Although the United States produces the greatest volume of beer in the world, a high percentage of it is the light, mild-tasting lager that has for so many years been mass marketed throughout the country. These bland lagers are mostly a product of the industry giants, namely Anheuser-Busch, Miller, Stroh, Bond of Australia, Coors, and Pabst.
America's breweries began in the East during colonial times and made their way West right along with the pioneers. Hoppy ales were and still are the tradition in the Northeast. Ballentine's (which has since moved to Indiana) is a classic example of these old-established American ales. In Boston, however, Samuel Adams Lager is a matter of local pride.
The Midwest is home to some of the biggest breweries in the world. Anheuser-Busch, which opened in 1860 in St. Louis, is the very biggest and produces the best-selling lager (Budweiser) in the world. Stroh, with its trademark caramel flavor, is found in Detroit. There are also notable breweries in the St. Paul/Minneapolis (Summit and Grain Belt) and greater Minnesota areas. Milwaukee was once the most breweried city in the country, famous for its Pabst Blue Ribbon--formerly a favorite of blue-collar America--and Miller Lite, the most successful lite beer in history.
In the South, New Orleans is the main brewing center, featuring Dixie beer. To the west, in San Antonio, Texas, is the Lone Star brewery (now owned by Heileman). To the north, in Colorado, the brewing giant is Coors. Not only is Coors the world's biggest single brewery plant, but the company malts its own barley and grows its own hops.
The renaissance of quality beer began in California with Fritz Maytag's opening of the Anchor brewing company in San Francisco in the early 70s. Their steam beer was the only unique beer style to have originated in the United States. The high quality of Anchor Steam and their other beers served as an inspiration for future microbrewers. The first micro, New Albion, opened in Sonoma in 1976. Sierra Nevada was also one of the earliest micros. There are now more breweries in California than in any other state.
The Northwest is a paradise for beer lovers, with its profusion of craft breweries. Portland first drew attention to itself in the late 1970s with the release of Henry Weinhard's Private Reserve, then considered the finest lager in the country. Since then, there has been an explosion of breweries in the city. Now Portland rivals Milwaukee in its total number of breweries. Seattle, which opened one of the earliest microbreweries (Red Hook), is similarly beer-struck. Outside Seattle, the Yakima area of Washington State is the best hop-growing region in the country.
Nearly all of the specialty beers made in America are from small craft breweries--microbreweries, brewpubs, and contract breweries. For a complete regional listing, see our Craft Breweries of North America section.
