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Ummm - yeah, Budweiser sucks. Its also a foreign company (owned in Belgian InBev) as is Miller (owned by South African SAB).

The top three American breweries are currently Sam Adams, Yuengling and Sierra Nevada (and I think New Belgium is fourth). Absolutely nothing to be ashamed of there - all quite fine brews.

And at the very high end, it really isn't even close - many of the best beers in the world are made in the US. This list is mostly US brews, with a smattering of Belgian and German breweries in the mix. Or, as noted beer expert, Michael Jackson (The Beer Hunter, not the circus freak) put it: "The US has the world's best selection of beers and that's the truth."

If they ask me who the prime minister is, I say "Michael Jackson".

Finally, a prime minister I can respect!

samichlaus is pretty good stuff too... was 16% when I last tried it in Quebec...

1 and 6) Viticulture. Yes, I will fully grant you that the american wines are damn fine. But I'll counter with american beer. Yes, #6 you have Microbreweries, but those are the exception, not the rule. Find me someone discerning who likes BUD LIGHT, or even *shudder* Milwaukee's Best.

2) Not sure where you live. I live in Cincinnati, a generic midwestern city. I can get all of those things too, but not at my grocery store. I'd have to make special trips to specialty stores. I've spent time in Manhattan and San Francisco where you CAN get those things easily. Again, that's the exception, not the rule.

3) True, Asian Cuisine is more realistic these days. You can say the same things about other cuisines. Real Mexican, not nacho cheese laden tex-mex. Real Italian, not pizza and americanized pasta. Though all of the bad sides of those cuisines is here too. How many people in the US truly believe that Taco Bell is mexican?

My question was not so much a query as to the sad state of food in America (Why Can't Johnny Saute?) but more of a question about the split in our culture. There are foodies (Hi there) and there are junkfoodies. McDonalds, Taco Bell, and their ilk are a poor legacy for america to foist upon the world. You don't see "Supercrepes" stands in the mall food court, nor do you see a worldwide chain of Charlie Trotter's.

There's a serious dichotomy in American cuisine between good food and fast food.

I've nothing against Sheffield, I used to got boozing at the Fat Cat and a Rock Club Roxies(?) pretty regularly.

IIRC, Roxies was a big-as-a-barn meat market mainstream club that had a rock night once a month. Rebels was the tacky rock club near Castle Market where you had to scratch shapes in your Newcastle Brown label to distinguish your bottle from the thousand others lined up by the walls next to it.

For boozing, you should try The Frog and Parrot, famous for brewing the strongest beer in the world on the premises.

Belgium is home to several hundred styles of beer. Many use wild yeasts and have very unique tastes. Good descriptions can be found on the website of Michael Jackson (the British one).

Food Network recently had a Beer Unwrapped special which showcased Belgian beers and dishes cooked with them. It was pretty good...for something hosted by Gordon Elliott.

Chimay and Orval are two brands which can be found in most parts of the US. Corsendonk is one of my favorites, but it's harder to find.

The vision that comes to mind is Michael Jackson's head in a glass jar.

Rather than a glass jar, wouldn't a bottle of beer be more appropriate?

Oh, my mistake -- wrong Michael Jackson.

I've gotta come to the defence of Guiness here ;)
It's not beer, it's Stout,...

Stout (und thus Guinness) IS a beer. Compare http://beerhunter.com/beerstyles.html.
Of course, the guinness, served here in the US does differentiate in taste from the original guinness quite a lot, I've been told. I don't know about guinness, but Beck's (also a beer, though a Pilsener) for example DOES taste quite different in the US than it does in Germany.

Unfortunately for me, the americans seem to prefer ale and lager (both beer's as well) to Pilsener, so that beck's had to adjust their beer to the american market.
Heineken is ok over here, not much better or worse than in the Netherlands and probably the best Pilsener you can get in the US is Pilsener Urquell.

I find it importantto mention that the *original* Budweiser, a czech Pilsener, is a _delicous_ beer, while the beer commonly known under the name "Budweiser" is HORSEPISS!

Isn't Guinness technically stout, not beer?

Stout is a type (or style) of beer. There are many types of beer. For more on the subject click here.

If its good beer anywhere in the world what you're looking for, take a look at http://www.beerhunter.com/. Lots of reviews of beers and places to drink.