I was just trying to make the point that good beer, like wine, can have a terroir. For example, I would never expect a local brewery to produce a clone of a Cantillon lambic that matches the standards and complexity of the real thing - there are just too many factors at play in producing that sort of beer for it to be possible to replicate exactly anywhere else.

The same may not hold as true for less complex styles, but there is still something about the combination of water, ingredients and a brewer’s art that makes every craft beer distinct.

It’s like listening to a John Coltrane record when you’re really in the mood for Miles Davis - sure, they’re both jazz, but they can’t replace each other.

Like I said - balance.

Well put. I don’t think anyone wants to give up the luxuries of certain foods or drinks. The issue is that Chech Pils or Kolsch hold some historic and hedonistic value. Someone would seek these things out to have the experience, so yes…it’s about the balance between variety and proximity.
But…I personally don’t think the megabrews have much historic or hedonistic value. These are beers that gained popularity through economic hard times. The value of the “american lager” is in it’s consistancy, availability, and price, not in the flavor of the place where it comes from.
A Miller or Bud is not sought out because someone wants to know what it tastes like, only because it’s cheap and easy to drink. So why give so much space on the shelves and at the bar to something with so little flavor? It’s supply and demand I guess, but that’s the good part…it’s the consumer that controls it.

Obviously, I’m very happy to support my local brewers (or cheesemakers, or farmers, or whoever…), and I make a point of doing so often. But given my appetite and curiousity for trying new things, it’s not practical for me to say “local, and nothing but!”. If I did that, there’s no way I could ever drink a Gueuze or Flemish Red or Kolsch (or enjoy a real Brie, or eat a mango, or…).

Travel is an option, of course, but who can afford to travel everywhere they want to try everything they want?

Don’t get me wrong - I’m sure an imported Czech Pils tastes much better on tap in Prague that it does from a can in Ontario. But until I’m able to get to Prague, why should I go without?

At the end of the day, it’s all about balance. Support the local little guys as much as you can, but don’t cut yourself off from potentially enjoyable experiences just for the sake of sticking to a “buy local” mantra.