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Magazines » July/August 2009 » 50 Beers, 50 States

Northeast
Whether it’s a hot summer in the city or you’re keeping cool by the shore, this region’s brews will captivate your palate and imagination.

Maine
Whitefield, Maine
Sheepscot Valley Brewing
Co. Pemaquid Ale
As if a rural Maine farmhouse on “Hollywood Boulevard” wasn’t quirky enough. Schedule a tour of this cottage brewery and you’ll also find some quirky brews, and one quirky brewer. Pemaquid Ale is both the flagship beer and a local favorite; it's an unfiltered, unpasteurized Scottish ale lauded for its balance and drinkability.

New Hampshire
Manchester, N.H.
Milly’s Tavern’s Mt.
Uncanoonuc Golden Cream Ale
While its name might be a tongue twister (pronounced oon-ka-NOO-nik), this well-balanced brew is smooth ‘n’ easy on the palate, and it’s fermented longer and at cooler temps for a crisp, creamy finish. Boasting a legion of awards, including two GABF medals, it’s a year-round offering with summer appeal.

Delaware
Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Dogfish Head Pale India Ale
Only on tap at the Rehoboth brewpub, this spice-inspired bière de garde is brewed with exotic Far East ingredients like fenugreek, black and green cardamom, kalonji onion, garam masala, and tamarind paste. Prepare your palate for Belgium-meets-India-meets-the indomitable Dogfish.

Maryland
Baltimore, Md.
The Brewer’s Art Resurrection 
When the yeast stopped working (or “died”) during production, the brewer brought them back to life, and the aptly-named Resurrection was born. A cult following has emerged, and local drinkers bow down to this flagship brew: The spicy, malty, 7%-ABV Abbey-style dubbel is consistently crowned Baltimore's best beer.

Rhode Island
Middletown, R.I.
Coddington Brewing
Company Watermelon Ale 
When things heat up in R.I., the locals start panting for Coddington’s seasonal Watermelon Ale. A delicate blonde, this brew is kissed with natural watermelon flavor and garnished with a healthy watermelon wedge for a summer suds experience.

Washington, D.C
Capitol City Brewing
Amber Waves Ale 
God bless America for beers like this (and smokin’ hot redheads like the girl on the logo). Bright West Coast hop flavors and a rich caramel malt backbone have earned this full-bodied American amber a trifecta of GABF medals.

Vermont
Waterbury, Vt.
The Alchemist Pub and Brewery Ouroboros
Known for its wildly creative crafts, Alchemist is unleashing Ouroboros again for August. With 8% ABV and 88 IBUs it’s a double IPA all the way, but it’s brewed with curaçao orange and yeast that brings apricot flavors, making it a full-palate pleaser.

Massachusetts
Cambridge, Mass.
Cambridge Brewing Company Arquebus Barleywine
This summer barleywine blurs the line between wine and beer. Made with honey collected from hives within five miles of the brewery, it’s aged in French oak chardonnay barrels where it’s greeted with two varietals of white wine grape must. Served still and cool in a stemmed glass, this GABF gold medalist is a winning beer interpretation of a white dessert wine.


New York
Flushing, N.Y.
Brooklyn Brewery Blanche de Queens 
As the boys of summer storm a brand-spanking-new field, grab a beer and take a seat. Available exclusively at Citi Field in Queens, the complex Blanche de Brooklyn’s well-balanced with malt, citrus, and peppery spice flavors that knock it out of the park.

New Jersey
New Brunswick, N.J.
Harvest Moon Brewery & Café Jimmy D’s Firehouse Red
This beer comes with its own toast: Cheers to its namesake, Deputy Chief James D’Heron, a firefighter who lost his life saving 15 people (including two children) in a house fire. A portion of the proceeds from this well-balanced, easy-drinking Irish red go directly to the Connecticut Cares Burn Foundation’s Children’s Burn Camp. Already, this do-good brew has raised $55,000 for the cause.

Connecticut
Woodbridge, Conn.
New England summer wheat 
Hopheads should spring for this yet-to-be-named, highly untraditional German hefeweizen: Sure, it’s brewed with wheat and hefe yeast, but then the mix gets a healthy hand of hops. Traditional clove and banana flavors are joined by refreshing citrus hop notes for a summer brew that straddles the malt/hop fence.

Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pa.
Nodding Head Ich Bin Ein Berliner Weisse
Don’t be fooled by the “weisse:” While it’s still a light-bodied wheat, this unusual style is made with lacto-
bacillus bacteria, which lends a very tart kick and lemony sourness. Nodding Head makes more Berliner weisse than anyone outside Germany, but it’s only available in summer.

Midwest
No longer a shrine to blue-collar brew, the Midwest has blossomed as a hotbed for inventive artisans adept at using local ingredients and age-old technique.

Michigan
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout
This brewery’s year-round Breakfast Stout sells like hotcakes, but you’ll find this version only on tap at the brewery. Founders matures a chocolaty, coffee-soaked stout in bourbon barrels that were also used to age maple syrup, resulting in a nearly 10%-ABV maple-bourbon masterpiece that jump-starts bleary-eyed mornings.

Illinois
Chicago, Ill.
Piece Dark-n-Curvy Dunkelweizen
We like to think Piece brewer Jonathan Cutler (a 2006 World Beer Cup brewmaster champion) made this delectably caramelized, toasty wheat ale -- found only on tap at the brewery -- to go hand-in-hand with his adjoining pub’s thin-crust white pizza.

Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Great Lakes Barrel-Aged Blackout Stout
Groupies clamor for this limited-release, rock-star Russian imperial stout that’s won five World Beer Cups in the last seven years. Heartily malty, sweetly roasted, and as black as it gets, the barrel-aged version of this brewery standard goes on tap one heavenly day each fall.

Nebraska
Omaha, Neb.
Upstream oak-aged Belgian-style Tripel
Nebraska’s about as far away from Belgium as it gets, but this soft, honey-sweet tripel, considered by many to be one of the best tripels made Stateside, transports you to the motherland. An oaken, vanilla essence rounds out fruity and spicy notes, and the hand-signed and numbered bottle makes a nice souvenir.

South Dakota
Rapid City, S.D.
Firehouse Smoke Jumper Stout
Road-tripping to Mount Rushmore? Don’t pass through the gateway to the Black Hills without pit-stopping for this ultra-dark stout, poured only from the taps at the brewery’s rehabbed historical firehouse. Bitter and coffee-tinged, the beer looks hefty, but it’s actually pleasantly restrained.

Missouri
St. Louis, Mo.
Schlafly Pumpkin Ale
Though it doesn’t offer Clydesdale stables or a sprawling compound, Schlafly’s made just as large a mark on the heart of St. Louie beer lovers. We love this only-at-the-brewpub cinnamon, clove and nutmeg-spiced pumpkin beer that honors harvest season with butternut squash in the brew. The best part? Schlafly releases it in August, meaning you can sip the style weeks before other breweries offer theirs.


Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minn.
Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery Eye of the Storm Honey Ale
The brewers sourced honey for this GABF gold-winning brew from 10 sites around the state. It’s no longer on tap, but rumor has it there’s some aging in the back; we’re not above begging for a glass.

Kansas
Manhattan, Kan.
Tallgrass Ale
Think of this smooth, sessionable, toffee-tweaked brown ale as the American dream realized: Brewer Jeff Gill homebrewed 10 gallons of the recipe years ago, and now, it’s sold on tap and in bottles across the state.

Wisconsin
New Glarus, Wis.
New Glarus Belgian Red
Spotted Cow comes first in our hearts, but you’d be mad not to seek out this oak-aged, rust-red cherry beer, brewed with Wisconsin wheat, whole Door County cherries and Belgian barley. Never cloying and always intriguing, this buzzy cherry ale makes a man out of fruit beers.

Indiana
New Albany, Ind.
New Albanian Hoptimus
Yes, it’s a double IPA. Yes, it rocks a 9% ABV. Yes, the IBU count rings in around 100. But somehow, you can down a pint of this floral, citrusy, medium-bodied hop-bomb (only on tap at the brewery) and still finish two more.

North Dakota
Fargo, N.D.
Prairie Homebrewing Companions homebrew
There are officially no microbreweries left in the entire state of North Dakota -- good thing the American Homebrewers Association-affiliated Prairie Homebrewing Companions keep the art alive at meetings every second Wednesday of each month, where visitors can sample award-winning beers and member Susan Ruud’s famed meads.

Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
Millstream John’s Generations White Ale
Only in the Midwest does a brewer craft a four-time GABF award-winner exclusively for a grocery store. Millstream Brewing in Amana brews this wit to commemorate the three generations of the Alberhasky family, who run John’s Grocery nearby—the only place you can find this coriander- and orange-infused offering.

South
Just years ago, you could hardly find a good pale ale in the South, let alone an oatmeal stout; now, the South’s amid a beer renaissance, with brewers embracing traditional styles and inspired ingredients.

Alabama
Birmingham, Ala.
Good People Coffee Oatmeal Stout
It may come from the South, but there’s nothing sleepy about this stout. True to its name, this brew’s rich with oatmeal, espresso, and chocolate flavors, with just enough hops bitterness to balance the sweet characters.

Arkansas
Little Rock, Ark.
Diamond Bear Pale Ale
Defying the stereotype that Arkansas is a desert for noteworthy beer, Diamond Bear brings a taste of the West Coast to the Natural State with its hoppy Pale Ale, a three-time GABF gold medalist, and a thirst-quenching choice for Little Rock’s humid summers.

South
Carolina
Charleston, S.C.
COAST ALTerior Motive
Located in one of North Charleston’s sustainable communities, this small, eco-friendly, family brewery delivers big time for a style that’s not easy to perfect: ALTerior Motive, a bready, slightly fruity altbier with a hop bite. Thanks to COAST’s use of cold conditioning, this brew’s highly sessionable -- just mind the 6.3% ABV.

Georgia
Savannah, Ga.
Moon River The Tater Ale
Georgia’s always gone its own way, and with seasonal pumpkin beer, it’s no different. Moon River’s The Tater Ale actually swaps out the predictable squash for regional jumbo sweet potatoes. Try a pint at the brewery, where they’ll coat the rim of your glass with spices and ground pumpkin seeds.

Louisiana
New Orleans, La.
Crescent City Red Stallion
It may be located in the French Quarter but thanks to founder and brewmaster Wolfram Koehler, this brewery is all German. The star of Koehler’s lineup of small-batch beers is Red Stallion, a copper-colored, malty amber worth pairing with any of Crescent City’s creole dishes.

Kentucky
Louisville, Ky.
Bluegrass Luna de Miel
In a sophisticated Southern city like Louisville, one might reach for a flute of champagne. But considering this is a beer list, we’ve got the next closest spirit: mead. A honey mead made with raspberries, this brew is a sweet toasting beverage to accompany a lucky day at the tracks.

Mississippi
Kiln, Miss.
Lazy Magnolia Southern Pecan 
This brewery may be namedafter the state tree of Mississippi, but its most intriguing beer borrows heavily from another popular plant. Made with whole roasted pecans, this rather nutty, dark mahogany-color brown ale took home bronze at the 2006 World Beer Cup, and gives a new identity to Southern beer.

Florida
Tarpon Springs, Florida
Saint Somewhere Dry-Hopped Lectio Divina
Chances are you’ve seen the regular version of this Belgian strong pale ale at your local bottle shop, but if the timing of your visit to Saint Somewhere is right, you could end up drinking its dry-hopped sister version, which adds more hoppy-goodness to this already sweet, fruity brew.

Virginia
Alexandria, Va.
Shenandoah Chocolate Donut Stout
When this occasional beer makes its way to the brewery’s lineup, it attracts throngs of both loyal followers and beer-centric patrons who just can’t believe the name. This stout delivers on its promise with distinct chocolate and vanilla flavors, matched with roasted malts and an overt bready characteristic. Look out, Dunkin’; you’ve got competition.

Tennessee
Memphis, Tenn.
Boscos Famous Flaming Stone Beer
You can’t talk Memphis brew without mentioning Boscos’ Flaming Stone Beer -- even Michael Jackson found it worthy of entry in his book “Ultimate Beer.” To make this steinbier, a relatively rare style, the brewers heat pieces of granite to 700 degrees before submerging them into the wort, which ultimately caramelizes the sugar. Pair this with one of Boscos’ wood-fired pizzas for a very unconventional Memphis experience.

North Carolina
Raleigh, N.C.
Big Boss Big Operator Belgian Black Raspberry
Aged for six months and infused with 150 pounds of raspberries, Big Operator delivers more punch than you’d expect from a Belgian dark strong ale, with chocolate, berry and coffee flavors mingling in one drink. One more reason to believe that North Carolina might be the newest heavyweight in the craft beer scene.

West Virginia
Thomas, W. Va.
Mountain State Almost Heaven Amber Ale
Named one of 55 “good things about West Virginia” by weekly newspaper The State Journal, Mountain State Brewing lives up to the title with Almost Heaven Amber Ale. This slightly spicy, nutty amber proves there’s more to West Virginia than meets the eye.

West
If your palate’s been busted by the region’s hop-bombs, look again: These brewers have tamed the beast and are reinventing West Coast beer with artful hopping and serious brewing skill.

Washington
Stevenson, Wash.
Walking Man Homo Erectus
From one of the region’s major players comes this brilliant demonstration of what an IPA brewed in the Pacific Northwest should be. Teeming with piney, citrusy hops in the nose and flavor, this beer’s collected a stable of GABF and World Beer Cup awards for good reason.

Oregon
Eugene, Ore.
Ninkasi Believer Double Red
In any other state, the sight of a double red on tap is unheard of; here, it just sums up the brewing ingenuity Oregon is known for. This bold, hoppy beer offers up a solid foundation of roasted malt and all the bitterness you expect from a Pacific Northwestern beer.

Oklahoma
Tulsa, Okla.
Marshall McNellie’s Pub Ale
Though just a baby on Oklahoma’s brewing scene, Marshall has already become a local media darling with beers like McNellie’s. Delicately complex, this bitter gets its zing from English yeast and American hops.

Nevada
Sparks, Nevada
Great Basin Ichthyosaur India Pale Ale
Named after Nevada’s state fossil, “Icky” (as it’s colloquially known) is focused on Cascade hops and masterfully made. But we’re not surprised -- after all, we expect perfection from the state’s oldest and most award-winning brewery. 

Arizona
Tempe, Ariz.
Four Peaks Hop Knot IPA
In the sea of IPAs that is the West Coast beer scene, it’s hard to make an IPA stand out. But Hop Knot is noticeably different: Piney, citrusy hops define the aroma and flavor, but they’re reigned in just enough to omit the harsh bitterness that often accompanies the style. We think it’s one of the most drinkable IPAs ever, and we’re not alone: This beer’s scored GABF and World Beer Cup medals against some tough competition.

Alaska
Skagway, Alaska
Skagway Spruce Tip Ale
This local favorite (on tap only at the brewery) incorporates hand-picked Sitka spruce tree tips that add a crisp kick to its creamy, slightly sticky body and floral zest to the fruit-and-spice flavor.

Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Squatter’s Pub Provo Girl Pilsner
Utah brewers are limited by low-alcohol laws, but you wouldn’t know it at Squatters. Provo Girl more than makes do with its constraints with excellent flavor (toasted malts and mildly spiced German hops) and a seriously drinkable body brought to fruition by 30 days of lagering. All the hardware this brew’s earned is well-deserved. 

Colorado
Fort Collins, Colo.
Bourbon Barrel Horsetooth Stout
You’ll find a lot of craft beer in Colorado, but only one like this: Served exclusively at the brewery, Horsetooth Stout matures in barrels from the world-famous Heaven Hill distillery, creating a creamy and full-bodied elixir with warm notes of vanilla and coconut.

New Mexico
Albuquerque, N.M.
Chama River The March Hare
It won the 2008 New Mexico State Fair and the New Mexico IPA challenges, plus awards at the Alpha King Challenge. This decorated IPA is stacked with resinous, citrusy and spicy hops, and though the actual varieties change in every batch, there’s always 4 pounds per barrel. Follow your nose to Albuquerque -- the only place you can catch this elusive beer.

Wyoming
Jackson, Wyo.
Snake River Brewing Rolling Thunder Dortmunder
Only at this Jackson Hole brewery can you sip this GABF gold medal winner in the shadow of the Grand Tetons. The beer’s light in color, but as tall as Exum Ridge in flavor, as Vienna and pilsner malt sweetness balances peppery hops.

Texas
Austin, Texas
(512) Pecan Porter
Locally grown pecans flavor this almost-black porter found only at the Austin brewery. The flavor displays a wonderful balance of coffee, chocolate, and nuts with a mild hop bite and slow drawl of finishing sweetness.

Hawaii
Maui, Hawaii
Maui Honolua Lager
Named after the Valley Isle’s most popular surf spot, this GABF award-winning helles wraps crisp, peppery hops and clean, crackery malts in a light body that’ll keep your belly beachworthy.

California
Alpine, Calif.
Alpine Nelson
As much as we can’t get enough of American hops, it’s hard to not love this sticky, flowery, powerful brew made with a pile of New Zealand-grown Nelson hops -- especially because this brew’s the only one in the country that’s got ’em. Best to line up early if you want a taste; Alpine’s tanks dry up quickly as fans smuggle out multiple growlers.

Montana
Missoula, Mont.
Kettle House Olde Bongwater Hemp Porter
Find this award-winning hemp-infused brew on tap throughout the state, or fill a growler at the brewpub. Employing a chocolaty robust porter as the base beer, Kettle House adds about a half pound of hemp seeds per keg, lending the 5.5%-ABV masterpiece a nutty essence (and no THC).

Idaho
Boise, Idaho
TableRock Hopzilla
A legit West Coast hop bomb in Idaho? Nope, you’re not dreaming. Amarillo hops pump up the citrus love in this grapefruity, grassy IPA, while a touch of sweet caramel malt has enough presence to thwart a total palate-pucker.

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This article originally appeared in the July/August 2009 of DRAFT Magazine

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