Milwaukee Wisconsin has a local pub on every corner. The town I grew up in had 800 people, and 8 bars. None made their own beer, but they had regulars who drank there on a steady schedule.

We have lot's of new "brew pubs" starting to come back. Some are commercial, but many are small places where locals can meet.

I look for them, and find them almost everywhere I go now.

I am in Cincinnati today. Maybe I'll go out in search of. ;-)