Local and Craft Brewed Beer

Adventure Wolf · Feb 28, 2014

I am usually a beer drinker. I don't drink as much as I used too, and I usually only drink about once a week - if that. I have always preferred local and craft beers over the cheap, mass produced beers like Budweiser, Miller and Coors. I was wondering if anyone else was like that, and if they had local beers that they preferred?

I'm from North Carolina, and I have a number of choices.

My favorite is the Carolina Brewing Company's Imperial Stout. Since I prefer dark beers, this has become my favorite. It's a dark porter with a powerful flavor, yet it isn't too bitter.

I like the Lonerider's selection. Lonerider produces a number of western themed beers. Their Shotgun Betty and Sweet Josie are my go-tos at local eateries if they don't have my other selections. They serve as a good fall back, and I find them enjoyable.

If I'm in the mood, I like the Tap Room 21 brand of beer. I know that it isn't technically local, but it is only available at certain retailers and restaurants. The Copper Lager is one of my favorites, and can usually be found somewhere in my house. The Wheat Beer and the Belgian White are close seconds in my book.

So what are your favorites?

WouldaShoulda · Feb 28, 2014

Dogfish Head has grown so much I don't know if it should still be considered "local!!"

NEMaker · Feb 28, 2014

WouldaShoulda said:
Dogfish Head has grown so much I don't know if it should still be considered "local!!"

They might have grown, but they are still small. The largest 'craft' brewer is Sam Adams (they are used as the barometer for what is considered craft), and even then they are only 1% of the American Beer Market.

As far as local beers - New England Brewing Company makes some killer beers, especially Imperial Stout Trooper and Wet Willy Scotch Ale. I've been a home brewer for a few years now and am sitting for my beer judging certification test in a few months - usually prefer to brew and drink my own.

sbdivemaster · Feb 28, 2014

I brew my own, so I don't drink much "commercial" beer. Some of the seasonals from places like Sierra Nevada and Sam Adams are OK. A friend of ours owns a "gastro pub" so we get to try quite a bit of the local brewery fare... Firestone, , Surf Brewery, etc. If I am pressed to pick a favorite "craft" brew, I have to say Blue Sky's Moose Drool would be my first choice.

Snow Hill Pond · Feb 28, 2014

Yuengling lager. Never heard of it until I moved to PA. Although it is national (or at least regional) now, it has only three breweries. Two are in PA (Pottsville and Mill Creek), and the third is inexplicably in FL. So, if I go to the package store and buy a case, it's very likely to be a local product.

A Pocono craft brewery would be Barley Creek (https://barleycreek.com/). Fair-to-Good stuff...but I'm still in the quaffing stage of life, so I usually stick with the Yuengling.

Adventure Wolf · Feb 28, 2014

Snow Hill Pond said:
Yuengling lager. Never heard of it until I moved to PA. Although it is national (or at least regional) now, it has only three breweries. Two are in PA (Pottsville and Mill Creek), and the third is inexplicably in FL. So, if I go to the package store and buy a case, it's very likely to be a local product.

A Pocono craft brewery would be Barley Creek (https://barleycreek.com/). Fair-to-Good stuff...but I'm still in the quaffing stage of life, so I usually stick with the Yuengling.

If I'm hanging out with my friends, and I don't know what they like, I usually bring a case of Yuengling. It's a safe go-to, because everyone will usually drink it.

Snow Hill Pond · Feb 28, 2014

Adventure Wolf said:
It's a safe go-to, because everyone will usually drink it.

I agree.

For me, I'm impressed that it tastes like a real beer.

firedancer · Feb 28, 2014

Budweiser is our local beer of choice. Can't go wrong with the King!

WouldaShoulda · Feb 28, 2014

Do you guys remember Yeungling before it was amber??

We'd buy it in the late 70s for $5 a case.

For tall boys!!

(It was awful)

Reading, Schmidts, all the same.

Snow Hill Pond · Feb 28, 2014

WouldaShoulda said:
Do you guys remember Yeungling before it was amber??

We'd buy it in the late 70s for $5 a case.

For tall boys!!

(It was awful)

Reading, Schmidts, all the same.

What do you think of it now? Assuming that it's very different now and not just a different color, I think it's pretty good.

Wow, is this one of the few cases where a product got better over time?

Mr Humphries · Mar 1, 2014

Confirmed beer nerd here. Hop forward, barrel aged, high abv, sour, funky, tart, sweet. Pretty much any style except adjunct lagers. I have a nice saison lined up for later on.

Kreiger · Mar 2, 2014

I went to college in PA and lived there for about three years afterwards. There was a crappy little diner in town (Scalles in Carlisle, PA, for those who are curious) that would sell draft Yeungling in gallon milk jugs. Was about $11 for a jug, as I recall. Friends would visit from out of state, and I would always take them there for a beer run. The look on their faces as it slowly dawned what the hell was going on was priceless.

In the college days, a case of Yeungling from the beverage distributer was only about $18. That was big money, so we'd go for a case of Lion's Head for about $12. I think Lion's Head was maybe 16-17 by the time I graduated, which was a shame. I remember one winter break bringing two cases of LH home to Missouri in the trunk of the car. Good times drinking the beer and slowly loosing the ability to figure out the puzzles printed on the inside of the caps.

For the price, both Yeungling and Lion's Head are both much preferred to Budweiser, Coors, Miller etc.

For those who live in Missouri, and probably the surrounding states, Boulevard Brewery is highly recommended. If you can, buy a 12 pack sampler- normally has their wheat and pale ales, which are both good, balanced expressions, and also two selections from their 'tasting room'- the last I bought had a rye and a very hoppy IPA. I'm not a huge hops guy, but the rye ale was very good. Boulevard also makes a series, "Smokestack Series" as I recall, served in 750mL bottles. These are all very good, and can be had nationally (or, at least I am able to buy them here in Boston). Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale is my favorite of this series, although I have also seen here in Boston bourbon barrel aged ales, which look delicious as well. Anyone who can get Tank 7 is strongly encouraged; I have even seen it on draft in a few places in MO and also a place here in Boston.

Penna. also has a great variety of craft brews available. Yeungling is actually a macro-brew, as is Lion's Head, although as said above they are both very good for the money. Those close to Harrisburg, PA are encouraged to visit the Troegs brewery, as well as Appalachian Brewing Co. I don't have any particular recommendations, although both are very good breweries with a range of products to suit many tastes. ABC in particular has a large rotation of seasonal brews which are often very appealing. Those who live in Central PA are also encouraged to visit a Market Cross Pub if they have the chance. Market Cross has locations in Carlisle and Chambersburg and has house brews which are very good. I would always get the red ale, which is especially delicious when available as a cask ale.

MA has a wealth of craft brewers as well, although I have not had the time to explore them as fully. From what I've sampled so far, Harpoon is a strong brewery, worth exploring. I honestly wouldn't consider Sam Adams a craft brewery anymore, and to be honest have found their beers to be nothing special. They are widely available, however.

Hitch · Mar 2, 2014

https://oregoncraftbeer.org/facts/

All this competition makes for some outstanding creations. My 100 gram carb limit forces me to the sidelines though. As the man says- I dont always drink micros but when I do I prefer Bridgeport IPA.

dks202 · Mar 2, 2014

Snow Hill Pond said:
Yuengling lager. Never heard of it until I moved to PA. ......

Funny story about this beer. I'm a native South Texas boy and a while back in Quantico I looked at the taps behind the bar and I asked for "Some of that Chinese beer". He looked at me funny and I continued "You know, that Ching-a-ling beer right there."

When the whole bar stopped laughing at me I got my first taste of Yuengling. Good stuff!

That said San Antonio has a long history of local breweries including Lone Star (The National Beer of Texas) and Pearl. The Blue Star is fairly new but they brew a very good stout.

https://www.bluestarbrewing.com/

MaxBuck · Mar 2, 2014

We in the USA are truly living in the golden age for lovers of inventive craft beer.

GatorFL · Mar 3, 2014

You should see if there is a craft beer festival in your area. We have a bunch down here in South FL. We usually get a big group together and hire a car/bus and try everything. Not only will you find some new and different things to drink, it's also a hell of a party!

NEMaker · Mar 3, 2014

Kreiger said:
MA has a wealth of craft brewers as well, although I have not had the time to explore them as fully. From what I've sampled so far, Harpoon is a strong brewery, worth exploring. I honestly wouldn't consider Sam Adams a craft brewery anymore, and to be honest have found their beers to be nothing special. They are widely available, however.

Sam Adams is still only the smallest drop in the bucket for the brewery industry, so are still craft when considering that AB-InBev and Miller Coors control 80% of the market. Sam's seasonal ale's are good goto's when a bar only has InBev stuff on tap. Their small batch collection is also pretty good, like The Vixen Chocolate Chili Bock.

And technically speaking, Yuengling isn't considered to be a craft beer and is bigger than Sam Adams https://www.brewersassociation.org/...press-releases/show?title=brewers-association-releases-top-50-breweries-of-2012

WouldaShoulda · Mar 4, 2014

Snow Hill Pond said:
What do you think of it now? Assuming that it's very different now and not just a different color, I think it's pretty good.

Wow, is this one of the few cases where a product got better over time?

It's much better.

To get a taste of how it used to be, try some "Premium" if you can find it!!

This is simply one of the few exceptions the "80s were better" rule!!

Tilton · Mar 6, 2014

I don't drink that much beer anymore, but I do drink beer. I can't remember the last time I had a beer from even a place as large as Sam Adams. My go-tos are Dogfish Head, Foothills, Russian River, Goose Island, and Lost Abbey, plus whatever is highly local to where I'm drinking beer (I used to live a mile from Port City so I drank a lot of Port City - that sort of thing). I used to be much more in to beers and an avid Untapped user. Now, in a typical week I will usually have two glasses of red wine and a glass of scotch. Of course, every once in a while, when my wine cellar* is freshly stocked, I may knock out a couple bottles of red in a week and when the granite and refrigerator for the new bar in my basement are finally installed, I will probably drink more beer as well.

*My "wine cellar" is of course not really a wine cellar, just a hidden overhead cabinet on a stairwell which stores about 60 bottles and has never been more than half full.

GatorFL · Mar 14, 2014

Tilton said:
I don't drink that much beer anymore, but I do drink beer.

Now that I think about it, I am the same way. I prefer liquor to beer now. Usually some sort of rye or bourbon.

Local and Craft Brewed Beer

Adventure Wolf

WouldaShoulda

NEMaker

sbdivemaster

Snow Hill Pond

Adventure Wolf

Snow Hill Pond

firedancer

WouldaShoulda

Snow Hill Pond

Mr Humphries

Kreiger

Hitch

dks202

MaxBuck

GatorFL

NEMaker

WouldaShoulda

Tilton

GatorFL

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