By Gordon T. Anderson,
Today, there's a new hot spot to drink a cold one: San Diego.
A city generally noted for boats and beaches has become a center for
suds. In fact, it is now home to three of the 10 top brewers in the
world, at least according to a recent survey conducted by the Web
site, RateBeer.com.
A trio of upstart beermakers -- who range from a beachfront pizzeria
that makes its own beer to a fast-growing regional brewery -- have put
Southern California on the map. For a region that was considered a
beer wasteland as recently as the 1980s, that's no small achievement
The poll claims to be the world's largest. Some 30,000 different beers
from over 4,000 brewers were eligible. Voters from more than 65
countries participated, according to the site. But the results were
decidedly pro-American.
In the end, the survey showed that, like politics, all beer is local:
two-thirds of the brewers judged the best were made in the U.S.A.
American voters vastly outnumbered other nationalities, too. So
perhaps it's no surprise that hometown heroes were on proud display.
Even if the results are a bit parochial, it shouldn't detract from the
fact that American beer lovers have a lot to be thankful for these
days.
As the survey reveals, it's never been easier to find quality beer
across the land. There's good stuff from here to Kalamazoo (Michigan,
that is), where the fine local brewers serve up a range of stouts and
ales made from organic local ingredients.
Hoosiers can partake of the magnificent Dark Lords Russian Imperial
Stout from Indiana's 3 Floyds Brewing Co. For Mainers, there's
Allagash Brewing's various interpretations of Belgian styles.
In fact, about the only region thirsting for good brewers seems to be
the Deep South. No company there makes it onto RateBeer's Top 50 list.
And in many states in Old Dixie, it's a challenge to find any beer
besides the mass-marketed varieties.
Unlike some beer competitions that take place at festivals with
professional tasters judging the merits and demerits of various beers,
this one was strictly Web-based. The tasting "panel" consisted of
everyday drinkers -- amateurs, in other words, not pros.
Those judges were thousands of beer lovers, mostly aged 25 to 35. They
sampled respective brews at home then went to the Web site to log
their votes and opinions.
"The world's most avid amateur beer enthusiasts participated,"
RateBeer's Joe Tucker said in a press release. "Because of their
amateur status there were no minced words in the reviews -- beers were
rated frankly and freely."
Even if the survey wasn't exactly "scientific," RateBeer's total
archive is a big one, with over a half million beer ratings collected
on its servers. And it shows that American brewers can more than hold
their own against a world of choices.
On Independence Day weekend, that's something to celebrate.
© 2010 San Diego Brewers Guild