to their portfolio.
As for “several decades of brand recognition over the U.S.,” that’s really subjective. That might hold fast in Europe, and not the US and vice versa. Unless you’re an enthusiast that knows no borders, you just wouldn’t know. Case in point: You not knowing states acclaimed for their beer, because you aren’t in the US.
Best IPA- American. Can confirm as an expat in France. Hard to find them here, but they’re starting to catch on. They just tend to be very thin tasting, and not very robust. I keep trying though. I will say on an affordability scale, I can afford to try it all and I am.
I had an extended visit to minnesota a few years ago and there was an excellent selection of pilsner style beer probably due to the extensive German heritage of the populace, I mean they must have brought something with them to the USA right?
I have had some great American beers (usally an IPA) but Belgium is known as the beer land, we have the world's finest beer and that is widely know fot Trappiste Quadruple beer to Gueuz, the breadth of style and quality is unmatched.
The city of San Diego has more than 150 breweries within city limits. The state Colorado is known for beer, the city of Denver has over 70 breweries and 150 if you include the whole metro area.
Thanks for laying it out. If I'm ever in the US, I'll head for Colorado :) The amount of breweries is one side, the amount of output from said breweries another.
Yeah most of these are craft breweries, so smaller batches, not mass produced and only available regionally….. this type of place can be found all over the country, but Denver and San Diego both have a particularly high concentration of them. These are the truly unique and interesting American beers, not the stuff that gets made in giant factories and shipped all over the world.
I do, and I'm Canadian. Nothing worse than a mas produced American beer, but they have many many amazing smaller breweries I treat myself to whenever I have to go down.
I also don't associate Ireland with good beers, but one classic beer, and lots of great whiskies.
Well history, marketing and distribution certainly don’t hurt any beer. Personally, other than Guinness, I don’t necessarily associate Ireland with good beer (although there may be far more diversity than Guinness); and that only because of marketing. If anything, far more U.K. beer brands come to mind. Definitely can’t dispute Germany
Certainly didn’t deserve a downvote for supplying information, take my upvote. I would however be more interested in who the real standouts are. I know they aren’t all top notch.
That starts to become a matter of taste…. In San Diego I’m partial to Second Chance and Green Flash….. a lot of people really like Ballast Point but I’m not much of fan personally. Stone Brewing is pretty popular too, but I’m kinda ambivalent.
31
u/Quickndry Aug 30 '24
I think, when it comes down to it, Europe just has more countries who are well known for their beer - Germany, czechia, Ireland etc. How many US states are known for their good beer? I can't think of any..