BEER !!

[coolJ]

What beers are brewed in your locale ? . Here in Kamloops there is a brewery called Bear Brewing, and they make Polar, Brown and Black Bear beer and also Albino Rhino Ale (the house beer for Earls).

[Nicko]

Moving this topic to the Last Word on Food and Wine. There have been several discussions on beer there.

[cape chef]

coolJ,

Here in CT we have New England brewery.
They make atlantic amber,gold stock ale,oatmeal stout, a light beer, they do holiday brews and summer ales also.
Quite good stuff.
cc

Here in the Boston area we of course have Boston Brewing (Sam Adams and others), which I guess gets some credit for jump-starting the microbrewing revolution, even if the early batches were actually brewed in Pittsburgh. I think they can hardly qualify as a microbrewery any more!

A few of the many, many microbrews in this area that I particularly like are: Shipyard Fuggles IPA (Maine), Long Trail Ale (Vermont) and Ipswich Ale (Mass), all of which are strongly hopped and have a nice, clean finish. The latter is marketed in half-gallon "growlers", which are all-too-easy to finish all-too-quickly. I'm also especially fond of Bolton Bitter, which I make up on my kitchen counter in 5-gallon batches.

Bitter beer is better because bitter beer makes your batter better. Also, better for drinking.

Two I like here are Red Hook ESB (Extra Special Bitter) and Mack and Jack out of Redmond, WA, home of Microsoft.

[Greg]

Crudeau, you can't go wrong drinking Red Hook! Definitely one of the finest US brewers.
Lot's of micobrewery/restaurants here in the Twin Cities. I've got two of them and a home-brew supply store within walking distance. The best beer made in Saint Paul is Summit, a small brewery that makes pale ale, IPA, porter and a rotating seasonal brew. Currently winter ale, next is maibock (one of the best beers I've tasted) then hefe weizen in the summer. Sad thing is, I can't remember what their fall beer is. They were serving it at their annual party at the brewery, all I remember is it was good!

[Pete]

Hey Dick, don't forget Catamount (out of Vermont)!!!! Here in the Chicago and Midwest area we have lots of great breweries such as: Goose Island (Honker's Ale), Bell's (Oberon), and numerous others.

Yes, Pete - the "once and future" Catamount is one of my all-time favorites. They went belly up a couple years ago and the brewery in Windsor, VT was acquired by Harpoon (also a favorite - hmmm, I'm detecting a trend here) last year. I understand they'll be continuing the Catamount name and essentially picking up where the original Catamount left off.

Another honorable mention from this part of the world is Saranac from upstate NY. They market a six-pack called "Adirondack Trail Mix" - two bottles ale, one pilsner, two black-and-tans, etc. Clever marketing concept - good beer, too.

[Mezzaluna]

This is Wisconsin... my post would rival the length of Elakin's Italian sojourn posts if I listed them all! Some decent brews in Milwaukee, but if you ever get a chance to try any of the New Glarus brews, go for it!

Hi all

Here where beer is a national pastime, we have gone back to basics.

There is a small but ever popular brewer making old celtic style beer, they produce four:-
Fraoch (heather ale), Grozet (gooseberry ale),
Ebulum (elderberry ale), Alba (Scots Pine ale)
They are all unique in taste and made to historic recipies, the heather ale is reckoned to be the oldest beer recipie still in production. Since 2000 years B.C. in Scotland. mmm thats got me in the mood.
They have a good website very informative, but you've really got to taste it, know what I mean. Honest drink a mug of heather ale, you'll think yer Braveheart, drink ten you'll declare war on England ;-)
AJ

AJ:

LOL on the making war on england!

[theloggg]

In Chico, CA (my alma matter and place I call "home") we brew what I consider the finest American Ale, Sierra Nevada.

Going "home" this weekend, can't wait.

[SeattleDeb]

Great food at Sierra Nevada as well logg...my sister lives in Redding, and folks have a place in Tahoe, we like to go a little out of our way and stop in Chico for some fine brew and burgers.

P.S.......spent many a party there )

[Pete]

Dick, I had no clue that Catamount went belly-up. Im glad to hear that Harpoon bought them, I just hope that they don't mess with any of the recipes. I love Catamount Porter!!!

[Bayou]

New Orleans has a brewery that produces a beer called "Dixie." It speaks for itself.