I'm very excited for this thread.  One of my first job's in the late 80's was working at a Microbrewery called Melbourne's.  I worked in the kitchen, but often the brewmaster needed help shoveling out the wort for the copper kettles.  It was hard work, the wort was heavey, and I was 19...

The scene here in the Ckleveland/Akron area is so vast for crafted beer:  From Great Lakes, to The Brew Kettle, to Crooked River, Rocky River Brewing Company, to the one behind the historic West Side Market and many more, its just a wonderful area to enjoy crafted beer.  Often, the joints carry other microbrews from across the country side-by-side with their own recipes.  Seasonal tastes, local favorites.  Its almost endless.

We've come a long way since P.O.C. and Mabel's Black Label and Liszey's.

But you know, for all the balleyhoo about crafted beer, my favorite when I can find it?
Laugh if you must..
Blatz.  In a bottle.
Great thread, and very excited to see what others have to say!