Area with the most breweries?

[tedscastle]

After reading an article in the local paper in Bend, OR, I was wondering what area has the most breweries. I am told that we have 12 with another 6 in some stage of construction and several more in the application phase. It is possible to take a walking tour that includes most of them. The LHBS is within walking distance as well.

The article also mentioned that 222 pints were sold for every drinking age resident in the region. This was 6 times the average for all of Oregon. There seems to be a lot of beer here and Bend has a population of less than 100,000.

How does that compare to your area?

 

[BendBrewer]

100,000.

How does that compare to your area?

About the same............

 

[Pappers_]

We must have about the same here, too. Its amazing how many have opened or are in the process of opening in the past year or two. Of course, Chicago's much bigger than Bend, so per capita Bend would be much higher.

 

[tedscastle]

About the same............

 

[Weizenwerks]

Oregon has the most breweries per capita in the US. California has the most breweries in the US.

 

[Grinder12000]

Wisconsin has over 73 breweries and I just helped open another one 12 days ago. We're 9th

Actually Vermont has the most per capita

 

[Weizenwerks]

Not according the Brewer's Association 2011 report.

 

[Airborneguy]

It seems that most areas outside of the south are really catching on to the craze.

I just checked my Google Earth overlay to be sure. Within a 30 minute drive of my house, I've been to 11 breweries. There's 4 more off the top of my head that I haven't been to yet, and a few more in the planning phase. There's also two distilleries in Brooklyn right near where I work.

 

[Grinder12000]

Sorry. I was looking at the 2010 report. In 2010. Vermont was 2000 less then Oregon

 

[tedscastle]

Not according the Brewer's Association 2011 report.

What is the link to this report?

 

[Weizenwerks]

Not on the website yet.

 

[samc]

More importantly who has the best breweries? I'm pretty sure we can all come to some agreement without a lot of debate.

Not sure who I'd vote for, but Portland is weird so not sure it would get my vote.

 

[Weizenwerks]

Define best. Best of what.

 

[bessieflames]

More importantly who has the best breweries? I'm pretty sure we can all come to some agreement without a lot of debate.

Not sure who I'd vote for, but Portland is weird so not sure it would get my vote.

My vote is California. Russian River, Bear Republic, Stone, Sierra Nevada, Anderson Valley BC, Lagunitas, Firestone Walker, Anchor Brewing, North Coast, Lost Coast, Mad River, Trumer Brauerei

 

[Airborneguy]

More importantly who has the best breweries? I'm pretty sure we can all come to some agreement without a lot of debate.

Not sure who I'd vote for, but Portland is weird so not sure it would get my vote.

Like Weizenworks said... "best" means nothing because it can't be defined. Your best isn't my best. I can't stand over-hopped beers. I've found very few west coast breweries that produce beers I will even drink, much less find enjoyable enough to call the brewery "best". Just had my first Pliny, it was dated 2 weeks old - I didn't find anything exceptional about it all.

I'm sure the same goes for you and what we mostly have on this side of the country.

 

[Revvy]

According to the latest issue of the Michigan Beer Guide we current have 97 breweries and/or brewpubs in operation or opening within the next few weeks.

Best is subjective. I guess you could look at beer cup winners every year. Or top beer lists. I just looked for example at the list of Beer Advocates top 100 beers and Michigan has 6. But again it's beer advocate. Any yardstick we can use to define the best, someone is bound to dispute it.

We're home to some pretty well known breweries with somewhat natl reputations. Bell's, Founder's, Dragonmead, Short's, Jolly Pumpkin, Kuhnnen's.

 

[TheBreweryUnderground]

The area with the best beer is your area. Local beer is always better, especially if you've made it yourself.

 

[bessieflames]

The area with the best beer is your area. Local beer is always better, especially if you've made it yourself.

True. And it is the beer you grew up with so it always tastes better. I just did a road trip from Oregon to Massachusetts along the northern route and there were amazing brews the whole way. Eastern Oregon, Missoula, Jackson Hole, Madison, and Philly stood out. We are pretty lucky that we live in a time when craft brewing is doing so well all over the country!

 

[Weizenwerks]

I can't stand over-hopped beers. I've found very few west coast breweries that produce beers I will even drink, much less find enjoyable enough to call the brewery "best".

Me too. I like beers with balance. Anchor Liberty Ale is a great IPA but a lot less bitter than other IPAs. I've got enough bitterness in my life with marriage and business, I don't need it in my beer.

West Coast beers like Anchor Porter, Steam, and Liberty Ale as well as Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Kellerweis are always welcome in my home. When I want a change from my German wheat beer, those are on the list. Sam Adams is my restaurant beer when I dine out.

 

[letmeholleratya]

I live in Eugene, OR, and I'll definitely say Oregon is pretty spoiled when it comes to beer

I did the "Ale trail" in Bend this summer. Every brewpub was within 10 minutes walking distance, haha. Was pretty cool.

 

[Airborneguy]

There's a brewery like your's in NJ, High Point Brewery. They brew Rammstein, a brand of all traditional German beers. Good stuff. My tastes align with yours I'd imagine. I spent a lot of time in Germany when I was in the Army and became hooked on the malty lagers and wheat beers.

 

[Boy]

In the last year I've read about quite a few new Portland breweries and start up Nanos. I lived in Bend for a few years and personally I believe they are going a little over board. Probably going to be some nice 3-10 barrel systems for sale in a few years.

 

[tgmartin000]

Gotta put a plug in for front range Colorado. Between Budweiser in ft collins and Coors in golden, what more could you ask for? Plus there's about 50 Craft breweries in the area, if you like that kinda thing.

 

[Piratwolf]

Plus there's about 50 Craft breweries in the area, if you like that kinda thing.

I don't think this is gonna get much traction in here. BMC FTW!

 

[etrain666]

Colorado - New Belgium, Great Divide, O'Dells, Oskar Blues, Left Hand, Avery (to name a few)

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

Colorado - New Belgium, Great Divide, O'Dells, Oskar Blues, Left Hand, Avery (to name a few)

When I was there in December I saw a craft beer newspaper that said there were 144 breweries in the state. I think that included all the Cooper Smith brewpubs but even discounting those that's still a lot of breweries. I'm really jealous of all the good beer there.

In addition to the breweries you listed I would be remiss to leave out the excellent saisons from Funkwerks in Fort Collins, Crooked Stave's interesting brett beers and Copper Kettle's Mexican Chocolate Stout.

 

[baldben]

I'm sure it doesn't match some of the more established brewing cities, but Austin, Texas has really had a craft brewery boom.

 

[TheBreweryUnderground]

So I'm spending time in Argentina working on a farm for the next two months near El Bolson, I've found a list that includes 13 breweries in El Bolson (pop. 15, 537) and 10 more in the next town 100 km north of Bariloche (pop. 108, 250). This area is where they pretty much grow all of the hops for South America that aren't shipped in so beer is pretty nuts here. I'm headed to the Lupulus (hops) Fest tomorrow and we'll see if this beer stacks up to the states, so far the breweries here have been extremely plain with normally just pale ales, red ales, and stouts usually coming in around 4% to 5% ABV.

 

[iijakii]

I'm sure it doesn't match some of the more established brewing cities, but Austin, Texas has really had a craft brewery boom.

Yes. The craft scene has been growing nicely. BUT, it will never compare to Oregon's and the like until brewpubs can distribute. It really ruins everything.

 

[BrewKnurd]

Colorado - New Belgium, Great Divide, O'Dells, Oskar Blues, Left Hand, Avery (to name a few)

Dude, you forgot Coors. Hello?!?!