It wasn’t long ago that the American beer market was dominated by a handful of factory-brewed brews that resembled a handful of what were called ‘beers’ in other seasons. Thankfully, with an explosion of microbreweries in recent years, those days of downing wrong-tasting swigs are long gone. The Brewers Association’s current count is more than 7,000, which is three times the number of U.S. microbreweries in 2012.
Oskar Blues Brewery
Longmont, Colorado
If you’ve put canned craft beer in your hiking pack, you’ve got it. Oscar Blues Thank you Colorado-based breweries led the industry to this more recyclable (and lighter) packaging, previously only considered suitable for macrobrews. But it’s not all about Oscar blues. Visit the Longmont location Friday through Monday for live music and its popular beers whenever the doors are open. Dale’s pale ale is classic, but coconut death is in our hearts. At 6.5 percent ABV, the semi-sweet porter goes down easily no matter the occasion. Like many fast-growing breweries, you can find Oscar Blues at its taprooms and breweries across the country, including Austin, Texas; Boulder, Colorado; and Brevard, North Carolina.
Founders Brewing Company
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Casual beer fans might think so CaliforniaColorado or Seattle When suds comes to mind. But Michigan ranks fourth for number of breweries, and Grand Rapids Can not miss a stop. Founders Brewing Company Here’s a big reason: Since opening in 1997, the founders have claimed many accolades, including several beers in Beer Advocate’s Top 100. Try its All Day IPA for a session-friendly beer that won’t knock you out or leave you out. Bor, thanks to its 4.7 percent ABV and hop mix. Or go big with the barrel-aged series, including the unforgettable Backwoods Bastard Bourbon Scotch Ale. The brewery has a second location. DetroitSo if your travels take you to this beer mecca but not Grand Rapids, Founders is still accessible.
Goose Island Brewery
Chicago, Illinois
Goose Island Produces a great variety of seasonal wines, with around 20 each day. It has two local locations: Original location I Lincoln Park 2018 marked the 30th anniversary. Try the famous Stilton Burger (pepper-crusted burger with roasted garlic cloves and a delicious aromatic cheese salad). Goose Island takes its beer seriously: Peri Jacques is a Belgian-style ale with caramel notes. You can also book a tour of the West Fulton production facility, or stop by its taproom for a taste. Not in Chicago but craving beer? Goose Island now has taprooms in Philadelphia as well as five international cities. Its beer is also widely distributed, and you can track it down with the on-site beer finder.
Sierra Nevada Brewery
Chico, California
When crossing the road. Northern CaliforniaThis small town is worth a look at one of America’s most enduring breweries. Sierra Nevada prides itself on its earth-friendly ethos (with solar panels and hydrogen fuel cells drastically reducing its carbon footprint) and also produces first-rate coffees. There are different ways to tour the high-tech facility, whether on your own or with a guide who will note areas of interest. (Among ingredients? Hops? A full-blown beer geek? There’s a tour for that.) Whichever tour you choose, you’ll sample beer brewed on site.
Pull up a stool in the taproom and arrive for a bite to eat: The restaurant also offers vegetarian dishes that highlight the best of the season’s produce and aged beef from locally raised cattle (a specialty dish paired with beer (includes brewer’s yeast and nutrient-dense brewery grains). Nearby is a huge and well-loved municipal park that makes a great place for hiking, swimming and biking, with trails that get wilder as you get inside. Sierra Nevada Foothills You can have it all – minus the Sierra Nevada foothills – at the brewery Location North Carolina.
The Draft House
Austin, Texas
Austin has a lot going for it, from its amazing music scene and multicultural festivals to its great barbecue joints. Its beer scene is no less celebrated. The Draft House It’s a festive and feel-good venue that offers a changing array of great microbrews on draft from around the country, along with their own inspired seasonal blends. It’s a spacious space with an outdoor patio, food truck grub and a seemingly unlimited beer selection to while away an afternoon.
Magic Hat Brewery
Burlington, Vermont
Vermonters have a soft spot for beer. How to explain the abundance of suds – there are more craft breweries per capita than any other state. Whether you come for leaf peeping (seeing the dramatic fall foliage across the state), hiking the rugged Long Trail (which actually runs the length of the state) or the beautiful countryside. Traveling a bit on the back roads. , Burlington Makes a good stop. Magic hat It’s probably the state’s most popular brewery, with free tours (and free samples) showcasing the wares. The brewery’s most popular beer is No. 9, which has a hint of apricot, though purists may prefer Circus Boy, a refreshing unfiltered hafeweizen.
Mountain Sun Pub and Brewery
Boulder, Colorado
BoulderOf Favorite pub America’s outermost small town is a great place to kick back after a day of mountain biking, hiking or rock climbing. Mountain Sun has a fun, free spirit that appeals to all types, and the menu features satisfying pub grub. Of course, beer is the star attraction: there’s a variety on tap, including unusual blends like rich creamy porters, golden ales and blackberry wheat. Catch live music — bluegrass, folk and the like — Sundays and Mondays starting at 9:30 or 10 p.m. The Mountain Sun family also includes brewpubs and eateries in Denver, Longmont and Boulder, among other locations.
Dogfish head
Rehoboth, Delaware
In a city that loves the sea Rehoboth, Delaware, Dogfish head Offers brilliantly innovative wines – ‘off-centred ales for off-centred people’ as they describe it – using unusual ingredients in daring combinations, often with winning results. Raison d’Etre (a Belgian-style brown ale brewed with beet sugar and raisins), or perhaps an oak-aged Burton Batten, a wonderful blend of English-style old ale and imperial IPA. After a walk on the beaches, their dishes (and beer-filled pub fare) make the perfect cap to the day.
Boston Beer Company
Boston, Massachusetts
Founded in 1984, Boston Beer Company (better known as Samuel Adams Brewery) launched to international stardom on the merits of its beautifully balanced Boston lager – which made other American beers of the time taste like poorly filtered water. Come for a free tour (and free beer), plus a free elevator (via trolley) that takes you up to Doyle’s Cafe, a historic 1882 watering hole that serves great pizza and even better clam chowder. Also features more selections by Samuel Adams. Go deeper with several additional tour options that range from $10 to $50. Not a company to rest on its laurels, SA is constantly coming up with new selections – over two dozen seasonal as well as artisan brews (The Brewmasters Collection).
Brooklyn Brewery
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Just across the East River from Manhattan, this brewery is another reason Brooklyners are feeling so mean these days. Brooklyn Brewery Finely brewed pilsners, pale ales and other classic brews, as well as fine summer ales, perfect for hot days watching the Yankees – or even better the Cyclones (Brooklyn’s minor league baseball team) – at bat. . You can. Head from above Pop over on the weekend for a free tour or just for a beer. Want to explore a brewery with a small group? Book a time during the week for the $18 mini beach tour. There’s not much atmosphere, but you only need a short stroll to find shops, bars, restaurants and other entertainment in this hipster-loving enclave of North Brooklyn.
This article was originally published in 2012. Updated June 2019.
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