Bottoms up
Strel, Dave , Q & Red...You've touched upon a subject close to my heart.😛
I work for a beer dist. in the Midwest (#4 in the Nation For what it's worth- If it's not Budweiser, we carry it), & The only US beer thats worth the trouble seems to be put out by the many 'Micro-breweries' that have sprung up in the last Decade.
While Samuel Adams is about the only US beer that is brewed under the "German Purity Laws",(Nothin' but Malt, Hops, Yeast & Water), there are a number of other lesser known brews that fill the Bill: Leinenkugle Dopplebock, Siera Neveda Pale Ale & Strel's Gennesse Cream Ale among them.
However I've found a heartening Phenomenon; just about EVERY Major City now has it's OWN small brewery, (Esp. In the Midwest, take a tour through Milwaukee some time)...just like things were before that "SCOURGE OF GOD & MAN"...Prohibition.
Prohibition was ANOTHER fine example of "If It AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT!!!"A small minority's viewpoint completely ruined not only a thriving industry but Created another even more Ghastly mess as well: Organised Crime..."Hey, High Taxes AND dead bodies coupled with Bad Beer too; Great Idea!!!
Be that as it may, GOOD BEER is making a comeback...Give us time. Although we may never in a million years compete w/ Bass Or Guiness,(2 of MY Personal Faves), we are slowly reconizing that Bad Beer is like Bad Art or Bad Television...If you experience enough of one, you Forget what the Other was like. Try some of the Good German beers sometime...the Weissbiers, Oktoberfests & Pilsners from Paulaner,Hakker-Pshor & Ayinger are especialy worth it.
...Salu, Prost, Skol & Cheers.................Bug😎
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
-Benjamin Franklin