I too am quite partial to Guinness but I'd like to sing the praises of a local brew as well. I've thought for many years that American beer is some of the world's worst. There are no beer purity laws here and it's production (and quality) is close to that of soft carbonated beverages.

There is, however, a brew made a few miles from here called Stone City Iowa Pale Ale that is really good. The Stone City Brewrey began in Stone City, Ia., the subject of Grant Wood's famous painting, but found that the water in their wells was not conducive to the finest brew. They moved their brewrey to the nearby town of Solon and now make an excellent product. If you're driving through Iowa on I-80 on a weekday before 6:00pm it's worth the ten mile detour up Iowa Route 1 to Solon.

Iowa Pale Ale is sold locally in grocery stores but I don't think it has a wider distribution. Maybe it could be ordered through Beer Across America or one of those beer-of-the-month clubs.

You won't be disappointed.

      - Mark