10 Great Beers Brewed In Unlikely Places

For the true beer aficionado, there's nothing like being able to treat your friends to not just a tasty beer, but also an interesting story about that brew's origins. The editors at Imbibe Magazine put together this list of 10 beers that will give you something to talk about until the next round.

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Blind Bat Hellsmoke Porter

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Blind Bat Hellsmoke Porter Centerport, N.Y. 5.7% ABV, 22 oz. There are plenty of microbreweries out there, but Long Island illustrator and cartoonist Paul Dlugokencky calls his Blind Bat a nanobrewery. The one-man (that would be Dlugokencky, working part-time) operation brews back-to-back batches of beer in his home, one-third of a barrel at a time, until he has enough for a full barrel; Dlugokencky also hand-mills all his grain just before mashing. In the case of his Hellsmoke, he also smokes a portion of his malts himself over alder and applewood. You’ll be lucky to find this beer outside of Long Island, much less New York, but it’s worth seeking out if you’re in the area or can arrange a trade.

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Blind Bat Hellsmoke Porter
Centerport, N.Y. 5.7% ABV, 22 oz.
There are plenty of microbreweries out there, but Long Island illustrator and cartoonist Paul Dlugokencky calls his Blind Bat a nanobrewery. The one-man (that would be Dlugokencky, working part-time) operation brews back-to-back batches of beer in his home, one-third of a barrel at a time, until he has enough for a full barrel; Dlugokencky also hand-mills all his grain just before mashing. In the case of his Hellsmoke, he also smokes a portion of his malts himself over alder and applewood. You’ll be lucky to find this beer outside of Long Island, much less New York, but it’s worth seeking out if you’re in the area or can arrange a trade.

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Comments

[mmgbizgirl]

10:32 AM on 09/06/2010

If you're ever in Healdsburg, in California's Sonoma Wine Country Region, you have to try Healdsburg Brewing Company's amazing Beers at Affronti Wine Bar & Restaurant. A local's favorite and they are all about locally grown food, wine and of course, Beer. Named one of the Top 10 Wine Bars in Sonoma/Napa. Check it out!

[nikanj]

11:04 PM on 09/04/2010

My current fave beer is Cranberry Saisson, made at Silver Gulch Brewery
in Fox, Alaska. From artesian Spring water. They make all kinds of beers,
my husband's favorite is Forty Below Russian Imperial Stout. Yowser.
We fill up our growlers there (1/2 gal refillable bottles) pretty regularly.

[Jonathan Ewald]

09:28 PM on 08/31/2010

i've had the samiclaus... it's thick, almost like syrup. not crazy about it.

[JWTeacher]

02:29 PM on 08/30/2010

Dogfish head makes a wonder IPA, 60 minute IPA and 90 Minute IPA.... so far I am a fan of all of their beers that i have had the opportunity to try

[Aerows]

11:24 AM on 08/25/2010

I note that the 3 top rated beers also have the highest alcohol content. :D On another note, the beer brewed in Tarpon Springs IS absolutely delicious. I used to live in St. Pete and you can get this beer from a few of the little taverns on the sponge docks.

[Peter Aursnes]

05:30 AM on 08/25/2010

What about Nøgne Ø Porter (The Naked Isle Porter)? Norwegian micro brewery. Wonderful.

[Bon Beer]

10:04 PM on 08/24/2010

So psyched to see Saint Somewhere in this list!
Woo Hoo! Go Bob!
Actually, we are going- to see Bob, that is,
during our Beer Safari Weekend February 18-20, 2011...wanna join us?
Info soon at www.BonBeer.com

[Kwayzar]

08:12 PM on 08/24/2010

One great beer I've had in an unlikely place was Vailima, "Samoa's very own Beer" Sitting on a polynesian island beach isn't the most likely place to find a really darn good German style beer.

[EXAbramsMasterGunner]

07:55 PM on 08/24/2010

I haven't had the opportunity to try any of these beers, but for me the one that still reigns supreme is the black beer at the Kreuzberg Monastery, in Germany located in the mountain above Ober Wildflicken. The black beer the monks brewed was not heavy or sweet as some beers were. They served their beers in either .5 liter or 1 liter steins. Make sure you have a designated driver as the this beer is 32.5%!

[Aerows]

11:28 AM on 08/25/2010

Holy smokes, a liter of that and I don't doubt you would be on your behind!

[up420oz]

07:25 PM on 08/26/2010

Ohhh, the hangover was not worth it.


UBIQUE

Que Fas Et Gloria Ducunt

[Dan Furman]

07:46 PM on 08/24/2010

You can find great Microbrew just about anywhere. But I noticed most of the beers on this list are pretty heavy on the ABV. Once you start getting over 6%, that "well, I'll just have two or three" takes on a different meaning. I love exploring when it comes to beer, but I've learned to watch the ABV closely - I typically prefer beers to stay in the 5's. Just makes "having a few" out on the deck more pleasurable.

[3daywkend]

08:40 PM on 08/24/2010

I find 12 to be quite pleasurable.

[Bryan Young]

07:43 PM on 08/24/2010

I'm surprised that none of Utah's great beers made the list. I can't think of a place more surprising for great beer to come from.

[Matthew Upton]

08:49 PM on 08/24/2010

Agree 100%

[Pierogi kid]

10:05 PM on 08/24/2010

I know this is perhaps a bit ignorant, but i have never been to utah and have heard that beer exists there only as 3.2 abv iis that still true?

[stape45]

12:26 AM on 08/25/2010

That is true. Utah and Oklahoma are the only two states that haven't updated.

[stape45]

12:29 AM on 08/25/2010

Actually, stronger beer is available(at least in Oklahoma), But it only sold in certain places (not many) and some silly law says it can not be sold refrigerated.

[planetjeffy]

07:03 PM on 08/24/2010

These guys are in Mexicali. They are known for their Chupacabras Ale, but all their beers are special, including the Honey Beer and a Barleywine.

http://www.cucapa.com/

[RobberBarons]

07:02 PM on 08/24/2010

If you want to try another truly outstanding beer this is it. Not to hard to find but very smooth, creamy and double flavor.

http://hywelsbiglog.wordpress.com/2008/09/03/beer-review-duchy-originals-organic-ale/

[RobberBarons]

06:58 PM on 08/24/2010

Great Beer Site might be of interest to some.

http://destinationbeer.com/session

[BigAl72]

07:24 PM on 08/24/2010

Thanks!

[ErniePyle]

06:58 PM on 08/24/2010

Cumin-spiked ale does not sound good to quaff, but I would love to try it in some veggie chili.