Why is it called a “boomerang” beer poll? Well because we did a similar one half a year ago, but the results were sketchy. And that’s been bugging Don and I for a while now, so we called “do-over!”
So here’s the new-and-improved version of the poll, which contains all 50 states (you Washington people can relax now!) and should allow for more precise results.
We’re also curious to see how the results flow this time, as our audience has changed quite a bit in the past six months.
But enough about us. This is about you.
What state do you think brews the best beers?
Another (apocalyptic) way to look at it is to ask yourself, if an infected meteor hit earth and you were able to keep the zombie hordes out of one state, which state would that be? You know, based on beer. Hmm…I think this whole Halloween thing getting to me.
Anyway, have at it and let us know why you chose what you did in the comments.
Happy voting!
Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
I think it’d be great if you could pick your top three states. I’m kind of torn between California, Michigan, Colorado and Wisconsin. If I could pick three I could narrow it down. It’s kinda hard to just pick one, but I went with CA.
I agree that it’s tough to choose just one, but that’s also what makes it fun to figure out.
It also makes me grateful that I don’t have to choose – I can have ’em all!!
I think there is probably a natural tendency to pick our home state, becuase that is what is familiar. Not only that, we are familiar with really good smaller breweries in the area, whereas others may not be. In other words, I live in California, and most people know about Sierra Nevada and Lagunitas and Stone, but they may not know anything about Alpine and Green Flash and Moonlight and on and on.
I think lots of people pick California who don’t live there. It think it’d be tough to vote for any other state if you’re a resident. My guess is that this poll winds up being a win for Cali.
But David, I live in Idaho, and though we have a couple of very fine breweries (looking at you Laughing Dog and Teton Brewing) I am under no dillusion that Idaho is a better brewing state than CA or CO or MI or PA. So home state or not, we don’t all live in California!
I live in Montana, but shitty brewery laws have ruined any chances of producing a very strong brewery industry here. That is why I voted to for colorado, which has so many good breweries.
Colorado is delicious! I’m currently in love with Great Divide and their Oak Aged Chocolate Yeti. That hint of chipotle really does it for me.
Find me a brewery that beats Founders and I’ll uncheck Michigan…
I can’t do that, Alex. Maybe a couple that can match them or come close, but I’m a big fan of Founders.
That’s exactly why my vote went to Michigan as well.
I think I’d need three go-to breweries to pick a state, just for variety’s sake. In CO for instance, you have Avery, Great Divide and Oskar Blues, all who make great beers.
In Michigan, you have Founders and Bells that fit this category for me, and then New Holland which is hit or miss (but their hits are awesome) and Jolly Pumpkin if you’re into sours.
Anyway, I think you can certainly make a case for Michigan, and Founders is the cornerstone of that case.
I’ve gotta say Colorado, only becuase I am so close that I am hoping that I can get there before the Zombies get to Nebraska … I’d take a certain Nebraska brewer with me to Colorado too – in hopes that the beer demand would be so high that he could easily get another job 😉
So you’d flee to Colorado in case of Zombie attack, and take a certain brewer (who is NOT named Tyler) with you in hopes of preserving the hopes of good beer on planet Earth?
Sounds like a solid plan. After GABF, I was thinking about fleeing to Colorado, with or without zombie hordes.
I’m thinking there is a movie in here somewhere…
Angela in my Zombie Beer movie, do you want to play the role of the wife of said brewer, or Queen of the Zombies? I’ll leave the choice up to you.
I am THERE Don.. – I am sure with the right make-up and costuming.. I could play BOTH!
That would be great and cut down on production costs. I’ll have to invest in the a blue screen however for the big scene where the brewer’s wife takes on and kills the queen of the zombies! This is gonna be great!
I’m still sticking with Pennsylvania as my top vote although I have been digging the beers of Colorado and Southern Tier and Brooklyn are always great from New York.
After visiting Denver, I’m starting to list towards Colorado, too, Rob. I’m kinda in love with Avery and Great Divide right now. Plus they have mountains with lions in them. That’s hard to beat.
Avery is definitely one of my new faves – I have a bottle of 17 Anniversary and Collaboration not Litagation in my stash – and have loved EVERYTHING I’ve had from them.
Hey, I have the same, plus a 15th, and a 16th (I think). If you haven’t tried their kaiser Oktoberfest yet, you need to. It’s been my favorite seasonal so far, hands down.
16th was awesome – can’t find the Kaiser anywhere.
I have a bottle of sixteen in the fridge as we speak. Just waiting for a great excuse to open it.
I challenge anybody to come up with a stronger list (quality not quantity)… I’m sure I missed some.
Sierra Nevada
Russian River
Stone
Lagunitas
Green Flash
North Coast
Moylan’s
Lost Abbey
21st Amendment
Bear Republic
Anchor
Firestone Walker
Lost Coast
I think Colorado could put up a good fight here based on the styles of beer you prefer. but I’m not gonna try. 🙂
No doubt! I also think Oregon has a better size:beer ratio.
I can’t imagine who voted for Kentucky. As a Kentuckian, I can say that we do many consumables right – bourbon, beer cheese, hot browns, and so on. But our beer kinda blows. Louisville has a couple breweries that makes OK stuff but nothing great, and especially nothing great that gets bottled, sadly.
That’s ok. You are blessed to live in the motherland for all things bourbon!
I love Bourbon County Coffee Stout. Of course that’s made in Illinois, so I’m guessing you’re on to something here.
If Washington had Firestone Walker, I could go forever and just drink Washington Brews… But since it doesn’t, I still have to drink the occasional out of state brew. Washington still wins for me though.
http://www.washingtonbeerblog.com/breweries-and-brew-pubs/
I think Colorado and California are so close its to tough to make a decision, But seeing as though i live in Denver…I’m supporting the locals!
Hard to go wrong with Colorado brews. Really enjoyed visiting Great Divide while we were there.
Yeah, if I lived in Colorado, I’d do the same. It’s an easy choice I think!
Hey Matt (anf the rest of you if you’re interested), to get a pic instead of a swirly box here on the comments, you need to get a gravatar. You can sign up here: http://en.gravatar.com/
I don’t know all the details, but it works here and on lots of other blogs as well based on your email address (I think).
Thanks – I was wondering how to do that !
I have to go with cali on this one, with colorado finishing a distant 2nd and then oregon and washington batting clean up. Being from Texas, the mecca of beer consumption, I am highly dissapointed in the beer that is distributed from here. I have to admit we Texans are content with anything that gets you drunk, hence we are satisfied with crap. With bud and miller lite being king its hard to see anything starting up making it big. (Other than shiner which is terrible). I have to give a shout out to 512 brewing (Austin) though, they brew a pecan porter that’s unmatched. But cali beer makes my taste buds run for miles, they win this one by a long shot.
Cheers from Texas my beer loving brothers, see y’all on the other side
We usually get folks from Texas lamenting that it’s hard to get good beer there, and most of it has been snuck back into the states by beer nerds coming back from vacation. Anyway, I don’t think anyone is going to disagree that it’s tough to be a craft beer lover in Texas.
Cali is a good pick, mostly because they are about 10 or 15 years ahead of the rest of the country at this point. Good beer has been happening there for a long time and it shows in the results of the poll.