Oregon pays their bet after losing football wars to the state of Michigan
"GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WZZM) -- Remember when KGW in Portland made a bet with WZZM over a football war between the state of Michigan and the state of Oregon?
Well Michigan State edged out Oregon and the Michigan Wolverines thumped Oregon State. After that, it had been a few days and we hadn't heard from them. We were wondering if they'd make good on their bet.
Thursday they finally got back to us and let us know their "awesome" Oregon beer was on its way. In the meantime, it was fun to watch those anchors eat their words, and all the nasty things they said about our state, our beer and the Big Ten.
Cheers, KGW!"
http://www.wzzm13.com/story/sports/college/ncaaf/2015/09/18/kgw-pays-up-after-bet/72386688/
September 18th, 2015 at 6:59 PM ^
If you're talking about on tap, I can't help you there, but bottled I've found several varieties of Founder's in many liquor stores in the Edmond and north OKC area, mostly the stuff that's available year round, like Dirty Bastard and their IPA's and a few others. I've also gotten Atwater's Traverse City Cherry Wheat, and beer from at least one other Michigan brewery that I can't remember right off the top of my head. But not the smaller breweries, nor the larger breweries' limited release beer.
September 18th, 2015 at 10:51 AM ^
To say that it's a blowout makes you look like a homer. It's entirely possible, if not probably, that Oregan and Michigan are 1 and 2 in terms of craft beer states in the country. Both have tons of microbreweries and both have lots of good beers. Honestly, to say that one is better than the other comes down to preferance more than anything else. You can look at "rankings' or sales numbers, but both of those can be easily refuted as well.
HOWEVA, to say that either one is better and "it's a blowout" just means you don't know what you're talking about. Living in CA, I have a lot more access to the Oregon breweries than the MI ones, but I still prefer Michigan. I think Lagunitas and Stone stacks up with any of the Oregon breweries but I certainly haven't tried all of them.
September 18th, 2015 at 12:05 PM ^
I would add Russian River to your list of Lagunitas and Stone.
September 18th, 2015 at 12:45 PM ^
Russian River is still a small brewery or mid-size at best. It's not in the top 50 in the production.
September 18th, 2015 at 11:45 AM ^
Beyond Founders, Bells, Arcadia, Shorts, and the heavenly, heavenly makings of New Holland, there are pubs everywhere in almost every town in Michigan, and more pop up everyday. As soon as it makes it to you, buy every bottle of KBS you can, elixir is the only way to describe it.
See what I did there? If you love Oregon beer that's great and all, but don't pretend like its the only place that does craft beer well.
September 18th, 2015 at 1:21 PM ^
Michigan is a great craft brew state (ranked in top five - ?) but Oregon is ridiculous. I did a four day pub crawl in Portland last year with my sons and friends, and it was insane: there are 55 breweries just in Portland! My poor stomach couldn't keep up. But when I was in Dexter, MI, this summer, I got acquainted with Bells...great stuff!
September 18th, 2015 at 8:16 PM ^
You omitted Deschutes and Weidmier!
September 18th, 2015 at 8:43 AM ^
It's free beer man, everybody wins.
September 18th, 2015 at 8:53 AM ^
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September 18th, 2015 at 9:37 AM ^
September 18th, 2015 at 10:55 AM ^
No doubt - but don't you think the Oregon guy is being a homer as well saying Oregon beer is better in a blow out? Like I said above, I think both are tremendous and picking one just comes down to preference (or, more likely, geography).
This is like arguing which is better between a ribeye and a fliet mignon. Now, I know the answer is ribeye, but old people and people without taste buds will argue that a fliet is better and it just comes down to taste.
September 19th, 2015 at 3:15 PM ^
September 18th, 2015 at 10:35 AM ^
September 18th, 2015 at 1:17 PM ^
We brew some badass microbrews in the PNW, good sir. In fact, I'd argue that the microbrewery craze started here. If you haven't had Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale, well, you are not living like a jackhammer who doesn't get sick or observe holidays.
September 18th, 2015 at 8:38 AM ^
I love Ninkasi's beer; Tricerahops is one that I go for when I travel to California. Widmer hef though? Not the best advertisement for Oregon beer.
September 18th, 2015 at 9:30 AM ^
So True! Widmer plain sucks. So many better Oregon beers than that.
September 18th, 2015 at 12:47 PM ^
country. Just like Kona and Pyramid.
September 18th, 2015 at 8:43 AM ^
Bells >>>> any Oregon beer
September 18th, 2015 at 9:36 AM ^
September 18th, 2015 at 10:12 AM ^
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September 18th, 2015 at 10:11 AM ^
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September 18th, 2015 at 10:43 AM ^
I've had Rogue, Amnesia, Widmer, Ninkasi, Deschutes, Hair of the Dog, Laurelhurst, Upright, Cascade... I'm still a west Michigan beer homer.
Moved back east after living there five years. They have great beers but the problem is they don't have good water for IPAs which are the majority of Oregon beers. Unlike West Michigan water which is perfect for IPAs.
September 18th, 2015 at 10:47 AM ^
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September 18th, 2015 at 10:54 AM ^
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September 18th, 2015 at 11:04 AM ^
I'll give you that. Michigan isn't quite there with sours like Cascade, which was my favorite Oregon brewery. I think both states should be proud of their beers and perception nationally.
September 18th, 2015 at 11:17 AM ^
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September 18th, 2015 at 11:06 AM ^
September 18th, 2015 at 4:43 PM ^
PDXer here. The Crux Half Hitch is one of the most delicious beers I've ever had, probably in my top ten.
September 18th, 2015 at 8:46 AM ^
If they're offering up something as generic and mass produced as Widmer Hefe-Weizen, the MI radio crew should have been offering up Stroh's. I mean, there's nothing really wrong with it, but it's not exactly how I'd promote my state's craft brew industry.
September 18th, 2015 at 9:42 AM ^
September 18th, 2015 at 4:48 PM ^
I would drink Stroh's well before I'd drink the Widmer Hefe. It is a terrible beer.
September 18th, 2015 at 8:54 AM ^
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September 18th, 2015 at 12:50 PM ^
It's part of the Craft Brew Alliance (stock ticker: BREW) which is conglomorate with significant holdings by ABInBev.
September 18th, 2015 at 9:30 AM ^
The best Michigan beers can compete with any brewery out there. But yes, on a whole, Oregon probably dominates on sheer volume of great breweries and actual brews.
That's the problem though. In places like Portland, Seattle, and here in Denver it seems as though any brewster (hipster who makes beer) with a little $ and a small warehouse is starting a brewery all across the city. Something like 80-100 in the Denver Metro area. Cumong man. Some are great but a lot are so-so to just down right bad. Quality over quanity, my dear MGoBloggers!
September 18th, 2015 at 9:35 AM ^
I love the beer from both states, but the Oregon beer is simply better on whole. Quality vs. Quantity has nothing to do with it.
September 18th, 2015 at 9:41 AM ^
September 18th, 2015 at 10:07 AM ^
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September 18th, 2015 at 11:02 AM ^
September 18th, 2015 at 9:56 AM ^
How does it not? I too have enjoyed beer from both states. And from a lot of smaller breweries throughout Willamette area to Bend. IMO, the top brews from Bell's, Founders, Jolly Pumpkin, Short's, etc. could hang with anyone. So... the only difference I'm finding is the amount of actual craft breweries compared to the amount of highly acclaimed beer being produced. Hence, Quality vs. Quantity.
But hey, this beer is on me. Cheers to both great brew states! GABF this weekend in Denver should be fun!
(Odell IPA. Fort Collins, CO)
September 18th, 2015 at 10:09 AM ^
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September 18th, 2015 at 11:00 AM ^
September 18th, 2015 at 11:14 AM ^
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September 18th, 2015 at 11:21 AM ^
Who said anything about having access to 1 good brewery? You said there are hundreds of 2nd and 3rd tier breweries in Oregon and that "depth" makes it better than Michigan. I don't give a shit about hundreds of 2nd and 3rd tier breweries when we have a first tier of 10+ that are all-world with tons of variety, innovation, and intersting styles and then probably dozens of 2nd and 3rd tier in the region (and new ones popping up constantly). In addition to that we get distribution from all of the top breweries from all around the country so if I want to mix it up and get something from NW, west coast, east coast, whatever then I can do that as well. I never suffer from lack of variety. For me, all of this taken together means MI is best.
September 18th, 2015 at 11:50 AM ^
And now you're trying to convince me that Michigan is better because you can get stuff from other places? That seems like a weird point, but I promise you we can get all the rare stuff from all over here as well.
I'm not sure what "all-world" breweries are, but congrats on having 10+ of them. As I said earlier, I don't deny that Michigan has some top notch breweries. That makes me happy because I'm glad to see the craft beer craze spread across the country. But you're fooling yourself if you think Oregon is not every bit as good. And preference seems to largely depend on where you live.
Although it is telling to me that there are about the same number of votes for Oregon beer and Michigan beer considering we're on a Michigan blog.
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September 18th, 2015 at 12:40 PM ^
Your competition point is just not true. The market for craft beer is across the US. There is competition between states. You don't think Founders, Bells, etc. compete with Dogfish Head, Lagunitas, Stone, Rogue, etc.? Even craft brewers that intentionally limit themselves to Michigan only (i.e., Short's) have to compete with every brewery from around the country that distributes into the state of Michigan.
I agree that I dislike drinking the same beer constantly and want variety. This is the primary reason why I think Michigan is just better. I have seem so many more new, innovative brews from the likes of Founders, Short's Odd Side, New Holland, etc. than I have from Oregon and other west coast breweries. The depth of awesome new beers and variety from the top MI craft breweries is excellent. Every time I go to the Short's brewpub there are 6+ new brews available -- and I have been going there ever since it opened nearly 10 years ago. Founders is constantly coming out with new beer styles that others are not doing yet (or at least not doing as well). Perhaps I am biased due to my proximity to distribution of MI beers (living in Chicago). Maybe the Oregon brewers have the same or better variety and just don't see it because it doesn't make it to Chicago or Michigan.
Last, I'm not so sure anymore that Oregon crushes MI in terms of volume of breweries. It seems to be that Oregon has many more per capita, but check out this analysis back from 2012. Seems like volume-wise MI and Oregon aren't that far off.
http://projects.newyorker.com/story/beer/
September 18th, 2015 at 1:00 PM ^
And by 2nd and 3rd someone might mean the don't produce a lot of beer. The advantage that living in Portland or Bend has over any city in Michigan is that you can walk or quickly bike to 15 world class breweries. And let's be honest, I lot of these great Michigan beers can only be found at the source or when in a liquor store they are quickly bought up. Having more breweries around means you can get great beer more easily.
Also, freshness matters. I had a Ninkasi IPA the other day and it was undrinkable. I complained to the liquor store and the company. I've had that IPA fresh before and it is great. Point being, an Oregon IPA will almost always taste shittier than a Michigan IPA if you live in Michigan and vice versa if you live in Oregan. So it's all a matter of perspective.
September 18th, 2015 at 1:57 PM ^
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September 18th, 2015 at 2:27 PM ^
I suspect not better than every city in Michigan:
http://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-beer-town/
September 18th, 2015 at 1:56 PM ^
Unfortunately, you don't get the small batch Oregon stuff, just like I don't get the small batch Michigan stuff. And that leads to both of us thinking our state is superior. It makes complete sense that you don't see a huge variety of Oregon beers where you live. Many of the best don't distribute outside the west coast. I see founders, shorts, jolly pumpkin, etc out here. But it is basically the same 4 or 5 options. However, I know those breweries have many many more.
I agree with what the poster below said that having so many amazing breweries within walking distance is a huge factor for me. I like drinking beer from the source whenever possible, and I can do that at about 80 places in Portland. Many of which are less than 2 miles from my house.
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