How do I know? Well, I just got back from a weekend jaunt to Michigan. A couple of years ago, I used to tote back cases of beer for myself and friends. Now, so much of this is available to us here in the St. Louis metro that I brought back a whopping half a leftover sixer of Stone IPA and a four pack of Dark Horse Tres Blueberry Stout. I probably could have gotten the Dark Horse from Andrew at some point, but it was there and I was craving it.
Sure, there are some fine Michigan brewers who don’t distribute down here, but with easy access to the full line from Bell’s, Founder’s (which I’m not really a fan of anyway, apart from the Black Rye which they killed), Jolly Pumpkin, Dark Horse, New Holland, and Arcadia (again, not a fan), my home-state itch is pretty well scratched. I would love to get Michigan Brewing’s fine rendition of Celis White, and some of the lunacy from Short’s (as well as their outstanding Huma Lupa Licious), but I can manage.
We’ve really caught up on crafts from around the country though. Sure, they get Brooklyn (which is almost always out of code . . .), Great Lakes (ditto) and Stone (I’m “eh” on most of the lineup, but the IPA is fine stuff), but apart from that, there isn’t a lot we don’t get already. And while I’d love to have access to the great lagers from Great Lakes and Brooklyn, the recent addition of Capital really dulls that blow. Toss in our ability to pluck New Belgium, Great Divide and Left Hand from the shelves at will, and I’m feeling really good about being a craft beer drinker in St. Louis.
As for imports, I didn’t see a single thing on the shelves at the stores I hit that I can’t get down here. We’ve always been closer on the import front, but I didn’t see the massive selections from Shelton Brothers and B.United that I can several places in the St. Louis metro.
Next month I head to Wisconsin, and that will prove a much tougher test, simply because there are so many more fine breweries that don’t distribute down this way. However, this is what makes beer travel particularly fun for me – being able to try stuff I can’t get at home. I’m actually a little sad that Michigan isn’t the beervana it once was, but I want to thank our great local retailers and distributors for providing us with so many tasty options. Now, let’s get out and drink them so the supply stays fresh!
I came to Missouri from Michigan, and it’s true. Things in the last year have gotten very good in Missouri. Of course, you folks in St. Louis have it better than us out in Columbia. You get to cross the border and get Founders and Dark Horse, plus you get better selection overall. Still, Merchants in Dearborn and Holiday Market in Royal Oak had outstanding selections when I lived there, particularly Belgians and other local beers like Dragonmead and Kuhnhenn that you can’t get anywhere else in a bottle. Your post got me a little nostalgic….I’m in Wisconsin as I write this. Good stuff awaits you. I’m on my way to Steve’s Liquor on the way out of Madison to stuck up (along with the case bought at New Glarus). Have fun.
Steve’s is a fine store. The woman in charge of the beer selection is a real dynamo. Last time I was in she was giving it a couple of rather hapless Leinengukel reps really well. Some friends and I were laughing our asses off.
Dragonmead gets good distro in Grand Rapids BTW, Kuhnhenn I leave for hitting the brewpub when I visit my sister, who lives about 10 miles from them.