So without driving to Vermont or Cali, what are some of the best local beers at the Packy?

IPA?

Pils?

Etc - what should I keep my eye out for?

IMHO...
Best local beer you can easily find is greysail flying Jenny. Greysail calls it a pale ale but it's an IPA, kind of like Dales pale ale.
That's the only local beer that I can recommend that you will find and enjoy regularly.
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Keep your eye out for captians daughter from grey sail. It's a double IPA.
Proclamation brewery is making some killer IPA's as well but they are hard to find..it's called Tendril.
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Captains daughter is the chit......awesome stuff. Your local and my local are two different things.

What styles do you like?
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I'm a big fan of the mass rising by jacks abby.
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John lives in RI, so Jacks Abby is not an option, although I wish it was!
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There's one beer by Foolproof that I liked, but I can't for the life of me remember. Maybe the backyard ale? The rest of their stuff is ok to not so good IMO.
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if "local" is expanded to New England:

jacks abbey hoponius union, mass rising, kiwi rising (MA)
smuttynose finest kind IPA and shoals pale ale (NH)
brewmaster jack, misc. IPAs (MA)
nightshift, misc. IPAs (MA)
maine beer co, IPAs and ales (ME)

There's one beer by Foolproof that I liked, but I can't for the life of me remember. Maybe the backyard ale? The rest of their stuff is ok to not so good IMO.
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Back yahd IPA.

ITs ok...
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I am an Ale/IPA type with a sidelust for Heffeweizens

I am in RI so yes, different. I would venture a guess that North Shore is different than South Shore ;)

Smuttynose was fair many years ago, last time I had it and have not tried since.

Jacks Abbey is now available in Rhody - I've seen it at Bridge Liquors. But I agree with Eben - best Rhody brewer is Grey Sail and Captains Daughter is currently the best beer in RI (of those I've tried).

...with a sidelust for Heffeweizens
Had many last month in Germany. The beer is so cheap there it's ridiculous. Someone told me it's actually the law that a restaurant has to have a beverage on the menu cheaper than beer.

The Kolsch in Cologne was the best though. Really outstanding and served in small glasses so you are always drinking a fresh pour.

Headed back next month and may have to sample again.

Don't forget the Ghandi Bots!!

Not in RI :(
We can get 2 roads up here. Love the road to ruin
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Ghandi Bots are tuff to come by most days. Sea Hag is more readily available and will go toe to toe with most other IPAs. Smutty Nose makes a whole bunch of very good beers too. Allagash as well depending on what type of ale you prefer. When in RI I think I would stick with the Grey Sails, especially if you can find Captain's Daughter. Seems hard to come by in CT so far.

Ghandi Bots are tuff to come by most days. Sea Hag is more readily available and will go toe to toe with most other IPAs. Smutty Nose makes a whole bunch of very good beers too. Allagash as well depending on what type of ale you prefer. When in RI I think I would stick with the Grey Sails, especially if you can find Captain's Daughter. Seems hard to come by in CT so far.

You have to know the special wink, nod nod, wing and hand shake. They're usually kept in the back room...

Had some Mass Rising tonight - pretty good, especially after the Founders

I saw Rhode island carries firestone walker. The union Jack and double Jack are both great and all their beers are good. Not sure if mass has them
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Just discovered Otter Creek Back Seat Berner. Good stuff for $9.00 a six pack. On draft, it reminded me of SOS.

Just discovered Otter Creek Back Seat Berner. Good stuff for $9.00 a six pack. On draft, it reminded me of SOS.
That's my girlfriend's current favorite. I have never like bitter creek until this beer. I like it a lot!
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good original post on this John, all these hipsters on this site like to talk about obscure chit :D