For my third Top 10 list I thought I’d tackle something global. For many years, decades and longer, which countries were known for their beer was fairly staid, and didn’t change much at all. And for most of that time, the U.S. wouldn’t likely make the list at all. But over the last thirty years, that’s all changed, I’d argue. Many of the same players are around, including many nations with rich and long brewing traditions, but there are also many new players, who were not really known for their beer until very recently. So here are my choices for the Top 10 Brewing Nations, which I’ve based on the overall quality of their beer, along with the diversity and innovation they bring to it. Anyway, here’s List #3:
Top 10 Beer Countries
| Czech Republic
It’s hard to ignore the Czech Republic. Not only do they have the highest per-capita consumption of beer, but the Eastern European nation also contains the birthplace of pilsner. But most of what we get from there has a certain sameness to it, not that most of it isn’t of a high quality. I’ve tried some of their more obscure beers that have been hand-carried to the states and while there have been a few interesting examples that are different, not enough to make me rank them above number ten. |
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| Italy
When you think of Italy, it’s usually their wine or food that comes to mind. Up in the northern part of Italy, near the German border, there have been some fine, largely obscure, breweries making decent lagers for many years. But in the last two decades, their craft scene throughout the country has really taken off and is, if hasn’t already, about to reach a tipping point. Using many unusual and local ingredients, Italian craft brewers are truly making some outstanding and unique beers. |
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| Sweden
Sweden is another European country that saw something spectacular going on in America and decided there was no reason they couldn’t make beer just as great. They were right. The rest of Scandinavia is doing well these days, too, but Sweden, I think leads the pack there. |
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| Australia
While most people think of Foster’s when they contemplate beer down under, it’s not even a popular brand there. And while there are plenty of bland Foster’s-like beers to disdain, there is also much to love that’s flying under the radar. They have a long craft tradition that’s nearly as old as our own, though very little of it reaches us, sad to say. |
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| Scotland
Scotland, much like their neighbor to the south, has a long tradition of fine ales. Like England, their story lately has been one of mergers and closures, but with a growing craft scene that includes such rising stars as Brew Dog and Harviestoun Brewery, though the latter has been purchased by Caledonian. Plus, Traquair House is still there. As long as that’s true, Scotland will remain in my heart, or at least my liver. |
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| Canada
Like America, Canada suffers from having a few bland macro beers that everyone identifies with the country’s beer. But there is a wonderful array of small craft brewers toiling away in more obscurity than they should be in a more just world. Unibroue alone makes me love Canadian beer, though there are plenty of examples of it being beyond Molson, Labatt’s and Moosehead. |
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| Germany
When you read the next selection, this may seem contradictory, but being immersed in Germany’s beer culture is a wonderful experience. Their styles are perfectly suited to the national cuisine so that when you’re there it’s hard to imagine the beer being any better. That seems especially true in the small town breweries, many of which, while struggling, are still around. Many of those beers are hard or impossible to find outside Germany, which is a tragedy. And it’s wonderful to see how seriously the Germans take their brewing heritage. You don’t see that as strongly in many places. |
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| England
This was a tough one, but I have a soft spot for ales. I certainly love a fine pilsner and can appreciate many types of lagers, I love the flowery flavors of a warm, especially cask-conditioned, ale. Ales were, o course, some of the first beers I enjoyed that were beyond the bland lagers that I grew up with and were some of the first craft beers I enjoyed, too. And while England’s beer scene is on the ropes these days, many new small craft brewers are emerging there, as well, riding to the rescue, as it were. Many of my favorite styles are all ales that began in England’s rich traditions. |
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| Belgium
A decade ago, this would have been my number one. Belgium certainly used to hold the title for most styles brewed in a single country. I suspect there’s still pretty close, given that so may of their beers are completely unique and different from one another. It’s often hard to even pin down the style of a Belgian beer, not that there’s really any point to trying. But the sheer number of truly world-class wonderful beers makes Belgium my favorite brewing nation outside my home. |
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| United States
There was a time, not so long ago, when this idea would have been laughable. But not anymore. I may be a little biased, but there is now more diversity in American beer than any other country in the world. It may be a small part of the total sold, but craft beer in terms of its quality is now second to none. Where once U.S. brewers followed other nations’ brewing traditions, we are now setting the pace, with several burgeoning brewing renaissances taking place around the world who are looking to us for inspiration. Craft beer is one of the things Americans can genuinely still be proud of. |
Note: This was a tough one to rank for the bottom five. Some countries I considered, but ultimately left off the top ten include The Netherlands, Ireland, Austria and Japan. All of those are making progress but still do suffer from a lack of innovation and diversity, at least for now. Each have examples that that is starting to change. It’s possible that any of those could have been substituted for my choice for number ten but I had to make a decision in the end. As for Scandinavia, Denmark and Norway are also doing quite well, I just felt that Sweden had the edge on them, at least for now.
Also, if you have any ideas for future Top 10 lists you’d like to see, drop me a line.
Canada #5! We do have a history of bland macro produced beers here in Canada, but yes, you nailed it – we do have a large number of terrific craft breweries in this country that fly under the radar both internationally and here at home. I know a lot of serious beer drinkers that could name more American breweries than Canadian ones. The way in which each province regulates that sale of beer is why someone in Ontario might never even hear of Phillips or Swans from British Columbia, or someone from Manitoba from ever trying a Dieu du Ciel.
Troy
Jay – You need to make it to Prague Beer Week and reevaluate your ratings :>)
Stan, I’m sure you’re right. I haven’t yet been to Prague, though I hear very good things. As a result, I could only base that decision on what I’ve tried and what I’d learned from others. That’s always a problem for a list like this one; no one has been absolutely everywhere so it’s hard to be very certain. But it’s fun, for me at least, to speculate and get a dialogue started.
Sweden but not Japan?
Here’s what I think the top four should be:
1. Germany
2. Belgium
Continuation…
3. England
4. USA
My comment is based upon great beers from each of the countries represented plus the long history/tradition of brewing.
USA #1? It barely makes #4 on my list. Mexico nearly surpasses the USA in beers.
It was tough, but I’ve had some very interesting things from Sweden lately, whereas Japan has those low-alcohol abominations because of their tax structure which has, I think, suppressed some of their creativity. There are some fine beers coming out Japan to be sure, but choices had to be made. I’m not sure how you can make that last statement though. Mexico is nowhere near the U.S. is terms of its diversity or innovation. I must assume from your comment that you’re referring only to macro-beers and not its craft beers. Mexico has barely begun to have any small, craft brewers and continues to be dominated to a greater even then here by very large companies who make almost exactly the same style of light lager. And even at that, America’s been brewing longer than Mexico thanks to the Dutch and then English influence early on if you’re taking into account their “long history/tradition of brewing.” Ah, well, I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree. Thanks for your comment.
Were you to consider the combination of England and Scotland as the United Kingdom, where would that rank? Also, were you to consider California apart from the US where would that rank?
Jim’s question is excellent. Where would individual states rank against some of these other countries?
Jim, US barely better than Mexico? Really? mean….REALLY?!?!
When Mario says
“Jim, US barely better than Mexico? Really? mean….REALLY?!?!”
I don’t understand the query as resulting from anything I said, or, indeed, think.
I do think, as does J, the US is the top ranking beer country; I don’t think Mexico makes the list, though it must be said I haven’t tried Mexican beers in years. Also, based on my Prague visits I’d rank the Czech Republic higher, although I wouldn’t do so based on bottled beers I’ve had in the US but, instead, based on the draught and bottled beers consumed there. Though similarities among them are strong, the subtle and not so subtle differences really stand out when you sup a bunch of them in a week!
Excuse me, but with Sweden you’re totally wrong if you would compare it to what is going on in Danmark. In Danmark 2 years ago 50 new breweries started in the same year. Their beerconsumers organisation is bigger than the biggest political party.
Off course it’s related to what you were able to consume, but I’d say: you better go hunting for some Danish beers. Because that’s where it’s happening at the moment, beerwise.
Thanks for the insight, Ton. I haven’t been to Denmark and was unaware of their rapid growth in craft beer. We don’t get much over here, Mikkeller and Nørrebro Bryghus are about it, whereas I’ve had far more from Sweden not to mention met Swedes over to sample our beers. Sounds like I need to haul myself over there.
Jim, the “Really?” comment was meant for Don. My bad.
Some good thought went into this J. These lists will always be anything but completely objective. What is exciting is the rate of change in popularity of craft beer in so many countries. When I left Australia four years ago to move to the States, there is no way I would list it in the top 15 beer countries. I visited back home about a year and a half ago and was blown away by both the number of new microbreweries, and the representation in bottle stores. The world is rapidly becoming a better place for beer!
I don’t think you biased to say that America is number one when it comes to variety. You can see
so many styles that have been revived by homebrewers in America. I think that was the biggest factor
in what we are experiencing now. It’s hard to believe that what was originally a grass-roots movement
turned into such an impactful situation. Before he died, Michael Jackson expressed some of the same
notions about beer ingenuity and revival in America (I’d say you’re in good company). He also lauded
the fact that our import variety was far more that most any place in the world (i.e, Germans mostly
had German beers, etc). I wrote a short article about the current beer revolution on our site called
http://thankheavenforbeer.com/2008/10/26/dont-miss-your-chance/ It’s more about getting people to
try new stuff. As far as number 2 goes, I’m totally with you on this one. Belgian variety and creativity is unbelievable. I just wanted to comment on one more of these. I think that an amazing fact about number 3 England is that British people comsume about %60 of their beer on tap. That is an astounding amount. I think that that is an interesting commentary on how socially impacting beer can be for people. I would like to seeour stats on drinking tap beer in the pub go up, especially since tap can be better than bottle or can. We’ve takled abuot this a little on our site, too. http://thankheavenforbeer.com/2008/09/29/bottle-vs-tap/
USA?! Uhmmm I sure could use a paper thin Pabst blue ribbon. The biggest fail here though is Sweden(I’m Swedish). All our beers are, by law, restricted to just 2,5 vol. If you want more potent jungle juice, then you have to go to our neighbours, the Danish. Due to the country’s small size it’s often overlooked, but seriously Denmark is the place to be. Carlsberg anyone?
Ha, what a joke. Lists like this are completely subjective, and you’re certainly welcome to your opinion but at least base it on something real. You’d have to be living in a Danish cave to think PBR represents what American beer is or that it’s all one might find here. We have over 2,000 breweries and they’re not all making Pabst, or even Pabst-like beer. I’ve traveled the world and most places you go, brewers recognize that something special is going in the American beer scene. You’d have to be willfully ignorant not to at least acknowledge that. And if you’re Swedish, maybe you can explain Kaggen! Stormaktsporter (10% a.b.v.), Stormaktsporter (9%), Carnegie Porter (5.5%), CAmarillo (5%), Bötet Barley Wine (9.1%), Julöl (6.5%), Idjit! (9.5%) or Örebro Bitter (5.9%), all of which are apparent lawbreakers, weighing in well above 2.5% a.b.v. And also, check the date. This was originally written three years ago. If I did it again today, I would indeed have included Denmark (and even hinted as much in the comments). But yeah, I stand by the USA as the world’s top brewing nation today.