# How's the local beer in your neck of the woods? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** beer\ **Created:** [January 22, 2008, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-local-beer-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/434478 "2008-01-22T06:40:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-local-beer-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/434478/41 "2008-01-22T20:26:07Z")
[QUOTE=Eonwe] M **bouv** , you did leave one other local notable off the list, **Shed**. [/QUOTE] Oh, there’s several more that aren’t on the list. I just listed the ones I remember offhand and have had beers from. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-local-beer-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/434478/42 "2008-01-22T20:28:11Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp] Wow, the ones (3 Houston locations) out here don’t even brew their own beer; they farm that out to Saint Arnold. I had no idea they were a serious brew pub. My ignorance has just been fought. [/QUOTE] It depends on the location. In SoCal, all of the beer is produced at the Brea location and sent out to the other restaurants. I know a couple of the brewers there, which is why I mentioned Owen. When he gets a chance to do something other than the standards on the menu, he can get quite creative. ---
**Author:** ![Trunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@Trunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trunk)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-local-beer-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/434478/43 "2008-01-22T20:30:36Z")
[QUOTE=sturmhauke] I’ve only recently discovered that beer doesn’t have to taste like horse piss. [/QUOTE] I’ve never known a beer that I wouldn’t find more enjoyable to drink than water. I don’t think I could say that about horse piss. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-local-beer-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/434478/44 "2008-01-22T20:40:42Z")
[QUOTE=Trunk] I’ve never known a beer that I wouldn’t find more enjoyable to drink than water. [/QUOTE] Here, have a Michelob Ultra. 😃 ETA: Seriously, though, I would enjoy just about any beer over water, but there are plenty of beers where the taste doesn’t justify the calories and alcohol to me. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2008, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-local-beer-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/434478/45 "2008-01-22T20:41:25Z")
[QUOTE=Trunk] I’ve never known a beer that I wouldn’t find more enjoyable to drink than water. [/QUOTE] Bud, Miller, Coors…just give me tap water instead. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-local-beer-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/434478/46 "2008-01-22T20:46:58Z")
Thought I’d replied earlier, perhaps not. There’s some sort of Belfast ale floating about, but its not been recommended to me. Better to stick to the whiskey distilled further north near the coast. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-local-beer-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/434478/47 "2008-01-22T22:05:49Z")
[QUOTE=pulykamell] I’d count Three Floyd’s in there as well–they’re in Indiana, but still in what I would consider Chicagoland. [/QUOTE] Founders and Bell’s are largely considered to be Chicago based brewers too. Lots a pretty good stuff, though Illinois’ state distribution laws make things pretty tricky for these guys to compete in this market. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-local-beer-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/434478/48 "2008-01-22T22:16:55Z")
[QUOTE=Omniscient] Founders and Bell’s are largely considered to be Chicago based brewers too. Lots a pretty good stuff, though Illinois’ state distribution laws make things pretty tricky for these guys to compete in this market. [/QUOTE] Tough to the extent that Bell’s doesn’t even distribute their beer in Illinois any longer. ---
**Author:** ![Necros](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/necros/32/11086_2.png) [@Necros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necros)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-local-beer-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/434478/49 "2008-01-22T22:44:17Z")
[QUOTE=Demo] [Here are the results of last year’s Great American Beer Festival](http://www.beertown.org/events/gabf/pdf/gabf07_winners.pdf)(pdf)… [/QUOTE] Which, I might add, is held in Denver… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![hekk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@hekk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hekk)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-local-beer-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/434478/50 "2008-01-22T22:48:04Z")
Berghoff New Glarus Leinenkugels Rock Bottom brewpub Riverwest… something. Not that tasty. Sprechers (their root beer is far superior to their crappy Amber) Err, Miller/Pasbt et al. is here. That’s off the top of my head. My favorites are Berghoff’s Dark Ale, and New Glarus Spotted Cow. And Leinie’s Oktoberfest. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-local-beer-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/434478/51 "2008-01-22T22:51:03Z")
[QUOTE=hekk] Berghoff New Glarus Leinenkugels Rock Bottom brewpub Riverwest.. something. Not that tasty. Sprechers (their root beer is far superior to their crappy Amber) Err, Miller/Pasbt et al. is here. That’s off the top of my head. My favorites are Berghoff’s Dark Ale, and New Glarus Spotted Cow. And Leinie’s Oktoberfest. [/QUOTE] Riverwest Stein, it’s a malt beer, but the brewery is Lakefront. They also make Cattail Ale, East Side Dark, Fuel Cafe Coffee Stout and several others. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-local-beer-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/434478/52 "2008-01-22T22:55:17Z")
We also have Ale Asylum (Ambergedden and Hopalicious), and Sand Creek who makes Badger Porter and Cranberry Special Ale amongst others. A new player is Lazy Mutt. Haven’t tried it, it only got a C on beeradvocate, but it’s cheap for a craft beer. Maybe $7 for an _8_ pack. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-local-beer-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/434478/53 "2008-01-22T23:05:50Z")
[QUOTE=Ferret Herder] Tough to the extent that Bell’s doesn’t even distribute their beer in Illinois any longer. [/QUOTE] Currently it is being sold under the brand name “Kalamazoo” with a subheading “by Bells Brewery”, the inverse of it’s previous labeling, right now in Chicago. Legal wrangling will certainly ensue. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-local-beer-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/434478/54 "2008-01-22T23:13:44Z")
[QUOTE=Omniscient] Currently it is being sold under the brand name “Kalamazoo” with a subheading “by Bells Brewery”, the inverse of it’s previous labeling, right now in Chicago. Legal wrangling will certainly ensue. [/QUOTE] Otherwise, come up to Wisconsin. Can’t not find it here. I think even the mega marts have at least Two Hearted Ale or Oberon. ---
**Author:** ![hekk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@hekk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hekk)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-local-beer-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/434478/55 "2008-01-22T23:28:09Z")
[QUOTE=Joey P] Riverwest Stein, it’s a malt beer, but the brewery is Lakefront. They also make Cattail Ale, East Side Dark, Fuel Cafe Coffee Stout and several others. [/QUOTE] Oh, Lakefront! Forgot them. ---
**Author:** ![RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RancidYakButterTeaParty)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-local-beer-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/434478/56 "2008-01-22T23:35:23Z")
[QUOTE=psycat90] It’s pretty damn good around here. Russian River Brewing is just a couple of miles from our house and is a weekly pit stop for my husband and me. Look in any beer rag and at least one (usually closer to five) of their brews are in their Top 25 Beers in the World, Top 25 Beers in the US, etc. Often in the Top 10. The brewpub is consistently ranked as one of the top 20 in America. PLiny the Elder, Blind Pig, and the Russian River IPA are my all time faves. Other favorites: Bear Republic - Racer 5 is at the top of my list. Lagunitas Third Street Aleworks Mendocino Brewing Company Anderson Valley Brewing Company Moonlight Brewing Company Sierra Nevada Moylan’s And there are several great ones down in the city. My husband and I are going to attempt touring most of them this weekend. We’ve already been to most of them I think, but we’ve never attempted hitting them all in one weekend. On our list: Beach Chalet Magnolia San Francisco Brewing Speakeasy Thirsty Bear Anchor Steam 21st Amendment Or well, pretty much all of the places on [this map](http://www.sfbrewersguild.org/) and a few others. [/QUOTE] Toronado in San Fransisco is without a doubt the best beer bar in the U.S. Probably one of the top 3 in the world. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2008, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-local-beer-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/434478/57 "2008-01-22T23:57:29Z")
Every local brew I’ve ever had tastes like pasteurized deer piss. And I continue to try the local brew everytime I travel. They have a perfect “oh fer” record… ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-local-beer-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/434478/58 "2008-01-23T00:48:03Z")
[QUOTE=Omniscient] Currently it is being sold under the brand name “Kalamazoo” with a subheading “by Bells Brewery”, the inverse of it’s previous labeling, right now in Chicago. Legal wrangling will certainly ensue. [/QUOTE] Huh. Oooooh yes it will. That’s interesting, though; I don’t think I’ve noticed any and I go to pretty decent stores. I’ll have to take a closer look now that I know it might be out there. [QUOTE=Joey P] Otherwise, come up to Wisconsin. Can’t not find it here. I think even the mega marts have at least Two Hearted Ale or Oberon. [/QUOTE] No way, for my next north-of-the-border beer run I’m getting what I do every time - a whole metric assload of New Glarus beers. Those are only sold in Wisconsin and I love 'em. ---
**Author:** ![psycat90](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@psycat90](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psycat90)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-local-beer-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/434478/59 "2008-01-23T00:57:52Z")
[QUOTE=RancidYakButterTeaParty] Toronado in San Fransisco is without a doubt the best beer bar in the U.S. Probably one of the top 3 in the world. [/QUOTE] We’ve been to Toronado, it is awesome. And we’ve met lots of Toronado regulars at RRBC that make the trip up our way for the awesome beer. City Beer is a great place for bottles and whatever happens to be on the few taps they have. We might hit up Toronado or City Beer on our quest this weekend, but this journey is really about places that actually brew in the city. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2008, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-local-beer-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/434478/60 "2008-01-23T01:03:44Z")
[QUOTE=Ferret Herder] Huh. Oooooh yes it will. That’s interesting, though; I don’t think I’ve noticed any and I go to pretty decent stores. I’ll have to take a closer look now that I know it might be out there. [/QUOTE] Doubt you’ll have any luck. So far all I’ve seen is draft beer downtown. I don’t think they intend to lay out the cash for new bottling and labeling until they get an idea of how much fight there will be from Chicago Beverage and/or Union Beverage. Could be quite a while before it makes it to the suburbs, let alone any package stores. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-local-beer-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/434478.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-the-local-beer-in-your-neck-of-the-woods/434478.md?page=4)