# Best beer not a local micro but available everywhere in the U.S. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** beer\ **Created:** [March 2, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-not-a-local-micro-but-available-everywhere-in-the-u-s/614566 "2012-03-02T17:26:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-not-a-local-micro-but-available-everywhere-in-the-u-s/614566/1 "2012-03-02T17:26:25Z")
Obviously not a factual question so it’s here. Inspired by the Samuel Adams thread, what is the ‘best’ beer (lager/ale/etc.) that is available coast to coast at least in the lower 48? Widely imported micros like Becks or Guinness are fair game. (Don’t judge me, I like Becks.) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-not-a-local-micro-but-available-everywhere-in-the-u-s/614566/2 "2012-03-02T17:29:14Z")
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-not-a-local-micro-but-available-everywhere-in-the-u-s/614566/3 "2012-03-02T17:37:57Z")
I like Becks too, but it’s hardly an imported micro. It’s a product of AB InBev, which also brews Budweiser and dozens of other well known brands. For a standard every day beer, I like Yuengling, but I don’t know how widely available it is. ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-not-a-local-micro-but-available-everywhere-in-the-u-s/614566/4 "2012-03-02T17:39:18Z")
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale’s been mentioned, so I’ll add Red Hook ESB. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-not-a-local-micro-but-available-everywhere-in-the-u-s/614566/5 "2012-03-02T17:44:38Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > I like Becks too, but it’s hardly an imported micro. It’s a product of AB InBev, which also brews Budweiser and dozens of other well known brands. > > For a standard every day beer, I like Yuengling, but I don’t know how widely available it is. Not as available as I’d like…can’t get it in Missouri. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-not-a-local-micro-but-available-everywhere-in-the-u-s/614566/6 "2012-03-02T17:44:45Z")
Does Dogfish Head meet the availability standard? If so, then their 60 Minute IPA. If not, then another vote for Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-not-a-local-micro-but-available-everywhere-in-the-u-s/614566/7 "2012-03-02T18:02:30Z")
Shiner Boch. Yueingling. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-not-a-local-micro-but-available-everywhere-in-the-u-s/614566/8 "2012-03-02T18:14:19Z")
> [@yanceylebeef](#): > > Shiner Boch. > Yueingling. > [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Not as available as I’d like…can’t get it in Missouri. , referring to Yuengling. Funny story though…had a buddy who was home to visit in Vermont, and he found this really great beer, so he actually brought a couple cases back with him. Don’t rememeber if it was by plane or shipped. He got back to Missouri and realized that you can get Leinenkugel’s Red at Wal-mart. ---
**Author:** ![mkecane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9e8a1a/32.png) [@mkecane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkecane)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-not-a-local-micro-but-available-everywhere-in-the-u-s/614566/9 "2012-03-02T18:17:34Z")
Yet another vote for Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-not-a-local-micro-but-available-everywhere-in-the-u-s/614566/10 "2012-03-02T18:18:02Z")
Anchor Steam and Anchor Liberty Ale. ---
**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-not-a-local-micro-but-available-everywhere-in-the-u-s/614566/11 "2012-03-02T18:53:12Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > I like Becks too, but it’s hardly an imported micro. It’s a product of AB InBev, which also brews Budweiser and dozens of other well known brands. > > For a standard every day beer, I like Yuengling, but I don’t know how widely available it is. I’ve never seen Yuengling in Chicago. I see Fat Tire beers pretty much everywhere. Do they distribute on the east coast? ---
**Author:** ![piepiepie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@piepiepie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/piepiepie)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-not-a-local-micro-but-available-everywhere-in-the-u-s/614566/12 "2012-03-02T18:55:20Z")
Another vote for Shiner but I prefer the Blonde. ETA: since I interned at Spoetzl I’m slightly biased. I also like Genessee Cream Ale but I don’t know how widely it’s distributed. My dad is a bigger fan of Yuengling than I am but it’s relatively local and the lager is good when eating crabs (prefer Boh though). ---
**Author:** ![justrob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@justrob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justrob)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-not-a-local-micro-but-available-everywhere-in-the-u-s/614566/13 "2012-03-02T19:02:04Z")
I’m a big fan of Blue Moon which is, I think, produced by Miller/Coors so it should be available nationwide. ---
**Author:** ![Yaxche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8dc957/32.png) [@Yaxche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yaxche)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-not-a-local-micro-but-available-everywhere-in-the-u-s/614566/14 "2012-03-02T19:19:55Z")
Just a data point, but neither Fat Tire nor Dogfish Head are available in Utah. The DABC (government body) has control over what can be sold in state liquor stores here, which all non-3.2 beer is, so we may be need to be excluded from “everywhere in the U.S.” 🙂 That being said, another vote for Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, which is readily available! ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-not-a-local-micro-but-available-everywhere-in-the-u-s/614566/15 "2012-03-02T19:20:11Z")
> [@Trom](#): > > I’ve never seen Yuengling in Chicago. > > I see Fat Tire beers pretty much everywhere. Do they distribute on the east coast? They do to South Carolina. I love both New Belgium’s Fat Tire and their 1554. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-not-a-local-micro-but-available-everywhere-in-the-u-s/614566/16 "2012-03-02T19:21:32Z")
I’ll go ahead and nominate the first beer I actually enjoyed drinking-Newcastle. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-not-a-local-micro-but-available-everywhere-in-the-u-s/614566/17 "2012-03-02T19:23:25Z")
> [@Trom](#): > > I see Fat Tire beers pretty much everywhere. Do they distribute on the east coast? The OP asks for “best” beers. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-not-a-local-micro-but-available-everywhere-in-the-u-s/614566/18 "2012-03-02T19:35:21Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > For a standard every day beer, I like Yuengling, but I don’t know how widely available it is. > [@Yuengling site](#): > > The brewery currently distributes its products in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, & Alabama. I’ll have to go with Sierra Nevada as well. Newcastle’s good, and I do have a huge supply courtesy of Lewis Black, but it’s not my favorite. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-not-a-local-micro-but-available-everywhere-in-the-u-s/614566/19 "2012-03-02T19:39:56Z")
Yuengling is definitely regional. I ran across it in a top ten U.S. breweries list, but before that I’d never even heard of it. Is Stone IPA available across the country? What about Anchor Steam? I like a couple of the Mexican imports, particularly Bohemia and Negra Modelo and I’ve seen those in Mexican restaurants all over. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2012, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-not-a-local-micro-but-available-everywhere-in-the-u-s/614566/20 "2012-03-02T19:43:50Z")
> [@Yaxche](#): > > Just a data point, but neither Fat Tire nor Dogfish Head are available in Utah. The DABC (government body) has control over what can be sold in state liquor stores here, which all non-3.2 beer is, so we may be need to be excluded from “everywhere in the U.S.” 🙂 Uh, what? I knew you couldn’t buy decent beer in Utah bars, but that extends to liquor stores too? I’d likewise vote for something from New Belgium (Fat Tire family) but Fat Tire itself has never impressed me. Maybe their 1554 or Abbey Ale? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-beer-not-a-local-micro-but-available-everywhere-in-the-u-s/614566.md?page=2)