I'm reasonably proud to say I've drank beer in most of America's Best Beer Cities, Boston bein' the only one of the Top Ten I've NOT bar-hopped in. Surprised? I thought not, Gentle Reader. But speakin' o' surprises... let's say this about that:
No. 9 San Francisco
As the foodie capital of America—and in the survey's top 5 for big-name restaurants and ethnic cuisine—San Francisco has also been ahead of the curve on beer for years.
Anchor Brewery is the longtime microbrew champ, while 21st Amendment Brewery is winning awards for its (gasp!) canned beers, promoted as being eco-friendly and better for beer freshness. If anyone can make beer cans chic, it's San Franciscans-they ranked among the most stylish in the country.SFO's ranking surprised me more than any of the others. I really miss the restaurants in that town; I suppose I miss the beer, too. Did I ever tell ya we had FREE Anchor Steam in the company fridge before the big-ass dot-bomb meltdown? S'true. Overtime was much more pleasant in those days.
Oh. Portales didn't make the cut.
Just had a bunch of canned beer from a Canadian brewery called Big Rock. Several varieties, from a wheat to a lime (whatevs, yo) to a "Newcastle-like" (their words, not mine) ale. My take? They all tasted pretty much the same. Not impressed. Canned beer - because hipsters are tired of PBR, I assume.
ReplyDelete"Big Rock" is from you know where... and the big rock itself is about 15 miles south of Calgary.
ReplyDeleteThere are a couple of good micro breweries here, but Big Rock only needed to be the first BIG micro brewery to become famous in our small town.... and about 10% better tasting than Canadian/Labatt's
I can't get behind canned beer either, Andy, no matter WHAT the hipsters say.
ReplyDeletemarc: I like Labatt's... the original Blue, not the Light (although it IS passable) or the other stuff. I've never had a Big Rock.
Didja notice #11? Yet another reason to come visit!
ReplyDelete;)
SN1
WV: nolsan...rhymes with Molson...speaking of beer...mmmmm...beer.
I'm impressed that 3 towns in tiny New England made it into the top 10.
ReplyDeleteBeantown - Oh Buck, come on up!
I second Kris' emotion. Come to Boston and we'll buy the first sixty-seven rounds.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Anchor Steam is my go-to-brew. That is, if it's available where I am, and I don't feel like thinking about making a choice from among others I may not have tried before, Anchor will be my order.
Buck: I did, and was surprised.
ReplyDeleteKris: I was impressed with the beer selection when I went up to Maine to visit a few years back. Dunno about goin' to Bawston... I won't fly any more and that's a loooong way to drive.
Jim: Your offer is VERY enticing. Anchor Steam is good beer, innit?
I stii find it hard to believe that New Orleans came in at #16.
ReplyDeleteLoved (in a Platonic way) the Anchor Steam when I was stationed at NAS Alameda. Swell stuff. I make it a point to refresh the memory when I have work in Livermore.
ReplyDeleteDang. California, please stop the downward spiral. You got some good stuff going there.
Buck; I get the feeling that Travel article was written by someone who drinks more wine than beer.
ReplyDeleteNo mention of Chico, California?
I will be visiting Charleston next weekend (Costello concert), so I will check out the local beers.
Break/Break;
Hey Reese!
Remember the Grub Pub, over by the Exchange?
I miss California, too.
Moogie: I found it kinda strange that almost every major American city made the list. Kinda suspicious, that.
ReplyDeleteBob: Stopping CA's downward spiral is gonna be a Herculean task, if it can be accomplished at all.
Darryl: Yeah, that article became pretty suspect after I finished reading it.
Lucky you, re: Costello. I've seen him twice and each gig was superb. But the early one (around 1980) was the BEST. I love his wife, too.