In the West

Sometimes readers agree, sometimes they don't. To make it easier for you to express your opinion we've posted many of the quick picks and included a link to the RealBeer.com discussions boards where you may express your own opinions. You may also send email to beertravelers@beertravelers.com.

ALASKA

Regional beers to look for: Alaskan Brewing's beers, including the classic Smoked Porter. Also, many Northwest craft beers are available in Alaska.
Essential stop: Humpy's in Anchorage. They print a new beer menu every night that includes a list of kegs that will go on if one kicks.
Just for fun: The Hangar on the Wharf in Juneau. Watching the sea planes through the glass wall, with a good beer in hand.
Best city for a pub crawl: Anchorage.
- Discuss Alaskan beer at RealBeer.com

CALIFORNIA

Regional beers to look for: Too many to list, so start with Anchor Brewing, Sierra Nevada Brewing, Anderson Valley Brewing, Stone Brewing (in San Diego), Lind Brewing, Sudwerk/Hubsch, Russian River Brewing and Moonlight Brewing. Many brewpubs distribute excellent beer beyond their doors.
Essential stops: Again, too many to list. Just five - Toronado in San Francisco, Mendocino Brewing in Hopland, the White Cockade near Boulder Creek, Goat Hill Tavern in Costa Mesa, Jupiter in Berkeley.
Just for fun: Barney's Beanery in Hollywood. Janis Joplin may have beaned Jim Morrison with a Southern Comfort bottle here, and even if it was elsewhere, they were among the celebrities who imbined here.
Best city for a pubcrawl: San Francisco, specifically the area near Toronado.
- Discuss California beer at RealBeer.com

HAWAII

Regional beers to look for: Kona Brewing, many West Coast products, including Deschutes Brewing.
Essential stop: Gordon Biersch.
Just for fun: Sam Choy's in Honolulu. Reserve the table in the small boat inside the restaurant -- you may have to call well in advance.
Best city for a pub crawl: Honolulu.
- Discuss beer in Hawaii at RealBeer.com

IDAHO

Regional beers to look for: This is the beginning of the Northwest, so many of those products are available here.
Essential stop: Moon Time Alehouse in Coeur D'Alene.
Just for fun: The Abbey in Boise. Toss horseshoes.
Best city for a pub crawl: Boise.
- Discuss beer in Hawaii at RealBeer.com

OREGON

Regional beers to look for: Hair of the Dog Brewing, Deschutes Brewery, Rogue Ales, Widmer, Full Sail Brewing, Saxer Brewing, Portland Brewing, BridgePort Brewing... and that's just for starters.
Essential stops: Another list that gets too long, so limiting it to five: Horse Brass Pub and BridgePort Brewery in Portland, Bombs Away Cafe in Corvallis, Rogue's Bayfront Brewery in Newport, Deschutes in Bend.
Just for fun: Crystal Ballroom in Portland. The "floating" dance floor was great when it was built in 1914, this has been a terrific rock venue and it's just as cool today.
Best city for a pubcrawl: Portland (but Corvallis would be our pick in many states).
- Discuss beer in Oregon at RealBeer.com

WASHINGTON

Regional beers to look for: Another state where no list can be complete, but a quick six are Diamond Knot, Red Hook, Pike, Hale's, Pyramid and Fish.
Essential stops: Archer Ale House in Bellingham, Fred's Rivertown Ale House in Snohomish, The Swiss in Tacoma and the Latona Pub in Seattle. Just for fun: The Brick in Roslyn. The oldest tavern in the state, it will look familiar because it was used in many movies and the TV show "Northern Exposure." Best city for a pub crawl: Seattle, where you'd never have to leave a single neighborhood -- Fremont is the best example -- to complete a multi-pub crawl.
- Discuss beer in Washington at RealBeer.com