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American Beer is #1

thestar.com — Breweries from California to New York are proving they can make some of the best suds in the world. And they're not just copies of the old European originals. While American craft brewers have proven themselves no slouches at styles such as pilsners, pale ales and stouts, they've also created some of their own, often bold styles.

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  • maplepie, on 05/15/2008, -17/+51This is great! I'm starting to get into the craft-brewing thing (as a consumer, not a producer) and I think American craft beers can be both diverse, and top-quality.
    • joshuagor44, on 05/15/2008, -13/+0Positively absolutely!
    • wendelgee2, on 05/15/2008, -2/+17You should look into homebrewing. It's one of those hobbies that's both super easy and infinitely complex. Either way, you'll know a heck of a lot more about beer.
    • xBDVx, on 05/15/2008, -0/+10I've been doing this for a while, and, as the article states, there's a great variety. That ensures you'll never grow bored of the hobby. Even if you're experienced, there's a good chance you'll be totally surprised by how a beer tastes. If you want more info, I suggest you look at http://beeradvocate.com/ ... they rate beers and you can find out where to buy brands, go to beer festivals, and even stuff like beer-food pairings and the correct glassware to use.
    • houndeyex, on 05/15/2008, -4/+16FTA:
      But the super-hoppy beer trend has its detractors, even among some American brewers. "Can you imagine a chef saying, `This is the saltiest stew you've ever tried, and you're not a real man if you don't like it?' That's what some of these breweries are doing," says Garrett Oliver, brewmaster of the Brooklyn Brewery in New York.

      Well put.
      • BabaRamDass, on 05/15/2008, -0/+9No they're not. Those breweries are making beer for hopheads by hopheads. If you don't like a hoppy beer, don't buy it, but I've never known a fellow hophead to put down others for not being able to chug an IPA in under 5 seconds.
      • wendelgee2, on 05/15/2008, -0/+4This coming from the Brewery that brought us Brooklyn Blast, which is the hoppiest thing I've ever put in my mouth.
      • ubuwalker31, on 05/15/2008, -2/+3One of the positive side-effects of the current hop shortage that has driven up beer prices, is that the brewers are using less hops in the beer, which yields tastier brews, IMHO.
        • seraph582, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1less hops is definitely NOT a good thing for the taste of beer. Malt is overrated, IMO. Citrus-y hoppy flavor is the best thing in beer. Centennial hops, FTW.
        • wendelgee2, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1It's cool if you think that it makes a better brew, but what high hop prices are really doing is not reducing the amount of hops in a brew, they're shifting the type of hops from a traditional less-potent hop to more potent american varietals bred to have high alpha acid content. So, 1oz of a 12% alpha acid hop will give you the same bitterness as 3oz of a 4% alpha acid hop, but you've just purchased 1/3 of the hops.
    • Sillywombat, on 05/15/2008, -6/+7Now, i dont have a very large experience with american beers, ales....
      So i will not say that they are bad, good or better worse. However, i will say that you cannot find american beers/ales in europe, therefore there isnt a real consumer test because it doesnt exist. If the breweries want to say that their beer is just as good, if not better, prove it. Try and sell it on the european market! I will be the first in line to give these infamous brews a go.
      On another note, ***** like bud and coors is just horrible. so im not suprised we cant find it here.
      • jordanday, on 05/15/2008, -5/+6Well the idea of the article wasn't that the breweries themselves were saying it, it's that the Canadians seem to like the American beers. That said, the Digg title is probably misleading with the intention of starting some sort of argument. I doubt you'll see too many American beers in Europe though, because "American Beer" is generally synonymous with Budweiser, which a lot of non-Americans don't seem to especially like.

        Personally I don't understand the Budweiser/"Traditional American Piss water" bashing that people like to do. It's cheap beer. Of course you're not going to like it as much as your favorite expensive European beer/micro brew. For my 5 bucks though, nothing beats a cold sixer of Bud when you're out fishing or working on your yard. It's supposed to be cold and refreshing, not examined and contemplated.
        • BabaRamDass, on 05/15/2008, -1/+7The philosophy behind the BMC/traditional American beer bashing is simple: even cheap food has taste. BMC is for people who don't want to taste their beer. As a beer lover that's not something I can respect, but to each his own. I guess some people don't want to taste their beer.
          • BabaRamDass, on 05/15/2008, -0/+4Seems at least one person dugg me down. Let me clarify that I'm NOT a beer snob; I think everyone's entitled to their preferences. I'm just saying I don't personally understand the idea of drinking beer that has little flavor (just like I don't understand the idea of eating food that has little flavor)--if that's what you like that's fine. I just don't understand it, that's all.
        • wellyuk, on 05/15/2008, -0/+4I'd disagree that nothing beats a cold bud. I wouldn't even wash my dog in a bath of cold bud, if I had a dog. Or a bathful of cold bud. If you want cold and refreshing, perhaps you should try cold water. It's cheaper than bud and has about the same amount of taste. Seriously though, bud bashing is valid. It's a terrible, terrible beer but each to their own.
      • xBDVx, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3It's hard for these small breweries to sell overseas because of the high upfront costs. So, I don't think that the infrastructure to import beers from America to Europe exists like the one that goes the other way around. There's never been a real good reason for distributors in Europe to import American beer. But if there were ever a great opportunity to make a lot of money this is it.
      • crweaks23, on 05/15/2008, -10/+5Sorry, Bud is my favorite beer. I routinely go to beer gardens and microbreweries and try new things... but when I get home from work nothing tastes better than an ice cold bud. I don't really give a ***** if anyone has a different opinion, just don't drink it and shut up.
        • ubuwalker31, on 05/15/2008, -4/+2In double blind taste tests, Bud gets rated very highly by most Americans, even ones who are admitted beer snobs. It might be counter-intuitive that Bud actually tastes better in comparison to a 90 minute IPA or a dobblebock or a witbiere, but when your realize that it tastes clean and refreshing and that it goes down well with no off flavors or weirdness, its no wonder why it is an american favorite, much like white bread.
      • burtonbe, on 05/15/2008, -0/+5The results from the world beer cup back up the USA.

        http://www.beertown.org/events/wbc/PDF/WBC08_FactS ...
        http://www.beertown.org/events/wbc/winners_list/wi ...

        Read that.
    • Drax0n, on 05/15/2008, -18/+6As a Canadian I have always felt sorry for how bad American beer is, But after seeing this article I've come to realise there must be somthing else to American beer, Somthing that makes you hulicinate and believe its actually good beer,.
      • BabaRamDass, on 05/15/2008, -1/+9Avery, Sierra Nevada, Flying Dog, Anchor, Shiner... these are all top-notch breweries making some of the best beer in the world. You'll notice I didn't mention Budweiser, Miller, Coors, Busch, or even Sam Adams.

        Homebrewing has taught me that anyone can make good beer and anyone can make ***** beer. That is, the "American beer sucks" attitude is grossly inaccurate, or perhaps more correctly, grossly ignorant. You just haven't tasted what our best craft breweries have to offer, that's all.
      • silveravnt, on 05/15/2008, -0/+4There are some ***** Canadian beers as well but I pay a lot for my favorite La Fin Du Monde.
        • dncarlson, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Unibroue is consistently my favorite brewery. I just wish I could afford to drink more of it. Don de Dieu and La Fin Du Monde are my favorites.
    • xtraa, on 05/15/2008, -5/+2Good thing:

      You simply can't get drunk from American beer. It is good to go, but you will rather die on osmosis than getting dunk :D
      • seraph582, on 05/15/2008, -0/+4what in the ***** are you talking about
      • johnroth, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1What the ***** ARE you talking about? Three or four Spotted Cows and I'm pretty buzzed. Any more than that will get me to a point I would call drunk.
      • modix, on 05/16/2008, -0/+0All the regular beers I drink are 6-7% alcohol. All my special beers I drink are 8-14% alcohol.... if you can't get buzzed on that you should check yourself into a clinic.
      • bdbr, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Obviously you haven't tried the beers this article is talking about.
    • chief3, on 05/16/2008, -0/+0I'm an Aussie living in Canada, and despite my attitude when I arrived a few years ago, I agree that US craft beer is great. There are two disappointments about Canada and beer...first is that their craft beers can't compete...second is that there are very few US craft beers available in Vancouver.

      Want a good book on beer? Try Pete Townsend's "Three Sheets to the Wind". Hilarious and readable. Sequel to "A man walks into a bar." Beer experience from around the world. Great section on matching beer with food at a restaurant in New York, where a restaurateur goes head to head matching beer with a sommelier matching wine to food. Did you know that beer goes SOOOO much better than wine with cheese, fatty foods (duh) and spicy foods?

      And if anyone can get me an Aussie Cascade Premium here in Vancouver, the first dozen are on me. Until then I'm drinking Brooklyn Lager, Red Hook ESB, Anchor Steam, Alaskan Amber....
      • Gizza, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Your problem here is that you lost all credibility when you said you like Cascade.
    • tama00, on 05/16/2008, -1/+0American beer tastes watered down well mainly bud but thats what everyone drinks there right.

      Sorry i had to say it, its just an opinion but opinions always taken personally on digg which results in anyone who disagrees to digg you down. Its a bit sad really.
  • Leadingshare, on 05/15/2008, -29/+0dugg
  • jcm267, on 05/15/2008, -33/+20Why didn't they mention Sam Adams?
    • cliffzdude, on 05/15/2008, -2/+29Because the article was about smaller craft brewers. Sam Adams is not a small craft brewer.
      • freshyill, on 05/15/2008, -1/+22This flies in the face of everything their massive marketing campaigns have led me to believe!
      • Haroshia, on 05/15/2008, -4/+10They are probably the best American mass produced beer though...
        • rotten777, on 05/15/2008, -1/+2I agree. Their Cherry Wheat is amazing.
    • ColonelJessup, on 05/15/2008, -3/+13Sam Adams Black Lager is so good.
    • ncredblstrength, on 05/15/2008, -7/+9Because Sam Adams became successful and doesn't taste like crap... they'd still be a craft beer or microbrew if they were made by my Uncle Steve in his basement brewery and had a name like Blue Cat Turd IPA CEO OMG
    • jamend, on 05/15/2008, -3/+1I think he's referrencing http://digg.com/food_drink/Microbrews_Run_Dry_On_H ...
    • jimbomiah, on 05/15/2008, -4/+12They are a large brewer, but they should get credit for kickstarting the American craft brewing industry and at least hinting to mainstram america that beer can be better than budmillercoorswhetever.
    • BECoole, on 05/15/2008, -5/+1They should have mentioned Sam Adams. Sam Adams makes some really exotic brews like their Triple Bock.
    • BabaRamDass, on 05/15/2008, -0/+4Sam Adams is good, but they're not great IMO. They deserve props, as jimbomiah says, for jumpstarting the American craft brewing industry and also for not making ***** beer.
    • edwartica, on 05/15/2008, -2/+1Because Sam Adams is a mediocre beer.
  • yumlum, on 05/15/2008, -29/+23really ?
    • freshyill, on 05/15/2008, -4/+30Real beer fans know that some of the best beer in the world comes from the U.S.

      They also know that people who doubt this don't know ***** because when those people think American beer, they think about swill like Bud and Miller.
      • the6thReplicant, on 05/15/2008, -8/+8Or you can say the same thing about Americans. I can go to the most backwood, working class, no woman allowed unless topless pub in Belgium and have some of the best beer in the world. I doubt if I can do the same in America. If you're going to say America has the best beer in the world because there are some amazing beers here are there, for me it is the same as having a Michelin 3 star restaurant in the middle of a bunch of fast-food outlets. Sure there's one great restaurant but it doesn't mean the best food in the world is there.

        Just some perspective.
    • IglooBurner, on 05/15/2008, -0/+72 of my favorite
      left hand milk stout and magic hat #9.
      • freakk123, on 05/15/2008, -3/+5Magic Hat #9 is great.
        • drlha, on 05/15/2008, -0/+4If you like fruity drinks (I mean tasting of fruit, not "gay"). #9 is a beer for people who don't like beer IMHO.
          • freshyill, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3I have to agree. #9 is way too fruity/sweet for me.
      • Linkin4, on 05/15/2008, -1/+1Circus Boy is Magic Hat's best beer.
    • Tyrghast, on 05/15/2008, -1/+6Over spring break I had Augistiner Hell while in Munich. It was the darkest beer I've ever seen. No American beer can compare. Edelwiess is pretty good too.
      • Space_Balls, on 05/15/2008, -0/+4Augustiner is absolutely Fabulous. We are gona order some for my job here. :P
        • freshyill, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3Is your job drinking beer? If so, you have an awesome job. I, on the other hand, will have to continue drinking beer *like* it's my job.
      • freshyill, on 05/15/2008, -1/+1Since you referred to spring break, I have to assume you're in college. As such, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that most of the beer you've encountered at home has been absolute swill garbage.

        I was no different than you once. I spent my Tuesdays nights drinking 40s of Hurricane and Mickey's just like anybody else. It was not until after college that my horizons expanded. That Augustiner is good stuff, but you'll find plenty of American beer to compete with it soon enough.
      • modix, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3Try Three Floyd's Dark Lord Russian Imperial stout, if you can find one. I guarantee it will win the darkness award, as well as be pretty damn tasty. It leaves an oil slick on the glass that doesn't even run down the sides.
        • seraph582, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1trudat - everything three floyds does is amazing!
      • silveravnt, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Try Pocano Carmel Porter
      • seraph582, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2Oak Aged Yeti - get one - i guarantee you it's darker and better tasting.
    • xtinamo, on 05/15/2008, -0/+34 words: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
  • captainpugwash, on 05/15/2008, -46/+76Number one ?, unlikely. Getting fed up of drinking piss like bud and Coors?, I cant blame them.
    • jcm267, on 05/15/2008, -16/+37RTFA, idiot.
      • captainpugwash, on 05/15/2008, -9/+19I did, I was referring to the digg title, not that i didn't expect to be dug down for insulting Coors
        • shmatt, on 05/15/2008, -4/+4Insult coors all you want, anyone in the US who loves beer knows it's *****. We still have great beers here
          • KMartSheriff, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1You can get Coors and Bud Light free from the kitchen faucet.
    • hayzeus, on 05/15/2008, -0/+26Basically, yes. The craft brewing industry here is largely a reaction to the longtime dominance of corporate megaswill post- WW2 .
    • blinkatron, on 05/15/2008, -1/+68believe it or not, a lot of us don't even touch coor's or bud
      • Capta1nA, on 05/15/2008, -0/+11Harpoon, Magic Hat, Stone, Victory, all make great beers. I know I've just forgotten a dozen others but they are a good place to start.
        • wendelgee2, on 05/15/2008, -0/+5Brooklyn, Southern Tier, Greenflash, Sierra Nevada even, Rogue, Kelso, Sixpoint...etc. etc. etc.
        • jankind, on 05/15/2008, -0/+6Yards, Stoudts, Wierhbacher, Saranac, Dogfish Head, Flying Fish...
        • cobaltgrc, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Bell's, Surly, Oskar Blues, New Belgium, Rush River...
        • WiseWeasel, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Kona, Lost Coast, Humbolt, Firestone, Pyramid, Lagunitas, Mendocino...

          BTW, speaking of Sierra Nevada, have you guys tried this year's Summerfest yet? It's a lager this year, and I can't get enough of the stuff...
      • bonedead, on 05/15/2008, -2/+5You forgot to add "anymore" at the end of your sentence you ***** drunk.
        • Pulch, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Nah, blinkatron never drank coors or bud. It was High Life and LaCrosse for us back in the day. Cheaper and better tasting (though still not good beer)
        • Vvolf, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Never did drink those piss waters myself, there is no such thing as a light beer imo! And no i don't drink to get drunk, i drink to enjoy the beverage!
          Glad I live in Oregon the microbrewery king of the US!
        • modix, on 05/15/2008, -0/+0Add me to the list of people who never drank beer until I found good beer. I have no idea why people bother with crappy beer, it's really not worth the price.
    • Cyrus042, on 05/15/2008, -16/+3AMERICA #1
      AMERICA #1
      AMERICA #1
    • srondizzle, on 05/15/2008, -3/+26In my book, American beers are second only to Belgian beers.
      You just can't beat a beer that monks have been perfecting for hundreds of years.
      • shmatt, on 05/15/2008, -2/+5Try some amercian Belgian-style ales then- Allagash White from maine is frickin delish
        • nuclearpenguins, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3Maine, and New England as a whole, has some really amazing micro-brews.
      • nicc, on 05/15/2008, -0/+7Unibroue in Canada makes some GREAT Belgian style barley ales: Maudite and Trois Pistoles are amongst my favorite brews from anywhere!
        • petrodollar, on 05/15/2008, -2/+4Correct. American beers are catching up to Europe but Canada still remains a several steps ahead.
      • jankind, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3There is such a huge Belgian beer scene here in Philly. There was an article in one of our papers about it during our beer week stating that more people in Philadelphia drink Belgian beer than in Brussels. If ever in Philly, go to Monk's Immediately upon arrival.
      • wellyuk, on 05/15/2008, -1/+3I think it's what you grow up with. I've had some great American beers and some great Belgian beers but my favourite beers are from the UK. Black Sheep, 6X, Old Speckled Hen, Samual Smiths and Timothy Taylor in particular. I find most American beers served too cold and then you lose most of the flavour. The reputation about British beers being served warm is incorrect. It's just not served freezing cold so you can actually taste what you're drinking.
  • Drugx2, on 05/15/2008, -51/+28*****, Canadian beer is way better then the american's watered down piss.
    • hayzeus, on 05/15/2008, -1/+46If by that you mean Canadian watered down piss is better than American watered down piss, then you are correct. (Molson versus Bud). But that's not what we;re talking about here.
    • voodoochild461, on 05/15/2008, -11/+1molson
    • eengineer, on 05/15/2008, -2/+32Clearly you didnt rtfa, nor do you drink craft beer. If you had done either, you would have noticed that the craft American brewers such as Rouge, Troeggs, Brooklyn, or Stone are stronger and heartier than your Canadian beer. Sure, AB, Coors, and Miller produce water, but classifying all American beer as piss is just ignorant. Hence, you get dugg down.
      • jonmlm, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1troeggs.. god. when's happy hour
        • eengineer, on 05/15/2008, -0/+0Hopback amber ales. I think I might go grab a 6 pack and throw it under my desk and close the door to my office.
      • khail250, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Brooklyn, a bit pissed off at them, since I do live in brooklyn and they exploit the price of their beer, 7 bucks for a glass? come on
    • jerrycan, on 05/15/2008, -2/+22Canadian piss( molson canadian, labatt blue) is just as bad as American piss (bud, coors, etc). Both countries also have "some" fine mass produced beers and even better craft brewers. The USA is just so much bigger, it has proportionally more craft brewers. I love visiting different parts of USA and Canada trying out greta local craft brews. And brew pubs are AWESOME.
    • peestandingup, on 05/15/2008, -1/+5Haha, yeah right. Soo many Canadian brewers come to mind when I think of beer.
      • WiseWeasel, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1La Fin Du Monde and Maudite are definitely among the top craft beers in the World, if you've been around the block a bit... There might not be a lot of Canadian beers among my personal favorites, but those two certainly merit an honorable mention.
    • HyperionHK, on 05/15/2008, -0/+7This is just plain ignorant to beer. Sure, Canadian mass produced crap is better than American mass produced crap, but small craft brewers are almost always better than any country's mass produced crap. Every country is fully capable of producing excellent craft beers, and to generalize so much to beer in general is just foolish.
    • freshyill, on 05/15/2008, -0/+13Plenty of watered down piss comes from Canada too. Anybody dumb enough to buy into the stereotype that all American beer is mass-market rice water doesn't know ***** about beer.
    • nicku, on 05/15/2008, -2/+3Do Canadian's even have a macro brew anymore? I thought Molson, Labatt Blue, etc were all owned by US companies such as Coors now...
      • Dradis, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Yeah, it's kind of a sad state of affairs.
        Molson = Owned by Coors (USA)
        Labatt = Owned by Interbrew (Belgium)
        Sleeman's = Owned by Sapporo Breweries (Japan)
    • BECoole, on 05/15/2008, -0/+4Moosehead. Ugh! Bottled in green bottles so it is *always* stale.
    • Dradis, on 05/15/2008, -0/+6I'm Canadian, and saying Molson Canadian or Labatt Blue is better than Bud or Miller is stupid, they're all equally bad and unfortunately represent their respective country's beer-making industry on the world market. The point of this article and conversation is that American craft breweries produce some great beer; they do, and so do Canadian craft breweries. Now put down your Molson Canadian and go try something different from a micro-brewery that actually cares about what they do.
  • godzillaWax, on 05/15/2008, -62/+113Buried as inaccurate.
    • Drugx2, on 05/15/2008, -23/+0i did too
    • pjpete, on 05/15/2008, -16/+15Agreed. Clearly the writer has never had German beer IN Germany. Imported bottles are not even close to what they actually serve in Germany.
      • piffboy, on 05/15/2008, -1/+4do you really thing somebody writing an article like this would be that naive?
      • seraph582, on 05/15/2008, -1/+3been there - done that - tested german beers extensively. Nothing that great outside of pilsners and wheats/whites. American breweries do very good wheats/whites/pilsners, as well as hundreds of other great types of beer.

        Welcome to 2008 - this is common ***** knowledge.
    • StayPuft21, on 05/15/2008, -8/+1Craft beer is much different than "American Beer" as the title suggests. Buried.
      • hydro123456, on 05/15/2008, -0/+0How is it different? America has the best and biggest craft brewing community in the world. No matter what ethnic style of beer you name, there's several American brewers that do it as well or better.
      • bdbr, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1In 1980, there were about 80 breweries in the US. Now there are well over 1,500 - and only a few big breweries still brew the soft drinks that the uninitiated equate to "American" beer.

        Hell, there are over 50 breweries in my city alone, and none of them brew anything like Coors/Bud.
        • bdbr, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Damn, I didn't notice they had numbers in the article...I was quoting what I heard on the History Channel (except the part about my town).
    • culbeda, on 05/15/2008, -7/+2Give me 5 minutes with this yahoo in a little bar I know in Antwerp and I'll change his tune. (Hell, Paulaner Doppleboch is better than most craft beers, and it's mass produced.)

      If you like a good IPA, however, try a Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA. It's probably the best you can find in a liquor store that isn't the size of a warehouse.
  • dhVyse, on 05/15/2008, -15/+4Miller used to be a great American Brewing company, then they were sold to the South African Brewing Company...
  • blinkatron, on 05/15/2008, -13/+23Leinenkugel's FTW!
    • jpmoney03, on 05/15/2008, -5/+7Or not. They make a couple of ok beers but really nothing special.
    • holzp, on 05/15/2008, -3/+11Leinenkugel == Miller Brewing
      • dorkino, on 05/15/2008, -0/+7So? It's good beer.
        • jordanday, on 05/15/2008, -1/+6Don't you know anything about beer? If it's something that more than 30% of people have heard of, it *must* be crap. Obviously you're just drinking piss water, no matter how good you happen to think it tastes.

          Beer snobbery is basically a grown-up version of the console war.
          • dorkino, on 05/15/2008, -1/+1Agreed
          • wellyuk, on 05/15/2008, -1/+1To be fair, most mass produced products, be them beer or burgers, can't compare with craft or hand produced equivalents. It's not about snobbery, it's preferring to get better quality beer or burgers for your money. There's no way you can ever say that a mcdonald's burger compares with a home made burger made from fresh angus steak and likewise a bud in no way compares with many of the smaller breweries mentioned in the story and the comments here.

            Yes, taste is an individual thing and if you enjoy a mcdonalds and a cold bud, then good on you but don't call the rest of us snobs because we aren't.
      • TheSpook, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2The horror!
      • cdahlkvist, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3Sure, it's owned by Miller now but it wasn't and they didn't change the recipe.
    • licoricewhip, on 05/15/2008, -1/+5Leinie's Creamy Dark...
    • cdahlkvist, on 05/15/2008, -0/+5Leinie's is a great utility beer. It's a nice beer for sharing with friends and taking fishing, etc.

      When it comes time to keep all the beer to myself it's Summit or Fat Tire. Of course Surly is starting to make some better beer - their frist run wasn't so impressive.
      • dncarlson, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2Surly Bender from this last year is like liquid crack.
    • culbeda, on 05/15/2008, -4/+1After hearing my family rave about their beer (straight from the brewery, mind you), I finally tried some (10 years or so ago) and it was quite possibly worse than PBR, Shlitz, etc. I sincerely hope something has changed since then or you people have no taste buds.
    • yohnkrb, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2Coming from Chippewa Falls I can let you know that it's an acquired taste. Honey Weiss is amazing though.
      • johnroth, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1I enjoy Honey Weiss. I also like their Summer Shandy, and the their Apple Beer is alright, but I always ended up waking up in the middle of the night belching apple taste. Kind of gross. My brother thinks the Berry Weiss is good... I think it's like drinking sugary piss. I like New Glarus better anyway.
  • nickert0n, on 05/15/2008, -31/+21I live in Canada and I gota say "My frozen ass your beer is better than ours"
    • speel, on 05/15/2008, -15/+10Canada makes good beer?
      • petrodollar, on 05/15/2008, -1/+3Yes, it does. But you have to go to Canada to get it because they don't export it.
    • Erowid, on 05/15/2008, -1/+14Canadian as well.... I go to the states from time to time for work, and I've gotta say, there are some damn good beers down south. There are a whole lot of real nice micro brews, just the commercial crap (bud, coors, etc) that we get is what I think gives American beer a bad reputation.
      • jpmoney03, on 05/15/2008, -2/+2It is also all there was until recently.
        • accessviolation, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Not really. You just have to search outside the 7-11 for your beer. For example, Goose Island Brewery has been open for about 20 years.
        • jpmoney03, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Yea that would be recent.
      • Stemnin, on 05/15/2008, -2/+2There are plenty of breweries around with pretty good beer here in Canada too!
      • ChzPlz, on 05/15/2008, -2/+1Not like Canadian mainstream beer is stellar either. It's adequate. But I do vastly prefer it over the American mainstream beer.
      • elamr, on 05/15/2008, -1/+1"commercial crap (bud, coors, etc)" -- Jokes on you, Canadian.. its American piss.
    • Tyr7BE, on 05/15/2008, -0/+6Microbreweries tend to know their stuff, no matter where they're located. We have that horse piss we pawn off as Molson Canadian, which is our answer to budweiser.

      I live in a microbrewery-rich region (Southern Ontario), and I only drink beer that comes from within 100km of where I live. It's fantastic, to the point where I won't even consider getting the big label stuff unless I"m at a ***** bar that doesn't serve the good stuff (rare in these parts).
      • xBDVx, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3I'm not from Canada but I was up in Montreal recently to try a lot of stuff available in the micro breweries up there. Suffice it to say, you guys have a really good thing going on there. You think you can start exporting them please? yea...k, thx
    • analbumcover96, on 05/15/2008, -1/+3"You know canadian beers like moonshine"
    • licoricewhip, on 05/15/2008, -1/+1I agree with your comment just past the point of your frozen ass.
    • BECoole, on 05/15/2008, -1/+3Give us some proof. Name some good Canadian beers.
      • xBDVx, on 05/15/2008, -0/+4Anything made by McAulsan and anything made by Unibroue.
        • brazenreality, on 05/15/2008, -4/+0Thanks for being specific, jerkoff.
        • silveravnt, on 05/15/2008, -0/+5@brazen
          No seriously. Anything made by Unibroue, jerkoff.
        • brazenreality, on 05/17/2008, -1/+0@silveravnt
          Internet, jerkoff, internet!
      • wellyuk, on 05/15/2008, -1/+2Most beers from: Granville Island Brewing, R & B Brewing Company, Okanagen Spring Brewery (for one of the bigger breweries), Shaftebury Brewing Co.

        There's a few.
        • Tyr7BE, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Ah a Westerner :) I miss that part of the world.

          Indeed those are all pretty damn decent breweries, albeit relatively big names. Try some of the smaller _really_ local stuff from around BC, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
        • wellyuk, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1@Tyr7BE

          Feel free to recommend a few and I will! :)
  • RealmDown, on 05/15/2008, -33/+4Wherever it is made, and whoever makes it, there are three kinds of beer:

    1) Dark Beer
    2) Killian's Red
    3) Camel piss
    • fakekevinrose, on 05/15/2008, -0/+10What a small world you live in
      • RealmDown, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Look they can't ALL be gems, ok?

        I have Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA waiting for me after work.
        • eengineer, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3Sucker. Should have brought the 90 min IPA to work.
          • RealmDown, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Last time I did that, the boss took it.
          • wellyuk, on 05/15/2008, -1/+1@RealmDown,

            You should have punched his ***** lights out.
    • IglooBurner, on 05/15/2008, -2/+1go back to sipping your gay-tinies
  • TheSillyOne60, on 05/15/2008, -29/+11Grossly inaccurate.
  • MacSuxWindozSux, on 05/15/2008, -32/+19American beer is a urine drink.
    • elamr, on 05/15/2008, -12/+2Cold urine.
    • RealmDown, on 05/15/2008, -0/+6I *really* don't want to know anything more about your accurate comparative methods.
    • elamr, on 05/15/2008, -2/+1Mac.. I don't care how many times they did you down.. that comments cracks me up.
    • edwartica, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2Come to Portland...I'll hook you up with some real beer. Not that over produced European crap either.
  • Flamancot, on 05/15/2008, -10/+29American Beer has definitely come into its own. Gone are the days of restocking the same 24 pack of miller lite. There's much to explore. and lol - that pic's got He'brew right in front there... that ***** is hilarious (and pretty darn good too).. oh those jews.
    • happyfundave, on 05/15/2008, -1/+2more specifically that is Messiah Bold, L'Chaim
    • jimmies, on 05/15/2008, -1/+4If you look at the He'Brew wheat beer, it says "The Chosen One"

      GREAT LULZ
    • absurdist, on 05/15/2008, -1/+1For the mensch with a wrench!
    • edwartica, on 05/15/2008, -1/+1Miller, Bud, et al are training beers.
    • clickx, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2The USA has the most beer breweries in the world.
  • Scopitone, on 05/15/2008, -28/+54I thought this was an Onion article at first.

    Artisan/micro brews? Maybe. Some of them are damn good. But we Americans do spit out some of the worst swill on the planet. Miller/Bud/Coors.
    • macweirdo42, on 05/15/2008, -2/+36It's not talking about the Miller/Bud/Coors piss-water.
    • jpmoney03, on 05/15/2008, -1/+19And the article is about the micro brews not the BMC crap.
    • 5wallace, on 05/15/2008, -2/+25Nobody in their right mind would argue that Miller, Coors, or Bud stand up as great beer. The article is not arguing that. There are a lot of very good micro brews in the US. That is what the article is about, and it is accurate in its analysis.
    • FeartheKnighted, on 05/15/2008, -2/+9You are really trying to hate on america aren't you?
  • taradisiac, on 05/15/2008, -29/+6So many lives ruined because of alcohol, I just cannot bring myself to support that industry.
    • Gravey9, on 05/15/2008, -0/+17too bad you're missin out.
    • HarryBauzonia, on 05/15/2008, -1/+23I'll pick up your slack.
    • h3lx, on 05/15/2008, -0/+14it's not the alcohol that ruins them, it's their judgement. If a person is irresponsible and ignorant to the basic principle of moderation, everything is lethal.
      If you're drinking to get drunk, you're doing it wrong.
    • BabaRamDass, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3Everything can be used for good and evil. A knife can murder in the killer's hands, yet it can save in the surgeon's hands.
    • brazenreality, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1BAAAAAWWWW
    • silveravnt, on 05/15/2008, -0/+6So many fatasses because of food. I just cant bring myself to support that industry.
  • Xebius, on 05/15/2008, -16/+53Belgium beer is teh Best!
    • bundwallah, on 05/15/2008, -2/+8Word.... I love Hoegaarden. Edelweiss...Ever try Verboten Vrucht??
      • ChzPlz, on 05/15/2008, -2/+4I beg your pardon?
        I never promised you a Hoegaarden... :)
      • synyster, on 05/15/2008, -1/+2hoegaarden is for girls
    • fakekevinrose, on 05/15/2008, -2/+5I'll digg that, Belgium wheat beers will always be my favorite brewing style
      • whataboutdave, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1I think he literally means beer from the western European country Belgium - inclusive of, but not limited to, many "Belgian-style" beers.
    • peterzero, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Wait until you taste Duff
    • bfron110, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2Duvel FTW!!! If you have't tried I would recommend to anyone my favorite beer! on a side note i think the name translates as devil... but not sure since im not up on my flemish.
    • bdbr, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1I thought it amusing that American breweries won more "Belgian Style" awards at the WBC than Belgian brewers.

      Duvel is OK; first beer I ever tried in Belgian. I'd go for a Trappist tripel over that, though Duvel is easier on the wallet. A few American brewers can certainly hold their own against Duvel.
    • Tysto, on 05/17/2008, -0/+1The word is "Belgiumian".
  • bxblox, on 05/15/2008, -15/+16In before europeans insulting american beer.
    • auto98, on 05/15/2008, -1/+4you rpost was made after 52 minutes - that was 51 minutes too late :P
  • Linium, on 05/15/2008, -19/+13A long way to go before it gets anywhere near as good as European beers, esp those from Belgium
    • hayzeus, on 05/15/2008, -0/+6New Glarus and a few others are giving them a run for their money though (I say this as a longtime afficonado of Belgian beers)
    • stubear, on 05/15/2008, -1/+4Actually, while not in the same class as the brewing companies in this article, Sam Adams has won numerous European Brewing competitions, beating European beers handily (http://www.samadams.com/samsite/awards.html). Their product line has grown in the last couple years and everyone one of them is excellent. San Adams has been credited for the resurgence of craft brewing in America.
      • jankind, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3I am a total beer snob (simply because it sounds nicer than alcoholic to me) and for such a big bad domestic beer company, Sam Adams makes really good beers. I think I have tried maybe close to 20 of them and I enjoyed them all. That White Ale is really nice.
        • BabaRamDass, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1They're pretty good, but I was seriously disappointed with their Hefeweizen as I'm a huge hefe fan. Their Cream Stout is damned good though, gives some other English sweet stouts I love a run for their money almost.
  • speel, on 05/15/2008, -19/+7"Just as wines from Napa Valley, Sonoma County and Oregon are giving bordeaux, burgundy and barolo a run for their money,"

    They're kidding right?

    Any who.. Sam Adams is one of the best beers =]
    • Klainmeister, on 05/15/2008, -0/+8Sam Adams isn't a beer, it's a brewery. Which one of the beers?
    • Cyrus042, on 05/15/2008, -0/+6Napa Valley wines are world renown. Obviously it has to do with the quality of the grapes because of the climate.
    • Wakkyweed, on 05/15/2008, -0/+4Anyone who thinks that California wines are no match for the old world wines doesn't know the first thing about the subject. This may have been true 30 years ago, but top of the line Californians are now as good as anything produced, and your low-end California wine is of slightly better quality than low-end French wines.
    • stubear, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3Instead of allowing your blind hatred of US foreign policy and our current President to color your judgement and make you rush to hasty generalizations, you should immerse yourself in win culture here. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised if you bother to take the time and visit some of the vineyards in the Napa/Sonoma County region. If you can't take the trip go to your local wine store and talk to their sommelier. You should also do a little research into the French wine blight that wiped out the entire root stock, destroying the wine industry in France in the mid 19th century. Because of this most French wines are grown from the same root stock as as US wines and Napa/Sonoma County has proven to be as fertile (though Global Climate change is harming this industry) as many of the French growing regions.
      • speel, on 05/15/2008, -2/+2I personally work in a local wine store ( which has branched out into a few states ) and the majority of the people that come in think that California wines are bad which is true because most people just know Kendall jackson, Mondavi etc and all of that is just massed produced garbage and cali tends to produce over oaked wines a big fruit bombs. Opposed to france who steers in the opposite direction and goes for the old world style. My manager him self feels we shouln't even carry california wines. That shows how much California wines are shunned apon.
        • absurdist, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2Then your manager is a fool who's been blinded by his own biases, and really should educate himself about the great wines of California, and then attempt to pass that information on to his customers. Most of the French wines I've tried have been insipid pap. Does that therefore mean I should infer that all French wine sucks?
          • speel, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1I'm not saying all Californian wines suck ( there are some good ones out there ) but for the majority they tend to be totally different from the french. I mean its all based on your palate and thats what counts most.
    • BabaRamDass, on 05/15/2008, -1/+1"Any who.. Sam Adams is one of the best beers =]"

      They're good, but to say they're one of the best beers indicates to me either we have seriously different tastes (which is okay, everyone's different) or you have not even begun to sample the awesome selection of beers in the world, including those here in the States.
    • Fighter4rent, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1I agree America makes wine yes but the french who are world renowned for there culinary excellence have spent century's fermenting the best wines in the world. there is no way that American wine can stand up to the finest Bordeaux.
  • mijelh, on 05/15/2008, -4/+71Article's name: "Is American beer any good?" digg title:"American beer is #1".... Quite inaccurate description in my opinion. Anyway the article is good.
    • fakekevinrose, on 05/15/2008, -0/+6I almost want to bury as inaccurate for the sensationalized title
      Pretty good article though
    • brazenreality, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1BUT IS IT #1?!?!?!
      • hydro123456, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3The answer is yes, easily, most people just don't know it's there. Belgium is the only other country that is even close imo. They make a ton of great beers, but what pushes the US ahead is it's variety. Belgium pretty much makes Belgium style beers, Germany pretty much makes German style beers. Look at American brewers like Stone, Bells, Dogfish Head, Alesmith, Russian River, Surly, Etc, they make Belgium styles, German Styles, US styles, and styles that defy traditional description. On top of that pretty much all of them are as good or, in most cases better than their foreign counterparts. Go check out the list of the top 50 beers on either Ratebeer.com, or Beeradvocate.com and you'll find that American beers make up the biggest chunk of the list, probably followed by Belgium, and then everything else. I'm not even sure if there would be a single German beer in the top 50.
      • bdbr, on 05/16/2008, -0/+2World Beer Cup top 10 award winning countries:

        USA (158 awards), Germany (25), Belgium (11), Japan (10), Australia (6)
  • ColonelJessup, on 05/15/2008, -0/+24Stone breweries makes some tasty beer. Their pale ale is delicious, but that Arrogant Bastard Ale............... Sorry, that stuff is just too much even for me.
    • boneill428, on 05/15/2008, -1/+15Finally, someone who knows some good beer. Rogue brewery is one of my favorites. Dead Guy Ale is the best.
      • drlha, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2Got ***** trashed at the Rogue Pub in San Francisco on Dead Guy, that stuff tastes so good on tap, I almost didn't realise I'd drank too much of it.
    • Capta1nA, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3Old Guardian is the only stuff I've had by Stone. Barleywine-style ale mmmmm.
    • wendelgee2, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2Try the oak-aged Arrogant Bastard...it's even more blech. But give them some credit, there isn't another beer out there that's like it.
      • eengineer, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Or if your lucky and can find it, try our double arrogant bastard. I have only found it twice, but I took two great naps after them
    • modix, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2Arrogant Bastard is too much? It's not even an imperial. There's a Double Bastard, Oak Aged Bastard, and dozens of much stronger beers. I though it was a nicely balance brew myself.
    • bullhead2007, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Arrogant Bastard and Dead Guy Ale are a couple of my favorites. The IPA is awesome too from Stone.
    • aldenhg, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2NoCal and Oregon breweries are simply the best. The Oaked Bastard (Arrogant Bastard from oak barrels) is freakin' amazing. It's like whiskey and beer at the same time.
      • Benholio, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Not to be a nit picker, but Stone is in San Diego County, not NoCal.
        • aldenhg, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Pick nits all you like when someone is wrong. Thanks for the correction.
    • seraph582, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1I have Arrogant Bastard, Stone IPA, and Stone Ruination (double IPA) in my fridge right now. I live in Atlanta, and Stone doesn't deliver here, so I have to make trips to Nashville and Chattanooga to get the stuff. I buy it in boxes. Stone brewery is one of the top ten breweries in existence.
      • modix, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1I have to drive over the Iowa border to Illinois all the time to pick up beer. Due to some really crappy laws and horrible red tape, the craft beer selection is drying up here. We can't even get Three Floyds' anymore. For Stone I have to go to Indiana... luckily my in-laws live 15 minutes away from the border. Just buy lots when you can, beer takes a long time to go bad :).
  • bightchee, on 05/15/2008, -0/+18I have been in love with Dogfish Head's "World Wide Stout" from Delaware.
    • 5wallace, on 05/15/2008, -0/+17Dogfish Head makes some other great beers. The 90 Minute IPA is fantastic. If you have not tried it you are missing out.
      • boneill428, on 05/15/2008, -0/+590 Minute IPA is the best. I can't afford to pay $15 in the bar for a 120 Minute IPA.
        • holzp, on 05/15/2008, -1/+2The minute measurements are the actual time required to work to buy the beer.
      • RealmDown, on 05/15/2008, -0/+4Dogfish Head is truly a flavorful beer. The fact that it is IPA just makes it that much better.
      • kbull, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2Dogfish Head's 60 and 90-minute IPAs are pure liquid heaven.
      • analogs, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1OMG yes, 90-minute IPA is unreal. And I don't even like IPA's. My tastes usually lean toward maltier, sweeter, belgian-style beers. But this... incredible.
    • bongowaxx, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3That's the 22% ABV one, right? That ***** will ***** you up.... and it tastes much better than you would think.
      • bightchee, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1I go out of my way to find it at a particular beer distributor off Bowery in NYC. It's $8 a bottle now so I only get a few but I enjoy them as a rare treat. It's wonderfully flavorful and makes Guinness look like tap water.
  • Hockey37, on 05/15/2008, -1/+50HOORAY BEER!!!!!!
  • TaLoNxNL, on 05/15/2008, -14/+11Indeed, the beer from Belgium is very very tastefull:
    Jupiler, Stella Artois

    But Also the Neherlands:
    Dommelsch, Grolsch
    • boneill428, on 05/15/2008, -2/+5Miller owns Grolsch. I don't consider them Dutch anymore.
      • cyberdork, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3*****, they still use the same brewery and haven't changed anything about their recipe.
    • RealmDown, on 05/15/2008, -2/+3I agree with you up to Grolsch. *shudder*

    • DrivinWest, on 05/15/2008, -2/+11Did you just say Stellla Artois is very, very tasteful? It's terrible. It is the antithesis of good Belgian beer.

      It's the chav ***** of beers. You only drink it if you're dressed in Burberry knock-offs and plan on beating the ***** out of your old lady after you've knocked back a dozen or so.
    • Pootle4rthur, on 05/15/2008, -0/+9your choice of Belgium beer breaks my heart. Proper Belgium beer is stuff like Leffe or the other Trapist beers. Their only downside is they're lethally strong, and ever so moreish, making the journey home a rather wobbly one
    • MikeFallopian, on 05/15/2008, -3/+3Stella is disgusting swill. I'd rather drink bud or miller than that overpriced, fancy-packaged crap.
    • bdbr, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1A Belgian bartender explained that Jupiler is like Budweiser - not good, but the kids drink it. I never tried it after that assessment.
  • EnderMB, on 05/15/2008, -10/+26There's nothing wrong with crafting innovation into beer, but the Europeans have America beat hands-down with their selection. As a Beer lover there is no lack of selection for me on a night out, and in Bristol we're known for our wide selection of Beers, and most of all, Cider. One thing I am yet to experience from America is a strong and tasty lager. Anyone here have any suggestions?
    • vexingmodstwo, on 05/15/2008, -2/+15Yeungling.
      • nbcaffeine, on 05/15/2008, -2/+5Best thing to come out of PA since... ever.
      • shmatt, on 05/15/2008, -2/+7Jesus Christ do NOT recommend Yeungling to our friends overseas. It's only drinkable from a keg and even then drink it fast before it goes flat- trust me on this I have drank a LOT of Yeungling- I would try a Naragansett Lager if you can find it.
      • drlha, on 05/15/2008, -2/+3I like Yuengling, but that is not the beer that EnderMB is looking for. My local brewpub brews a pretty respectible Pilsner, but EnderMB's thesis is mainly correct, you don't get decent lagers in the USA. I believe this is mainly because people associate pale yellow beer with domestic, so most craft brewers avoid it.

        That said, I like Kona Brewing Company's Longboard Lager.
    • hayzeus, on 05/15/2008, -0/+5My house -- I brew a lot of lagers.
      Troegenator (frpom Troegs) in Pennsylvania is pretty good, but really great craft beers here tend to be some form of ales, I haven't had a lot of great domestiv bocks or doppels.
    • jpmoney03, on 05/15/2008, -1/+18Um did you read the part about 1400+ breweries in the US if you can't find variety you just aren't going to the right bars.
      • EnderMB, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3I forgot to mention that I live in England, so I only get to try what our pubs and bars provide. Thankfully we're big on importing so with a bit of searching I can find many different varieties.
      • Capta1nA, on 05/15/2008, -0/+5Sunset Grille in Boston, MA has 100+ on tap and 300+ in bottles. There's bound to be at least one bar like that in most cities.
    • jonmlm, on 05/15/2008, -1/+6brooklyn lager
      • BECoole, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2Man, I LOVE the Brooklyn Brewing co.!
    • brandn487, on 05/15/2008, -2/+4Sam Adams Boston lager
    • xBDVx, on 05/15/2008, -0/+5http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/116

      A great site if you want to learn more about beer. I linked you to the American IPA section. Over here we make beers that are similar to Bass or Newcastle (which I am fans of) but with a stronger, sometimes bitter-er, taste. If you're not interested in that style I would suggest trying some of the interesting 'hybrid' beers that are available. This includes, but isn't limited to: Midas Touch Golden Elixir, Golden Monkey, Magic Hat #9, etc.
      You could also look into American Pale Ale: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/97 they are not as strong as the beers mentioned above but good nonetheless.
    • bunit03057, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1I think you just lack knowledge of true american beers. Shipyard from Maine has great selection. Magic Hat from Vermont has great beer too. Both make great dark beer. Also Grittys is a smaller brewery near me that makes great beer. I think Grittys uses Shipyard to brew their recipe though, as do other small brewers.
    • jankind, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1A tasty lager is hard to come by IMO. You should try the Brooklyn Lager.
    • bossm4n, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2Shiner 97 Bohemian Black Lager. This is one of my personal favorites. It reminds me a bit of Xingu.
    • shmatt, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3A truly great american lager is Anchor Steam from San Francisco, it's really wonderful-- brewed since 1896
      • modix, on 05/15/2008, -0/+0Technically Anchor Steam is a Steam beer or California Common, which is lager yeast fermented at ale temperature. Nevertheless, a very tasty beverage, just not necessary a lager.
    • modix, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1http://www.ratebeer.com/Ratings/Beer/Beer-Ratings. ...
      Dogfish Head's Golden Era lager is quite tasty as well. Not sure if it would be available in the UK.

      Here's Ratebeer's list of best strong lagers though: http://www.ratebeer.com/Ratings/TopBeersByStyle.as ... Pretty low ratings over all, a few good ones in there.

      Lager's are one beer style that I believe has suffered during the US craft beer revolution. It seems like they're starting to get more attention now, but starting out there was a general revulsion for lagers left over from the macrobrewers ruination of the style. I've seen several Imperial Pilsners recently, but I haven't gotten around to trying many. Hopefully they'll eventually receive all the love and experimentation that the other styles have gotten soon.
    • ohsotired, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Rouge ale used to be available in the UK. You might have to look around for it. I don't think it's the best we have to offer here (some would argue about that), but I think it would be a great introduction to American Craft beers.
      • ohsotired, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Oh and their lager is the kells irish style lager
    • seraph582, on 05/15/2008, -1/+1Ender - wtf? You have to be *kidding* me!

      I live in Atlanta and regularly visit bars that have between 25 and 75 draft beers - and I've also been to beergartens in Europe - seeking out what everyone that says European beer is all that keeps talking about. All I found were great light/dark wheats, whites, and pilsners. NOTHING ELSE. There is 1000x the variety from American craft beers!!!
      • modix, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1There are definitely some things the Europeans have us beat on, mostly consistency, history, and general awareness of good beer. However, variety is not the topic I would have brought up indeed. :)
    • bdbr, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Most of the really good beer comes from small breweries. Some microbreweries don't even distribute - they brew solely for their own customers. Most of the breweries that do distribute do so only regionally. I don't think you'll see many exports.
  • stronglikedan, on 05/15/2008, -20/+8American EVERYTHING is #1
    • chicofaraby, on 05/15/2008, -4/+5Such as "unjustified chest thumping." Go team.
  • W1LS0N, on 05/15/2008, -3/+18i dont know anything about the smaller independant beers but the american beer we get in england is pretty terrible. thats saying something, cos mainstream 'english' beer (carlsberg, carling, fosters etc) is pretty awful too.
    • macweirdo42, on 05/15/2008, -0/+20Generally speaking, I would expect that mainstream 'anywhere' beer is going to be quite terrible.
      • RealmDown, on 05/15/2008, -1/+2I must admit that I am fond of both Guiness and Bass. They aren't too bad together either ( aka Black & Tan )
        • shmatt, on 05/15/2008, -2/+2Are you guys talking about english beer? guiness is Irish. Fosters is from AUS and Carlsberg I believe is Danish.
    • Sasquatcho, on 05/15/2008, -0/+7I'm betting the stuff you guys get is more main stream beer from the US.. ever heard of spotted cow? One of my personal favs, brewed in New Glarus, Wisconsin. Good Stuff. I dunno If it is sold outside of the state even. Wisconsin is home to a lot of really good microbreweries.
    • hayzeus, on 05/15/2008, -0/+10The article is referring to the craft beers -- the mainstream beers still taste like ass.
    • DrivinWest, on 05/15/2008, -1/+9One of the worst experiences I've had in my ~5 years in Europe was seeing Brits and Irish drinking Bud after Bud after Bud. Dear god, why!?
      • Pootle4rthur, on 05/15/2008, -2/+1I suspect it's down to people being suckers for advertising
      • widgetmaker, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3You went into the wrong pubs then, any decent local will serve a couple of Ales (locally for me it's Ringwood)
        Even some bigger pubs will serve the 'commercial' ales like hobgoblin.
      • ukfoole, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3Actually, I prefer a Bud to the local swill. One time, I tried that Aussie Foster's stuff. I thought I was going to die I vomitted so much. I swear they make it by drinking piss, vomitting, and shipping it on over.
      • Orrent, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1I'm from Denmark, moved to the states about a year ago and there is no comparison between buying a Budweiser in Denmark and in America.
        The ones in America are absolutely horrible, the ones in Denmark were very tasty. It was quite the disappointment, now I drink New Castle.
    • MikeFallopian, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2There's a HUGE gap in quality between mainstream American beers, and the craft brews the article talks about. Think Samuel Smith rather than Carlsberg.
    • happyfundave, on 05/15/2008, -0/+4It might take some time for the English to find the good beer in America since its almost all smaller breweries. You might have noticed it was America's hat Canada that was just recently discovering some of our great beer.
    • BECoole, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3That's OK. I don't mind trading our Budweiser for your Young's and Sam Smith's!
      :)-
      • jankind, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1I'll take an Oatmeal Stout from either one!
    • flashingcurser, on 05/15/2008, -0/+5Please vacation here, I'll buy you a few pints (quarts maybe :) ) of good stuff. It is too bad that that crap is all we export.
  • jarjarwang, on 05/15/2008, -3/+15"In 1978, there were just 42 breweries across the U.S. In 2007, there were 1,449."
  • blackgt93, on 05/15/2008, -6/+17This article is about 5 years too late. The real micro boom happened a while back.
    • blackgt93, on 05/15/2008, -4/+5You're a ***** idiot, they're talking about Canada where US micros are now becoming popular.
    • wendelgee2, on 05/15/2008, -0/+4more like 10 years, but craft (not micro, get hip to the new lingo) breweries are grabbing up market share from the big guys now in a way that they weren't even 5 years ago.
  • SOS84, on 05/15/2008, -15/+10The micro brew scene is pretty good in the US but still pales in comparison to German Brewers and none of them can hold a candle to a nice English Ale.

    Sam Adams makes some pretty good seasonal brews but their Boston Lager is swill.
    • DrivinWest, on 05/15/2008, -1/+8I disagree, and I say that as somebody who's lived in Germany for ~5 years. While German brewers don't have to hold to the Reinheitsgebot any more, they tend to anyway. This results in good but boring beer. Augustiner, Spaten, Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, HB are all within a gnat's hair of each other. Most people can't tell the difference. Want something else? Find an Irish pub.

      There is regional variety but you actually have to go there to get it. Kölsch in Bavaria? No way. Helles in Berlin? Never.
      • Space_Balls, on 05/15/2008, -1/+2Most people can't tell the difference? I sure would beg to differ. And there is no problem getting Kölsch in Bavaria/Baden-Württemberg either. Not every bar will have it, since the regional beer is usually favored, but some bar hopping, and I'm sure you will find it. Germany has about 1200 breweries AFAIK, and now compare the population of Germany (~80 Million) to the USA (~300 Million)
        And while I do enjoy a Sam Adams, it still pales in comparison to my favorite German Beers
        • hydro123456, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3The problem is that you're comparing your favorite German Beers to Sam Adams. Yes, the average beer you find in a bar in Germany will be better than the average beer you find in a bar in the US, but German beer pales in comparison to the real american micros. Sam is certainly a couple steps up from Bud, but it pales in comparison to real micro brews. Check out brewers like Bells, Stone, Dogfish Head, Alesmith, Avery, Victory, Surly, the list goes on and on... Not only do they make some of the best beers in the world, but chances are they also make or have made german style beers that are better than the ones you've had in germany.
    • DifferentAngle, on 05/15/2008, -2/+2Bringing up Sam Adams pretty much disqualifies you from this discussion.
      • KMartSheriff, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2Sam Adams Honey Porter is damn good.
  • Oztog, on 05/15/2008, -15/+6What is the same about American beer and making love in a canoe: They are both ***** close to water.
  • pablo0713, on 05/15/2008, -20/+7Beer is only good when there's no pot to smoke. However, it is a poor substitute at best.
    • Pootle4rthur, on 05/15/2008, -1/+6I find they work very well together, though it takes a few years of practice to get the balance right.
      Get the balance wrong and an unpleasant time hanging on to the floor whilst the world spins relentlessly awaits
    • BuzzFriendly, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1You got that right. Not to mention the associated problems with being a regular beer drinker versus regular pot user.
    • floridiot2, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3Some people actually... gasp... like to drink beer! It tastes good!
    • accessviolation, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1I drink beer as a foodstuff, not a drug. Good beer is ***** awesome.
  • Secret7000, on 05/15/2008, -22/+16I don't think most Americans have ever drank beer. What you're drinking is lager, or a distant relative of lager.
    • jpmoney03, on 05/15/2008, -0/+6RTFA this is definitely talking about mostly ales and an increasing number of Americans are learning that there is more out there than piss water.
    • MidnightHour12, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2Lager and ale are the two basic subgroups of *beer*. The difference is the type of yeast used during fermentation and the temperature throughout the fermentation process. Both lager and ale are still beer. If it's fermented and the main sugars are coming from grains, it's beer.
    • flashingcurser, on 05/15/2008, -1/+5You clearly haven't been to the US. We only export the piss-water, we keep the good ones here.
    • accessviolation, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Lager is a type of beer. Just because ales are more delicious and more varied does not make them the only kind of beer.
  • ChefJRD, on 05/15/2008, -3/+40Did any of you actually read the article? No one is claiming that Bud, Miller or any of that crap actually tastes good, they're talking about the many "craft brews" that have popped up across the country. As a (very) novice home brewer and big fan of German beer, I must say that I agree: we've got some darn good beer in the US.
  • ikcilabd, on 05/15/2008, -1/+10i vote for Magic Hat #9.... too bad they don't sell it in GA :(
    • IglooBurner, on 05/15/2008, -1/+2YES! one of my favorite pale ale!
      also milk stout from Left Hand is pretty kick ass too.
    • xBDVx, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1It was weird, the other day we were eating at Ruby Tuesdays, and they had it.
    • tehblister, on 05/15/2008, -0/+0Dude. They sell it in Augusta, GA at a restaurant called The Pizza Joint. It just might not be sold by wherever you live.
  • DifferentAngle, on 05/15/2008, -3/+22I dont see why people are so surprised by this - there are a lot of americans with a culture of craftsmanship and perfection.
    • wendelgee2, on 05/15/2008, -0/+11and innovation, rather than tradition...which is the real difference between European and American beers.
      • whataboutdave, on 05/15/2008, -1/+4Spot on. Comment of the thread. +700 internets for you.
        • wendelgee2, on 05/15/2008, -1/+1Yay me! Should I click on the ad to the right to redeem my points?
        • DifferentAngle, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3i should at least get +5 internets for providing the parent comment
  • EarlOfLade, on 05/15/2008, -25/+20Buried as lame.
    Another area where Americans boldly claim to be #1 and as in other areas, it is *****.
    • jpmoney03, on 05/15/2008, -0/+9Actually it was an article written in Canada.
    • DrivinWest, on 05/15/2008, -0/+5Actually, I think the Canadians that were touting American beer.
    • widgetmaker, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3rtfa
    • EarlOfLade, on 05/15/2008, -3/+2Anyone coming from the European continent is called a European, Anyone coming from the African continent is called and African,
      Anyone coming from the American continent is called an American.
      Calling only someone from USA an American is like only calling Germans European.
      • modix, on 05/15/2008, -1/+2So we should be called United Statesians? American is universally the term for people from the US. No one from Canada, Mexico, Belize, Cuba, Venezuela, etc would ever refer to themselves as American. And Europeans give Americans such crap for being ignorant of other's cultures....
        • EarlOfLade, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1And you are, clearly demonstrated by you.
          Only people from USA call only people from USA, Americans. The rest of the world knows better.
        • modix, on 05/15/2008, -0/+0Then what is the term for people from the United States?

          Seriously? I've never heard it.

          I've met people from all over both continents. They all use the term American to refer to residents of the US. Considering I've more than likely met more people from N. America and S. America, I'd imagine I've probably got a better gauge on terminology.

          Not to mention the fact that America isn't a continent. It's two. If we're referring to people from either continent, it would be North American or South American. North American would be used for Canadians, but never American alone.
  • Wartyboskfapped, on 05/15/2008, -24/+14No way. American beer is piss. Gotta go to Europe or UK to taste the real stuff.
    • Pootle4rthur, on 05/15/2008, -2/+5psst The UK is part of Europe, but that apart I agree entirely
    • widgetmaker, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2We still have some ***** Beer though. (try Carling, Carlesburg, fosters if you want to taste bad English/European Beers)
    • seraph582, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1sorry guys - not only are microbreweries in america making the same boring 10 styles of european beer very well over here, we're making a good 250+ more that are even better.
  • mattyd12466, on 05/15/2008, -6/+12In the UK he only american larger you can get is Bud, Miller, they really are regarded by pretty much anyone over here to be weak, to fizzy and all together "fisher price beer"

    I cant really comment on the many 1000s of there beers that america produce because Iv never drunk them, But I would be suprised if there was more varaity to them than what we have over there. Theres on pub in the city that has NO brand name beers, from the caskets you can buy beers that are made with nettles (im not joking!), chillys, chocolate, to name but a few and a whole load of other beers/largers/stouts, some of which some of you may have heard of, most of which you have not.

    Iv only been to the states once (vas vegas so maybe not the best example) but was the name brands that they sold, not intresting, not praticualy nice, and nothing I couldnt buy back home
    • chicofaraby, on 05/15/2008, -3/+10On one hand you can't judge America based on Las Vegas because Vegas is a one dimensional, fake, plastic construct with no organic reason for existing. On the other hand it's a fairly good representative of a large portion of America for those very same reasons.
    • londonflare, on 05/15/2008, -7/+2alot of places sell Coors Light which is an absolutely superb beer, by far and away the best of the supermarket/mainstream lagers. Not a patch on Badgers Golden Glory though, now that is a tipple worth drinking.
      • shmatt, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3what?! Coors light is the WORST! Bleeeauggh! Hey- you're british are you not? Do a lot of people still dribk bitter ales like the last time I was there(1998)? I used to love Fuller's, can't find here in the states though.
        • londonflare, on 05/15/2008, -0/+0Ha, each to their own. Loads of people still drink bitter in the UK, tends to be a slightly older crowd and you can't get it in nightclubs or trendy city bars but I don't mind as I prefer country pubs. I saw some Fullers when I was last in the states, might have been somewhere in Vegas or Arizona, can't remember though. Bass is quite big in the states I recall.
      • washburn085, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2Coors light is the worst of our swill. That and Genessee are the two 'beers' that make me want to puke from drinking, and I have had some bad stuff.
        My favorite beer is made and sold in one bar, not even bottled. I will miss it when I move away.
    • flashingcurser, on 05/15/2008, -0/+4Next time go to Seattle, Portland or San Francisco. Sample some beers there. Many pubs have more than 50 local craft beers on tap. Most pubs in these cities will only have one piss-beer on tap and several good beers.
    • BECoole, on 05/15/2008, -0/+5It's about the same in America. The only Australian beer we get is that Foster's piss.
      Australia, I know you are holding back some good brews! Out with them!
    • Necromancyr, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Brickskeller in Washington DC has most of the beers of which you speak and a thousand more. (http://www.lovethebeer.com/brickskeller.html) Check out the beer list. Also, in the Baltimore DC area alone I can name 4-5 brew pubs (non-chain) and at least 4 bars that have over 15 beers on tap at any moment (good beer, not miller, etc).

      I believe it's actually in the Guinness Book of World records for biggest beer selection.
  • raublekick, on 05/15/2008, -0/+8Boy, what a great article to read at 10:30am at work... I am quite thirsty now...
  • ShempRider, on 05/15/2008, -1/+6Genesee Cream Ale -- god awful. Returnable bottles got me through college, though.
    • IglooBurner, on 05/15/2008, -1/+0if u like thick stuff, try milk stout.
    • BECoole, on 05/15/2008, -0/+4Genessee Cream Ale is/was a really good example of the style, actually. You probably wouldn't like Little Kings either.
      • bossm4n, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Man, I completely forgot about drinking Little Kings. I bet it's been nearly 25 years since I've even seen one.
    • washburn085, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1I remember my freshman year of college drinking that at a frat and puking all over their couch. Never again. As I stated above, that and Coor's light.... horrible stuff.
  • treelovinhippie, on 05/15/2008, -22/+10American beer is like having sex in a canoe.... it's ***** close to water!

    If you want decent beer you need to go to Belgium or Australia.
    • pingudownunder, on 05/15/2008, -2/+4Want to bury this comment for repeating the above joke ..
      ... and then digg it for being spot on about Belgian and Aussie beers. [And ... no ... Fosters isn't Australian, its mostly brewed in London]
  • chrisgaijiin, on 05/15/2008, -13/+5hahahaha, oh wow. American beer.
  • 5wallace, on 05/15/2008, -0/+13Three Floyds out of Indiana is my favorite U.S. microbrew. Dogfish Head also makes some great beers. They stand up to the best imports. I love that I live right next to one of the best bars in the world - Hopleaf, in Chicago. Hundreds of beers on tap and in the bottle from all over the world. If you are in the area and are a beer fan you should not miss Hopleaf.
    • grendelboogie, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3I have spent many nights stumbling out of the Hopleaf, after a few Alpha Kings or Oberons.
    • RWVolkl158, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Three Floyds definitely makes some good beer. Their only problem however is that so many of their brews taste extremely similar, basically citrusy hop-bombs. For example, their Pale Ale, Gumball Head and Pride and Joy types. Don't get me wrong, I've never tried a beer of theirs that I haven't found atleast passable and far and away better than a macro but it really does get annoying when I want to try a new brew and it tastes 99% the same as their last type that I bought... The major exception to this thus far being their "Robert the Bruce"
      • 5wallace, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Its understandable, I know what you mean. I am just a big fan of very hoppy, IPA style beers, and Three Floyds has them in spades.
        • modix, on 05/15/2008, -0/+0I find that Three Floyds' always adds enough malt backbone to make it so that the large hops aren't as noticable. Dreadnaught has a humongous hop profile, but with the perfectly blended malt profile... you don't notice it as much as you would if someone else had attempted it. Much like how in fine whiskey alcohol doesn't seem as harsh...

          I've had many beers with less IBUs that taste considerably hoppier due to improper balancing. Their usage of the citrus/pine hops also gives it more of a floral flavoring IMO.
    • modix, on 05/15/2008, -0/+0I'm a big fan of Three Floyds' as well. Gumballhead and Dreadnaught are two of my favorite beers of all time. Unfortunately the supply in Iowa has dried up recently due to increased Chicago demand, but I still make regular trips and get stock.

      I made it to Dark Lord Day this year and snagged three bottles of his infernal majesty. I've only opened one so far, and it was indeed nefarious, even though I am a bit of a hophead. I liked the Oaked Dark Lord that they served on tap better to be honest, but since it was already aged a year, I'm looking forward to the regular bottles in the coming year.

      If you've never made it over to the Map Room in Chicago, you should. I like their selection better than the Hop Leaf, but it's more of a dive. Still wish I lived closer to either.
  • soupnrc, on 05/15/2008, -0/+5Roots is where it's at... look it up. It's a brewery in Oregon somewhere. Don't let the 'organic' tag fool you, it's super good stuff.
    • bongowaxx, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2Roots is tight.... Hopworks (on Powell) my new favorite joint. Some of the best beer I've ever had.
    • soupnrc, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Right on, I'm stoked a few people on here know about roots. I'm not from Oregon, I actually had it in a little restaurant in Tacoma one day. I'll see if I can't find Hopworks somewhere around here.
  • displaced1, on 05/15/2008, -6/+3Movie Quote because I recently rewatched it.

    "I hear they have added more hopssss to it" "Nervous Laugh" - SuperBad
  • Ikulus, on 05/15/2008, -0/+15Read the article please. They're not talking about the mainstream piss-water you pick up at the gas station in a 24-pack for less than a buck a bottle.

    This is about artisan microbrews; and yeah, there are a ton of interesting ones in the U.S. and elsewhere. Beer is amazing that way. You can visit any country and sample their alcoholic offerings.
  • displaced1, on 05/15/2008, -1/+18Lets remember the article is found in a Canadian paper, so it is not the Americans touting their own horn.
  • loobis, on 05/15/2008, -1/+4All of these people saying that "American Beer sucks" and mentioning brands like Bud and Coors is like saying "American Music Sucks" because of Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys. Those may sell a lot, and we may export them, but they're hardly what you should base your comparison on. And yes, most of us think they suck too.
    • ahoy, on 05/16/2008, -0/+1Then again Europeans don't have house parties where they binge drink to oblivion from freshmen year of high school to college graduation because they don't have the strict drinking laws that shape our culture. It's only under those terms that they could truly appreciate the wonders of a cheap 30 pack of PBR.
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