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sailorboy1 · 16-02-2014, 09:22

So where are the best places to cruise for beer? (sometimes we need to discuss important stuff and hopefully an international CF membership can do better on this one than they did on cheeseburgers)

I know in the mid 80s when in the Navy I spend 4 months looking for the $0.25 beer in South American and finally found it (yes I will hang out in some pretty crappy places). On the other hand everyone pretty much knows that you don't go to the Bahamas if you like beer unless you have a good budget just for it.

So where are the best places for beer cruising; cost wise and quality wise, the combo cost/quality?

Stu Jackson · 16-02-2014, 09:24

California has some great micro-breweries. Maybe not such great cruising grounds (I only say this to avoid it getting too crowded around here!)

).

El Rubio · 16-02-2014, 09:36

I'm almost a beer snob, but can find decent beer most anywhere. I despise light beer, but after 3-4, they're not so bad.

**carstenb** · 16-02-2014, 09:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

So where are the best places to cruise for beer? (sometimes we need to discuss important stuff and hopefully an international CF membership can do better on this one than they did on cheeseburgers)

I know in the mid 80s when in the Navy I spend 4 months looking for the $0.25 beer in South American and finally found it (yes I will hang out in some pretty crappy places). On the other hand everyone pretty much knows that you don't go to the Bahamas if you like beer unless you have a good budget just for it.

So where are the best places for beer cruising; cost wise and quality wise, the combo cost/quality?

Europe

Denmark has several hundred micro's (many in harbor towns) belgium has over 400 (I believe) German has quite a few also -

Beesides the beer is generally better in europe than in the US (no I'm not anti american, but the commercially brewed beer in the states is p*ss

belizesailor · 16-02-2014, 10:03

I brew beer, so searching for good beer is a continuous activity for me.

If by "best" you mean technically good beer then pickings are pretty slim. That rules out all watered down mass produced beers (which have their place, but "good" or "best" is not it). These make up about 97% of what you find in the Carib.

Ironically, the USA has become craft brew Mecca. I was overwhelmed the last time I was there...the choices of excellent beers were overwhelming.

Belize has Guiness and sometimes Dragon Stout (strange brew but techinically interesting).

Guatemala/Honduras really rare to find something other than mass produced swill.

In the Western Carib, I've found Panama to the the best place for real beer. Quite a few good imported beers available. Ive found lots of Beligian beers (Chimay, Leffe...), also found several by Fullers, and even a Schwarzbier. Also there is at least one real craft brewery in Panama City: Rana Dorada. They usually have about 4 brews available including a very well done Pilsner and a Porter.

markpierce · 16-02-2014, 10:32

A few of the Bay Area microbreweries are within walking distance of a marina.

Bay Area Breweries, Brewpubs, & Contract Brewers - Bay Area Craft Beer

Kenomac · 16-02-2014, 10:47

Spain... where you can buy what we consider in the US to be the expensive imported European brands for around .23-.50 cents per can.

jkindredpdx · 16-02-2014, 10:54

For quality beer, hands down it's the Pacific Northwest. I might be biased, but that doesn't make me wrong... RateBeer Weekly
... I believe the Epicenter is Portland, OR Beervana (it's one reason I live here) but you can find brewpubs and microbreweries anywhere from the Bay area to Alaska.

john540 · 16-02-2014, 11:05

sailorboy1 · 16-02-2014, 11:11

Ok what about inexpensive beer? Because on a hot day a cold lighter beer is pretty good, period!

But in my area you can walk to a micro brewery from Salem MA (Beerworks), Gloucester MA (Cape Ann Brewery) and more North in Portalnd ME (can not remember the name even though I went 4 times) and there are a few in Portsmouth NH if you are willing to deal with the current)