Best beer...by US State?

[HedgehogBC]

Minnesota:

Anything by Surly. Seriously.
Almost anything by Schells. Damn good German lagers, albeit with a bit of a mass produced flavor.
Most stuff by Summit. Same as the Schells comment, but replace "German Lagers" with "American Ales"
Farm Girl Saison by Lift Bridge. Very good Saison.

However, I personally believe the greatest strength of the MN brewing scene are the brewpubs.
Go drink at these places:
Town Hall Brewery (Minneapolis)
The Herkimer Brewery and Pub (Minneapolis)
Barley Johns Brewpub (Just outside Minneapolis)
Fitgers Brewhouse (Duluth)
Rock Bottom (Minneapolis) Yes, I know it's a chain, but the brewmaster is pretty damn good.

[ScootsieDoubleday]

Minnesota:

Anything by Surly. Seriously.
Almost anything by Schells. Damn good German lagers, albeit with a bit of a mass produced flavor.
Most stuff by Summit. Same as the Schells comment, but replace "German Lagers" with "American Ales"
Farm Girl Saison by Lift Bridge. Very good Saison.

However, I personally believe the greatest strength of the MN brewing scene are the brewpubs.
Go drink at these places:
Town Hall Brewery (Minneapolis)
The Herkimer Brewery and Pub (Minneapolis)
Barley Johns Brewpub (Just outside Minneapolis)
Fitgers Brewhouse (Duluth)
Rock Bottom (Minneapolis) Yes, I know it's a chain, but the brewmaster is pretty damn good.

I'm road tripping this summer through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Last time I did the trip, I picked up a lot of US craft beer. Summit's Great Northern Porter was one of my favourites. (Also picked up some Bells, New Glarus, and some Founders). This time, my wish list is different across the same states: I want to get some Surly, Barley Johns, Three Floyds, and Jolly Pumpkin.

[crezzer]

I toured round parts of New England (I'm from Old England you know) in 1999 so my thoughts here are probably WAY out of date, but....
In New Hampshire I remember going to a bar near the harbour that had some great beer from the local micro'. I did visit the Red Hook brewery but I guess that's got too big for it's boots by now?
In Maine we went to the Atlantic Brewing Company which did an interesting Blueberry Ale.
In Vermont we visited some excellent brew-pubs but as for breweries there was Otter Creek and of course, my favourite of the whole trip, Magic Hat.
I can't remember any of the others we visited, though I did go to Colorado in the early 90s and had a great time in the Breckenridge brewery.
Out of date so maybe no help, still better than nothing.

[ninetoedbrewing]

In Virginia the Devil's Backbone might just be the best.

I agree, with Blue Mountain a very close second. Full Nelson is my favorite Virginia craft beer.

[Crut]

Minnesota:

Anything by Surly. Seriously.
Almost anything by Schells. Damn good German lagers, albeit with a bit of a mass produced flavor.
Most stuff by Summit. Same as the Schells comment, but replace "German Lagers" with "American Ales"
Farm Girl Saison by Lift Bridge. Very good Saison.

However, I personally believe the greatest strength of the MN brewing scene are the brewpubs.
Go drink at these places:
Town Hall Brewery (Minneapolis)
The Herkimer Brewery and Pub (Minneapolis)
Barley Johns Brewpub (Just outside Minneapolis)
Fitgers Brewhouse (Duluth)
Rock Bottom (Minneapolis) Yes, I know it's a chain, but the brewmaster is pretty damn good.

I'm road tripping this summer through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Last time I did the trip, I picked up a lot of US craft beer. Summit's Great Northern Porter was one of my favourites. (Also picked up some Bells, New Glarus, and some Founders). This time, my wish list is different across the same states: I want to get some Surly, Barley Johns, Three Floyds, and Jolly Pumpkin.

what no Short's, how dare you

[Spelt]

NH +1 on the Portsmouth Brewery especially Kate the Great Imperial Stout.

Also give the Smuttynose brews a chug. Their Baltic porter is pretty darned tasty.

[triple-oh-six]

Louisiana

Abita - I guess you can get it just about anywhere but here are my favorites:
Andygator - Helles Dopplebock
Jockamo - IPA
Restoration Ale - Pale Ale

Heiner Brau

Bayou Teche Brewery

NOLA

The Parish Brewery - this is a nano that just opened, I haven't had the beer yet though, they just started distributing a few days ago.

[@clstokes]

I'm ashamed Georgia hasn't been represented yet... Here's my list:

Georgia breweries:

• Sweetwater
• Terrapin
• 5 Seasons
• Red Brick (formerly Atlanta Brewing Company)

Atlanta/Athens beer bars:

• Brickstore Pub
• The Porter
• Trapeze Pub (Athens)
• Ormsby's
• Bookhouse Pub

Atlanta beer stores:

• Hop City
• 5 Points (Athens)
• Green's
• Total Wine

-Cameron