Hmm, the theme of the two best beer jokes. Monty Python's (pre-microbrew) "How is American beer like making love in a canoe? It's fucking close to water." – and the old brewer's joke which goes like this (I'll use your examples): A Budweiser salesman, a Coors salesman, and an Anchor Steam salesman meet in the hotel bar at a beer convention. The Budweiser man says, "I'll have a Budweiser." The Coors man says, "I'll have a Coors." The Anchor Steam man says, "Just water for me." The other two look at him and say "What? Just water?" "Well," he says, "since you guys aren't having beer I won't either."

* Darkstar Festival

* Darkstart Solstice

* Harvey's Sussex Best

* Langham LSD

* Green King IPA

* Hornblower

* Riptide

* Green King Abbot Reserve

* Brighton Stout

For Lagers I'd go Polish (Tyskie FTW)

But then, here in Brighton we're spoiled for choice.

Out of interest, in the USA can you get stuff like Anchor on tap? Or do you have to buy bottles? Because I much prefer casks to keg.

The reality of the situation is that (without exception that I am aware of) if you are close enough to a major city to be able to say that you are near that city with a straight face, then your beer selection is going to be just fine.

I would say with hesitation that this applies to larger geographic regions as well. States, 'coasts', perhaps even countries and continents.

(If I have learned anything else in life, it is that you should always be gracious when someone offers you a beer.)